The holiday season is upon us and the dawn of a new decade is fast approaching. We have put together a list of experts who can speak to festive topics (with a unique spin), that will be of interest to your audiences during this time of year.

Baby’s first Christmas
New mothers can feel a lot of pressure for everything to be perfect for their baby’s first Christmas. Dr. Megan Aston and Dr. Sheri Lynn Price, both faculty in Dalhousie’s School of Nursing, can offer tips for new moms on getting through the holidays and eliminating the stress and expectation for the “perfect” first Christmas. Dr. Price and Dr. Aston are part of a research team that recently created and launched mumns.ca, a website aimed at helping new mothers navigate their first year after welcoming a new baby.

Holiday cheer, giving and plastic
Plastic is everywhere, especially around the holidays. Trees are often adorned with plastic decorations and surrounded by children’s toys made of bright shinny plastic materials. Dr. Tony Walker, Assistant Professor in Dalhousie’s School of Resource and Environmental Studies, can tell you what happens to plastic toys and decorations once they are discarded and the impact they have on the environment. He can also provide a few examples of environmentally sustainable gift ideas.

‘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.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
For many, hanging stockings by the chimney with care is just a line in a classic Christmas story. For others, the stockings must actually be hung perfectly, the tree trimmed to emulate a scene from a Hallmark movie, and the gifts wrapped to Martha Stewart standards. Clinical Psychologist and perfectionism expert, Dr. Simon Sherry can provide perspective how to manage and set healthy expectations for the holidays.

New year, new you
How many times have you heard yourself saying, “this is the year I will….”, in relation to welcoming a new year. Many people set New Year’s resolutions to get healthier, be kinder, give more, lose weight etc., but are these resolutions realistic and/or healthy? Clinical psychologist and perfectionism expert, Dr. Simon Sherry can discuss whether or not setting New Year’s resolutions is healthy and attainable.

Consider skipping the traditional pretty paper and ribbons this year
This year you may want to consider wrapping your presents to your darling in a more sustainable way. Kareina D’Souza, Sustainability Manager of Dalhousie’s Sustainability Office, can provide insight on where gift wrap and bows end up after the holidays. She can also offer alternative ideas on how to ensure that you are wrapping your presents and hosting holiday festivities in a in an environmentally sustainable way.

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. 

Avoiding financial stress this year
‘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 is reaching higher than normal levels, with Canadians owing over $2 trillion. Economist Lars Osberg, can offer insight into why Canadians have accumulated so much consumer debt. He can also provide ideas on how to enjoy the holidays without causing a strain on your finances.

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.

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