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The re-establishment of the Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC) has been welcomed by various stakeholders in the nations sport, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is upbeat about the new prospects for the growth of the sector, even as he has expressed implicit confidence in the competence and capacity of the NSC leadership, Shehu Dikko, the Chairman, and the DG, Bukola Olapade, to deliver. In the past few weeks, the duo have been rejigging the direction and framework of our sports to Reset, Refocus and Relaunch the sector as a veritable asset for national development, and with more professional administration and management. As has been revealed by Shehu Dikko, “The strategic approach of the Renewed Hope Agenda and Shared Prosperity aims to establish sports as a vital pillar of Nigeria’s economy and a unifying factor for national development.” The repositioning covers the entire sports eco-system with the target of improving on sports infrastructure across the country, eliciting mass participation, greater and more gainful youth engagement, generation of about three million direct, indirect and induced jobs, attainment of about 5% share in global sports export, attraction of foreign direct investments and foreign exchange earnings, and provision of an enabling environment for private sector participation and investments to compliment Government efforts. The target is to steer the sports sector to contribute about 3% to the National Gross Domestic Product and for our national teams to achieve more respectable podium finish in international competitions. The strategies include institutional repositioning through the restructuring of the sports sector framework, already began with the establishment of the NSC and the ongoing upscaling of the establishing Act to meet global best practices as an enabler for sustainable growth, the restructuring of the sports federations for greater efficiency and effectiveness, and the deepening of Grassroots and Schools Sport to strengthen the foundation of the sector through wider access to sports for the discovery, nurturing and grooming of elite athletes. The goal is ambitious, bold and daring. It is taking the road less travelled, but the strategies already outlined by the NSC gives assurance of its attainment as it is deliberate and focused. The most critical success factor, perhaps, is the will of the Government under the overall vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda to take sports more seriously than before, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with his natural boldness and vision for the future, has served notice of his willingness, not only by the reclassification of sports as a national asset and critical driver of economic development, national cohesion and image building, but especially also with the deliberate capital allocation of over N78 billion to sports in the 2025 Budget proposal, the highest in about 60 years. The proposed budget is directed at accelerating sports development and growth through the establishment, construction, reconstruction and revival of various capital and critical sports assets, as well as programmes to set the foundation of a robust and virile sports economy in Nigeria. These include the full rehabilitation of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, to set the framework for its eventual concession and transformation to a sports city, together with the completion of its 200 room Athletes’ Hostel, abandoned for over 15 years, but which now will be commercialised after it’s completion to rake in revenue. The reset programme also includes the rehabilitation of various other federal government’s stadiums across the country, the construction of mini sports centres across various communities; the construction and equipping of the High Performance Centre in Abuja; the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Sports Hospital/Clinic which also would be commercialised and open to the public; and the development and equipping of a world class Anti-Doping Laboratory intended to rake in foreign exchange to reverse capital flight, as the nation and most of African countries currently take samples overseas for analysis. Interesting also is, in addition to normal budget line for sporting activities, there is now a specific and separate budget line to take care of preparations for events like the Olympics, Commonwealth, African Games, World and Continental Championships, the Paralympic and other Para-Sports competitions, the World Cup and AFCON qualifiers and support for NUGA Games, School Sports and others. Added to this is a deliberate reserve budget line for international competitions in the service wide vote for the participation of national teams in international competitions. This means that when Team Nigeria qualifies for any international event, funding would be drawn from the vote, as against the old fire brigade approach of having to start seeking for funds after each qualification. The agenda also includes the provision of funding support for the stabilisation of sports federations, and part of the strategy is the acquisition of sports contents from the federations for production, aggregation and monetization. This will also entail the setting up, equipping and training of personnel for the operation of a sports media production unit. The scope of work is wide, deep and challenging, but it is the ultimate game changer we have craved, and it is reassuring that the NSC also understands the need and has plans to recruit and train more hands to cascade its operations across the geographical zones, states and local governments. With President Tinubu having set the agenda and demonstrated willingness, and the vision and direction now clearly articulated by the leadership of the NSC, the next critical success factor is the support of the citizenry, especially the sports and corporate communities, by joining hands in making our bed how we would want to lie in it.Two-hundred and fifty minor hockey teams from six countries around the world are taking to the ice for the 24th annual Bell Capital Cup. Open to youth hockey teams ages 9 to 13 from across the world, more than 4,500 kids will play games held at various rinks across Ottawa and Quebec until New Year's Eve. For Isaac Charpy, it's about redemption after his team from Almonte lost in the finals of last year's event. While he has his eyes on the prize, he knows that it's still about having fun. "I like hockey the best out of any sport, and I would play hockey all day, every day if I could." Most of the young players who took to the ice Friday morning are stepping into familiar territory having played in previous years. "I was in here last year and we have so much fun," said Beckett Last on the U11 Kemptville Royals. "Just love the tournament all together." It's an event that has grown in size and culture according to general manager Mark Sluban. Teams from around the world are playing in the tournament such as Chinese Taipei, Korea, Austria, and the reigning division A champions from Slovenia. "It's an overall experience. Win or lose, everybody here that come out to Ottawa has a great time," said Sluban. "We have the best awards, we have the best trophies for player of the game," he added. "We go all out, we give them the full on experience with the live music and then all that stuff off the ice that you don't get when you go to minor hockey tournaments." The Bell Capital Cup on display inside Bell Sensplex as tournament kicks off. Friday Dec. 27, 2024. (Josh Marano/CTV News Ottawa) This is also the first year that the Bell Capital Cup has welcomed sledge hockey players, something Sluban says is important for growing the game as well as emphasizing inclusivity. The championship matches will take place on Dec. 30 and 31. The full schedule of Bell Capital Cup events can be found on its website. CTV News is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Editor's Picks Here Are All The Best Amazon Boxing Day Deals You Can Find On Beauty Products In Canada These Walking Pads Will Help You Get 10,000 Steps Every Day (And They're On Sale In The Name Of Boxing Day) 10 Family Calendars And Planners That'll Help You Keep Track Of Everything In The New Year Home If You're Headed Somewhere Warm On Vacation, Don't Forget To Pack These 16 Things Our Guide To The Best Snow Shovels In Canada In 2024 (And Where To Get Them) 14 Of The Best Home Security Devices You Can Find Online Right Now (And They've Got The Reviews To Prove It) Gifts The Clock Is Ticking — Shop These 25 Last-Minute Amazon Prime Gifts Now If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 70+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts Will Still Arrive Before Christmas If You Have An Amazon Prime Account, These 50 Brilliant Stocking Stuffers Will Still Arrive Before Christmas Beauty 20 Products Your Dry, Dehydrated Skin Will Thank You For Ordering 14 Hydrating Face Masks That’ll Save Your Skin This December 12 Budget-Friendly Products To Add To Your Winter Skincare Routine Deals 11 Bestselling Coffee Makers And Espresso Machines You Can Get On Sale Right Now Don’t Walk, Run! These LEGO Kits Are On Sale For Boxing Day 2024 The Waterpik Advanced Water Flosser Will Make Cleaning Your Teeth So Much Easier — And It's 41% Off For Boxing Day Ottawa Top Stories FREEZING RAIN WARNING | Freezing rain expected in Ottawa Saturday morning ahead of warm spell Police watchdog investigating after officer shot crowd control gun at Ottawa man Seeking solutions to the troubles facing downtown Ottawa Fan activities surrounding the World Juniors in Ottawa 24th annual Bell Capital Cup returns to arenas across Ottawa Police identify victim of Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg, charge suspect What's open and closed in Ottawa over the holidays Teenage phenom Gavin McKenna scores, Canada tops Finland 4-0 in world junior opener CTVNews.ca Top Stories Trudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with members of Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Calgary Boxing Day crash victim identified, mother and sister still in hospital A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Missing dog returned to family home and rang the doorbell After a nearly weeklong search, Athena, a four-year-old German Shepherd and Husky mix, found her way home to her Florida family in time for Christmas Eve and even rang the doorbell. Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Gerry Butts says Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland quit A former chief adviser and close friend to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think Trudeau will stay on to lead the Liberals in the next election. 'Home Alone' director Chris Columbus explains how the McCallisters were able to afford that house Audiences have wondered for years how the family in 'Home Alone' was able to afford their beautiful Chicago-area home and now we know. Trump says Microsoft's Bill Gates has asked to visit him in Florida Donald Trump said Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has asked to visit him at the president-elect's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on Friday night. B.C. man charged with dangerous driving after elderly Good Samaritan killed in crash A man is facing multiple charges of dangerous driving following a collision that led to the death of an 80-year-old Good Samaritan on Vancouver Island, B.C. Halifax Thunderbirds player Tyson Bell suspended, cited for assault in Colorado The Halifax Thunderbirds has suspended player Tyson Bell following an alleged assault in Colorado. Atlantic One dead in two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B. One person has died following a two-vehicle collision in Sackville, N.B., Friday. 'Nobody should have to go through that': N.B. family grieving father, daughter killed in crash A New Brunswick family is grieving the loss of a father and daughter in a crash. Halifax business owners hope tax holiday will prevent post-Christmas sales slump Time will tell if the federal government's tax holiday will pay off, but businesses hope to see an increase in sales during the slow winter months. Toronto Toronto's New Year's Eve festivities: Road closures and Union Station access restrictions to manage crowds The City of Toronto is taking steps to ensure New Year’s Eve revelers enjoy the festivities and get home safely. 1 arrested, 1 outstanding after armed robbery at Ancaster cannabis dispensary Police in Hamilton are looking for a man wanted in connection with an armed robbery at a cannabis dispensary in Ancaster. Pedestrian taken to the hospital after being struck by TTC bus driver at Islington Station A female pedestrian was taken to the hospital after being hit by the driver of a TTC bus on Friday afternoon, say paramedics. Montreal Montreal SPCA at full capacity amid spike in pet surrenders The holiday season is typically a slow period for the Montreal SPCA, but this year is different. The animal shelter says the tough economic climate has taken a toll on its operation, leaving it at full capacity. Tugboats, crews try to refloat ship stuck in St. Lawrence River near Montreal A team of tugboats is being deployed to refloat a ship that has been stuck in the St. Lawrence River northeast of Montreal since Christmas Eve. Avian flu cases are concerning Quebec health officials Avian flu is raising red flags across several provinces, including in Quebec. While it poses a low risk to humans right now, experts are concerned that could change. Northern Ontario Five southern Ont. hunters fined $37K for moose hunt offences in northern Ont. A multi-year moose hunting investigation resulted in five people being convicted of moose hunting offences and fined a total of $37,000, plus $9,250 in victim surcharges. Gerry Butts says Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland quit A former chief adviser and close friend to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn't think Trudeau will stay on to lead the Liberals in the next election. Five-vehicle crash closes Hwy. 11 in New Liskeard A collision involving five vehicles closed Highway 11 in both directions Friday morning between Golf Course Drive in New Liskeard and Highway 66 in Kenogami. Windsor VIDEO | Vehicle flipped on its roof in west Windsor collision A dramatic collision on Windsor's west side left one van overturned on its roof earlier this afternoon. Essex residents get second chance for holiday garbage pickup after calendar misprint Essex residents in the town’s north end will see garbage trucks return Monday, December 30 after a calendar misprint caused confusion about holiday trash collection. Carjacking suspects impersonated police, left victim stranded on 401 on Christmas Day: OPP On Dec. 25 at 9:00 p.m., police received a call to the eastbound lanes of the 401 near the 65 km marker. There the victim was stopped by three people in two suspect vehicles, one with flashing red and blue lights in the windshield. London Garage fire causes $125,000 in damages near Tillsonburg A garage was fully involved by the time responders arrived, with heat from the detached building compromising the residence next to it. Carjacking suspects impersonated police, left victim stranded on 401 on Christmas Day: OPP On Dec. 25 at 9:00 p.m., police received a call to the eastbound lanes of the 401 near the 65 km marker. There the victim was stopped by three people in two suspect vehicles, one with flashing red and blue lights in the windshield. Wortley Village business pillar to rise again as 'homage to what it was' Residents and merchants are hopeful 2025 will bring good fortune to Wortley Village in the wake of two devastating fires. Kitchener Fire rips through former Peter Hay Knife Company building in Cambridge Emergency responders were called to a fire in Cambridge on Thursday as flames ripped through the building that formerly belonged to the Peter Hay Knife Company. Influx of dogs in need, Waterloo Region dog rescue says A not-for-profit dog rescue in Waterloo Region is putting out a call for help around the holidays. Chicopee Ski Resort opens, celebrates 90th anniversary The slopes are officially open for the season at Chicopee Ski Resort in Kitchener. Barrie Snowy conditions bring near-perfect start to ski season with thousands of visitors A snowy December, topped off by a heavy snowfall just before Christmas, delivered nearly perfect conditions for ski resorts across central Ontario during one of their busiest weeks of the year. 'No excuse,' Driver caught speeding 160km/h in posted 80 zone: OPP Provincial police issued a reminder to motorists to slow down after a driver was stopped for allegedly travelling double the posted speed limit though Kawartha Lakes on Friday afternoon. Are your bins still at the curb? Here are the changes to curbside collection Curbside collection is delayed by one day this week due to the holidays. Winnipeg Downtown Winnipeg a hub for research, baking and milling at Cereals Canada High above on the tenth floor of a downtown Winnipeg office space, baking bread is a normal routine. Thousands of hockey players descend on Winnipeg for annual holiday competition Around 2,500 players, 170 teams, and a few Winnipeg Jets have taken over the Hockey for All Centre to mark an annual tournament over the holidays. Winnipeg police arrest fifth person in drug trafficking investigation; sixth suspect still at large The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) has made a fifth arrest in a drug trafficking investigation but is still searching for a sixth suspect. Calgary 'This is not our alignment': Year-end interview with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek reveals fissures between city and province on Green Line A year-end interview between CTV News anchor Tara Nelson and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek Calgary Boxing Day crash victim identified, mother and sister still in hospital A nine-year-old girl has died in hospital after the vehicle she was in was struck by a driver in a stolen vehicle fleeing from police. Calgary woman killed in Saskatchewan highway crash A 25-year-old woman from Calgary was killed in a crash on Highway 7, west of Rosetown, Saskatchewan on Christmas Eve. Edmonton 'She's very good at politics': Analyst says Alberta's 2024 bills designed for Smith leadership success For one political expert, 2024 was all about the base in Alberta. Cell phone scam costs Edmontonians $600K: EPS Edmonton police are warning residents about a cell phone scam that has so far defrauded victims of more than $600,000. 'Like panning for gold': Christmas bird count invites community to help with avian research Armed with binoculars and birdwatching apps, dozens of locals could be seen out and about in the capital region Friday for an annual tradition aimed at understanding wild bird populations. Regina 'Something that connected us all': For 53 years, Sask. family celebrates holidays with street hockey game For over 50 years, Stephen Lentzos and his family have celebrated Christmas Day with a street hockey game. Regina police launch homicide investigation after injured man dies at scene Regina police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a man found gravely injured Thursday evening. Travel not recommended for parts of Saskatchewan under risk of freezing rain Travel advisories are in effect for parts of south and central Saskatchewan on Friday, with icy roadways and the risk of freezing rain making for dangerous driving conditions. Saskatoon The thrill is gone from Boxing Week shopping, Saskatoon residents say Christmas has come and gone for most people, but the shopping hype continues as some get out of the house to take in the post-Christmas scene. Calgary woman killed in Saskatchewan highway crash A 25-year-old woman from Calgary was killed in a crash on Highway 7, west of Rosetown, Saskatchewan on Christmas Eve. Prince Albert man facing weapons charges after Christmas Day of armed robberies Police in Prince Albert, Sask, are reporting a harrowing Christmas Day story involving three armed robberies, two suspect chases and the shooting of a taxi driver. Vancouver B.C. man who flipped 14 homes in four years is fined $2M for tax evasion A serial property flipper in British Columbia has been convicted of tax evasion and fined more than $2 million for failing to report nearly $7.5 million in earnings. 79-year-old man assaulted on B.C. ferry, Sunshine Coast RCMP say Mounties on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast are asking anyone who witnessed an assault aboard a Thursday afternoon BC Ferries sailing to contact them. B.C. court orders fraudster who owes $36.7M to pay from retirement funds The British Columbia Securities Commission says a man behind one of the province's largest investment frauds has been ordered by the B.C. Supreme Court to use two retirement accounts to pay off a multimillion-dollar fine. Vancouver Island 2nd earthquake in 3 days reported off Vancouver Island coast A 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Vancouver Island's west coast early Friday morning, less than 48 hours after a 4.8-magnitude quake in roughly the same location on Christmas Day. 79-year-old man assaulted on B.C. ferry, Sunshine Coast RCMP say Mounties on B.C.'s Sunshine Coast are asking anyone who witnessed an assault aboard a Thursday afternoon BC Ferries sailing to contact them. B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. Kelowna B.C. team building 100 beaver 'starter homes' in the name of wetland preservation More than 70 manmade beaver dams have been installed in Interior waterways since the B.C. Wildlife Federation project launched last year with the goal of building 100 dams by the end of 2025. B.C. man charged with drug trafficking and weapons offences after CBSA investigation A resident of B.C.'s Interior has been charged with weapon and drug trafficking offences after an investigation launched by border agents at Vancouver International Airport earlier this year. B.C woman awarded nearly $750K in court case against contractor A B.C. woman has been awarded nearly $750,000 in damages in a dispute with a contractor who strung her along for a year and a half and failed to complete a renovation, according to a recent court decision. Stay Connected
In a society driven by achievement and success, the idea of embracing regret may seem counterintuitive. However, Cai's insight challenges us to reassess our understanding of failure and disappointment. Instead of viewing regrets as setbacks or sources of shame, we can see them as opportunities for reflection and transformation. By acknowledging our regrets and learning from them, we can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.The warnings are increasing. Infectious disease researchers, virologists, veterinarians, and occupational health specialists around the world are sounding alarms. The stories of wild birds, mammals, poultry, cattle, and other farm animals with "bird flu" (H5N1) keep coming. The real infection numbers are greater than official reports, but no one knows by how much. Meanwhile, decision-makers and other authorities seem intent on repeating the same mistakes made with COVID-19 and SARS. Now, it has spread to people. Stories of dairy and poultry workers in the U.S., with largely "mild" infections so far, seemed distant — until news broke about a case in Canada. In early November, a B.C. teen made international news fighting for their life with a mutated version of the virus. They're still in intensive care, unable to contribute information about a possible source of their infection. At her Nov. 26 update , B.C.'s public health officer (PHO) Dr. Bonnie Henry tried to reassure the public with news that an “extensive public health investigation” revealed no known source. The only possibility found before closing the investigation was two dead geese infected with a virus version that may be related to the sick teen’s. While not having to deal with a specific source might make life easier for public health leaders, it’s not at all clear how that’s good news for the rest of us. It’s a lot harder to protect yourself when you don’t know where the infections are coming from. Why worry? In B.C., the perfect storm is brewing. The wild bird migratory season is happening along the Pacific flyway. With them — like the geese that may be behind the teen's infection — comes H5N1. In the Fraser Valley, so far, 64 operations have had poultry flocks infected with H5N1 since October, and scientists have found an “unprecedented amount of environmental contamination” of area wetlands with avian flu — where it may survive for months . Worse, the mutations found in the virus that infected the teenager show it’s adapting to humans and is more likely to affect the lungs - possibly explaining why the teen became so sick. This all is happening in the midst of respiratory viral season — on top of COVID-19 that just won’t go away, no matter how determined we are to ignore it. Sluggish and opaque responses to H5N1 outbreaks in the US are provoking international concern. The highly-respected American virologist David O’Connor says, “It seems that the United States is addicted to gambling with H5N1. But if you gamble long enough, the virus may hit a jackpot.” "A jackpot for the virus would fuel a pandemic", Tulio de Oliveira, South Africa’s director of the Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation, wrote in the New York Times , despairing at the lack of timely and complete sharing of information about the virus' evolution. His warning provides a frustrating echo of the un-learned lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic raised by the 2022 international Lancet Commission . Amongst other lessons, it highlighted "the lack of timely, accurate, and systematic data on infections, deaths, viral variants, health system responses, and indirect health consequences". Canadian authorities seem to be making the same gamble, unwilling to learn from their own past mistakes, or the collective wisdom of everyone from occupational health and safety experts to scientists, engineers, historians, and front-line healthcare workers. Based on initial symptoms alone, H5N1 can’t be distinguished from more familiar influenza strains, COVID-19 or the common cold. In the case of the infected BC teen, even asking about their poultry farm exposure would not have raised any alarms at their first ER visit. BC got lucky, and no H5N1 transmission occurred. The question is what happens next time? Researchers using ferrets to study an H5N1 strain isolated from a dairy farm worker found it could be transmitted via the air , as well as by direct contact and on contaminated cages and bedding material. Like the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, the seasonal flu virus and many other disease-causing microbes , H5N1 can travel in tiny aerosol particles. They float in the air like smoke for hours, travelling significant distances, riding on air currents, and sneaking through the gaps around medical masks. Through the simple act of breathing, those infected with H5N1 risk unknowingly exposing everyone in that B.C. ER waiting room, and possibly dozens of healthcare workers. Even if we didn’t have the evidence of those ferret studies, the need for a precautionary approach is clear — especially when we have non-invasive, cost-effective tools like air cleaners and N95 respirators that dramatically reduce risk of spread. Public health leaders gambled against airborne transmission in COVID, and in SARS before that - and lost both times. We cannot afford to get this wrong yet again. Beyond the harm done to individuals, every new human infection produces billions of copies of the virus. With a high mutation rate, this allows nature’s evolutionary engine to roll the dice over and over — each one giving the virus another chance to hit the pandemic jackpot. For us, the only way to win is not to play. The good news is that with a precautionary approach, it not only can be done, but it has been done. Many people are familiar with the outbreaks that occurred when SARS arrived in Toronto in 2003 — far fewer know of Vancouver’s “outbreak that didn’t happen.” When a patient returning from Hong Kong arrived at the Vancouver General Hospital ER on March 7, 2003, the emergency team applied the precautionary principle. They placed the patient in respiratory isolation, before any laboratory confirmation. In contrast, Toronto hospitals were late to initiate airborne precautions to prevent the short- and long-range spread of the SARS virus in shared air - an error that led to many more people getting infected, and more deaths. The SARS Commission was crystal clear about the lessons public health leaders needed to learn from B.C.’s success and Ontario’s failure, presciently writing... "If the Commission has one single take-home message it is the precautionary principle that (health and) safety comes first: that reasonable efforts to reduce risk need not await scientific proof... Until this precautionary principle is fully recognized, mandated and enforced in our health care system, nurses and doctors and other health workers will continue to be at risk from new infections like SARS." Justice Campbell’s inquiry into the mismanagement of SARS-CoV-1 laid out the information we needed to do better when SARS-CoV-2 came along . He explicitly specified that “...the precautionary principle that reasonable action to reduce risk, like the use of a fitted N95 respirator, need not await scientific certainty.” Backed by decades of rigorous science and real-world experience in occupational health and safety (OHS), and very specific directions in the Canadian national standard ( CAN/CSA-Z94.4 ), there is simply no ambiguity about how to handle novel respiratory diseases with any potential to transmit via aerosols. This SARS lesson was unfortunately ignored. Thus the 2022 Lancet Commission's number two COVID-19 pandemic lesson was the... "costly delays in acknowledging the crucial airborne exposure pathway of SARS-CoV-2 ... and in implementing appropriate measures at national and global levels to slow the spread of the virus." In late 2022, almost two years into the pandemic, the retiring Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization publicly regretted the WHO's failure to accept and act on airborne transmission early on as their biggest mistake that has cost an enormous number of lives . We cannot make the same error again with H5N1. At her last update, it was a relief to hear BC PHO, Dr. Henry, confirm that the B.C. teenager with H5N1 has been on airborne precautions in the ICU. Unfortunately, both Vancouver Island Health Authority and Vancouver Coastal Health Authority put out clinical guidance stating that "droplet" precautions are sufficient when assessing and testing suspected bird flu patients. They are not, given that once the teen’s suspected H5N1 infection was confirmed, 60 healthcare workers had potentially already been exposed. Luckily for them and for us, this time, no one got infected. The August 2024 BC CDC version of Management of Specific Diseases, Interim H5N1 Avian Influenza Outbreak still defines “exposures of concern” as “within 2 meters to a bird, animal or other human with confirmed avian influenza A virus infection.” This fails to acknowledge that H5N1 can be spread much further through aerosol transmission, and will miss people who have been exposed. It also is counter to the precautionary principle. We do not know how rapidly H5N1 will evolve and spread — but there is a realistic possibility an H5N1 pandemic could be as bad as the COVID pandemic, or even worse. We might get lucky — but to rely on that happening is a gamble, not a strategy. No one discipline can claim to have all the answers to dealing with infectious diseases. Public health and infection control policies must be rewritten to adopt the practical, proactive, evidence-informed approaches used by OHS experts. We also need the deep understanding of engineering controls, like fresh and filtered air, along with the “societal memory” of historians and those who study human behaviour, and the lived experience of those harmed by past failures. Scientific understanding may not be able to perfectly predict the future, but it’s better than waiting until there are bodies to count before we act. So what does the precautionary principle (aka “ better safe than sorry ”) tell us we should be doing differently? First and foremost, those present in environments where there is a risk of H5N1 — especially in healthcare, or working with animals — must immediately be provided with the N95 respirators required to comply with basic health and safety standards, along with the training and policies needed to maximise their effectiveness. This is no more negotiable than protections against asbestos or toxic chemicals. The effective exemption of hospitals from workplace health and safety requirements cannot be permitted to continue. Secondly, public education and policies about transmission and contact tracing must be based on the physical realities of aerosol behaviour. There is no magic two-meter (or six foot, or 1-3 foot) boundary beyond which infectious particles somehow refuse to travel. A “potential exposure” is anyone who shared air with an infected person, who may or may not have symptoms. While the story of how those mistaken assumptions came about is entertaining, they are decades out of date - and lacked scientific justification in the first place. Thirdly, as Florence Nightingale recognized over a century and a half ago , places where diseases may be transmitted need clean air. Whether it’s SARS-CoV-2, H5N1, or something new a decade from now, if a pathogen can’t get to you, it can’t make you sick. While new technologies are being rolled out, we have effective options ready to go today, ones that are well-understood by the engineering experts who design and oversee their installation. Air filtration units — portable and fixed — provide a rapid way to remove contaminants and improve air quality in crowded spaces like hospitals, schools, other workplaces and indoor public spaces. Upgrades and new-build ventilation systems take longer to implement, but provide built-in filtration and fresh air delivery for the life of the building. Updates to legislation — an “Indoor Clean Air Act” as the one promised in New Brunswick — can help ensure the benefits are for everyone, not just the wealthy few. As a bonus, they can also remove other contaminants like wildfire smoke, dust and pollen. The best time to upgrade ventilation may have been years ago — but the second-best time is today. The history of major infectious disease outbreaks in Canada is one of missed opportunity after missed opportunity, betting against the house in nature’s casino. With growing awareness of the danger from H5N1 — and the damage already being done by long COVID — decision makers face a clear moral, scientific, and legal requirement to face the reality of airborne disease transmission, and act immediately. Enough is enough. Lyne Filiatrault, MDCM, FRCP EM (retired) Canadian Aerosol Transmission Coalition member Heather Hanwell, PhD MPH MSc Chair and Treasurer, Ontario School Safety Mark Ungrin, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute University of Calgary Co-chair, Legal Committee, Canadian COVID Society Dorothy Wigmore, MSc Occupational hygienist Canadian Aerosol Transmission Coalition
The summit serves as a platform for entrepreneurs and business leaders to exchange ideas, explore new opportunities, and forge partnerships. By bringing together a diverse group of sellers, manufacturers, and industry experts, the event aims to catalyze innovation and drive collaboration in the global e-commerce ecosystem.As fans eagerly await official confirmation from EA regarding the remake of "Need for Speed 9," discussions and speculations about what the revamped version may entail continue to fuel excitement and anticipation within the gaming community. Whether it's the return of iconic cars, thrilling races through urban landscapes, or intense police chases, one thing is for certain – the remake of "Need for Speed 9" has the potential to be a game-changer for the series.
The development of Sora represents a significant leap forward in the field of artificial intelligence, particularly in the realm of generative models. Leveraging the power of deep learning, Sora is capable of generating realistic and high-quality videos from scratch, without the need for human intervention. This unprecedented level of automation opens up a world of possibilities for content creators, filmmakers, and marketers, enabling them to produce engaging and visually stunning videos in a fraction of the time it traditionally takes.
