Government of Canada Celebrates Opening of Innovative Alzheimer's Care Centre

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Oct. 21, 2013) - Today, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), celebrated good news for Alzheimer's patients, their families and caregivers. Minister Goodyear, along with Mark Adler, Member of Parliament for York Centre, marked the grand opening of a new centre that will bring southern Ontario businesses, researchers and not-for-profit organizations together to develop new technologies for Alzheimer's care.

"Our Government is taking steps to battle Alzheimer's disease, recognizing the cost this disease represents for families in Canada and around the world," said Minister Goodyear. "This Centre is now ready to put the innovative thinking of our region's businesses to work for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, as well as their caregivers."

"Our Government is proud to support the Alzheimer's Centre of Excellence," said MP Adler. "Today's grand opening demonstrates our Government's commitment to tapping into Canadian innovation and creating a better future for all."

In August 2012, Minister Goodyear announced a $5.368-million non-repayable contribution to B'nai Brith through FedDev Ontario's Prosperity Initiative. This investment has allowed B'nai Brith to create the Alzheimer's Centre of Excellence; including an innovation laboratory for the development and testing of new technologies, products and services associated with Alzheimer's disease. It has also helped B'nai Brith to hire an additional eight specialized, dedicated full-time employees including:

• An Innovation Project Coordinator
  
  
• A Post Doctoral Fellow
  
  
• Two Graduate Student Trainees
  
  
• Two Research Analysts
  
  
• An Executive Director
  
  
• A Business Manager
  
  

The Centre is part of the B'nai Brith Alzheimer's Home, a state-of-the-art care facility for Alzheimer's patients. Managed in partnership with the International Centre for Health Innovation of the Ivey School of Business at Western University, the Centre will continue to provide high-quality care for patients, while pursuing the latest innovations in Alzheimer's treatments, products and services.

Companies with a focus in healthcare and information communication technologies will now begin working with the Centre to test their innovative solutions, including medical devices, diagnostic tests and technologies used to monitor and treat patients. For example, Pharmax Inc. has partnered with the Centre for Health Innovation to develop and commercialize a wireless infection control technology for health systems; and Tertec Enterprises Inc.'s Mon Ami™ is an electronic companion that offers services to meet the complex needs of its users. The impact of these technologies will be investigated at the Centre. These collaborations aim to bring advanced Alzheimer's care solutions to global markets and attract more companies dedicated to Alzheimer's disease and dementia care to the region.

"As dementia and Alzheimer's become ever more rampant in Canadian society, B'nai Brith Canada has taken up the challenge," said Eric Bissell, President, B'nai Brith Canada. "Today, we add the newest B'nai Brith agency, the Alzheimer's Centre of Excellence, a most needed facility, which we trust, will be a prototype for care for many cultural, religious and social service groups in Canada and around the world. We thank the federal government for its valuable assistance and look forward to working with the Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation to ensure the finest care and the creation of innovations to help patients worldwide."

"There is a significant need for new and innovative technologies, products, and services related to the care of people with Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Anne Snowdon, Chair, International Centre for Health Innovation. "The work at the Centre of Excellence will bring these innovations to the world's doorstep and improve the quality of life for patients and their families."

FedDev Ontario's Prosperity Initiative, as part of the Southern Ontario Advantage initiatives, is encouraging businesses, not-for-profit organizations and post-secondary institutions in southern Ontario to undertake projects resulting in a more productive, diversified and competitive economy in the region.

To date, over $450 million in funding has been committed to over 250 projects under the Southern Ontario Advantage initiatives, resulting in partnerships with more than 5,300 organizations, and over $1.2 billion in additional leveraged investments from almost exclusively non-government sources.

Created in 2009, FedDev Ontario supports the southern Ontario economy by building on the region's strengths and creating opportunities for jobs and economic growth. In Budget 2013, the Government of Canada demonstrated its continued commitment to workers, families and communities in southern Ontario with the renewal of FedDev Ontario. Economic Action Plan 2013 provides $920 million over five years for the Agency, starting on April 1, 2014. As part of the renewal, FedDev Ontario will be allocating $200 million over five years for a new Advanced Manufacturing Fund in Ontario.

As outlined by the Prime Minister, the Government of Canada remains focused on what Canadians care most about: their families, the safety of our streets and communities, their pride in being a citizen of this country, and their personal financial security.

To learn more, please visit www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca or call 1-866-593-5505.

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This news release is available online at: www.FedDevOntario.gc.ca.