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A couple of articles are added each month with many more articles provided in the CAS's Maple Leaf Times (eMLT) magazine. To receive your eMLT magazine sent directly to your inbox (8 issues per year), become a member of the Canadian Association of Singapore. Visit the CAS website to register -- www.canadians.org.sg

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Fit Bit: Knee Pain

Do you have knee pain and are you not able to do cardio to burn fat?

It is true that cardio activities burn fat around the tummy. So what happens if you have a knee injury and get frustrated with not being able to jump, run, skip?

Here are some activities (or examples of Workouts) to tone the core. When performed with
intensity, you will also sweat buckets! Best of all, it helps to engage the transverse abdominals a lot more than just simple cardio. It also increases the mind body connection.

Meanwhile, sit tight and take deep breaths...



By Jessica Gan

Earth Shattering Truth About Runs


With the number of marathons and runs gaining traction in Singapore, attracting thousands of runners each race, how many of us actually take heel to reflect on the impact these events have on the environment? Raise your hand if you are guilty of taking the runner’s kit for granted. Apart from photo opportunity, how many other times does one actually use the commemorative items? In addition the expanding consumption  of goods, sales of running related items such as apparel, hydration packs and compression wear, has also increased over the years.

Marathons and runs not only contribute to the increase in consumerism, they cause a lot of waste too. If you have stepped foot at the frontline of a run, you will notice the amount of unsolicited plastic bottles, paper cups and flyers everywhere. As such, organisers of events such as the recent Nat Geo Earth Day Run 2017 gives back by utilising sustainability tools to power the event, apart from promoting environmental efforts through issuing functional race pack  to the participants and  encouraged them to refill water via the  BPA-free bottles provided. That’s not all, one of the highlights of the run was the Eco-Carnival which was open to public so family and friends can have fun in a sustainable manner. There were green workshops to try our hand at eco-friendly crafts and upcycling activities.This was also where Green Living gave away microgreens (seeds) in launching their #GrowYourOwnGreens campaign which encourages the community to grow their own produce.

Green Living, Singapore’s first complete eco  lifestyle event happening from 22 – 24 September 2017 at the Marina Bay Sands, focuses on promoting green consumerism through learning, experiencing and adopting green lifestyle  that minimizes the negative impact of our consumption to the environment to enable responsible economic development. As there is much satisfaction in harvesting one’s own greens, encourages renewable agricultural resources and reduces carbon footprint, we would like to invite you to drop by Green Living’s next roadshow at BCA’s Big Day Out  (22-25 2017 June at Bedok Town Square) to collect your very own #GrowYourOwnGreens start kit to kick start your green journey. Snap a photo of your greens and hash tag #GreenLiving2017 & #GrowYourOwnGreens and stand to win prizes. Green Living is a 3-day comprehensive one-stop platform for promoting a green lifestyle where the community gets to experience an eco-friendly lifestyle where one can learn from green champions and get a glimpse of how life may be like in a greener and more sustainable Singapore. For more information, do visit www.green-living.com

Sevens Hit Fever Pitch @ CIS


With all the excitement following Canada’s win in the recent Singapore Rugby 7s tournament, CIS was thrilled to be part of the pre-tournament hype.

On the Tuesday afternoon prior to the tournament, CIS students were lucky enough to witness the New Zealand 7s team train in our gym with autograph hunters at the ready for a famous ‘selfie’ with their favourite players. All the fans were in awe of the skill level displayed and delighted that many of the activities the team practised were similar to those they do during their PE classes!

A few days following the Kiwi team visit, our rugby academy members and a number of other lucky secondary school students, were treated to a talk by Rob Vickerman (former England rugby captain turned TV presenter). His speech was extremely inspirational as he related playing sports to being successful in academic studies and life. Everyone was completely absorbed - you could have heard a pin drop in the theatre! Afterwards, we presented Rob with a CIS rugby jersey which he was wearing proudly when he left the Atrium.

These recent elite athlete visits are just some of the ways we encourage our students to stay healthy and play sport. All our students also have two compulsory PE classes a week and from Grade 4 onwards, the opportunity to play in over 14 competitive team and individual sports including rugby, swimming, netball, basketball, volleyball,
badminton and golf.

By Dean Monaghan, Head of Sports

Ask the Dentist - Extra Teeth


Q: My teenage daughter has an extra tooth growing between her upper two front teeth, does it need to be removed?

Extra tooth (also known as supernumerary tooth) that is found in between the upper two front teeth is called mesiodens. It is the most common type of supernumerary tooth. The cause of mesiodens is not fully understood although genetic factor is associated to play a role in the formation. This extra tooth can cause delayed or abnormal eruption of the two front teeth.

Therefore, it is recommended that you bring your daughter to see a dentist in order to find out if the extra tooth is a cause for concern. Whether an extraction is required, it depends on various factors:


  • Eruption – has it erupted or is it affecting the growth of other the two front teeth?


  • Appearance – does it look relatively normal compared to neighbouring teeth? Is the shape and size of the teeth normal? Is it growing in the same direction as other teeth?


  • Alignment – has it caused the two front teeth to be crooked, rotated or have a gap in between?


In cases where mesiodens affects adjacent teeth, it is generally better to have it removed. If extraction is not required, periodic dental check-ups is advised to ensure that any future changes (cystic formation or damage to adjacent teeth) can be detected promptly.

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Dr Debbie Hong is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with Specialist Dental Group®. She received her specialty training from the National University of Singapore. Dr Hong was the Recipient for the Silver Jubilee Award by NUS Dental Society for her outstanding performance. Dr Hong has a special interest in dental implants, jaw surgery and complex extractions. 

For more information, please visit http://www.specialistdentalgroup.com

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