Our Health & Wellness Blog
By Heidi Vincent, MBA, RHN. Communications & Public Relations Lead Reflections from the CHI team’s summer retreat There are moments when stepping away from our familiar surroundings gives us space to breathe, reconnect and reflect on the values that guide us. Surrounded by tall trees and overlooking the calm, open water, the Centre for…
By Dr. Erica Rizzolo, ND. You have likely heard that October is breast cancer awareness month, but did you know that August 18th was named World Breast Cancer Research Day (WBCR Day)? August 18th was named WBCR Day in 2021 by Dr. Susan Love, founder of the Susan Love Foundation.1 Research is keystone to making…
By Anne Pitman, M.Sc., C-IAYT. Yoga Therapist. This spring the CHI ran its first Fear of Cancer Recurrence + Progression group. With 15 wonderful participants, we ran four sessions (once a month), on Zoom. We’re planning many more sessions, starting in the fall. But first, here are some reflections on our Pilot Project: People…
By Anna Crandlemire, CST-T, RCRT. Certified Craniosacral Therapist, Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist, and Lymph Drainage Therapist. In today’s fast paced and often stressful environments, it is helpful to understand how to support the process of downregulating the body back to a calm and restful place. After you have experienced stress, the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS),…
By Dr. Anna Bullen, ND. May was Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and even though we’re now into June, the timing couldn’t be better to talk about sun safety. As Canadians head outdoors to enjoy the summer sun, it’s a great time to review how to protect our skin, what to watch for, and when to see a healthcare provider. Screening Guidelines Currently, the Canadian Task Force on…
By Dr. Laura Batson, MSc, ND. What if the dysfunctions of your gut are intelligent responses to a dysfunctional world? The body cannot be separated from the social, ecological, political, and historical systems it lives within. While both conventional and naturopathic approaches often focus on internal root causes-microbiome imbalances, food sensitivities, nervous system dysregulation,…
By Dr. Ellen Conte, ND. The health of humans and the health of our planet are tightly connected; an unhealthy planet negatively impacts human health.1 In honour of Earth Day 2026, let’s explore five actions you as an individual can take that improve your health as well as the health of our planet. 1.…
Playback Theatre presents! Shock and Resilience: Real Stories About Cancer Friday, May 22, 2026 7:00 – 8:30 pm Champlain Fieldhouse 140 Carleton Avenue (entrance on Cowley Avenue), Ottawa This fundraiser supports supports Yoga Therapist Anne Pitman’s new program at the Centre for Health Innovation: Fear of Cancer Recurrence and Progression. Playback theatre…
By Lisa Paterson, Yoga Therapist, Movement & Meditation Teacher, Retired Psychotherapist. An Early Spring Practice The arrival of Spring doesn’t guarantee Spring feelings, nor warm sunny weather! The arrival of Spring doesn’t mean that you automatically feel energized or hopeful. But it might be in contemplation of the Spring that some hope – or…
Cancer Prevention Month: The Risks Associated with Alcohol Consumption