The holiday season is upon us and we have put together a list of experts who can speak to festive topics that may be of interest to your audiences during this time of year. 

Buying local during the holidays
While the COVID-19 pandemic saw some holiday shoppers buying early and buying local, it also saw many buying online. Dan Shaw, Senior Instructor and Director of MBA Programs in Dalhousie’s Rowe School of Business can speak to how the pandemic changed buying habits, how that affected local retailers and the importance of supporting local retailers this holiday season.

Gathering safely this holiday season
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people to spend the last couple of holiday seasons separate from family and friends. This year, as many people make plans to gather together again, and concerns about variants continue to grow, Dr. Lisa Barrett can discuss variants, immunity and how to safely plan your holiday gathering. 

Anatomy of a snowflake
Some of us love cozying up over the holidays while fresh snowflakes fall from the sky. But have you ever wondered how snowflakes are formed? What can we gain from understanding how ice crystals form? Dalhousie’s Dr. Mary Anne White can discuss how her and her colleagues mix water with ceramic powders and freeze them in controlled conditions to create materials with tailored properties. These materials are used for things like the nose cone of an airplane. So next time you see a snowflake, remember, they aren’t just beautiful, they’re important research subjects.

Mindfulness Practice for the Holidays: Cultivating Calm and Joyfulness
To many of us, the holiday season offers long-awaited opportunities to gather with family and friends, take time off from work and enjoy the holiday spirit. However, it can also be quite stressful. Mindfulness practice and meditation provide us with a tool to help us manage our stress, be less reactive and calm our nervous system - at work and at home. Rita Wuebbeler, long-time instructor in Dalhousie’s Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development, can discuss ways for individuals to reduce their stress levels to achieve a greater sense of well-being and focus. She can explain the well-documented benefits of engaging in mindfulness practice and suggest ways to make the practice “stick” - and to return to feeling joyful and calm. 

Full course description can be found here.

Holidays, family, and vaccine status
The holidays bring family and friends together, but topics brought up at the dinner table can also tear them apart. Traditionally, it’s said that it’s best to avoid topics like politics and religion at the dinner table, but this year another topic that can cause division is vaccine status. Dr. Michael Unger can discuss strategies for discussing vaccine status at the dinner table, or perhaps before the invites even go out.  

What your child may really need this holiday season
For young children, the holidays can be overwhelming. There are so many temptations including decorations, presents and treats. Tie these in with a break from their daily routines and expectations to attend long services and family gatherings, children can quickly become overwhelmed and overstimulated. Dr. Michael Ungar can provide perspective on how to manage your little one’s expectations over the holiday season. He can also offer suggestions to ensure your child gets the unstructured playtime/downtime they need during the hustle and bustle of the holidays. 

Walking in a winter wonder land – tips for safe snow removal 
It’s beautiful to look at and fun to play in, but snow removal and clean up can wreak havoc on your body if not done properly. Occupational therapists Karen Jodrey and Karen Landry, can explain how to protect yourself when you remove snow from your driveway, walkway and/or deck. They can also provide tips on how to clear ice and snow in a manner that will help prevent injury.  

Healthy through the holidays
During the happiest of holiday seasons, we often find ourselves indulging, and sometimes over-indulging on delicious baked goods, cheese, dips, sugary drinks and so much more – but what happens when the holiday season coincides with an ongoing global pandemic? Are we apt to indulge a little more than usual? Dr. Sara Kirk professor in Dalhousie’s School of Health and Human Performance can discuss what leads us to make the food choices that we do, and also provide tips on how to maintain healthy nutritional habits during this festive yet stressful time.

‘Tis the season of treats and temptation
It’s almost impossible to avoid coming face to face with an abundance of sweet and savory treats during the holidays. Let’s face it, it can be hard to stick within the confines of our regular, often healthier eating habits during this time of year. Dr. Leah Cahill from Dalhousie’s Department of Medicine, can offer tips for healthy eating over the holidays and into the New Year.

Holiday treats and happy teeth
Indulging in sweet treats is a part of what the holiday season is all about. But fizzy drinks, homemade goodies, and hard candies and nuts can all pose risks to our teeth. How do we keep our teeth happy, healthy, and protected while enjoying all our holiday favourites? Great Canadian Baking Show 2018 finalist Dr. Sachin Seth knows a thing or two about making – and enjoying – scrumptious holiday treats. And as a dentist and a faculty member in the Faculty of Dentistry at Dalhousie University, he can advise on the best ways to care for your teeth during this festive time plus suggest a few tooth-friendly gifts and stocking stuffers to put under the tree.

Contact: Please contact Cheryl Bell at 902.266.9403 or cheryl.bell@dal.ca if you would like an interview with Dr. Seth.

Protect your family from tooth trauma
The first snowfall of the year announces the beginning of winter sports season. Skiing, snowboarding, skating, and hockey are all great cold-weather activities for families and friends to enjoy. But falling and other accidents can damage or cause trauma to our teeth. Endodontist Dr. Isabel Mello and paediatric dentist Dr. Tracy Doyle, both faculty members in the Faculty of Dentistry, can provide tips on how to protect the teeth during winter activities and explain the best course of action to take when accidents happen.

Contact: Please contact Cheryl Bell at 902.266.9403 or cheryl.bell@dal.ca if you would like to speak with Dr. Tracy Doyle or Dr. Isabel Mello.

Protecting Fluffy during the holidays
The holidays are a busy time of year. With family vacations, lots of visitors, and the allure of sparkly ornaments, plants and sweet treats, pets can often get up to mischief, become stressed and in some cases, get let outside accidentally due to a revolving door of company. Dr. Lori Parsons, Coordinator of Dalhousie’s Veterinary Technology Program, can provide tips on how to minimize stress and keep your pets safe over the holidays.

Avoiding financial stress 
‘Tis the season of giving, but does the gift of giving have to mean taking on more debt and the mental stress that comes along with it? Household debt in Canada has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with some hit harder than others. Dr. Lars Osberg, can offer more insight on this. He can also provide ideas on how to enjoy the holidays without causing a strain on your finances

Special Note: Interview requests will be subject to expert’s availability at time of request.