Zoomer Week in Review

Should breast cancer screening start at 40? That’s a key recommendation in a new study from researchers at the Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. Breast Cancer is among the leading causes of death for women in their 40’s and 50’s in Canada. But currently, only women 50 and older get routine screening through the Ontario Breast Screening Program. This new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology argues that lowering the age will offer a better chance of survival. We reached one of the authors, Professor Dr. Jean Seely, head of breast imaging at the Ottawa Hospital.

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Anthony Quinn, the Community Officer with the Zoomer advocacy group CARP, has sent a letter to Mayor Olivia Chow asking the city to reconsider new rules banning cars from High Park. He calls it a “leave grandma at home policy.” Meantime, protestors continue to gather at the west end park in a turf war over City Hall's new anti-car measures that bans vehicles on weekends and holidays while city staff work on a plan to eventually ban cars altogether. But there are many groups who support the car ban, pointing to the success of other big cities around the globe. Tensions recently boiled over at one of the rallies. We reached 84 year old Diane Buckell, of the group High Park Access For All who wants the city to ensure that everyone has access to the park.

Jean Augustine made history in 1993, as the first African-Canadian woman elected a Canadian MP. The 85 year old attended this week’s Emancipation Day in Toronto kicking off a month of events as this city recognizes the struggle for human rights and the contributions by people of African descent. The annual event marks the freeing of slavery of more than 800-thousand Africans in British controlled regions around the world including Canada. We reached Canadian Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, a strong advocate of social change and also the first African Nova Scotian woman to serve in the Canadian Senate.

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Canada falls far behind the European Union when it comes to compensation for air travellers. In fact, if possible when travelling overseas, advocates recommend choosing a European carrier as the EU is considered the “gold standard” when it comes to compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. In Canada, the much criticized air passenger rights legislation is under review. We reached air passenger rights advocate Gabor Luckacs about what you need to know about compensation plans for other countries when your flight is delayed or cancelled.

Millions of people on three continents are baking under blistering temperatures and scientists are reporting that this month will be the planet’s hottest on record by far. One thing is certain, it is even riskier if you are older or have health problems. It is important to be cautious and get relief quickly when you are overheated. Dr. Samantha Green joined Libby Znaimer with some tips on staying safe.

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Countries and retailers around the world are getting rid of best before dates on fresh food in a bid to cut food waste. How can you tell if a product is still good to eat even if it may be past the peak of freshness? Libby Znaimer talked with Sylvain Charlebois, professor in food distribution and policy at the agri-food analytics lab at Dalhousie University.

Alzheimer’s disease experts are revamping the way doctors diagnose patients by creating a seven point rating scale based on cognitive and biological changes. Unveiled this week at the Alzheimer's Association Conference, the change promotes a numerical system to assess the disease progression similar to one used in a cancer diagnosis. These changes come as new treatments, including blood tests, offer faster and more effective Alzheimer’s diagnosis. We reached Canada’s foremost expert on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia research, Dr. Sandra Black, a senior scientist at Toronto’s Sunnybrook hospital who calls the recent developments ‘game changing.’

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The late Queen of Soul is offering a cautionary tale about estate planning. When Aretha Franklin died in 2018, it’s believed she left no will meaning the bulk of her fortune in real estate, jewelry, and music royalties would be split among her four sons. But after her death, not one but two handwritten wills were discovered and this month, two of her four sons went to court to contest one of them. A Michigan jury ruled the will from 2014, found in her couch, is valid and overrides one found four years earlier. We reached Toronto lawyer David Mills for some tips on estate planning.

During the last two federal election campaigns, the Trudeau Liberals vowed to hike the C.P. Survivors Benefit by 25%. They delivered on a promise to increase old age security for those 75 and older but the survivors pensions continue paying little or nothing, in some cases. Actuary Doug Chandler explains where things stand now.

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Do you have a go-to place to eat, be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You may want to check out a new book that features many well-known eateries, some that you may not have heard of or haven't yet checked out. There are even some listed that predate confederation! Thus the title, "Where We Ate". Bob Komsic caught up with Gabby Peyton, on the East Coast, to learn what inspired her to write it.

Affordable housing was the key issue in this week’s Toronto byelection that swept Olivia Chow into the mayor’s chair.  Now, real estate giant RE/MAX is getting behind an idea that could deliver more of it. The 15-minute neighbourhood is a place where residents are a 15-minute walk, bike, or transit ride away from all their daily needs. Libby Znaimer talked with veteran urban designer Ken Greenberg.

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How much time and energy do you spend thinking about food? Does it make you eat more even if you already feel full? It’s called food noise and Libby talked with obesity specialist Dr. Sean Wharton about it.

"Necessity is the mother of invention" and that’s what motivated a retired Ontario woman to create a network for other women who found themselves retired and unable to afford rising housing costs. Average rent across Canada is up about 20 percent from pandemic low and still rising. So Pat Dunn of Peterborough founded "Senior Women Living Together", to help others find roommates to share rising housing costs. Christine Ross caught up with the resourceful 73 year old, and former public health nurse, who calls this her mission.

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Canada Bread will pay a historic fine of 50-million dollars after pleading guilty to its role in a criminal price-fixing arrangement that raised the wholesale price of fresh bread. This country’s Competition Bureau says it's the highest price-fixing fine ever imposed by a Canadian court. Canada Bread admitted it arranged with its competitor, Weston Foods, to increase prices for various bagged and sliced bread products. It’s the first time any companies besides Loblaw and Weston admitted to being involved in the scheme since the story broke in 2015. We reached Sylvain Charlebois, Senior Director with the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, to ask is if this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to food price fixing.

Canadian AI experts are sounding the alarm about the dangers of artificial intelligence by urging Ottawa to pass legislation quickly as the technology advances. The government is currently working on legislation that would eventually penalize companies and individuals who use the technology unethically but experts fear it’s too far off. To break this all down, we reached Luke Stark, assistant professor at Western University who studies the ethical and cultural impacts of AI.

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Why are there so many pesky mosquitoes this year? The thirsty bloodsuckers appear to be increasing in numbers across Canada and experts point to a number of reasons why and how you can best protect yourself, your family, and even your pets! We reached biologist, mosquito researcher, and assistant professor at Acadia University, Laura Ferguson, who’s based in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling for the removal of the Commissioner of Corrections Canada after its quiet and unexplained decision to transfer notorious serial killer Paul Bernardo from maximum to medium security lockup. And the federal government has expressed shock over the move that was done in secrecy. Outrage is growing over the transfer leaving many asking about victims rights vs the rights of convicted criminals. We reached Memorial University Associate Professor Dr. Scott Kenney who specializes in criminology and victims rights.

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This week marked the 79th anniversary of D-Day that still resonates today. Historians often refer to it as the beginning of the end of World War II. June 6th 1944 marked the invasion of the beaches at Normandy in northern France by troops from Canada, United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries during World War II. The operation became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history. Juno Beach is most famous for being one of the five landing spots for the D-Day invasion. We reached Alex Fitzgerald-Black, executive director with the Juno Beach Centre Association based in Canada that runs a war museum in France.

It’s a world first that experts hope will have a huge impact. As of August 1, Canada will become the first country in the world to print warning labels directly on individual cigarettes. They will carry messages like "poison in every puff" and "cigarettes cause cancer". The hope is that this will deter new smokers and encourage more quitting. Libby Znaimer reached Rob Cunningham of the Canadian Cancer Society.

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It’s a conundrum for both the rich and the poor. Zoomers worry about outliving their money. It is the result of good news, that we are living longer, but the problem is not knowing how much we will need and when. It can prevent us from enjoying our hard earned money when we are alive. Of course, it is worse for those who don’t have enough to handle rising prices and rampant inflation. The National Institute on Ageing had an in-depth look at the stress of this uncertainty and Libby talked with Dr. Samir Sinha.