Latest news with #Victorians
Cision Canada
10 hours ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
TELUS Health for Good™ and Victoria Cool Aid Society launch series of hepatitis C testing events in Victoria
In recognition of World Hepatitis Day, TELUS and Victoria Cool Aid Society support life-saving screening for high-risk populations VICTORIA, BC, July 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, Victoria Cool Aid Society and TELUS Health for Good launched a series of hepatitis C testing events enabled through the two Cool Aid Mobile Health Clinics powered by TELUS Health. Today's event takes place at Victoria's largest shelter, Rock Bay Landing, with Cool Aid staff on site delivering hepatitis C rapid testing and TELUS volunteers providing nutritional support, helping to facilitate access to essential health services. With additional events planned throughout the remainder of the year, this collaboration will enable Cool Aid to reach their goal of completing 700 hepatitis C tests in 2025. "Hepatitis C often has no symptoms, so you could have it without knowing," said Tamara Barnett, Hepatitis C Program Coordinator, Cool Aid Community Health Centre. "Getting tested helps you start treatment early, avoid liver damage, and prevents passing the virus on to others. Our peer-led testing program has screened over 1,900 people to date, leading to over 50 successful treatments. This support from TELUS will allow us to test more people than ever this year." "At TELUS, we are driven by our collective desire to leverage technology and human compassion to enable better health outcomes for vulnerable populations," said Nimmi Kanji, Executive Director TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and TELUS Social Purpose Programs. "Through our longstanding partnership with Victoria Cool Aid Society, we are enabling access to life-saving hepatitis C testing directly to those facing significant barriers to accessing traditional healthcare. By combining our mobile health technology with community-based care, we are ensuring that early detection and treatment is accessible to those who need it most, helping create a healthier, more inclusive future for all." Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver that, if left untreated, can lead to serious health problems including liver damage, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. With no vaccine available and more than 50 million people affected worldwide, including approximately 200,000 Canadians, early detection and treatment can be life-saving. According to studies, the prevalence of hepatitis C can be 10 times higher among people experiencing housing instability compared to the overall population. Fortunately, the testing process is quick, easy, and accurate, with treatment curing 95 per cent of people within 8 to 12 weeks. Building on decades of primary healthcare and social support services, the two Cool Aid Mobile Health Clinics powered by TELUS Health have supported more than 40,000 patient visits across Greater Victoria since their respective launches in 2021 and 2023. In addition to point-of-care testing, the mobile clinics also provide wound care, STI treatment, harm reduction, outreach, and mental health care services to Victorians in need. Additional hepatitis C testing events will take place at community locations across Victoria throughout the remainder of 2025, with dates and locations to be announced shortly. To learn more about TELUS Health for Good, visit About TELUS Health for Good Since 2014, TELUS Health for Good has been connecting underserved individuals to the medical and mental health care they need using the power of technology. Backed by a commitment of $16 million through 2027, TELUS Mobile Health Clinics have now supported over 300,000 patient visits across 27 Canadian communities since inception. Equipped with TELUS electronic medical records technology, and fuelled by compassion, our Mobile Health Clinics provide essential primary medical care to individuals living on the streets. The program also supports caregivers experiencing marginalization with access to free TELUS Health MyCare Counselling sessions and supports low-income older adults to live more independently and enjoy peace of mind with low-cost TELUS Health Medical Alert services. To learn more about TELUS Health for Good, visit About TELUS TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a world-leading communications technology company operating in more than 45 countries and generating over $20 billion in annual revenue with more than 20 million customer connections through our advanced suite of broadband services for consumers, businesses and the public sector. We are committed to leveraging our technology to enable remarkable human outcomes. TELUS is passionate about putting our customers and communities first, leading the way globally in client service excellence and social capitalism. Our TELUS Health business is enhancing more than 150 million lives across 200 countries and territories through innovative preventive medicine and well-being technologies. Our TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods business utilizes digital technologies and data insights to optimize the connection between producers and consumers. Guided by our enduring 'give where we live' philosophy, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $1.8 billion in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs including 2.4 million days of service since 2000, earning us the distinction of the world's most giving company. We're always building Canada. About the Victoria Cool Aid Society The Victoria Cool Aid Society believes that everyone deserves home, health and community. We create opportunities for people who are experiencing homelessness or living in poverty and we make a difference through housing, health and dental care, community, and emergency shelters. Founded in 1968, Cool Aid helps more than 12,000 people in the Capital region every year, at 20 locations in Victoria, Saanich and Langford, including more than 7,000 Community Health Centre patients. For more information about Cool Aid, visit For media inquiries, please contact: Saara Rahikka TELUS Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE TELUS Communications Inc.
Economist
16 hours ago
- Science
- Economist
AI labs' all-or-nothing race leaves no time to fuss about safety
IT IS COMMON enough for new technology to spark a moral panic: think of the Victorians who thought the telegraph would lead to social isolation or Socrates, who worried that writing would erode brain power. But it is unusual for the innovators themselves to be the ones panicking. And it is more peculiar still for those same anguished inventors to be pressing ahead despite their misgivings. Yet that, more or less, is what is happening with the tech world's pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI), meaning an AI capable enough to replace more or less anyone with a desk job, or even superintelligence, meaning an AI so smart no human can understand it.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby visits Glenapp Castle
It has been a five-star experience all the way for Monica Galetti and Rob Rinder as they have gone on safari in South Africa, explored tea trails in the highlands of Sri Lanka, and watched the northern lights from a luxury cabin in an Arctic resort. But it turned out to be a hotel in Ayrshire that moved one of the duo to tears - in a good way. Glenapp Castle featured in Sunday's episode of the long-running travel and hospitality show. Once home to a Victorian industrialist, the castle has been extended and renovated to the highest spec. Rooms cost up to £1000 a night, with the penthouse apartment, running the full width of the hotel, yours for £5000 daily. The price includes a private chef. 'This really is a magical place,' says Rinder as the car reaches the end of a mile-long driveway. 'It's Disney meets kilts.' Ayrshire is one of the least visited parts of the country, says Galetti, getting just 7% of the market. Those who come to Glenapp Castle are after 'a special experience of Scotland.' The drive at Glenapp Castle is a mile long Inside, the hotel is a blend of luxurious and cosy. 'Guests don't come here for clean, modern lines or Scandi chic,' says Galetti. Rinder agrees. 'It is as if the Victorians never left, with heavy patterned curtains, pretty bedspreads and deep carpets.' His suite comes with its own turret. 'This is full on wow, everything I imagined a castle would be.' Taking in the size of the room, he adds: 'This is bigger than my house in London.' There are lounges and a library but no bar, with the staff bringing anything a guest wants directly to them. Most of the staff are local but live-in due to the remoteness of the location. After meeting the owner, Paul Szkiler, chief executive of Truestone, Galetti and Rinder try their hand at making one of the spectacular floral arrangements that grace the lounges. The next task is serving a picnic on Ailsa Craig to a couple celebrating the husband's 60th birthday.'What an experience,' says Galetti as the hotel's speedboat makes the 45-minute crossing from Girvan. It might be a picnic, but everything from cutlery to cuisine is of the same standard as back in the hotel. Going on a picnic to Ailsa Craig is just one 75 activities the hotel offers, including guided walks and falconry sessions. The cameras head up to the penthouse suite for a rare glimpse inside. It took four years and £2 million to transform the attic into a series of inter-linked rooms including a family kitchen, a sauna, and several lounges. In the roof of the master bedroom is a skylight so guests can watch the night sky as they lie in bed. Rinder moves on to his next job - reading Address to a Haggis at a Burns supper (though it is not in fact Burns Night). A kilt is required. 'I'm not Scottish,' says Rinder. 'Is it okay for me to put a kilt on?' After reassurances that he is not going to offend anyone, it is time for housekeeper and occasional kilt fitter Liz - her record is 20 in one night - to make sure he is wearing the garment correctly. A nervous Rinder heads off for what will turn out to be an evening to remember. The castle is set in more than 100 acres of woodlands and gardens. Within the grounds is a restaurant, The Azalea, which is housed in a Victorian glasshouse designed by Mackenzie & Moncur, suppliers to Kew and Balmoral. Rinder's final assignment is to accompany guests on a sea safari. The day ends with glamping on Jura, complete with a five-course meal including local lobster, cooked alfresco by Galetti. The chef has been with the show, now in its fifth series, from the start. Amazing hotels are about more than just a building and a nice facade, she says. 'It's really easy to forget about all of the people and hard work that goes into creating that experience for you behind the scenes when you travel. I really do believe it's the people that bring these hotels to life, who bring that care and attention for that little extra touch.' Cosy by the fire: Rob and Monica Barrister turned television presenter Rinder is new to the show, taking over from Giles Coren as co-host. Sheer escapism is the key to the show's success, he believes. 'It has to be the best job in the world and I keep pinching myself.' Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, BBCiPlayer
Time Out
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time Out
NSW is home to the worst drivers in the country as voted by Australian drivers
Think Sydney drivers are the pits? You're not alone. A new survey from family safety app Life360 has just dropped, revealing what Aussies think of drivers around the country. The survey asked Australians to share which state they think is home to the worst drivers, and NSW copped the most flak – with NSW drivers ranking as the worst in the country. The survey asked more than 2,000 Australian drivers to assess their own driving ability, reveal the most annoying driving behaviours, and decide which state they think is home to the country's worst drivers. According to the study, 89 per cent of Australian drivers think they're 'excellent' behind the wheel, but only 7 per cent of us trust other people on the road – something here isn't adding up. The results show that 43 per cent of Aussie drivers judge other drivers based on their number plates, with NSW assumed to be home to the worst drivers, followed by Victoria, then Queensland, then the Northern Territory. So, what are NSW drivers doing to grind everyone's gears? Drivers here in NSW were called out for aggressive driving (51 per cent), habitual speeding (47 per cent), and plain rudeness (37 per cent). Here's the leaderboard for worst drivers, according to Australian drivers: Ready for the plot twist? Despite NSW being the national scapegoat, Life360 app data revealed that the highest proportion of dodgy drivers are, in fact, based in ACT – with the capital state home to the highest rates of hard braking, speeding and driver phone use per capita. The respondents also accused Victorians of being serial ignorers of road rules, tailgaters, and distracted drivers, while those that pointed the finger at Queensland said they 'just have a hunch they're the worst'.The real takeaway here is that Australia is home to a whole lot of judgemental drivers, with only 49 per cent saying they trust their partners as good drivers and even fewer backing friends (33 per cent), parents (32 per cent), or kids (22 per cent). Incidentally, a study by Uber found that NSW is home to the most polite passengers – and yes, we'll take 'The Passenger Princess State' crown with pride.
The Age
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
Third Melbourne council to hire private security guards as ‘safety issues at their worst level'
An inner-west Melbourne council has become the third municipality to take crime prevention into its own hands by hiring private security to patrol antisocial hotspots, prompting calls for more police resources and funds for support services. After an hour-long debate, Maribyrnong council voted on Tuesday night to support hiring guards to patrol central Footscray after a spate of violent incidents, including an alleged murder in the Nicholson Street mall and the fatal police shooting of a homeless man. The six-month trial is expected to begin in August and would cost ratepayers up to $100,000 for two security officers for 24 hours a week. The decision follows a similar move at Melbourne City Council, which last month made its CBD security guard scheme permanent after a three-month pilot. The scheme costs $2 million for 11 guards per year. Wyndham City Council, in the outer west, also voted last month to pay $372,000 for private security to patrol the streets of Truganina in a 12-month trial. Security guards' powers are limited to citizen's arrests as they are unable to use force, but councils argue that they create a passive safety presence while accompanying the council's local law officers, who enforce on-street behavioural issues such as public nuisance and alcohol consumption. Security guard patrols are also increasingly being paid for by private operators, such as at housing estates in Melbourne's outer suburbs to combat theft and violence and Jewish schools and communities fearing antisemitic attacks. Opposition Leader Brad Battin blamed the government for fuelling a trend of local councils turning to private security to help their communities feel safe, which is costing ratepayers. 'When local councils are forced to step in and fund private security to fill the gaps, it's a clear sign that the Labor government has failed to deliver on one of its most basic responsibilities: keeping Victorians safe,' Battin said.
