1. SHERI LEVINE’S PORTFOLIO
Provided in my portfolio please find the following:
! Writing samples published by Canwest / Postmedia News Service from
2007 to 2012. Original clippings are available upon request.
! Two writing samples published on Crea.ca in 2007.
ENTERTAINMENT
The doctor is in the House; Hugh
Laurie and his TV alter ego have
humour, smarts, charm in common
Postmedia News
Wed Nov 16 2011
Byline: Sheri Levine
Dateline: LOS ANGELES
Source: Postmedia News
LOS ANGELES - Paging Dr. House. After eight years, Hugh Laurie is still
keeping House's heart beating. And while the medical mysteries may serve as
plots for the long-running medical drama, it's Laurie's alter ego, the man himself,
Dr. Gregory House, who keeps people turning in for their weekly fix.
Laurie, who made a name for himself as a comedic actor in his native England,
was relatively unknown to North American audiences when House first aired. Of
course, that's no longer the case. The multi-talented Laurie - who recently
released a fine album of New Orleans-inspired blues music - has become a huge
star across the pond, as well as one of the highest-paid actors on TV.
``I highly doubt that,'' says a modest Laurie, who actually seems embarrassed by
the very notion that he would rank so high on the actors' payroll. Clearly, he
doesn't take his good fortune for granted. Laurie calls himself ``a lottery winner''
with the great success he's achieved on House.
Dressed casually in a blue, button-down shirt, black pants and black and white
sneakers, or trainers (as the Brits would say), Laurie rests his cappuccino cup
and saucer on the table in front of him. The charismatic Englishman playfully
takes on the group of international journalists who have invaded his turf.
Filmed on several impressive sound stages at Fox Studios, you could easily
mistake the faux medical set for the real thing. From the ER and surgical unit to

2. House's office, everything is detailed and precise. The hospital cafeteria is
complete with small sugar packets and bottled condiments on each table, while
art from child patients lines the hallway and cafeteria walls. Another thing that
isn't fake is the medical equipment. Building an MRI machine, for example, would
be too costly. So the show uses a real one and updates it to match what is
currently being used in real hospitals.
In person, the affable Laurie smiles easily, laughs frequently and seems to never
be at a loss for a witty response or anecdote. He is adorably charming, with
piercing, blue eyes - an intense blue not picked up on camera.
It's oddly amusing to see the man - who plays such a cynical, depressive,
perpetually grumpy person, week in and week out - so happy. Of course, that's
the mark of any good actor. But as creator and executive producer, Canadian
David Shore, says: ``He didn't become House, he WAS House.''
Laurie's strong comedic roots may have been what resonated so strongly with
Shore upon seeing Laurie's audition tape.
``I venture to guess that, actually, that's part of the reason that I'm here, '' says
Laurie. ``Unless this character had a sort of grace and a wit about him, he would
be just too much of a pain in the ass, really. The elegance of the way his mind
works, and the speed at which it works, is part of his charm, if he has any. Now,
lots of people would say he doesn't have any. I disagree. I find him immensely
charming.
``I'm not sure I would put up with him as a best friend, but I do find him endlessly
entertaining. And I find . . . the references he draws on, the way he seeks out
people's weaknesses in such a cruel and horrible way, I find he does at least do
it with wit.''
House has become an iconic character, largely due to Laurie's flawless portrayal
of a brilliant doctor with a horrible bedside manner whose asinine qualities are
overshadowed by his brilliance. He's not really an ass, he just acts like one . . . a
lot.
His antics are forgivable, because audiences know House comes from a place of
brutal honesty. More important, there is the discernible quality to House that
makes him relatable to viewers, in that he is human. House is a self- destructive,
deeply flawed man who manages to take his personal and professional
successes and single-handedly destroy them.
``I don't think he seeks (happiness) out as the primary goal of existence,'' says
Laurie. ``I think he's capable of feeling momentary joy. I think he can become
intoxicated by the hunt, the chase, the solving of the problem. And when he
meets those challenges and survives them, I think he is capable of feeling a real
elation. But happiness as sort of a general background level of happiness, I don't
think he is just really designed that way.''
The antithesis of House is his best friend, Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean
Leonard). One might even go so far as to say it's their friendship that humanizes
House, and is a big part in sustaining the show's success.
``One of the things I'm proudest of in the show is that relationship,'' says Shore.
``I think that it's something you don't see on TV very often - the male friendship
explored,'' he says.

3. Leonard weighs in: ``His actions are what count. It's the only relationship on the
show that's not tied to any employment. I don't work for him and he doesn't work
for me, and it's not true of any other character on the show. So we're the only two
characters that have actually chosen to be together.''
The mild-mannered, sensitive, compassionate Dr. Wilson is often on the
receiving end of House's jokes - mocked for his empathetic nature towards his
patients. Yet, there's a yin and yang to their friendship that believably works.
Sure, House is a pain in the ass, but, as Leonard explains, ``He's also extremely
witty and fun to be with. And, you know, for all the reasons people enjoy watching
his character, I would think Wilson would enjoy being with him. He's a great guy.''
The onscreen pals are also good friends off-screen, a likely contributing factor to
the genuine House-Wilson dynamic.
``Well, now that we've stopped sleeping together, it's a lot more comfortable in
every way, physically, as well,'' jokes Leonard. ``I don't know. He's very
complicated. He's a very strange guy. He's very funny. He's like most of the
people I like in my life: tortured, miserable, and just a pain in the ass,'' Leonard
says (referring to Laurie, not House, just in case you were confused).
As to whether this is the show's last season, David Shore says he's undecided.
``I'm not being coy, I'm just honestly not that well ordered,'' admits Shore. ``I
would love to and I would hate to (continue the show). It's been a wonderful
opportunity for me. It's just been amazing on so many different levels, and I'm
continuing to find new and interesting things to do with it. But it's been eight
years. It's a long time to do a show. And so I really am not sure what's going to
happen.''
In the end, Shore says the show is ultimately about ``trying to change, but we
inevitably fail.''
``But if we don't keep trying to change, we're just going to slide completely
backwards. I think House would like to be the type of person who could do things
differently. But he's not, and he will never (be).''
What does this mean for the fate of Dr. Gregory House?
``I'm not going to change his character for the end of the show,'' says Shore. ``It
may not be a miserable ending, but (House) is not going to ride off into the
sunset with love.''
slevine@postmedia.com
Twitter/sherlevine
*
SIDEBAR
Hugh Laurie on taking on his famous alter ego. 438 words
By Sheri Levine
Postmedia News
As one of the more unique and multi-layered characters on TV, you might think
that Hugh Laurie has some sort of process to play his complex character. Not so.
``Well, for better or for worse, there is very little preparation in television. That is
just the nature of the way it is made. I get a script only - usually, 48 hours,
sometimes less - before we actually start to shoot it. And in those 48 hours, we're
shooting the last day of the previous one. So for all the actors and the

4. technicians and designers and so on, I have to be speedy and possess a sort of
quickness for an improvisational - I don't mean improvising - dialogue. I mean,
the ability to sort of find your feet quickly and make decisions quickly is
absolutely of the essence. There's no sitting about, discussing for days and days,
discussing motivation. . . . I mean, that's just the nature of it. . . . The preparation
is very scant.''
On his plan to research the role of Dr. House:
``Before the show actually started, I wanted to go and spend time in an American
hospital because, of course, a British person's experience of health care is so
totally different. It's almost as if we have our hearts on the right side and our
lungs are in our knees. You know, it's so different, and I had no experience with
American health care and I wanted to go. In fact, I arranged to go and spend time
in a hospital in Chicago. But in the end - even that, even before the pilot - that
turned out not to be possible. You know, there's no time. You've got to get here.
You've got to start shooting. . . . I wish I could say that I had some fascinating
psychological process, but I basically just put on the sneakers and go.''
On playing the same character for eight years:
``It's not the playing (of) the character over and over again. It's the coming to . . .
I mean, there are very few things in life that are so deliciously enjoyable that you
want to do them for 16 hours a day, every single day . . . including sex and fine
dining. . . . You want a break. And sometimes it can get overwhelming. There's
the volume of it, the fact that it keeps on coming and keeps on coming and you
don't see (an end), unlike a film or a play. It feels like . . . whatever you do,
whatever problem you solve, there's another one. . . . We're on a sort of
conveyor belt. But then again, everybody feels that, doing every single job.
There's nothing particular to me or to us about it.''
Story Type: Entertainment
Note: .EDS: House airs two new episodes before breaking for the holiday
season: Nov 21 and Nov 28 at 9 ET/PT on Global and Fox.1,225 words with 420
in optional trims, plus optional 500-word sidebar of quotes from Hugh Laurie
Photos
Length: 1711 words
Idnumber: 201111160105

5. The ups and downs of Parenthood;
Family drama puts the fun in
dysfunction with raw emotion and
humour
Postmedia News
Fri Dec 2 2011
Byline: Sheri Levine
Dateline: LOS ANGELES
Source: Postmedia News
LOS ANGELES - Monica Potter's eyes well up with tears. Even though she's
trying not to cry, she can't help but get emotional. But she's not in character. This
is not a scene from the television drama Parenthood, although it's beginning feel
like one. After all, someone is crying and we're seated in Adam and Christina
Braverman's living room. But, Adam and Christina aren't real people, they're
characters - played by actors Peter Krause and Potter - and the living room is
really a sound stage in Los Angeles, which is standing in for San Francisco
Potter is not acting, but rather reacting to a question she has just been asked
about a scene from this season shared by her character and her TV daughter,
Haddie (Sarah Ramos).
The scene in question is heartbreaking. There are not many words exchanged
between mother and daughter, but the heartbreak is so vividly expressed in
Potter's/Christina's eyes and face. It's a scene any mother with a teenage
daughter can relate to: trying to navigate the fragile ground of a first boyfriend
breakup.
``You never want to see your kids hurt,'' says Potter, referring to both her TV kids
and her kids in real life. ``And it's funny because my kids at home, they're like,
`God, you cry all the time on the show.' But I don't ever let them see me cry (in
real life). So maybe it's a release that I'm able to do it here. . . . because I don't
want them to feel insecure or scared or whatever.''
Parenthood is based on the 1989 Ron Howard feature film and follows the basic
premise: the joys and pains of, as the title says, parenthood. The series quietly
premiered in March 2010 on NBC. Series creator, executive producer and writer
Jason Katims, who also helmed the critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights (also
based on a feature film), seems to have an uncanny ability for creating some of
the most compelling and relatable characters on TV. This sense of realism is

6. captured by the incredibly talented, ensemble cast, who even interact with one
another as a real family off-camera - a happy, functional family, or as the
Braverman's might say, dysfunctionally functional. The San Francisco-based
Bravermans are like most families living through life's ups and downs. Adam and
Christina struggle with their son Max (Max Burkholder) who has Asperger's, while
also raising a feisty, independent teenage daughter and - added to the mix this
season - their baby daughter Nora.
Adam is the oldest of four siblings and the most responsible one, often burdened
with everyone's problems while always trying his best to do the right thing (which
doesn't always work out in his favour). His siblings include: Sarah (played by
real-life girlfriend Lauren Graham), the second-eldest and a single mom who
moved back home with her teenage daughter and son to make a fresh start;
Crosby (Dax Shepard), charming but irresponsible; and Julia (Erika Christensen),
a corporate lawyer with a type-A personality, married to a supportive husband
and stay-at-home dad, Joel (Sam Jaeger).
Veteran actors Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia round out the Braverman
clan as the parents and grandparents Zeek and Camille.
``We all feel like siblings at this point,'' says Krause. ``They all have distinct
personalities. And I think in terms of those four, there's two sets. . . . Adam and
Julia are sort of the more serious . . . `play by the rules' kids. And then Crosby
and Sarah are . . . a little less rule-oriented kids. So, the way that they mix with
each other, in terms of making it real, I don't know. . . . We just go for it.''
Parenthood has gained a loyal following and found critical acclaim while
maintaining modest ratings. The show's sense of realism stems from the style in
which the characters interact - sometimes talking over one another, or
interrupting each other, just the way people do in real life. At times, the show
almost mimics a documentary on a day-in-the-life of an American family. It's a
style Katims seems comfortable with, a certain energy that embodies each of his
characters that makes them both real and relatable.
``One thing I really wanted to do on Parenthood, which was inspired by Friday
Night Lights, is not so much how we write (the episodes), but how we produce
the episodes and how we shoot them,'' explains Katims. ``I really try to create an
environment on set where everybody has the freedom and the responsibility to
make these moments real, to make it their own.''
Dax Shepard likens Katims' method to being a proprietor.
``I think an added benefit (of doing this show) is that, because Jason gives us all
a certain ownership of (the show), you're like an owner of a business,'' Shepard
says. ``And no one here is apathetic . . . . Everyone here feels like they're an
investor in the company, like it's a character worth protecting and you have a say
so you can help make this thing what you want it to be. I think that really is just a
wonderful kind of carrot for all of us. I think it's really effective.''
That sense of ownership and freedom is something Katims says extends beyond
the cast: it's something the crew feels as well. But within that freedom there is
also structure.
``I think it's important to remember, you know, for us, the performers, that we do
have a job to stick to the story,'' says Krause. ``However, it is very interesting to

7. be thrown off balance by what may come out of another character's mouth,
because in life we don't know what the other person is going to say. . . . On this
show, because acting is really about reacting, you can't help but react, and you
can't help but listen. . . . So I think that Jason's way of working actually creates a
more active kind of listening when it comes to acting. And I've found that really,
really enjoyable on this show.''
While the cast in encouraged to improvise, they are also expected to strongly
stick to the story. They all agree that the process is very much a collaborative
effort.
``I think if we don't have the script, I'm flailing,'' says Potter, who prefers the
structure of a script. ``I need the words. I am about knowing the script. I have to
know every word.''
For Nelson, it all depends on the scene. ``There is a lot of (improvisation) and,
depending on how (the scene) is going, it's sometimes very comfortable and
sometimes not,'' he says. ``It's often times you feel like, `Well, let's see. You
know, am I going in the right direction here?' When you say `improvisation,' you
still have the focus of the scene, and often times you're really trying to find the
centre of it. . . . And so I have a difficult time because I'm more trained, I
suppose, and I'm used to really having to understand and need a focus of a
particular scene. So sometimes I get a little lost and stuff. Other times it's a lot of
fun.''
Nelson may sound serious, but he's really more like the class clown - or in this
case, family clown. When not answering a question, Nelson playfully pokes fun at
his castmates while briefly breaking into song now and again.
Graham greets the group of journalists with a big hello upon entering the room,
so at ease and good natured that she could be chatting with friends over a cup of
coffee. She shares her TV dad's sentiment about the show. ``It's a very unusual
opportunity to have - and it has its blessings and its curses,'' she says. ``When
you find the way your character would say something and you're able to work off
of everyone in this kind of way. . . that helps illuminate some wonderful, truthful
moments, it's great. And then sometimes the scene gets lost. . . . It's just a very
unusual process . . . I don't think there's another show, certainly not a drama, that
works this way. There may be comedies where they let them go a little bit. But I
think it's pretty unusual.''
A few things become clearly evident while observing the entire cast interact with
one another in front of reporters: These actors genuinely like and respect each
other and have become a family of their own. And while Parenthood has its share
of dramatic, emotional moments, there is also a lot of humour. The cast moves
effortlessly from providing serious, thoughtful answers to cracking jokes and
allowing the funny moments to shine through.
It's almost as though art is imitating life, or life imitating art.
slevine@postmedia.com
Twitter: @sherlevine

8. Getting into Sting's head; The
Musical Mind uses rock star to prove
how mind and music mate. Photos.
Canwest News Service
Thu Jan 29 2009
Byline: Sheri Levine
Source: Canwest News Service
Friedrich Nietzsche had a good point when he said, ``without music, life would be
a mistake.''
Neuroscience is proving that music is essential to our lives, thanks to new
technology, and curious scientists and musicians who want to understand the
connection between the brain and music.
Sting is one musician in particular who wanted to know what goes on inside his
head when playing and listening to music. The iconic singer-songwriter
volunteered to be a guinea pig for the documentary, The Musical Brain (airing
Saturday night on CTV), which delves into what happens when mind and melody
meet.
The one-hour special goes beyond the usual talking heads and scientific theories
to reveal compelling evidence of what our brains do when music enters the
equation.
Before becoming a neuroscientist, Daniel Levitin was a record producer and a
professional musician. He now runs the Levitin Laboratory for Musical
Perception, Cognition, and Expertise at McGill University in Montreal, and is also
the author of This Is Your Brain On Music: The Science Of A Human Obsession,
the inspiration behind The Musical Brain.
``We knew we had a film about the brain and music, but you can't just make it a
very academic film with just science. So, the obvious idea would be to get some
musicians involved because they're the masters of music,'' said Christina
Pochmursky, writer and director of The Musical Brain.
``I thought Sting was the perfect person to do the fMRI because of his basic
curiosity,'' she said. ``He's a seeker. He really likes to learn things, and he's
always pushing some envelope, and he's always looking to extend his knowledge
of music,'' Pochmursky explained. ``If there's any musician that will be receptive
to this, you know, rather astonishing idea that you should go into and fMRI and
have your brain scanned ... Ithought, `Sting's the man.'''
Much of the documentary hinged on Sting's participation.

9. ``He was just fantastic,'' Pochmursky said. ``He just understood how important
this was. He was also deeply interested in doing this experiment... he was really
curious about knowing the science.''
While visiting Montreal during The Police Reunion Tour last summer, Sting put
down his guitar in favour of pink scrubs and went through the fMRI (functional
Magnetic Resonance Imagining) to have his brain scanned. In doing so, Levitin
was able to study the affects of music on both an emotional and physical level.
This revolutionary experiment showed how Sting's musical brain responded to
various types of music.
The Musical Brain also features interviews with musicians Feist, Wyclef Jean and
Michael Buble. Sting, however, is the lone guinea pig.
In the documentary, Sting explains why he wanted to partake in the experiment:
``I enjoy getting better as a musician. I enjoy being a student and learning. You
never know enough about music.''
There is, however, one type of music Sting clearly doesn't care to know more
about - Muzak. When played the dreaded elevator music, the artist's brain
showed no response.
Pochmursky said that in The Musical Brain, Levitin vividly captured how music is
the ``gateway to the brain.''
The fMRI technology not only provides neuroscientists with a way to explore the
musical brain in ways they were never able to before, it also provides them with
scientific proof of how and where music is affecting the brain.
fMRI's have existed since the early 90s, but it's still considered relatively new
technology. Its revolutionary capability to study brain function has given scientists
the opportunity to enter a brave new world - the ability to scan the brain while it's
actually doing something, such as thinking, preparing to act or responding to
stimulus.
As Pochmursky explained: An fMRI explores the functional side of the brain
when a person in the machine is asked to think and respond to something. The
fMRI shows where in the brain the blood flows during said action - demonstrating
which parts are aware awake and working.
It's a giant leap from an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), which only maps
the brain. The MRI shows what's inside the brain, not how it functions.
Whether it's Bowie or Beyonce, the Osmonds or the Sex Pistols, music has the
ability to invoke a wide range of emotions in people of all ages, cultures and
backgrounds - scientifically speaking, that is.
``Music is like a mirror to the brain,'' Pochmursky said. ``You understand the
working of the brain when you understand the impact music has on the brain. ''
---
SIDEBAR: Science of the female groupie
Ever wonder why so many women are attracted to male rock stars? The Musical
Brain explores an evolutionary theory behind the allure - one that has yet to be
proven, but that remains a hotly debated theory among the scientific community.
Evolutionary psychologist with the University of New Mexico, Geoffrey Miller,
theorizes the following:

10. * The wiring in our modern brain - for both men and women - is still linked to our
prehistoric brain.
* In prehistoric times, the concept of a female musician was unfounded. Only
men sang or played what constituted an instrument.
* Men who sang and danced were seen as being in good health and strong, and
those who played instruments were seen as smart and creative. This translated
into ``good baby making material.''
* The prehistoric mind wires women to be instinctively drawn to strong, fit,
intelligent men for protection and procreation.
* It's this biological legacy that lights up a woman's brain and makes them
gravitate to (male) musicians.
Story Type: Entertainment
Note: CNS-TV-MUSICAL-BRAIN-ALL.EDS: The Musical Brain airs on Jan 31 on
CTV, EDS: Moving on both Life and Entertainment wires - guard against
duplication, EDS: fMRI is CCT - lowercase `f' uppercase on rest of letters.745
words with 216 words in optional trims plus 160-word (optional) sidebar
Length: 921 words
Idnumber: 200901290054
PRODUCTION FIELDS
NDATE: 20090129

11. LIFESTYLES
This is your brain, this is your brain on love, and
boy are there questions
Timescolonist.Com
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Section: Life
Byline: Sheri Levine
This crazy little thing we call love isn't so little, but it most certainly is
capable of making us crazy. But love isn't exactly based on emotions,
while it may feel that way. Love, actually, is all in your head.
For those Canadians celebrating with their Valentine, and feeling love in
the air, science can explain what's moving their mojo.
Our brains are hardwired for love so we can continue the cycle of life. This
is the bottom line as to why we fall in love, but the question of how is
something scientists are learning more and more about.
While we may think it's our special someone who is making us feel good,
the reality is that we have our brain to thank, says Jim Pfaus, a professor
of neuroscience and psychology at Concordia University.
Our brains receive signals, which react to what's happening. When love
strikes, dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin are released into certain areas
of the brain. These chemicals are in cahoots to make us feel good, and are
what causes those giddy, dazed feelings during the early stages of love.
Dopamine regulates reward as well as anticipation. When you anticipate
something, that feeling is generated from a flow of dopamine. The feelings
of exhilaration and anticipation are processed with the help of serotonin
and oxytocin.
But it's oxytocin that takes centrestage as the chemical designed for the
purpose of bonding. That post-coital bonding is responsible for how we fall
in love. It's the addition of this bonding mechanism that separates love and
lust.
"To say you're in love, you really need the bonding," says Pfaus. "Sex may
be responsible for activating the bonding mechanisms, but it's what
happens immediately afterwards that's the reward."
The difference between love and lust is quite simple: "Lust is synonymous
with being horny," says Pfaus. "It's wanting to have sex but not feeling
romantic towards the individual."
What about love?
With love you have to account for the bonding that goes with it - not just

12. the lust factor: "The love component carries with it the wanting to cuddle
after sex, wanting to protect the person and be with them afterwards."
Love, explains Pfaus, is what activates dopamine and oxytocin. It's so
powerful that the stimuli associated with love activates the brain the same
way as drug abuse. People who become addicted to drugs and begin
obsessing about them are responding to what Pfaus calls drug related
cues.
"In the early stages of drug-taking people are excited (about the drug), this
is similar to how people feel in the early stages of falling in love.
"Mother Nature, in her infinite wisdom, tied sex to reward," explains Pfaus.
"You're in a place where you're very vulnerable and what's happening is
unbelievably pleasant and rewarding. This is to ensure everyone will have
sex, which increases our chances for survival."
When in love, the brain's natural guards against risk are offline. Inhibitory
sensors located in the area of the brain tied to emotion light up during
stress and life-threatening situations to stop us from doing something that's
unsafe. But love shuts those sensors down. "They take a massive hike,"
says Pfaus. "They have to, otherwise you'd never do anything."
Idnumber: 200802140007 Length: 534 words
HEALTH
Giving a voice to `silent killer':
Ovarian cancer often diagnosed too
late.
Canwest News Service
Tue Sep 22 2009
Byline: Sheri Levine
Source: Canwest News Service
What happened to Anne Chase on April 1 a decade ago was no joke. While
doing yard work in her Regina home, she injured her side: all that heavy lifting
led to what Chase thought was just a minor injury, but it was more than that - and
the injury ultimately saved her life.
Chase's pain was so severe she went to see her doctor, who discovered a mass
on her left side. An ultrasound revealed the mass was ovarian cancer - a cancer

13. known as the ``silent killer'' due to its common symptoms. She was diagnosed
with Stage 1 ovarian cancer - a rare early diagnosis for a cancer often not caught
until Stage 3 or 4, by which time it is usually terminal.
Just five months earlier, Chase had a complete checkup, but nothing abnormal
was discovered.
In the wake of her diagnosis, Chase was scheduled for a full hysterectomy. By
the time she went in for surgery three weeks later, she had lost 22 pounds.
``The pain was so severe I was vomiting all the time and I couldn't eat,'' she says.
``My daughter said I went from a vibrant woman to an old lady almost overnight.''
During her surgery, the doctors removed a seven-pound mass on her left ovary.
The mass had been growing for so long it was filled with gangrene.
The surgery was a success and because the cancer had been caught in its
earliest stage Chase didn't have to go through chemotherapy. She is well aware
she is one of the lucky ones.
``By lifting something, it probably saved my life,'' says Chase, who will celebrate
her 68th birthday in October.
A widow for five years, Chase is retired and spends ``as much time as I can'' with
her son, daughter and four grandchildren. She is also a dedicated volunteer with
Ovarian Cancer Canada as well as her church and local hospital.
September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, which was marked with the
seventh annual Winners Walk of Hope on Sept. 13. Chase went to Saskatoon for
the walk, which takes place in 14 cities across Canada each year.
Another organization close to Chase's heart is Listen to the Whispers, an
awareness organization where (ovarian) cancer survivors teach students in the
medical profession about the disease and its symptoms.
Olympic silver medallist Elizabeth Manley-Theobold, who earned a medal in
figure skating at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, has become the new face
in the fight against ovarian cancer. In July of 2008, she lost her mother to the
disease. Manley-Theobold, 44, is using her story to help raise awareness and
some much-need funds as the spokesperson for Ovarian Cancer Canada.
But Dr. Dianne Miller of the BC Cancer Agency says there's still a lot of work to
be done in terms of awareness.
``A lot of people, unless they've been directly touched by ovarian cancer, know
very little about it,'' she says.
More research (into ovarian cancer) is being done, but it ``certainly pales in
comparison to other cancers such as breast and prostate.''
Miller says women need to be vigilant about their health and listening to their
bodies.
``The signs for ovarian cancer are quite vague and usually related to the GI
(gastrointestinal) tract, the bowels, and the symptoms are ones that many
women have all the time,'' says Miller, citing indigestion, acid reflux and bloating
among other symptoms.
``I think the important thing is that if these symptoms persist they need to be
investigated, and what we need to convey to physicians and patients is that part
of that investigation of the GI symptoms include a pelvirectal exam.''

14. A good way to gauge whether or not these symptoms could be serious is if they
don't go away when you would expect.
``If you are suffering from GI upset in general it usually goes away in a day or two
so if you have something persisting for a week, if you have abdominal bloating
and it persists beyond a few days, then absolutely you should be seeing your
physician. If you notice a change in bowel habit, particularly narrowing of the
stools, and that doesn't go back to normal quickly you should again consult with
your doctor,'' says Miller, adding the same advice applies to upper GI symptoms
such as acid reflux and indigestion.
What's important to understand, Miller says, is that most of the time ovarian
cancer does not cause pain. It only involves pain if something else happens - if
there is internal bleeding or if the ovary twists and cuts off the blood supply.
----
For more information visit ovariancanada.org
SIDEBAR 1:
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF OVARIAN CANCER
There is no one specific symptom for ovarian cancer. The symptoms are
generally vague, non-specific and can be mistakenly attributed to other causes
such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). If you have one or more of these
symptoms lasting for three weeks or longer, see your doctor immediately.
Most common symptoms:
* Swelling or bloating of the abdomen
* Pelvic discomfort or heaviness
* Back or abdominal pain
* Fatigue
* Gas, nausea, indigestion
* Change in bowel habits
* Emptying your bladder frequently
* Menstrual irregularities
* Weight loss or weight gain
Other symptoms:
* Mass or "lump" in your pelvis that you can feel
* Inability to eat normally
* Pain with intercourse
* Vaginal bleeding
- Source: Ovarian Cancer Canada. For more information, visit ovariancanada.
org
SIDEBAR 2:
Screening for ovarian cancer
To date, no single test can reliably detect ovarian cancer at a presymptomatic
(before the symptoms begin or are very noticeable) stage. Screening involves
using tests to detect early curable disease in healthy, asymptomatic women.
Having several tests that are all required for a clear picture may help detect
ovarian cancer at an early stage
* A full pelvic exam is an important step in diagnosing ovarian cancer. A Pap
smear does not detect or rule out ovarian cancer.

15. * A transvaginal ultrasound is also recommended. In this test, a narrow probe is
inserted into the vagina and sends out high-frequency sound waves which
bounce off the ovaries and produce echoes that are used to create a picture
called a sonogram. Doctors examine the sonogram for echoes that might
represent abnormal areas.
* A CA 125 test is not effective as a screening tool to catch ovarian cancer at an
earlier and more curable stage. A proper diagnosis of ovarian cancer involves
interpreting the results of the CA 125 blood test in conjunction with the above
examinations.
- Source: Ovarian Cancer Canada
SIDEBAR 3
FACTS:
* Surgery is the only definitive way to rule out ovarian cancer
* Ovarian cancer is the most serious of all gynecological cancers
* Over 2,500 Canadian women are diagnosed with the disease every year
* Every year 1,700 women succumb to the disease
* There is no screening test to detect it. But when found early and treated, the
ovarian cancer survival rate is 90 per cent
* There is a lifetime risk of 1 in 70 that you will develop ovarian cancer
* Many doctors are unfamiliar with the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer
and fail to consider it as a possible diagnosis
* Failure to find the disease in its early stages is partly due to the lack of sensitive
detection tests, and health care providers and women themselves may ignore
warning symptoms
* A Pap smear does not detect ovarian cancer
* HPV vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer
* Pain in the abdomen is not necessarily a symptom of ovarian cancer; even if
you have no pain, your doctor cannot rule out ovarian cancer
* Even though ovarian cancer is known as the "the silent killer," or ``the disease
that whispers,'' the majority of women with ovarian cancer report symptoms,
including women diagnosed at an early stage
* Ovarian cancer rates rise after menopause, peaking from age 60-75, although it
can occur at any age
* The hereditary form, found in families where many close relatives have had
breast and/or ovarian cancer, tends to occur at an earlier age
- Source: Ovarian Cancer Canada
Story Type: Lifestyle
Note: CNS-HEALTH-OVARIAN-ALL.EDS: Embargoed to labelled Healthy Living
pages Sept 22 (Sept 21 Vancouver).875 words with 119 words in optional trims
plus three sidebars totalling 582 words Photos of Anne Chase
Length: 1323 words
Idnumber: 200909220015
PRODUCTION FIELDS
NDATE: 20090922
DOB: 2009-09-22 06:35:03.057

16. Step on scales sends big man from fat to fit
For him, the good life is at a gym
By: Sheri Levine
Tim Walsh is a big man, and at six feet, 260 pounds and only 11 per cent body
fat, he's in great shape. Looking at him today, it's hard to believe this personal
trainer with a passion for nutrition used to be morbidly obese -- fast approaching
400 pounds before he was old enough to vote.
Like many who have struggled with their weight, Walsh couldn't believe the
number he saw one day after stepping onto a scale -- 338 pounds. It's a moment
he calls a major turning point in his life.
"I was in Grade 11 biology and my biology partner asked what my weight was up
to because I was really big. I was like a planet in high school," says Walsh, 32.
"For some reason, my biology teacher had one of those old scales, kind of like
the ones you see in your doctor's office, but a much bigger version, and it read
up to 450 or 500 pounds. So I jumped on it and the needle went all the way to
338 and it stopped right there, and that number froze in my mind. I'm sure that's
the heaviest I'd ever been, and so that day I knew I had to make some positive
changes."
For Walsh, the next day really was the first day of the rest of his life. At 17, he
knew weighing in at more than 300 pounds would shorten his life if he didn't start
making positive changes. He became a voracious reader, learning everything he
could about nutrition, how to improve his eating habits and how to get into shape.
But as he would discover, being overweight didn't just stem from overeating, but
rather why he was overeating.
"I was a bit of a comfort eater," he says. "My parents divorced when I was two
and I didn't get along with my stepfather. There was always a lot of tension
between us, and so looking back, I think food was a comfort for me." Another
contributing factor, says Walsh, was coming from a "big Irish family," where if you
only had one serving at dinnertime, it meant something was wrong.
"The answer to everything was food," Walsh says. "It just seemed like if I wasn't
eating, I was preparing something; I was just eating all the time."
The higher his weight climbed, the lower his self-esteem became, especially
during his early teen years. But that day in biology class was all the motivation
Walsh needed to turn his life around.
"Once I got it hardwired into my mind, I never took my foot off the gas," he says.
Within five years, Walsh went from the heaviest he'd ever been to the best shape
of his life. He lost 110 pounds, and by October 1999 was on stage in his first
bodybuilding competition. That day marked the end of Walsh's long journey from
fat to fit.

17. "I was comfortable in my own skin," Walsh says. "I remember thinking, 'This is
fantastic. I really love what I see in the mirror now.' And that was me moving
forward."
Being fit and looking good on the outside isn't the only benefit of exercising. It
may be the most obvious, but exercise also gave Walsh the confidence he
lacked throughout his teen years.
Jill Barker, fitness co-ordinator and lecturer at the department of kinesiology and
physical education at McGill University, says exercise is a big psychological
boost. "There's a sense of self-satisfaction and it actually boosts your energy. If
you are tired after a workout, then you've pushed yourself too hard," Barker says.
"We now know that exercise has proven to bring up people's mood state. Most
psychologists will even recommend exercise to help improve your mood."
Although Walsh is a gym enthusiast, it's not for everyone and, Barker notes, not
the only way to exercise. "It's really not about intensity at all. It's about getting up
and getting moving. Take your walk from a stroll to a workout."
Barker says as little as 15 minutes is all you need for an improved mood state,
especially if you're outside, getting some fresh air and. in the winter, getting some
daylight.
"The easiest way is to think of exercise as not only something you do in the
gym," Barker says. "Always look for that 20 minutes or 30 minutes to incorporate
movement into your life and not just packaging it all in at once."
Whether it's the gym or getting off the bus 15 minutes early, the best exercise,
says Baker, is "the one you do every day."
Walsh, who grew up in Belleville, Ont., says he "caught the bug" for bodybuilding
at Gold's Gym in London, Ont., where he went to college.
"I took the crutch that was food and replaced it with the crutch that is training. I
lean on the gym," he says.
Walsh now lives in Ottawa and is a personal trainer and assistant fitness
manager at a local gym.

18. TECHNOLOGY
iTunes Back to School series: Day 3:
100 Cameras in 1 App
Postmedia News
Sat Sep 10 2011
Byline: Sheri Levine
Source: Postmedia News
A cellphone that takes pictures used to be pretty cutting-edge. These days, it's
almost impossible to find one without a camera.
Mobile devices have evolved into smartphones, such as the iPhone and
Blackberry, two brands that dominate the smartphone marketplace. No matter
the type of smartphone, the photography rules remain pretty much the same.
Good photography has more to do with how you use a cellphone camera than
the camera itself. Today, more people are using their smartphones for day-to-day
photography. For students, the opportunity to shoot photos at live cultural,
sporting and musical events is a big part of the appeal.
Here are some key tips and tricks to ensure the picture you take with your fancy
phone really is worth a thousand words.
* The real entertainment is the audience:
Chances are, when you're at a concert (indoor or out), you're too far from the
stage to actually get a good shot, so focus on what's around you. Trey Ratcliff, a
travel photographer and App developer based in Austin, Texas, suggests waiting
for the lighting to change and then finding someone interesting around you -
someone whose face may be lit in a certain way - and take a photo of him or her
enjoying the show. The same rules apply for sports. If it's a kids' event, have the
phone camera low and take photos of the kids on a break; those are the more
interesting moments. For professional sporting events, follow the same rules as
those for a concert.
For portraits, it's a little different. ``Draw a relationship between the person and
what (he or she is) holding or where (he or she is),'' says Ratcliff. Make the face,
or the prop, or the place, the focus. Ratcliff advises concentrating on one or two
things for a photo - things you want to communicate. But avoid taking in too
much, he says.
* Smartphone vs. the digital camera:
``The default setting in smartphones gives you just about the same field of view
as the human eye,'' Ratcliff says. ``That's different than a more complex digital

19. SLR (Single Lens Reflex), where you can zoom in and make a wide-angle shot
and do . . . various tricky things that can change the overall feeling of the scene.
``And so the idea with smartphones is that you can capture what you see with
your eye very easily. It doesn't take any complex setup; you don't have to set up
a tripod or figure out your zoom level; you don't have to figure all of your other
settings like ISO, aperture and whatnot, because it's pretty much what your eye
sees.''
* Beauty is in the eye of the camera holder:
Some key things to consider when taking photos with your phone are: line,
contrast, shape and ``new thought patterns.''
When you increasingly start to notice beautiful, small, subtle things in the world
and begin capturing them with a phone, this puts you more into a photographer's
mindset. Ratcliff suggests taking multiple shots and then choosing the best one.
Make this decision, not by asking why it's the best one, but rather, which has the
better composition. Taking multiple photos of the same scene/subject allows for
this comparison. It's too hard to compare composition with drastically different
scenes/subjects.
As for line, contrast and shape, Ratcliff elaborates: ``The way you orient these
things has a fundamental effect on the photo; don't get too caught up in colour. If
you have line, contrast and shape, you have bit of mystery, and it's good to have
a bit of mystery, especially if the light is not quite right. People are intrigued by
lines, and shapes, and contrast, even if they don't know what's going on.''
* To zoom or not to zoom:
There are different theories. Some say to avoid it, but Ratcliff suggests
embracing your zoom. ``Zooming in can take the subject and compress it, which
can make for a more interesting composition.''
* When flashing, don't aim too far:
Using flash on a smartphone camera is tricky, says Ratcliff. Many people take
photos at night, but the sensors on these types of cameras aren't very good yet,
so only use a flash (if your phone has one) for things that are 10 feet away or
closer. Flash doesn't go any farther than 10 feet.
* Trick or treat?
Ratcliff offers this handy trick, which is a real treat for those who have a problem
with shaking. Every smartphone has a different button to press to take a
photograph. Most people hold the phone in one hand and press the button with
their finger, which makes the phone shake and results in a fuzzy photo. Radcliff's
trick is to hold the phone with both hands and hold down the button, regardless of
its location. When letting go, there is a lot less vibration, and it results in a much
sharper image.
slevine@postmedia.com
Twitter/sherlevine

20. The following two articles were published on CREA.ca in 2007 March
REALTORS® provide warmth to homeless
Homeless shelters across B.C.'s Lower Mainland provide warmth for hundreds of
men, women and children every year, but it's often not enough to keep away
winter's bitter chill.
The extreme weather
conditions in B.C. this
winter have only
served to increase the
number of people in
need.
Massive snowfall and
high winds made the
12 th Annual
REALTORS® Care
Blanket Drive the
most challenging to
date, but it only made
the REALTORS®
even more determined
to help the region's homeless. From November 27 th to December 4 th ,
members with the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley
Real Estate Board collected donations of warm clothing and blankets for the
homeless across the Lower Mainland. Even with the weather challenges, more
than 11,000 REALTORS® collected an impressive 3,365 bags of donations for
those in need.
“There's no question the weather affected people's ability to donate but it also
helped motivate the volunteers. We just kept thinking about people trying to sleep
outside in this and it made us work even harder,” said Shirley Witters, a member
of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. “The sheer number of donations is a
testament to the power of people working together to give a hand to the many
people in our communities who need our help,” added Rick Valouche, president
of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.
CREA represents more than 88,000 REALTORS® across Canada. The
Association owns the MLS® trademark, has proprietary ownership of the
REALTOR® trademark, and operates national web sites including mls.ca for
residential properties and ICX.CA for commercial listings across Canada.

21. REALTOR® receives Perth Medal January 2007
The Perth Chamber of Commerce recently bestowed REALTOR® Sheri Mahon-
Fournier with the town's highest honor, the Perth Medal. Former Mayor, Dennis
Cordick, presented Mahon-Fournier with the award for her commitment to the
community.
“It's an honor to be recognized
publicly,” said Mahon-Fournier.
“It's very emotional for me. You
don't think of the accolades and
recognition that comes with
(volunteering) so I am very
honored.”
Mahon-Fournier has played an
active role in her community
since she was a teenager. She
grew up in Smiths Falls where
she worked in Parks and
Recreation for 10 years prior to
becoming a REALTOR®. “I saw
so many volunteers giving of their time and realized it's what made the
community tick and I wanted to be part of it,” she explained. “Being a volunteer
helps keep a community vibrant.”
Recognition and awards have never been motivation for Mahon-Fournier to get
involved with her community. To be given Perth's highest honor is one she
accepts with great humility and emotion.
A REALTOR® for almost 17 years, Mahon-Fournier is a Director and a past
president of the Rideau St. Lawrence Real Estate Board. She has been involved
with the Heart and Stroke Foundation for more than a decade and spent 13 years
on the Perth Santa Claus Parade committee. She was Chair of that committee
for eight years.
When it's time for The Perth Festival of Maples, Lanark County's annual spring
event, Mahon-Fournier is there. She also volunteers with her children's schools
and sports teams.
“Being a volunteer helps keep a community vibrant,” said Mahon-Fournier. “The
busier I am the more productive I am and the more organized I have to be, so it
makes me work harder as a real estate agent.”
Sheri Mahon-Fournier is a REALTOR® with Coldwell Bank Settlement Realty in
Perth.