Grammy swag bags to include Edmonton-made skincare line
A skincare line created by a team of local doctors is about to get its 15 minutes of fame.
The Edmonton EcoMD skincare line will be included in gift bags handed out in Hollywood for the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday.
Dr. Jaggi Rao, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at Rao Dermatology, was one of the team leaders in developing the naturally-sourced, environmentally-friendly line.
"These are toxin-free products, mostly plant derived. Ingredients and the packaging are all bio-friendly and reusable or degradable," he said.
A team of doctors from different disciplines started working on the collection two years ago as a pandemic project, Rao said.
The line includes treatments for anti-aging, acne and sensitive skin and was developed in Edmonton and manufactured in British Columbia.
"Fortunately we finished it just recently. I won't say the pandemic is fully over, but enough to launch it just a few months ago," he adds. "It's caught the eye of several people across the world, including fortunately the Grammy Awards people."
Rao said the team had to apply to have EcoMD featured at the Grammys, and the line was vetted for safety, sustainability and utility before being approved. He said the company sent in around 145 products for the gift bags.
And while the publicity and potential for international expansion is exciting, Rao said he's just happy to see people using the treatments since they were designed to help people care for their skin.
"A lot of people, particularly over the pandemic, have developed sensitive skin, so there is a need for products like this that are very safe and also very environmentally-friendly," he added.
"We're hoping that we will develop more ideas and we look forward to partnering with the people who can help us expand it."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's John Hanson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Biden is coming to Canada: Here's what we know about his visit
U.S. President Joe Biden is coming to Canada Thursday evening, kicking off his short but long-awaited official visit to Canada. Here's what CTV News has confirmed about what will be on the agenda, and what key players are saying about the upcoming visit.
What are the predictions for Canada's real estate market this spring?
The Canadian real estate market has been sluggish since last year, when prospective buyers started putting off plans to purchase homes as the Bank of Canada aggressively hiked interest rates eight consecutive times. But realtors see many edging toward a purchase once more.
Canada broke a population growth record in 2022: StatCan
Canada's population grew by more than one million over the course of one calendar year, breaking previous records, a new Statistics Canada report says.
5 planets will align in an arc across the night sky next week
Sky-gazers will be treated to a parade of planets near the end of month when Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Uranus and Mars will appear together in the night sky.
Federal government allowing Ukrainians overseas to apply for free emergency visa until mid-July
The federal government will give Ukrainians until mid-July to apply for a free temporary visa to Canada under an emergency program put in place last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Prince William visits troops in Poland on surprise trip
Prince William made an unannounced trip to Poland on Wednesday to thank British and Polish troops involved in providing support to Ukraine, before meeting refugees who have fled the conflict with Russia to hear of their experiences.
AP sources: Manhattan DA postpones Trump grand jury session
Manhattan prosecutors postponed a scheduled grand jury session Wednesday in the investigation into Donald Trump over hush money payments during his 2016 presidential campaign, at least temporarily slowing a decision on whether to charge the ex-president.
What made Beethoven sick? DNA from his hair offers clues
Nearly 200 years after Ludwig van Beethoven's death, researchers pulled DNA from strands of his hair, searching for clues about the health problems and hearing loss that plagued him.
Dick Van Dyke suffers 'minor injuries' in Malibu car crash
Veteran actor Dick Van Dyke has suffered minor injuries after his car was involved in a collision in Malibu, California, police in the city have confirmed.
Calgary
-
Why were there fireworks in Calgary last night?
Plenty of Calgarians were surprised to hear the sound of fireworks ringing through the city on Tuesday night.
-
Calgary councillor expecting first child
Calgary councillor Jasmine Mian and her husband are expecting their first child.
-
Zellers food truck rolls into Calgary on Thursday as store reopens
The Calgary Zellers location opens to the public on Thursday and those visiting the nostalgic retailer will also be able to grab a bite from the Zellers Diner on Wheels.
Saskatoon
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Sask. projects $1B surplus, will use cash to pay debt instead of further funding boosts
Saskatchewan is projecting a $1 billion surplus in the coming year and plans to spend just as much in paying down the province's debt.
-
Saskatchewan providing funds to support women, children fleeing abusive situations
The Government of Saskatchewan is setting aside money in this year’s budget to help women and children escape abusive situations.
-
'I felt the shock go through my whole body': Saskatoon woman wins $100K on scratch ticket
A Saskatoon woman is $100,000 richer after winning an instant scratch ticket.
Regina
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Sask. projects $1B surplus, will use cash to pay debt instead of further funding boosts
Saskatchewan is projecting a $1 billion surplus in the coming year and plans to spend just as much in paying down the province's debt.
-
'Not ideal for anyone': Regina Public Schools to move 200 students from Harbour Landing School
The Regina Public School Board has endorsed the school division’s proposal to have 200 students change schools next year.
-
Sask. sees largest population increase in over a century
Saskatchewan experienced its largest population growth in more than a century last year.
Atlantic
-
Transportation Safety Board report on sinking cites lax federal rules on stability
A Transportation Safety Board of Canada report has linked the fatal sinking of a Nova Scotia scallop dragger in 2020 to years of federal inaction on the imposition of stricter stability standards for fishing vessels.
-
Class to resume Wednesday at Halifax-area high school two days after stabbings
Students at a Halifax-area school where two staff members were stabbed Monday are set to return to class Wednesday afternoon.
-
Weather statements issued in the Maritimes ahead of snow Thursday
Environment Canada has issued special weather statements in the Maritimes ahead of a spring mix of snow and rain arriving Thursday.
Toronto
-
Ontario to get rid of temporary paid sick days, lift some COVID measures in LTC homes
The Canadian Press has learned that Ontario will not extend its temporary paid sick day program.
-
Mystery surrounds Markham, Ont. woman who 'disappeared without a trace'
A Markham, Ont. woman who has been missing for nearly three weeks 'disappeared without a trace,' police say.
-
'Don't be this passenger’: Video shows person hanging out of sunroof on GTA highway
Video released by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) shows a car passenger hanging out of the vehicle’s sunroof as it crosses what appears to be the Burlington Skyway bridge on the QEW west of Toronto.
Montreal
-
First victim identified in fatal Old Montreal fire
Montreal police have identified the first victim of the deadly fire in Old Montreal last week that has left two dead and five missing.
-
WEATHER WARNING
WEATHER WARNING | Freezing rain warning in effect for Montreal
It may officially be spring, but wintery weather is hanging on. A Colorado low moving into Quebec is expected to bring light freezing rain this evening, after the evening rush hour
-
Virtual reality tech to help pediatric patients manage pain at Montreal hospital
Children undergoing medical procedures at a Montreal hospital have a new tool to help them through pain and anxiety. Shriner’s Children’s Hospital says virtual reality headsets offer patients an escape to another world.
Ottawa
-
Sutcliffe not ruling out public funding for new Senators arena
As the sale of the Ottawa Senators heats up, the city's mayor isn't ruling out public funding for a new downtown arena for the team.
-
Here are the road closures to expect when U.S. President Biden visits Ottawa
The city of Ottawa has released its list of road closures for the presidential motorcade and visit, starting Thursday when Biden arrives and ending Friday night after his departure.
-
Ottawa Hospital says for-profit surgeries not impacting other procedures
The Ottawa Hospital says it's working with a group of surgeons providing for-profit orthopedic surgeries at the Riverside Campus on Saturdays to ensure there is "no impact on staffing" and cancer procedures at the hospital.
Kitchener
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Ont.’s police watchdog investigating after Centre Wellington man seriously injured
Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating a crash near Belwood Lake that saw a 43-year-old Centre Wellington man transported to hospital.
-
'I'm going to die': Officer recalls night Beau Baker fatally shot
Remembering the night he fatally shot Beau Baker outside a Kitchener apartment on Brybeck Crescent in April 2015, Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) Staff Sgt. Eric Boynton - who was a patrol officer at the time - testified he was worried about Baker killing himself or others.
-
Close call caught on video after driver runs stop sign in Guelph
Guelph police are looking for a driver who was captured on dash cam footage speeding through an intersection without braking at a stop sign.
Northern Ontario
-
Family sues OPP, others, for more than $2M after woman dies in Sudbury, Ont., jail
The family of a woman who died by suicide in November 2020 while incarcerated at the Sudbury Jail is suing police and other officials for more than $2 million.
-
Northern Ont. police find driver unconscious at the wheel, motor running
Ontario Provincial Police responding to a different call March 17 discovered a driver slumped over the wheel in a running parked car on Main Street in the Town of Thessalon.
-
Woman blows 4x legal alcohol limit after crashing into car in school parking lot
A Tottenham woman faces impaired driving charges for allegedly blowing four times over the legal limit after crashing into a vehicle in a school parking lot.
Winnipeg
-
Manitoba's minimum wage is increasing
The minimum wage in Manitoba is increasing to $15.30 this October.
-
Major risk of flooding on Red River this spring, predicts Manitoba government
There is a major risk of flooding on the Red River this spring, according to Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre
-
Police release picture of suspect in assault case
Winnipeg police are looking for the public's help in trying to identify a suspect in an assault case.
Vancouver
-
Former Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart wins $100K court costs in NPA defamation case
A B.C. judge says former Vancouver mayor Kennedy Stewart can recover more than $100,000 in legal costs related to a failed defamation case launched by political rivals in the once-dominant Non-Partisan Association.
-
Vancouver lawyer fined $12K for misconduct involving 30 clients over 5 years
A Vancouver lawyer is facing a $12,000 fine over professional misconduct spanning five years and 30 immigration law clients.
-
'I don’t see an end at this point': The struggle to shut down a violent homeless camp in Abbotsford
Years after the site first sprang up, many wonder if what’s known as the Lonzo camp will ever be shut down.
Vancouver Island
-
Caught on cam: Dramatic orca encounter at Victoria breakwater
A pair of orcas delighted onlookers at Victoria's Ogden Point breakwater on Wednesday.
-
Historic Point Ellice House closing in Victoria
A well-known historic site and museum in Victoria is closing its doors due to a lack of funding.
-
Saanich police bust ring allegedly selling vape products at Greater Victoria schools
More than $100,000 worth of vaping products have been seized by Saanich police detectives who say the items were being marketed and sold at schools throughout B.C.'s capital region.