Research in the arts, humanities and social sciences at the University of Guelph received a $900,000 boost today.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) announced it's investing nearly $81 million in research projects at 94 universities and colleges. U of G's share is for 12 projects. These projects range from the history of Canada’s health food stores to the earnings and employment outcomes of post-secondary graduates to comparing and understanding the differences between aboriginal traditional and western science knowledge systems.

“I was very pleased to learn that my study had received funding from SSHRC,” said integrative biology professor Steve Crawford.

He received $189,963 to support his effort to improve communication between aboriginal and western science knowledge systems. The award will allow Crawford to develop a model to represent the structure and function of both knowledge systems. “This model should be a very practical tool to compare and contrast aboriginal traditional knowledge and western science in a neutral environment,” he said.

Anthropology professor Renée Sylvain received $70,973 to study human rights and social justice from the perspective of marginalized indigenous San living in remote areas of three southern African countries.

“I'm quite pleased because this is an opportunity to contribute to research capacity-building among San, publicize human rights issues that don't get a great deal of attention internationally, and promote networks between the academics at the University of Guelph and southern African scholars,” said Sylvain.

History professor Catherine Carstairs received $43,009 for research on the history of Canada’s health food stores. She’s conducting interviews with 30 of Canada’s health food leaders and examining health magazines to trace the history and trends of the industry.

Other professors who received SSHRC funding are:

• James Amegashie, Economics, $35,401 to study revenge and third-party intervention in conflicts.

• Rob de Loë, Geography, $97,030 for a study of water allocation in Alberta and in New South Wales, Australia

• Michael Hoy, Economics, $38,900 to research the effectiveness of private and social insurance policy options

• Ric Knowles, English and Theatre Studies, $68,258 for a study of how Toronto’s multiculturalism is reflected in its performance arts

• Jesse Palsetia, History, $107,022 to examine the public career of Indian businessman Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy

• Troy Riddell, Political Science, $65,842 for a study of the federal judicial appointment process

• Norman Smith, History, $75,015 to research Chinese narratives of alcohol and opiate addiction in the popular culture of Manchuria from 1900 to the 1940s

• Henry Thille, Economics, $47,377 to explore the link between the size of firms in a market and the use of inventories to smooth prices

• David Walters, Sociology and Anthropology, $54,772 for a study on the earnings and employment outcomes of post-secondary graduates.

Confucius Institutes are established through the Office of the Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), in Beijing and are designed to strengthen relations between China and other countries by offering opportunities for students, world-wide, to study Chinese language and culture. An initiative of the Chinese Government, it is the mandate of Hanban to build 100 such institutes across the globe.


The signing of a letter of intent to establish a Confucius Institute at Renison College, University of Waterloo.
Back Row L to R. Consul of Educational Affairs, Mr. Wu Xiaochuang, Associate Vice-President Academic, Dr.Gail Cuthbert Brandt, Consul General, Madam Chen Xiaoling, Director of Development, Ms.Caroline Woerns, Associate Provost Academic Affairs, Dr. Bruce Mitchell, Front Row L to R, Renison College Principal, Dr. John Crossley, University of Waterloo President, Dr. David Johnston, Consul of Educational Affairs, Ms. Zhang Linyi


Renison College Principal, John Crossley says, “a Confucius Institute at Renison offers tremendous advantages for teaching, research exchange and collaboration as we build our East Asian Studies Centre and academic program. The Institute represents an important step forward in our internationalization strategies and will greatly strengthen Renison’s ability to meet the needs of both UW students and members of Waterloo region who wish to acquire a deeper understanding of Chinese language and culture. This is an excellent opportunity and one that will greatly benefit the College, the University and our community.”

University of Waterloo President, David Johnston, Associate, Vice-President Academic, Gail Cuthbert Brandt, and Renison College Principal, John Crossley have the honour of welcoming Education Consuls, Ms. Zhang, Mr. Wu and Consul General, Madam Chen, to formalize the agreement at the University of Waterloo on June 13, 2006.

The winning team contributes to the Regenerative Braking Systems project, which provides student researchers an opportunity to work with hybrid technologies, an emerging area of research for the automotive industry. The team is investigating how to advance regenerative braking systems to enhance hybrid systems through new design methodologies. )

Final Placement:

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First Regenerative Braking Systems University of Waterloo $4,500

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Second Regenerative Braking Systems University of Windsor $3,000

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Third Neuro-Fuzzy Systems for Queen's University $1,500

Inspection in Manufacturing

Processes

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Fourth On-Board Fuel Cell Powered Queen's University $1,000

Auxiliary Power Units

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"These four finalist teams exemplify the research excellence required for the development of leading edge technologies," said Dr. Peter Frise, AUTO21 CEO and Scientific Director. "The University of Waterloo team impressed the international judging panel with their dedication to innovation and a passion for exploring ways to improve existing technologies. The judges were challenged to select just one winner."

Honda Canada, the sponsor of the poster competition provided a total prize purse of $20,000 for the competition, with the purse divided between the final round of judging at the Scientific Conference and previous rounds of judging at an earlier event in May. The winning team was selected from a group of four finalist teams who advanced from an initial pool of 71 teams evaluated in May. The winning team received $4,500 in cash, with the other teams receiving cash prizes as well.

"Honda Canada is committed to supporting youth in the areas of engineering, environment and education," said Jim Miller, executive vice president Honda Canada. "This event pays tribute to the highly qualified people as determined by AUTO21. Mirroring Honda's spirit of innovation and the passion to pursue dreams, these are the men and women creating a stronger promise of continued innovation and success for the auto industry."

The Honda Canada HQP Poster Competition is part of the AUTO21 Scientific Conference, taking place June 13 and 14 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre. AUTO21 researchers and industry and government representatives are attending automotive research presentations and hearing from industry leaders from major automotive manufacturers and other parts of the sector.

AUTO21 currently supports more than 230 researchers and nearly 450 student researchers working on 41 auto-related research and development projects at 39 Canadian universities. The projects are supported by more than $12 million per year in combined public and private sector funding. Research is conducted in the areas of health, safety and injury prevention; societal issues; materials and manufacturing; design processes; powertrains, fuels and emissions; and intelligent systems and sensors. AUTO21 is funded through the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada program.

This bronze medallion is commissioned by the Office of the Governor General of Canada. It goes to the graduating student with the highest overall academic grade average for all courses in a diploma-level program.

The winner is Alicia Weber of Kitchener. She is graduating from the Electronics Engineering Technology * Telecommunications Systems program. The program deals with the design, development and application of electronic devices and circuits used in analog and digital communications systems, in networks and transmission media, and in digital signal processing. She compiled a composite average of 95.50 per cent, including marks of 100 per cent in ten of the program courses.

The James W. Church Award

Established by Conestoga's founding president, the James W. Church Award recognizes excellence in a combination of areas: achievement in learning, concern for the dignity of the individual and a personal contribution of benefit to society. The award consists of an inscribed and framed program shield, plus a cheque for $1,000.

Sherry Zettler of Walkerton is this year's winner. She is graduating from the post-graduate Early Childhood Education Resource Teacher program, and previously completed the Early Childhood Education program. She is employed by Bruce County Social Services as a traveling preschool resource teacher.

From an early age, she has been involved with community, volunteer and caring activities in various ways: with a program for special needs children called Extend-A-Family; as a personal support helper to a child afflicted with cerebral palsy; as a home child care provider for a disadvantaged family; and as a peer mentor to student colleagues at Conestoga. She has been recognized by employers and supervisors for exemplary work as a community support services worker, early childhood educator and teacher's aide.

The Conestoga College Mastercraft Award

Established by former Conestoga President Kenneth E. Hunter, this award recognizes outstanding technical achievement by an individual or a student team in the creation of a program-related technical project. Eligible projects must first win a program-level competition to qualify for College-wide judging. The prize consists of an inscribed and framed program shield, plus a cheque for $500.

The winning project was developed and produced by Stephen Connell of Paris, Jonathan Musselman of Kitchener and Derek Novakowich of Kitchener. Connell and Novakowich are graduating from the Computer Engineering Technology program and Musselman from Electronics Engineering Technology * Telecommunications Systems. The three collaborated on their final-year, comprehensive technical project. Known as the DigiPhase Acoustic Processor (DAP), it employs a remote mobile calibration module that provides quality digital sound processing for home entertainment centres * regardless of how the owner arranges the system components and furnishings in the room containing the centre. The DAP allows any system to sound at its best by automatically compensating to ensure sound quality.

The Aubrey Hagar Award for Teaching Excellence

The College's top honour for a faculty member, this award is named for Aubrey Hagar, a distinguished member of the Conestoga community for more than 20 years. A member of the College's founding Board of Governors, he went on to provide valuable service to Conestoga as Director of Academic and College Planning, then as Director of Strategic Planning. The award consists of an inscribed and framed Conestoga Coat of Arms, a specially designed Conestoga College Liripipe and a professional development bursary of $800.

This year's winner is Geoff Johnstone, a professor in the School of Liberal and Media Studies. He holds a baccalaureate degree from the University of Wales and a master's degree from McMaster University. His fields of study were economics and social studies, and sociology. He has been at Conestoga since 1970, earning a reputation for excellence in developing curriculum in areas such as science and diversity, multiculturalism and the multidisciplinary courses in Conestoga's four-year degree programs. The author and co-author of a number of research papers, he also co-wrote a sociology textbook now in use at a number of Ontario colleges. He has been an active member of a number of academic committees and groups at the College, has been varsity soccer head coach since 1971 and has received a recognition award from Conestoga for his contributions to student life.

Alumni of Distinction Awards

These awards, which consist of an inscribed and framed program shield for each recipient, recognize outstanding graduates for their personal and professional achievements, as demonstrated through career success and commitment to others through community and volunteer work.

This year's awards go to four alumni:

* Cindy Coulas (Nursing, 2001; Registered Nurse * Critical Care

Nursing, 2003; Cardiac Care for Registered Nurses, 2003), who is a resource nurse at St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener, in the cardiovascular intensive care unit. She is also active as a part-time instructor at Conestoga, a coordinator of first aid programs, a volunteer computer skills teacher to elementary school children and engaged in degree studies at both Wilfrid Laurier University and Memorial University of Newfoundland.

* Treena Diebolt (Law and Security Administration, 1999), who is

Director of Human Resources with Waterloo-based Barber-Collins Security Services Ltd. She has made her mark through the development and introduction of new programs, such as one for employee recognition, and has coordinated the firm's United Way campaign.

* Brett Tucker (Civil Engineering Technology, 1987), who is in

management with Freedom 55 Financial/London Life Insurance Company in Waterloo Region. In addition to a high degree of involvement with professional associations and groups, he has served as President of Conestoga's Alumni Association and was recently appointed to the Board of Governors of the College.

* Eva Vlasov (Social Services, 1995), who is Executive Director

with Argus Residence for Young People, located in Cambridge. She is very active in the community through her participation on a number of groups and committees dealing with issues of homelessness, emergency shelter and youth counseling.

Convocation comprises four ceremonies, recognizing more than 3,000 graduating students. The afternoon ceremony on Wednesday, June 14 involves full-time and part-time programs from two academic areas * the School of Engineering and Information Technology, and the School of Trades and Apprenticeship. The Wednesday evening ceremony is for full-time and part-time programs from the School of Business. On the afternoon of Thursday, June 15, participating programs are from the School of Liberal and Media Studies, plus all Health Sciences programs and programs directly administered by the Continuing Education Division. The evening ceremony is for Community Services programs.

Nortel and NSERC establish UW research chair with focus on wireless

WATERLOO – Nortel announced June 9 it is co-sponsoring a research chair at the University of Waterloo focused on technologies that will help shape the future of wireless networks. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)-Nortel Chair in Advanced Telecommunications Technologies was established today at a ceremony with Mike Zafirovski, president and CEO, Nortel; Colin Carrie, parliamentary secretary to the minister of industry; Nigel Lloyd, executive vice-president, NSERC; and David Johnston, president, University of Waterloo.

Amir Khandani, professor in electrical and computer engineering, University of Waterloo, was appointed senior chair. Khandani is well- known in the industry for his research in communication systems design. He is the author or co-author of more than 200 refereed articles and several high impact patents, including a patent on symbol-based turbo-codes, a technique that is incorporated in multiple telecommunication standards. Another notable contribution is the shell mapping algorithm that is widely used in commercial wire- line modems. Khandani currently holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Wireless Systems from the federal government.

The research program will focus on third (3G) and fourth (4G) generation broadband wireless technologies, leveraging Nortel’s wireless innovation leadership, the University of Waterloo’s reputation as one of the world’s top technology research centres and NSERC’s proven track record of supporting Canadian university research in science and engineering.

Currently deployed by major service providers around the world, 3G represents an important technical milestone for wireless communications because it extends cellular services beyond voice and text. 3G networks will make possible such services as mobile telehealth, instant Internet applications, new online financial and shopping capabilities, as well as entertainment services that include rapid music downloads, live sports, and mobile gaming. 4G will take wireless technology even further, achieving speeds comparable to wireline broadband and allowing for such sophisticated uses as wireless sensors to monitor and manage everything from traffic stress on a bridge, to air pollutants, to personalized environment settings in the home.

“Moving to 3G and beyond requires a significant increase in speed and bandwidth capabilities for wireless networks. Each step forward requires large technical jumps to push technologies past their existing limitations,” said Zafirovski. “As one of Canada’s leading innovators, Nortel understands the value of university research partnerships in bringing together the best and brightest to create new technologies that not only greatly improve communications, but that are also commercially viable.”

The NSERC-Nortel chair is one example of how Nortel is working with government and academia to drive innovation in Canada by helping to turn academic research into successful, commercial products and services. The program is also intended to provide the necessary support to increase the number of graduate students in advanced telecommunications research at the University and to train future leaders of the telecom industry.

“Nortel and the University of Waterloo have partnered since the university's very beginning almost a half century ago to strengthen Nortel’s ties to leading university research, to promote advanced communication research in Canada and to meet the country’s need for high-technology graduates,” said Johnston. “The NSERC-Nortel chair strengthens this relationship and will provide a strong talent pool of future leaders for the wireless industry in Canada.”

Nortel has a long and successful history of partnering with academic institutions. The company has investments in approximately 50 technology innovation initiatives with more than 20 major universities around the world to help ensure it is solidly positioned to meet customers’ needs now and into the future.

About NSERC NSERC is a federal agency whose role is to make investments in people, discovery and innovation for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 22,000 university students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 10,000 university professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 600 Canadian companies to participate and invest in university research projects.

About the University of Waterloo The University of Waterloo is a national leader in producing highly qualified and recruited graduates and co-operative education (work- term) students for the information technology sector. With approximately 3,000 students in computer science and electrical engineering programs, Waterloo is also the largest player in the nation in this important educational area.

"If you ask a student where a carrot comes from, most will tell you 'the grocery store,'" says Elaine Alexander, principal, Withrow Avenue Public School. "This vegetable garden offers an important life lesson about where food comes from and what it takes to get from seed to table. Bringing nature and natural processes to the school yard gives students an opportunity to touch and see - which is a much richer experience than sitting inside listening as we show pictures."

According to Evergreen's research, only 0.5 per cent of Canada's 16,000 schools have food gardens - in the United Kingdom five to ten per cent have food gardens and in California it's as high as 30 per cent. Canadian schools are still figuring out how to make their food gardens thrive - Withrow School is setting its garden up for success by involving students, teachers, parents, the daycare, school caretaker and by employing a garden coordinator. The school is also experimenting with an innovative nature-based design idea inspired by spider webs, with radiant beds and a teaching circle rather than the standard garden rows which don't hold children's attention.

The benefits of growing food on school grounds are numerous, from making highly nutritious snacks available for students, to encouraging children to eat vegetables (children love to eat what they grow themselves). Gardening at schools can also help to build community, as well as offering many curriculum-related activities.

"Toyota Canada and our Dealerships have helped green 715 school grounds over the past six years, teaching children at an impressionable age how to care for and nurture the environment," says Kenji Tomikawa, president and CEO, Toyota Canada Inc. "This is one of the first school ground food gardens that Toyota is funding, and we are proud to be a part of this initiative."

"This is such a great opportunity to extend the classroom outdoors and give students the chance to learn through touching and seeing first hand what their efforts produce," said Rick Telfer, Trustee (Ward 15). "This vegetable garden will provide such a rich learning experience for students versus sitting in a classroom."

Examples of how Withrow Public School's vegetable garden is being used as a teaching tool:

- Grade 1: Creating garden etiquette rules
- Grade 2: Preparing and looking after worm compost bins
- Grade 3: Conducting soil surveys
- Grade 4: Learning about medieval life through growing and using herbs
- Grade 5: Using mapping skills to help plan the garden
- Grade 6: Science lab exploring communities, soil and plants

The largest grant secured to date for the creation of the food garden has been received through the Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds program (Evergreen's national program, sponsored by Toyota Canada Inc.). The grant program brings teachers, students and the community together to create healthy and safe school grounds where students can play, learn and develop a genuine respect for nature and each other. Mr. Tomikawa, and Brian Rowntree, owner of Yonge-Lawrence Toyota presented the $1,200 cheque on behalf of Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds to the school today.
Withrow Public School's food garden includes 31 varieties of vegetables. The garden is divided into different sections corresponding to different social periods, such as:

- Early Canada: a plot with potatoes, beets and cabbage - crops that
kept settlers well fed.
- Native North and South America plot: corn, Jerusalem artichokes,
squash.
- Early civilization plot with many roots, grain and vegetables from
South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East: yams, tatsoi, peas.

"Something as simple as greening a school ground has the potential to enrich the quality of life, education and environment for young people," says City Councillor for Toronto-Danforth, Paula Fletcher. "School ground greening projects not only benefit students, they are in the best interest of teachers, parents, school boards and society as a whole."
"Evergreen was founded on the idea that nature is a critical element of healthy, vibrant cities and nowhere is that more important than at our children's schools," says Geoff Cape, Executive Director, Evergreen. "When we bring nature back to our school grounds, we nurture learning and cultivate communities."
This year, the Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds program is distributing $247,250 in grants to 126 schools across Canada. Since 1993, the program has provided over $1 million in grants to 1,800 schools across Canada. Since 2000, Toyota Canada Inc. and its 229 dealers have contributed $4 million to Evergreen's national program.

About Evergreen:

Evergreen is an innovative charity that builds the relationship between nature, culture and community in urban spaces. Since 1991, it has engaged people in creating and sustaining healthy, dynamic outdoor spaces across Canada - in schools, communities and homes. Its entrepreneurial approach to social responsibility creates vibrant neighbourhoods, a healthy natural environment and a sustainable society for all.

Dignity Day, a creation of the Young Global Leaders community, is the initiative which saw Young Global Leaders fanning out into nine schools across the Vancouver area to share their personal experiences and knowledge with students on issues ranging from global dignity to climate change, to overcoming adversity and combating racism. The Global Dignity Project is a larger initiative launched by a group of Young Global Leaders in 2006 that seeks to promote the five principles of global dignity. For more information see www.globaldignity.org.

Students at King George Secondary School heard John Bryant, Founder of Operation Hope, recount his childhood in South Central Los Angeles. "You cannot have a rainbow without a storm," he told a captivated young crowd. "Dignity is allowing everyone to have a chance," said Caroline Casey, Founding Chief Executive Officer of the Ireland-based Aisling Foundation, who is legally blind and who recounted her dream of driving a car, a dream she finally fulfilled. "As you walk through life, don’t give up at first failure," echoed Scott J. Freidheim, Global Head of Strategy at Lehman Brothers.

"Dignity Day was a great opportunity for Young Global Leaders to share their experiences as leaders, inspire the next generation and show them that it is possible to make change happen. And the enthusiasm from Dignity Day will certainly energize our work over the next few days," said Nicole Schwab, Director of the Forum of Young Global Leaders, at a reception attended by Gordon Campbell, Premier of British Columbia.

"The Province of British Columbia is honoured to welcome the Forum of Young Global Leaders to Vancouver for a discussion of issues that touch the lives of people here in Canada as surely as they do the lives of people all around the globe," said Gordon Campbell. "In a city as diverse as Vancouver and a province that sits at Canada's gateway to the Pacific Rim, we're very conscious of the role we all have to play in shaping our shared social and economic future. I look forward to seeing the ideas that come forward at this Summit and to exploring how they can apply to the future we are building here in British Columbia."

The Annual Summit of the Forum of Young Global Leaders from 8-11 June will focus on four themes, each associated with one of the ancient elements of Greek science and philosophy (Air, Water, Earth and Fire). Within each theme, participants will analyse the business, social and human implications of future developments. Leading experts will put forward new insights and brainstorm on unconventional ideas and impending challenge

One was the 2004 Youth in Transition Survey, a longitudinal survey designed to examine the major transitions in the lives of youths, particularly between education, training and work. The second was the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which assessed the achievement of young people in reading, and mathematical and scientific skills.

The study found that students with higher levels of reading competency were more likely to graduate from high school.

On the other hand, those in the lowest two levels of reading literacy were more likely to drop out of high school or still be in high school at 19.

Similarly, postsecondary participation rates increased progressively with higher levels of reading literacy. This pattern remained strong even after controlling for other important factors related to postsecondary participation.

While the majority of youth with the knowledge and skills to pursue postsecondary education do so, a small proportion of youth with very high reading proficiency levels did not pursue postsecondary education by the age of 19.

The study noted that effective literacy skills and education credentials do not guarantee success in later life. However, without them, there are greater risks of facing barriers to employment, reduced financial security and poorer social outcomes.

Young people who had dropped out of high school by 19 had lower reading scores at 15

A total of 87% of Canadian youth who were 15 years old in 2000 had graduated from high school four years later, by 19. Another 5% were still enrolled in high school and 7% had left high school before completion.

The study found that reading ability at 15 affected the subsequent status of students in high school by the time they had reached 19. (Reading proficiency was rated on the basis of levels one to five, that is, lowest to highest.)

Those who had dropped out of high school by the age of 19 had an average reading score of 457 at 15. This compared with a score of 547 for those who had graduated, which is equivalent to level 3. This means that, on average, high school dropouts were performing more than a full reading proficiency level below graduates.

A difference of one proficiency level can be considered comparatively large, and indicates a substantive difference in the nature of reading tasks that students can perform. These students may lack the higher order skills for further education.

On a provincial basis, high school dropouts had significantly lower average reading scores than graduates in all provinces, except Alberta and British Columbia. In these two provinces, the difference in the average scores of dropouts and graduates was not statistically different.

This may reflect a variety of factors, including sampling error associated with these estimates and labour market opportunities available to youth in these two provinces.

Proportion of youth who finished high school by age 19 rose with reading proficiency

Another way of exploring the link between high school status and reading performance is to examine high school completion rates on the basis of reading proficiency.

The proportion of students who completed high school increased with their proficiency level as measured at the age of 15. While 87% had completed high school by 19, only 62% of those at Level 1 and 77% at Level 2 had done so. Almost all students who were at levels 4 and 5 had completed high school by 19.

Reading proficiency had an impact on high school graduation even after taking into account the effects of gender, mother tongue, parental education, family income, location of residence, and academic and social engagement.

The findings suggest a threshold effect, with those at level 2 and below at particular risk of not completing high school by age 19.

However, the relationship between reading ability at 15 and high school completion by 19 was not necessarily deterministic. Over half of students at level 1 or below and level 2 graduated from high school.

At the other end of the scale, a notable proportion of students with higher levels of reading ability had not graduated from high school at 19 — 11% of those at level 3, 5% of those at level 4 and 2% of those at level 5.

Reading proficiency related to pursuit of postsecondary education

Proficiency in reading at 15 was related to the pursuit of postsecondary education by 19.

On average, students who had not pursued postsecondary education by 19 were performing more than a full proficiency level below those who had pursued postsecondary education.

In total, 65% of youth who participated in PISA in 2000, and who were not still enrolled in high school, had enrolled in some form of postsecondary education by the age of 19.

In contrast, only 28% of young people with the lowest proficiency in reading (level 1 and below) had pursued some form of postsecondary education. This rose to 45% at level 2, and 65% at level 3.

Postsecondary participation rates increased significantly after that — 76% for those at level 4 and 88% for those at level 5.

The study found that gender, parental education, household income and mother tongue were also significantly related to postsecondary education, but not location of residence.

As was the case with finishing high school, the relationship between reading literacy at 15 and postsecondary participation by 19 was not necessarily deterministic. More than one-quarter of youth who were at the lowest level of reading proficiency had pursued postsecondary education by 19.

At the other end of the spectrum, 12% of youth with the highest level of reading proficiency had not yet pursued postsecondary education by time they were 19.

It should be noted that the transition from high school to postsecondary education is a process and does not necessarily follow a traditional linear trajectory. Consequently, youth who are not currently participating may still do so later on.

Note to readers

This release is based on the report Educational Outcomes at Age 19 Associated with Reading Ability at Age 15, available today. It uses data from two surveys.

The Youth in Transition Survey (YITS) is a longitudinal survey designed to examine the patterns of, and influences on, major transitions in young people's lives, particularly with respect to education, training and work. YITS was first implemented in 2000 with two cohorts of youth: a group aged 15 and a group aged 18 to 20. Among its objectives was to gain a better understanding of the determinants of postsecondary participation.

With this in mind, it was decided to link YITS to a well recognized measure of knowledge and skills: the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which is an internationally recognised assessment of youth knowledge and skills. Among other things, it was designed to evaluate if youth are able to analyse, reason and communicate their ideas effectively.

Linking the two surveys provides a unique opportunity to better understand major transitions in youth life, including participation in postsecondary education.

The first cycle of YITS was collected in 2000. Youth aged 15 also participated in PISA. In 2004, when they participated in YITS for the third time, these young people were aged 19. This report is the first to take advantage of the unique feature of the YITS/PISA study. It examines the relationship between reading ability at age 15 and educational outcomes, namely high school completion and postsecondary participation.

The selection committee for dean of the College of Physical and Engineering Science will present three candidates to the University community this week. All presentations will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. in Room 113 of the MacNaughton Building.

Candidates will give a 20-minute public presentation outlining their background, experience and accomplishments that are particularly relevant to being dean of the College of Physical and Engineering Science at U of G, and will talk about the challenges and opportunities facing colleges of science and engineering in the next ten years. A 30-minute question and answer period will follow the presentation. The sessions will be audio-taped; the tapes will be available by calling Carol Sherman at Ext. 53846 or at the Provost’s Office, Room 424 of the University Centre.

Rob Lipson, a chemistry professor at the University of Western Ontario will give a public presentation June 7. Tony Vannelli, an associate dean in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo, will speak June 8. John Berlinsky, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at McMaster University, will speak June 9.

A brief biography for each candidate will soon be available online and full curricula vitae is available through Sherman.

Members of the community are encouraged to attend the public lectures and to provide written comments to the selection committee. Comments must be received no later than June 19 and can be directed to the committee by mail or e-mail . All comments will be held in strict confidence and will be shared with the committee in full, provided the writer is identified. Anonymous comments will not be reviewed.

WATERLOO- The University of Waterloo will host Camp Keystone -- complete with a parade, games and lunch -- this Thursday to launch the annual Keystone Campaign fund-raising appeal and celebrate its many achievements.

UW president David Johnston will open Camp Keystone at 11:40 a.m. by leading a parade. Faculty, staff and retirees will march along ring road, from B.C. Matthews Hall to the green space near the grad house. Once there, they will take part in a scavenger hunt and a variety of other games.

The Keystone Campaign is the annual giving program that represents donations from UW faculty, staff and retirees to support the university and its students. It is the campus community portion of the university's broader Campaign Waterloo: Building a Talent Trust, which has a goal of $350 million.

The Keystone Campaign, which began in June 2002, has raised $5.8 million so far, with the support of 1,950 donors. After reaching its original goal of $4.5 million last year, the campaign set a participation target of 2,007 donors by 2007 -- UW's 50th anniversary and the year the campaign will end.

"I am really pleased with the way that the campus community is throwing their support behind the Keystone Campaign," said manager Jennifer Lorette. "It is inspiring to know that our cumulative participation rate is 43 per cent, up from 15.3 per cent pre-campaign.

"We also have an awesome team of dedicated volunteers who do an exceptional job of organizing this event. Without them, it wouldn't be possible."

Currently, the campaign has more than 200 volunteers and 60 sponsors helping to lead the program.

Throughout this week, volunteers will be distributing about 3,600 Keystone Campaign appeal packages to faculty and staff, while 1,100 retirees are receiving packages in the mail.

The larger Campaign Waterloo was launched publicly in March 2004 as part of UW's commitment to educating the leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Intent on increasing the concentration of talented people at UW, the campaign is structured around four pillars: rewarding talent, enabling talent, making room for talent and creating a culture where talent will flourish.

These pillars are working cohesively to help UW continue to attract excellent students, strengthen research and graduate studies, reaffirm its leadership in co-operative education, harness technology to enhance learning and much more, organizers say.

Recent accomplishments from funds generated through Campaign Waterloo include the new school of architecture in Cambridge, the expansion to the Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Health Promotion and the development of the health sciences campus in downtown Kitchener, featuring McMaster University's satellite medical school and UW's school of pharmacy.

* Dakon Construction Ltd., commercial and industrial construction
contractors;

* Fackoury's Building Supplies, suppliers of a diversified product
line of materials for interior and exterior building infrastructure and finishing;

* Ian Cook, of Cook Homes, a company noted for development and
construction of residential communities, attuned to family and environmental factors;

* Jamesway Construction Group, a provider of design and
construction services and solutions, from consulting and planning through to project completion;

* M&M Meat Shops, the well known national chain of specialty
frozen food stores;

* Sleeman Breweries Ltd., one of the fastest growing premium
brewers in North America;

* The Economical Insurance Group, one of Canada's largest property
and casualty insurers;

* The Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, a charitable endowment fund with
a strong interest in community development through education;

* The MerSynergy Charitable Foundation, a foundation that receives
and distributes charitable gifts in furtherance of community development initiatives;

* The Walter Fedy Partnership, a full-service architectural and
engineering firm in all aspects of project development and management;

* The Yves Landry Foundation, a foundation active in the support,
encouragement and promotion of efforts to reduce current and future skills shortages;

* Conestoga Golf Classic (proceeds from the 2005 event); and

* Alumni, friends, faculty and staff of Conestoga.

These funds are being used for the preparation and renovation of the facility for its initial use by Conestoga, as well as for the acquisition of learning equipment and resources to be used in program delivery.

"In keeping with our 'neighbour helping neighbour' philosophy, The Economical Insurance Group is pleased to support youth and education in our community," says Noel Walpole, CEO of the Waterloo-based company. "We are truly excited about the impact this new Construction Skills Education Centre will have on the future of our youth and adult learners for generations to come."

The support generated so far is part of an ambitious $7,000,000 campaign associated with the Waterloo expansion. The new location allows Conestoga to grow its operations in Waterloo by at least 58 per cent immediately. The facility is on 12 acres, now provides 123,000 sq. ft. of space and can eventually be expanded to as much as 250,000 sq. ft.

"Donors in our community are stepping forward to make the promise of this exciting new campus a reality," says Ingrid Town, Conestoga's Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations. "In helping Conestoga address skills shortages, these individuals, corporations and foundations are making a profound and lasting contribution to higher education in our community."

Prof. Kim Renders, School of English and Theatre Studies, has received the 2006 Teaching Excellence Award from the Central Student Association (CSA).

The student-sponsored award is presented each year to a U of G instructor who demonstrates profound dedication to undergraduates and to post-secondary education. Renders was recognized for her ability to motivate student learning and for her student-centred teaching approach.

“Getting recognition from my students is a great honour, and this is also a nod to the quality of our contract teaching faculty,” says Renders. “I love teaching for the exchange of ideas and for the opportunity to be challenged with situations that I’ve never encountered before. It’s like living in the fast lane; you’re always dealing with unexpected situations.”

Renders was also named the 2006 recipient of the Maggie Basset Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has made a sustained and significant contribution to the development of theatre in Ontario.

A founding member of Nightwood Theatre, Canada's oldest feminist theatre company, Renders has performed in most major theatres across Canada and is a member of Theatre Ontario's Professional Theatre Training Committee. She specializes in using theatre as a tool for community building and for empowering marginalized groups.

University of Guelph Chancellor Lincoln Alexander is one of two finalists for the honour of “Greatest Hamiltonian of All Time.”

The contest, sponsored by the Hamilton Spectator newspaper, is based on CBC’s Greatest Canadian project. It aims to inspire discussion and debate about important figures from the city’s past and present and recognize Hamilton natives who have had a lasting effect on the region.

Two months ago, the newspaper proposed a list of candidates, both living and deceased, and asked readers to vote for their top choice. The names of two finalists — Alexander and Arthur Weisz, a philanthropist and founder of the Effort Trust Company — were released today. The winner will be announced June 10 in a special section of the Spectator that will commemorate the 160th birthday of the city and newspaper.

Alexander has served as Chancellor at U of G since 1991, having been reappointed to an unprecedented fifth term in 2003. He serves on the University’s external relations committee, Board of Trustees and Board of Governors, and has been an active public supporter of the University.

Alexander was appointed Ontario Lieutenant Governor in 1985. Prior to that, he was elected to the House of Commons in 1968 as Member of Parliament for Hamilton West and became federal Minister of Labour in 1979. He is the first Black Canadian to hold all three positions.

Born in Toronto to West Indian immigrants, he was the first member of his family to receive a university education. He served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War. Upon his return to Canada, he entered McMaster University, graduating in 1949. He graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1953. He has served as a Queen’s representative, a lawyer, cabinet minister, United Nations observer and chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. In 1992, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Canada and to the Order of Ontario.

In 2002, the University established the Lincoln Alexander Chancellor’s Scholarships to reflect his commitment to enhancing the diversity of Canada’s university student population.

Voting for “The Greatest Hamiltonian” concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday. Ballots may be cast online at www.thespec.com or by email: greatesthamiltonian@thespec.com. Ballots may also be mailed to “Greatest Hamiltonian,” c/o the Hamilton Spectator, 44 Frid Street, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3G3.

The “Greatest Hamiltonian” is part of Hamilton’s Memory Project, which is collecting anecdotes, artifacts and trivia about all aspects of the city’s history.

WATERLOO- Two leading University of Waterloo experts in smoking, one focusing on the impacts of tobacco control policies throughout the world and the other on smoking cessation, are applauding Ontario-wide restrictions that come into effect this week. Geoff Fong and Paul McDonald believe new smoking regulations will save lives.

McDonald, who co-directs the Population Health Research Group at UW, says the new regulations that take effect on May 31 are a positive step forward and long overdue. “I have absolutely no doubt that the new regulations will improve and protect thousands of lives over the coming decades.”

He believes the regulations will have three key impacts. First, they will protect smokers and non-smokers from second-hand smoke, which may be more dangerous than previously thought. Second, they will assist current tobacco users to quit or to reduce the amount they smoke. Third, the restrictions lessen the visibility of smoking, which studies have shown influence whether or not young people smoke.

But McDonald stopped short of calling the regulations anything more than a first step. “While I applaud the government of Ontario for implementing the new regulations, there is still more that can and must be done.”

Fong, a psychology professor who is leading key aspects of the first international cohort study of tobacco use, called the regulations “a superb advance for public health in Ontario.” They offer more uniformed protection than did municipally based rules, which protect some citizens and leave others vulnerable.

Fong finds it an appropriate way to mark World No Tobacco Day, created in 1988 by the World Health Organization. He also finds it a fitting way to remember a waitress who just lost her very public fight to raise awareness of the dangers of second-hand smoke.

“Heather Crowe became the public face of all those put at risk by second-hand smoke in the workplace,” said Fong. “She recently lost her fight against cancer. This seems like an appropriate way to honour her.”

Fong is a leading world expert on the impact of tobacco control policies, focusing on such areas as smoke-free laws, warning labels, advertising and promotion restrictions, and taxation. He recently received $4.1 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to further his efforts over the next five years.

He is the chief principal investigator of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC Project), the first international cohort study of tobacco use. The collaboration involves more than 40 researchers in nine countries with nearly half of the world’s smokers.

Fong has presented his research to high-level policy audiences throughout the world. He presented to the World Health Organization this past February, before an audience of policymakers from over 50 countries that have ratified the first-ever international health treaty, which is devoted to tobacco control policies.

McDonald works with partners in the public and private sectors to identify and evaluate methods for reducing the health and economic burdens of tobacco use. His research includes the development of a national strategy to help current smokers, the development and evaluation of a new tool to triage smokers into different types of cessation treatment, and the development of smoking prevention and cessation resources for youth.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation, the National Cancer Institute of Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Health Canada and other sources have funded McDonald’s researcch. He has authored several self-help books and websites on smoking cessation, including On the Road to Quitting, Quit 4 Life, and One Step at a Time.

Both Fong and McDonald hope the Ontario-wide ban, World No Tobacco Day and the passing of Heather Crowe will help raise awareness of the dangers of smoking to both smokers and to non-smokers and will ultimately reduce tobacco use.

A baptized Roman Catholic, who is shown as an English-language Roman Catholic school board supporter on the municipal assessment list;

Not an employee of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board or any other district school board or school authority in Ontario.
Information about the role of Trustees as well as the interview and selection process is available on the Board's web site at:

www.wcdsb.edu.on.ca/ap_memos.html OR
by contacting the Secretary of the Board.
Interviews will be held in the Boardroom on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 and Thursday, June 29, 2006. Applicants must provide a signed resume and confirmation of their qualifications (suggested length: 3-5 pages) by 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 16, 2006 to:

Secretary of the Board
Waterloo Catholic District School Board
35 Weber St. W., Unit A, P.O. Box 91116
Kitchener, ON, N2G 4G2
FAX: 578-5291

Emailed resumes will not be accepted and all correspondence is subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

WATERLOO, Ont. - Three teams with students from the University of Waterloo's master of business, entrepreneurship and technology (MBET) program took the top three spots in the recent 2006 LaunchPad $50K Venture Creation Competition.

Cellugen Inc., which is developing a cell-based therapy for a type of leukemia, won the first prize of $25,000, along with three months of free services in the Waterloo Research + Technology Park Accelerator. Cellugen is made up of Diana Low, Liam Gore and Ryan Bentley, all candidates for the MBET degree, while Sabrina Perry is a PhD candidate in experimental medicine at McGill University.

The second-place team of College and University Explorations (CUE) won $15,000. CUE offers chaperoned tours of post-secondary institutions for high school students. Teammates Gerry DeLuca and Josh Bohnen are MBET candidates, while Jason Lyall is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University’s business administration program and Adam Pearsall is a graduate of the commerce program at Ryerson University.

Third place went to Zapweed, consisting of Kshitij Kaushik, an MBET candidate, and Jennifer Prine, an engineering candidate at the University of Guelph. Zapweed is developing an environmentally friendly product that will remove weeds from lawns with little physical exertion by homeowners. The prize for third place is $10,000.

"The strong showing of teams from the MBET program continues a successful business plan competition year," said Paul Doherty, associate director of the Centre for Business Entrepreneurship & Technology (CBET), which offers the master degree program.

Last March, Cellugen Inc. placed second in the IBK CapitalIvey Business Plan Competition and had strong results in the USF-PSI International Business Plan Competition run by the University of San Francisco. Other MBET teams finishing in the top 10 teams in various international business plan competitions include RPT Inc., a recycling firm, and Nanodrivers, a technology-based firm.

For more information about LaunchPad $50K competition, please visit www.launchpad50K.ca. For more information on the MBET program and its competition placements, please visit http://cbet.uwaterloo.ca.

TORONTO - The Association of Canadian Deans of Education, a national not-for-profit organization representing those responsible for preparing 21,000 teachers annually for Canada's public schools, today released a statement declaring their support for teachers and teacher education in Canada. The Accord on Teacher Education represents the first time that all Canadian education deans have come together to urge provincial governments to support university teacher education programs.

In recent years education faculties have suffered from funding cuts, increased student quotas, and limits to program length. Canada's education deans are responding to the developing crisis in teacher education programs by asking governments and the public to increase their investment in the programs.

"Teachers in Canada's public schools need our support," says Alice Collins, president of the association and dean of education at Memorial University of Newfoundland. "If the Canadian public cares about its education system, then it must care about the preparation of teachers. The quality of the education provided in our public schools is directly dependent on the caliber of the teachers. For Canada to have the best possible teachers, provincial governments need to make a significant investment into university teacher education programs."

Michel Laurier, dean of education at the Université de Montréal, agrees with Collins. "We rely on our public school system to produce the innovators of tomorrow," Laurier says. "If we are not producing high quality teachers, then the education system, and ultimately the whole country, pay the price." The Association ratified its Accord on Teacher Education in October 2005. Members will sign the Accord today during their annual meeting at the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, held at York University. To obtain a copy of the Accord on Teacher Education, email: acde.educ@ubc.ca.

WATERLOO - The Elliott Avedon Museum and Archive of Games at the University of Waterloo has just opened a new exhibition for animal lovers who like to play games.

Animal Games features card games, board games, puzzles and children's games -- all based on animal themes. Visitors can discover new games and gain hands-on experience with them.

"The public can see the type of animal games that people used to play 100 years ago and have fun trying out newer games that share the same theme," said Jinhee Chung, museum technician and a graduate student in recreation and leisure studies. "There is lots of fun for both children and adults alike."

She said visitors can also learn about the history of classic games, such as Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly, Rummy and Uncle Wiggily.

The free exhibit is open to the public in the museum's public gallery through December 2006. Cash donations are welcome. The gallery is located in B.C Matthews Hall, off the Columbia Street entrance to UW. There's a public bus stop in front of the building and a parking lot ($4 coin entry) to the right of the building.

Spring visiting hours are Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., until June 15. Summer hours are Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To book a group tour, call 519-888-4424.

Chung said that museum staff can answer public questions about old games and that the museum welcomes donations of old games. "Help us to further the legacy of this unique institution for generations to come."

The museum collection includes more than 5,000 physical objects -- many of which have been exhibited in the public gallery since 1971. Private, public and corporate donations have supported the acquisition of artifacts from many parts of the world.

A few hundred of these objects are documented on the museum's website: www.gamesmuseum.uwaterloo.ca.

The website features photographs and documentary text about many individual items in the collection. Presented in the form of "Virtual Exhibits," each documentary web page includes one or more illustrations of collection objects. Continuing its primary research mandate, the museum answers email inquiries on an individual basis.

The museum is operated by the recreation and leisure studies department, staffed by graduate students and co-op students, and administered by the faculty of applied health sciences as part of the Waterloo Heritage Collections Association. Funding is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and the federal Department of Canadian Heritage.

TORONTO - Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics is hosting an important gathering of Ontario's top physics teachers for a three-day conference examining science education, teaching methods and the transformative potential of modern physics.

The Institute, in conjunction with the Ontario Association of PhysicsTeachers (OAPT) will provide special, interactive workshops and sessionswith invited international guests including:

- Assoc. Prof. Paula Heron, Physics Education Researcher, University of Washington
- Gary Williams, National Coordinator, Institute of Physics Teachers Network, UK
- Kiran Sachdev and Bogdan Luca, award-winning creators of "Al's Relativistic Adventures"

Talks will feature leading scientists from Perimeter Institute as well asDr. Howard Burton, Executive Director, on "Research, Outreach and Beyond". Over 90 teachers from across Ontario will attend. Full details and schedule are available at this link:

www.perimeterinstitute.ca/activities/community/OAPT_Conf_2006/index.php.