If you're an entrepreneur, you know that protecting your intellectual property should be high on your list when it comes to safeguarding your company. However, as a successful business owner, you also know the steps and costs of filing a trademark in the CA can be expensive and arduous.
This conundrum can be even more overwhelming for new business owners who want to do everything possible to minimize the price of securing trademarks. They try to handle complicated tasks like trademark registration on their own, which can be a big mistake - especially when juggling the day-to-day tasks of running a business. You may be thinking, "But what about those set-it-and-forget-it services you can find online? All you have to do is plug in your info, and you're done." Using pre-made templates for trademark filing can be tempting, but doing so can leave you with inadequate protection and hurt you in the long run.
So, what is the easiest, most cost-effective route to consider that also minimizes legal risk? The truth is, before you spend money on an online filing service, it's best to consult with a trademark attorney working with clients in Ottawa, Ontario.
At Sausser Summers, PC, our experienced trademark attorneys can help you understand the trademark process step by step. We can even help with CA trademark filing, CA trademark responses, and CA trademark renewals at a price you can actually afford. That way, you can make an informed decision regarding your business without having to break the bank.
Hiring an attorney can be a daunting task, but at Sausser Summers, PC, our goal is to make the process as simple and seamless as possible for you. That's why we offer a straightforward checkout service. First, you choose your flat fee trademark service and fill out a short questionnaire. Then, we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the details of our service. From there, one of our experienced trademark attorneys will get to work on your behalf.
Using a trademark attorney for filing in Ottawa, Ontario, can significantly increase your chances of a successful registration. The CA government recommends hiring a trademark attorney to help with your application, and our team of trademark lawyers is dedicated to meeting your needs. In fact, we help ensure your application is filed correctly the first time so you can get on with your life and avoid legal risks.
At Sausser Summers, PC, we work closely with our clients to understand their needs and provide them with sound professional advice. We never offer incomplete services, such as simply filing for registration, because that would leave you open to legal risks. You can rely on us to handle your intellectual property matters, and our flat fee services can help protect your business in a simple, straightforward, and affordable way. It's really that simple.
In terms of filing a CA trademark, we provide an easy three-step process to protect your intellectual property:
1. You provide your trademark info to our team via an online form.
2. Our team performs a comprehensive trademark search. This search ensures that no other marks will prevent you from registering your trademark in the CA Once performed, we'll send you a legal opinion letter that details our findings.
3. Sausser Summers, PC, files your CA trademark application. We are then listed as your Attorney of Record on file. From there, we'll provide ongoing updates regarding the status of your trademark as it works through the registration process.
The bottom line? At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.
At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.
It's not necessary to be a lawyer in order to apply for a trademark. Anyone can submit a trademark application to the CA Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, registering a trademark involves more than just filling out a form. It's essential to conduct thorough research, accurately identify and clearly explain your trademark to ensure it receives adequate protection. And even after securing a trademark, you've got to monitor it consistently to make sure it's free from infringement.
The big takeaway here is that it's always a good idea to work with a trademark attorney to protect the intellectual property that you've worked so hard to establish. According to the Wall Street Journal, applicants are approximately 50% more likely to secure their trademark than people who file applications on their own. If your trademark application is rejected by the USPTO, you will need to revise and refile it, incurring additional filing fees. To avoid delays and extra costs, it is best to have a trademark lawyer help you get it right the first time.
Great trademark attorneys (like those you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC) will help with every step of filing and enforcing your trademark. Some additional benefits include the following:
Check to see if your proposed trademark is registered by another entity.
Conduct research to see if another business is using the trademark for which you're applying.
Provide advice and guidance on the strength of your trademark.
Draft and submit your trademark applications and application revisions.
Advice and guidance regarding trademark maintenance and protection.
Monitor the market for unauthorized use of your trademark.
Trademark enforcement to protect you against infringement.
Curious whether our trademark attorney services are right for you and your business? Contact Sausser Summer, PC, today. Let's talk about what you need, and how we can help.
Online services, can provide you with basic assistance in filing your trademark. However, they will never be a legitimate substitute for an experienced trademark attorney helping clients in Ottawa, Ontario.
Although online filing services offer a step-by-step process, they take a one-size-fits-all approach to preparing legal documents. Even their advanced service only provides basic attorney assistance in completing your paperwork and helping with minor roadblocks. Online filing services' disclaimer highlights the many limitations of its services, including the fact that communications are not protected by attorney-client privilege. In addition, online filing services cannot provide advice, explanations, opinions, recommendations, or any kind of legal guidance on possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms or strategies.
In other words, online filing services can offer you the necessary forms and point you in the right direction, but they cannot customize their services to your specific needs or help you with serious complications that may arise.
For the most comprehensive trademark service and protection, it's always wise to work with highly rated trademark lawyers, like you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC.
Trademarks in the CA can last indefinitely, but did you know that clients in Ottawa, Ontario can file a trademark online, only to lose protection in some circumstances? Trademarks differ from patents and copyrights in that they do not have an expiration date. However, to prevent the cancellation of a trademark, you must maintain it. To ensure that your trademark remains protected, you must actively use it in commerce and renew it with the USPTO every ten years.
The Lanham Act tells us that "use in commerce" is the legitimate use of a trademark in the ordinary course of trade. In other words, you cannot register a trademark solely to reserve the rights to it in the future. In most cases, a trademark must be used continuously in connection with the goods or services it is registered for.
Trademarks are registered with the USPTO and generally need to be renewed every ten years. However, there is one crucial exception that you should be aware of. Within the first ten years of owning a trademark, you must file for renewal between the fifth and sixth year from the date of your initial registration.
During this renewal period, you are required to submit a Section 8 declaration, a specimen that shows how the mark is being used, and pay the required fee. You can also apply for Section 15 Incontestability status, which can strengthen your trademark rights. This application, although not mandatory, can make it harder for others to challenge your ownership of the mark.
After the first renewal, which falls between the fifth and sixth year of ownership, the next renewal filing is due between the ninth and tenth year, and then every tenth year thereafter. In the ninth year you will need to file a Section 8 declaration, attesting to your use of the mark or excusable nonuse. You've also got to file a Section 9 renewal application before the end of the tenth year to keep your registration active.
It is worth noting that the USPTO provides a six-month grace period if you fail to renew your mark within the required time frame, but it is best not to rely on it. If you don't file within the grace period time limits, the USPTO will cancel and expire your mark.
By hiring trademark attorneys helping clients in Ottawa, Ontario, you can avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that can arise and cause you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it.
In the event that you stop using your trademark and have no plans to resume using it in commerce, it may be considered abandoned by the USPTO. This could result in the loss of your protective rights to the mark. Typically, a trademark is assumed to be abandoned if it has not been used for three years. However, you may be able to refute this presumption by providing evidence that you intend to use the mark again in the future.
In addition to trademark abandonment, you should also be wary of improper licensing. It's important to remember that once you allow someone else to use your trademark, you must keep an eye on how they use it. You should monitor the products or services that feature your trademark to ensure that they meet consumers' expectations in terms of quality. Failure to do so can lead to a "naked" trademark license and the loss of your protective trademark rights.
If you're wondering how you can avoid refiling your trademark, the answer is simple: file it correctly the first time around. Filing a trademark isn't inherently difficult, but when doing so, it's very important that certain aspects are filled out accurately in your application. If any information is missing or incorrect, the trademark application may be considered "void ab initio" or void from the beginning, requiring you to file again.
To avoid this, make sure that the information you provide in the application is accurate and complete, including the ownership of the trademark. For instance, if a corporation has multiple shareholders, it should not file under the President's personal name. The rightful owner should be the one/entity that ultimately controls the trademark and the associated goods/services.
It is also important to ensure that the goods and/or services description is precise. For example, if you sell electronic products, you should not file for research and development services despite having a research and development department. The goods/services description should reflect the goods/services you offer to customers, not the departments within your business.
Additionally, providing accurate dates of first use when filing for a trademark is crucial. The USPTO requires two dates to be specified - the date of first use anywhere and the date of first use in interstate commerce. Contact our trademark law office today to learn more about having accurate dates on your filing paperwork.
At Sausser Summers, PC, we often get questions about how to distinguish run-of-the-mill consultants and others from great trademark attorneys. After all - when you're looking for an attorney to file or prosecute your business trademark, you should know their qualifications. Here are three ways you can separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff when it comes to trademark attorneys.
It's crucial to seek legal advice from a licensed trademark lawyer rather than relying on advice from non-professionals like trademark consultants. The USPTO even recommends hiring an attorney to help with the trademark process. Although trademark consultants may provide advice on trademark availability or name marketability, they cannot file the trademark for you or offer legal advice. According to the Rules of Practicing in trademark cases, "Individuals who are not attorneys are not recognized to practice before the Office in trademark matters." This rule applies to individuals who assist trademark applicants.
When searching for a trademark attorney, it's important to find someone with a strong background in trademark law. Look for an attorney who specializes in this area and has significant experience handling trademark-related cases. Avoid lawyers who don't have expertise in this field, as they may not be able to provide the guidance and support you need.
Ensure your attorney provides updates throughout the trademark registration process to avoid missing deadlines, including responding to any Office actions within six months. Failure to do so can result in trademark abandonment. The USPTO will only correspond with the listed attorney of record, so make sure your attorney keeps you informed.
In summary:
Building your brand and gaining recognition for it is a significant achievement, and it's important to protect it. However, there are certain pitfalls and mistakes that can arise, causing you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it. By working with knowledgeable trademark attorneys, you can avoid these issues and file your trademark successfully.
With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Sausser Summers, PC, offers comprehensive guidance, strategic advice, and reliable representation for a variety of trademark matters. Our attorneys have years of real-world experience and, having registered countless trademarks with the USPTO, provide our clients with individualized representation when they need it most.
If you're looking for skilled, adept, and experienced counsel, look no further than our trademark law firm. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can help you safeguard your brand.
Ottawa says it will keep working to help save a northern Ontario paper mill that cited a lack of immediate federal support as it announced this week it was forced to idle operations.Industry Minister Melanie Joly’s office says it had “come to the table” with federal supports for Kap Paper in Kapuskasing, Ont., which directly employs about 420 people and supports 2,500 jobs in the region.It says the federal government has been working directly with the struggling company, citing support offered through the Stra...
Ottawa says it will keep working to help save a northern Ontario paper mill that cited a lack of immediate federal support as it announced this week it was forced to idle operations.
Industry Minister Melanie Joly’s office says it had “come to the table” with federal supports for Kap Paper in Kapuskasing, Ont., which directly employs about 420 people and supports 2,500 jobs in the region.
It says the federal government has been working directly with the struggling company, citing support offered through the Strategic Innovation Fund and targeted programs.
Kap Paper said on Monday that it had received $50 million in loans from the Ontario government and had approached Ottawa for funding, but despite “initial positive responses,” there was no immediate solution to keep the paper mill open.
The provincial government said it provided Kap Paper with millions to help cover operating expenses and was “disappointed” that the federal government failed to join in providing immediate support.
Joly’s office says it will keep working with the company on options to resume its operations.
“The closure of Kap Paper is a gut punch for the workers, their families, and the entire community of Kapuskasing,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We’ve come to the table with federal supports, and we urge the provincial government to remain in lockstep with us as we continue fighting for these jobs.”
A joint statement from Ontario Natural Resources Minister Mike Harris and Associate Forestry Minister Kevin Holland said the province has “continuously pushed the federal government to come to the table as an equal partner, standing up for Canadian forestry jobs and treating Ontario forestry workers fairly.”
Sept. 30 is an annual federal holiday in Canada to recognize the damage caused by the residential school system, honour survivors and help families and communities. Here's some of what's changing in Ottawa on Tuesday.Changes at some museums, libraries, but transit and waste collection remain the sameSept. 30 is an annual federal holiday in Canada to recognize the damage caused by the residential school system, honour survivors and help families and communities affected by the lasting trauma.Ontario and Quebec have deci...
Sept. 30 is an annual federal holiday in Canada to recognize the damage caused by the residential school system, honour survivors and help families and communities. Here's some of what's changing in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Sept. 30 is an annual federal holiday in Canada to recognize the damage caused by the residential school system, honour survivors and help families and communities affected by the lasting trauma.
Ontario and Quebec have decided not to make it a provincial holiday, the same approach they take to other holidays such as Remembrance Day.
Here's some of what's changing in Ottawa on Tuesday.
The city will close its client service centres, employment and social service offices, municipal child-care centres, Site program, dental clinics and sexual health centres Tuesday.
The agriculture, aviation, history, science and war museums are open and offering free admission, as is the National Gallery of Canada, which opens at noon. The history and war museums are open two hours later until 7 p.m.
Some museums are hosting community events.
Seven Ottawa Public Library branches will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The others will be closed.
LCBOs will open at noon. Bank branches are generally closed.
Broadly speaking, federal government employees will get Tuesday off. This may affect some public-facing services such as passports and service centres.
Schools are open Tuesday.
City waste collection will go ahead as normal, and city recreation and cultural facilities, aside from the galleries at city hall, will be open.
OC Transpo and Para Transpo will run as usual.
No road closures have been announced around the national event on Parliament Hill, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
The Bayshore, Rideau Centre, St. Laurent, Place d'Orléans and Tanger Outlets malls have not announced changes to their opening hours.
The Canadian Museum of Nature has its regular Tuesday closure.
The Beer Store hasn't announced any changes.
The Ottawa Art Gallery is open on regular hours with its regular free admission.
Many grocery stores have not announced any changes to their hours.
Folk artists from across the province will be coming to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre on Wednesday, Oct. 15 to celebrate Ontario’s top folk artists’ outstanding work and their contribution to elevating the folk music scene in Ontario.The awards ceremony, which has been ongoing in different iterations for 31 years, fills a gap in province-specific awards in Ontario, and celebrates the community and music that’s made in the province.We spoke with artist and Executive Director, Rosalyn Dennett about the awa...
Folk artists from across the province will be coming to Ottawa’s National Arts Centre on Wednesday, Oct. 15 to celebrate Ontario’s top folk artists’ outstanding work and their contribution to elevating the folk music scene in Ontario.
The awards ceremony, which has been ongoing in different iterations for 31 years, fills a gap in province-specific awards in Ontario, and celebrates the community and music that’s made in the province.
We spoke with artist and Executive Director, Rosalyn Dennett about the awards and the impact it has on Ontario’s folk scene.
As of the moment of writing, the ceremony has accounted an increase of over 100 registrations compared to last year’s ceremony, hosted in Mississauga. It has attracted not only artists, but other music industry professionals such as agents, managers, record labels, folk festivals, and concert presenters, showcasing the importance of the value for the entire industry.
This year’s city of choice, Ottawa, has special significance for the organizers.
“The awards [and conference] in Ottawa mean a lot to us. Our head office is in Ottawa. [The] last time we were in Ottawa was in 2016 and for a lot of folks, that was a really amazing event,” Dennett says. “[Ottawa] was amazing at that time, and it’s just gotten better … so coming back gives us an opportunity to engage so many folks working in the music sector, folks working in folk music, and we can’t wait to connect.”
This year’s awards will include two new awards: the Music Video of the Year award and the Culture in Climate award, which will celebrate outstanding commitment to climate and environmental responsibility.
Normally part of the conference, limited space in this year’s venue forced organizers to include them in the ceremony.
The Culture in Climate awards also aims to highlight the work done in that sector by the Ontario folk community and will allow artists and stakeholders to provide policy recommendations, which will be discussed during the conference.
The conference, which will follow the awards ceremony, has almost doubled the 540 registrations from last year and includes Canadian and international members in the industry. Over 56 professional development activities will take place at the conference, with discussions about how the industry has evolved in terms of streaming and social media.
“They all centre around that question of, what do we do now? What is the current state of the industry, and how do we fortify ourselves? And how do we change what we need to change to make sure that it’s a sustainable industry for folks to live and work in,” says Dennett. “So it’s a question on everybody’s mind. It’s not something that we’re prescribing the answers to, but it’s a part of every single discussion that’s taking place at the conference.”
For Dennett, the conference holds a special meaning:
I’ve grown up in the folk community, both as a festival attendee and as a person who makes music. As a musician and an artist, various industry goals have been tied to that community. It’s definitely the honour of my lifetime to do this work. It means a lot to be championing music that is organic, handmade, and has these connections to culture. I think that if you’re not sure if your music is folk, if you’re not sure if you like folk music, check out our website, check out some of the artists that are showcasing at our event this year, and you’re going to see a pretty diverse array of music types all underneath that umbrella. You might not know it, but you might already be a folk fan. There’s a lot of diversity within the genre, and we hope you check it out.”
Those who can’t attend the awards ceremony or conference will also have the opportunity to take part in showcases and a community-focused event that will take place on Sunday, Oct. 19, from 1pm-8pm in collaboration with the Vanier BIA at the St. Charles Market. This event will include live performances as well as a dozen other artists being showcased throughout the festival, including many local artists. A detailed list of performances can be found on the Folk Canada website.
Those in the community or who are artists who are looking to get involved are encouraged to go to folkcanada.com, where you can sign up for a weekly newsletter that highlights opportunities across the industry, including upcoming festivals, funding, and job opportunities, as well as news from community members. Dennett also suggests becoming a member to deepen engagement within the folk industry, as all major decisions go through their members.
The Ontario Folk Music Awards takes place at the National Arts Centre on Oct. 15, 2025. Tickets are sold out.
The Folk Music Ontario Conference is still accepting registrations via the Folk Canada website. Registration ranges in price from $68.07 to $535 and takes place from Oct. 15 to 19 at the Delta Hotels Ottawa City Center, 101 Lyon St. N and is wheelchair accessible. Full conference details can be found here.
Details for all the artist showcases can be found here.
A look at what’s on this week in Ottawa – Events and Activities this Week in Ottawa from Oct 13 to 19, 2025.Your dream wedding starts here! Capital Wedding Show gathers the best of Ottawa’s Wedding Industry under one roof for the ultimate wedding planning weekend. The best ... »2025 Canada’s Got Talent Finalist Comedian Sai Kit Lo has over 20 millions of views, over 700k likes for his stand up comedy videos on Facebook and Instagram. ... »Come join us at Art House for a night of mingli...
A look at what’s on this week in Ottawa – Events and Activities this Week in Ottawa from Oct 13 to 19, 2025.
Your dream wedding starts here! Capital Wedding Show gathers the best of Ottawa’s Wedding Industry under one roof for the ultimate wedding planning weekend. The best ... »
2025 Canada’s Got Talent Finalist Comedian Sai Kit Lo has over 20 millions of views, over 700k likes for his stand up comedy videos on Facebook and Instagram. ... »
Come join us at Art House for a night of mingling, networking, and fun with fellow filmmakers. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this ... »
Military Appreciation: Salute to Service We play for more than just a win. Join us as we honour the brave members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans, ... »
Dasha’s Welcome to Dashville is a bold invitation into her world—where sharp storytelling, infectious melodies, and undeniable charisma collide. With a sound rooted in pop-country ... »
Gather your friends for an unforgettable weekend – shop till’ you drop from exhibitors showcasing the greatest selection of products and services made just for women, sample food ... »
Show and sale of the original work of numerous sculpture artists in the Ottawa area. Various types of media will be represented from clay and wood to ... »
Where Have All the Buffalo Gone? is a magical and enchanting story that follows two souls through seven different periods of Métis history. It is filled ... »
Crickets are chirping. Will night soon be falling on the forest? Don’t worry—we’re sitting on soft furs under cozy tents. This gentle show is ... »
Less Toches is the musical collision of five explosive musicians, an unexpected and refreshing big bang of cumbia on the island of Montreal. The eternal magic of ... »
The CPA Ottawa Open Classic has been running in Ottawa for over 40 years and has always been a big show with Ottawa being such a close knit ... »
Cheer on the Ottawa Senators as they play New York Islanders on home ice! Experience the excitement, rivalry, and skill of NHL action while supporting the Senators ... »
A self-drive tour of 17 magnificent Model Railway layouts in the Ottawa/Gatineau region. Once again, local modellers have offered to open their layouts for the day and ... »
ABBA REVISITED recreates the magic of the iconic Swedish pop group with authentic costumes, spectacular harmonies, and note-perfect musicianship, taking their audiences on a musical journey back ... »
Ottawa legend Victor Nesrallah, is bringing his ground-breaking, critically acclaimed fusion album Blood From the Stone live to the stage. He will also be playing material from ... »
Touring their new album Necessary Fictions. GoGo Penguin, the Manchester trio who inspirationally blend jazz, classical and electronic influences, return with a powerful new album, Necessary Fictions, ... »
Foil Arms and Hog are back with their brand-new show, Skittish. A mix of sketch comedy, audience participation and improvisation. With over one billion views you may ... »
Re-live Beatlemania: step into a time machine with HELP! and experience the Fab Four Live! Founded in 1999, HELP! rapidly established itself as one of the most popular ... »
Enjoy an hour of live performance with coffee and treats after the show. This incredible quartet features Guy Edrington, Nigel Bell, Cresta deGraaff, and Roberto Rivera — a ... »
Jacques Surette is a 25-year-old singer–songwriter from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, whose authenticity and singular way of speaking are both charming and disconcerting. Accompanied by an acoustic ... »
Cheer on the Ottawa Senators as they play Seattle Kraken on home ice! Experience the excitement, rivalry, and skill of NHL action while supporting the Senators in ... »
Fresh Meat is a playground for Ottawa’s theatre makers, giving local individuals and collectives of all levels of experience a unique opportunity to test new ideas ... »
Enjoy an hour of live performance with coffee and treats after the show. This incredible quartet features Guy Edrington, Nigel Bell, Cresta deGraaff, and Roberto Rivera—a ... »
The Canadian security intelligence and law enforcement community has long been a member of the ‘5-Eyes’ intelligence sharing partnership. While each change in US Administration has brought ... »
Cheer on the Ottawa Senators as they play Nashville Predators on home ice! Experience the excitement, rivalry, and skill of NHL action while supporting the Senators in ... »
613flea is an ever changing, twice-a-month marketplace that returns to Lansdowne Park with makers & bakers, crafters & creators, antiques dealers & vintage clothing vendors, vinyl records & comics - plus ... »
Wickedly Westboro Returns For over 15 years, Westboro Village has been hosting spooky fun throughout Westboro for its Wickedly Westboro Halloween festivities. Join the Wickedly scavenger hunt any ... »
Take a tour through this spectacular outdoor art exhibit of over 7,000 handcrafted pumpkins all lit at night along a kilometre long path in a picturesque 19th-century backdrop. ... »
Step into the shadows, for the time has come! We’re back with an electrifying experience as darkness descends upon Fort Henry once again, transforming this historic ... »
This fall, let your teen dive into the fun of drawing with a seasonal twist! Our Teen Drawing Club is a 4-week program where creativity meets spooky ... »
sKreamers is a fundraising project of the Kiwanis Club of Orleans. Local residents and rival farmers have long suspected that something unnatural has been happening out at ... »
Every fall, as the days get shorter and temperatures drop, vibrant colours take over Ottawa–Gatineau. This spectacular show lasts only a few weeks, but attracts hundreds ... »
Let’s take a stroll, shall we? A tour down the archives of legends and lore; of whispers in the night. Each Friday and Saturday in late ... »
With tons of outdoor attractions available, including wagon rides, live shows, puppet shows, mild haunts, a parade, hedge mazes, choosing your perfect pumpkin, and so much more, ... »
Join for the annual pumpkinfest when our farm is transformed into a giant Halloween playground. Bring a picnic and come join us for a ghostly gathering in ... »
As you near the Haunt you travel through darkened cemeteries, where more than 9,000 spirits have been interred. In the dark of night many of their lost souls ... »
The Bazaar is open for seven weekends in the fall and is located in an old barn that’s been converted into an international marketplace. Packed to ... »
Enjoy fun time at the farm. Along with apple picking there are lots of activities available for you to enjoy – wagon rides, corn mazes (a major and ... »
The corn maze will be open for those who want to try their skills at finding their way through the maze. Wagon rides will be returning to ... »
Located in the heart of Vankleek Hill, Ouimet Farms Adventure is a unique place where fun, family, and farming come together. Our 7 acres corn maze will ... »
The Indigenous Walking Tours (IWT) will explore Ottawa downtown monuments, art, architecture and landscape through an Indigenous perspective. These exceptional tours present a unique opportunity to learn ... »
Rock Dunder is a treasure that lies within the UNESCO Thousand Islands Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve. Rising 275 feet above Morton Bay, Rock Dunder provides breathtaking views of ... »
Take a spooky stroll through Downtown Ottawa on this guided haunted walking tour. Experience the darker side of Canada’s capital and hear tales of the city's ... »
Softball league for women 18 years of age and over. Any skill level is welcome. * Orthodox style pitching * Sliding and stealing permitted * Pitching mask mandatory for pitchers & ... »
A mother is sharing the devastation she felt watching her newborn son develop respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and urging Ontario parents to get a newly available preventative treatment for their babies.An Ottawa mother learned RSV can have severe impacts on children, after her son ended up intubated at the hospital years ago. She's sharing her story as the weather gets colder, to prevent it from happening to others.A mother is sharing the devastation she felt watching her newborn son develop respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ...
A mother is sharing the devastation she felt watching her newborn son develop respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and urging Ontario parents to get a newly available preventative treatment for their babies.
An Ottawa mother learned RSV can have severe impacts on children, after her son ended up intubated at the hospital years ago. She's sharing her story as the weather gets colder, to prevent it from happening to others.
A mother is sharing the devastation she felt watching her newborn son develop respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and urging Ontario parents to get a newly available preventative treatment for their babies.
RSV is a common virus that affects the lungs. It's most prominent in children under the age of five, especially newborns, and can cause fever, irritability, breathing difficulties and decreased appetites.
“For a little baby that can't cough it out, that can't blow their nose, [it] can be catastrophic,” said Jessica Cohn, the mother of now 10-year-old Eitan.
When Cohn heard a muffled cough through the baby monitor when he was about three weeks old and noticed he wouldn't settle down, she took him to CHEO, the children’s hospital in Ottawa.
That was where she was told he had RSV and his symptoms would likely get much worse.
Two days later and two more visits to CHEO, her baby was hooked up to machines to help him breathe, and his parents were left fearing for his life.
Cohn remembered how one night, when Eitan had already been sick for nine or 10 days, doctors and nurses crowded into his room.
“I'm like, ‘What's going on?’" she recalled. "And there's all this like talk and chatter, and they said to me, ‘He's really not doing great right now. We might have to intubate.'"
Doctors opted not to, and his health started to improve the next day. By that time he'd spent nearly half of the first weeks of his life in hospital.
“Fifty per cent of RSV cases are hospitalized in the first six months of age, and it's devastating for families with young children to be in hospital and to watch them suffer through it,” said Dr. Darine El-Chaâr, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at The Ottawa Hospital and one of the authors of a report by the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) on RSV.
“There could be long term effects as well. And we know that it's associated with asthma and wheezing and chronic lung diseases later on — and so preventing it would mean hopefully reducing that burden later on in life."
A study done by the FMWC shows RSV is the predominant cause of most lower respiratory tract infections, up to 80 per cent of cases of bronchiolitis — a common lung infection in children — and 40 per cent of pneumonia cases in infants.
The paper also pointed to another Canadian study which found nearly one-quarter of children who ended up in hospital with RSV needed to be admitted to the intensive care unit.
There are three ways infants can be protected against the illness, however: through a vaccine given to mothers in their third trimester, from antibodies passed along if the mother is ill with the virus, or from an antibody newborns are given directly.
That third option, called nirsevimab (and sold as Beyfortus), was made available last year in Ontario to all infants.
But according to El-Chaâr, one of the difficulties with getting nirsevimab to babies is because, while the product is approved by Health Canada, it’s up to each individual province and territory to roll it out.
Ontario and Quebec are providing nirsevimab to all newborns, as do the territories. Some provinces also began offering it this fall, while others provide a different antibody for infants called palivizumab — one that's given monthly instead of once, El-Chaâr said.
According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, RSV causes up to 16 times more hospitalizations among young children compared to the flu, while the Canadian Immunization Guide shows nirsevimab reduces RSV hospital admissions 81 to 83 per cent.
The data shows nirsevimab works, El-Chaâr said.
As for Cohn, she’s thankful her son made it out of the hospital without any serious complications.
“We're in a time where there's options, there's ways to prevent these babies from getting so sick. So [it's important] to educate yourself as a new parent, know your options, know they exist," she said.
"As a new parent, you want to be home with your baby. You want to be enjoying it. You don't want to see that baby hooked up to tubes and machines.”