CANADA INDIA FOUNDATION
CIF E-Newsletter
Volume 30 Issue #17 July 2021
Chair’s Message
Time to Grow Stronger Together
Hello friends. Canada’s vaccination record has been a mixed bag in the past year. After being ahead of the curve globally in proactively acquiring the necessary doses for its citizens, we were hit with a series of challenges, most of which we had no control over, including supply issues and uncertainty regarding the various vaccine regimes. At last, we are on the right track, riding along at a fast pace, to meet targets. Over 50% of Canadians are now protected having received both doses, and almost 70% have had their first doses as of the middle of July.
We are very close to the ideal 75% mark of full vaccination targets recently set by our Public Safety Minister, Bill Blair before we can start opening our borders. In the meanwhile, Ontario and other provinces are gearing for a gradual opening that would see robust economic activities resume, cautiously at first, but in the absence of any further surges and people still adhering to the needed preventive measures, we are good to go. (Read more)
Celebration of 7th International Day of Yoga 2021
Open Minds-Healthy Minds
The Canada India Foundation celebration to mark International Yoga Day 2021 was held on June 20 in two sessions. The evening featured renowned spiritual teacher, Brahma Kumari Sister Shivani in conversation with Ontario’s Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addiction, Michael Tibollo. Other dignitaries who joined the special evening, titled Open Minds, Healthy Minds, was Sister Mohini for Brahma Kumari organization, USA, India’s High Commissioner, H.E. Ajay Bisaria, and India’s Consul General in Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava. (Read more)
Click here to watch recording of the program
CIF International Yoga Day Writes New Chapter in Integrated Medicine
Toronto: Canada India Foundation (CIF) marked the 7th Anniversary of International Yoga Day on Sunday, June 20 with a virtual event that saw the participation of medical experts, diplomats, and policymakers from Canada and India. The theme chosen for the Day was Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation — an Integrated Approach. The long-felt need for bringing different medicine systems together to overcome the huge health challenges has resulted in the recently announced initiative between CIF and the University Health Network (UHN). (Read more)
Click here to watch recording of Program
Indian NGO Thanks CIF’s Support for Food for Survival Program in Assam
Responding to the brutal situation in India following the second wave of Covid-19 that robbed millions of their livelihood, DevPro and IndiaDonates supported by Canada-India Foundation launched a project titled, Food for Survival, in the Indian state of Assam. As the country begins to unlock and people are trying to rebuild their lives, the urgent need is to provide food security.
To improve food accessibility, DevPro-INDIAdonates launched its mega FoodForSurvival Mission across 13 states in India by kickstarting their campaign with the help of the Canada-India Foundation in Jorhat, Assam, serving wholesome grocery kits to 270 families from ultra-poor communities. Partner NGO, North-East Affected Area Development Society through its volunteers, was able to reach the families despite mobility and containment zone challenges. The initiative is currently in the process of mobilizing more resources to reach another 6600 needy families.
Sandeep Sharma, Founder, India donates, said while thanking CIF for their support, “In times like these the support from Canada-India Foundation has immensely helped DevPro-INDIAdonates to reach to communities who are affected by multidimensional poverty. It gave the added impetus to the program to amplify our reach and maximize the output. I m truly thankful to CIF for this generous support and timely intervention.”
To view their full activity report click here
Ayurveda Speaker Series Session — 20
Ayurvedic Management of Anxiety & Depression
The 20th installment in the ongoing CIF Ayurveda Speaker Series was held on July 11, 2021, with Vaidya Ashlesha Raut as the expert speaker on the pressing issue of the day — Anxiety and Depression. (Read more)
Click here to watch the session
Ayurveda Speaker Series Session — 19
Ayurvedic Management of Anal Fissure
The 19th CIF Ayurveda Speaker Series was held on June 27th, 2021, the day Canada celebrates Multiculturalism Day. On the virtual platform were Satish Thakkar, Chair and Ritesh Malik, National Convenor, CIF, Vaidya Harish Verma, and the Ayurveda expert, Professor Hemant Kumar. (Read more)
Click here to watch the session
Ayurveda Speaker series Session — 18
Ayurvedic Management of Benign Prostate Enlargement and Urological Disorders
In the continuing series on CIF Ayurveda Series, Prof. Narayan G. Shahane, Medical Director, Brahma Ayurved Multispecialty Hospital, Gujarat, India, made an evidence-based presentation on how Ayurveda manages a most pressing health issue that affects a third of all men above 50 on CIF virtual platform on June 17. (Read more)
Click here to watch the session
India’s Covaxin Trial Data ‘Good’
The chief scientist at WHO, Soumya Swaminathan, was recently quoted as saying that India’s indigenously developed vaccine, Covaxin, is showing ‘quite high’ efficacy levels. (Read more.)
India Mourns Passing of Legendary Actor Dilip Kumar
Describing him as a thespian whose charm transcended all boundaries, India’s President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted, “Dilip Saab will live forever in the heart of India”. (Read more.)
India Set to Share its Co-Win Platform with the world
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, said that the locally developed Co-WIN platform for managing COVID-19 vaccination will soon be Open Source for the benefit of other countries. (Read more.)
India to Canada: Speed up study permits before the new semester starts in September
India has conveyed its concerns to the Canadian government regarding hurdles that more than 33,000 Indian students are facing in their bid to reach Canada in time as the new semester at various universities start in September. (Read more)
India Announces Free Visas for Tourists
