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Study: Parents with adult children living at home - 2001
The majority of parents living with at least one adult child at home expressed no sign of frustration about their living arrangements, according to a new study published today in Canadian Social Trends. But that does not mean there was perfect harmony in all these households.
The study "Parents with adult children living at home", available free online, based on data from the 2001 General Social Survey, compared the profile of parents who are living with at least one of their adult children with parents whose adult children had left the home.
The study found that 32% of parents whose youngest child was between 20 and 34 years old had at least one child living at home with them. Of these parents, one-quarter were in fact living with a "boomerang kid", that is, a child who had returned to live in the parental home after already leaving once (or more).
Most parents agree that having children has made them happier people, and co-residence does not modify that opinion. On the contrary, parents living with at least one of their adult children were more likely to be very satisfied with the time they spent with their children.
However, the study did find that having children at home increased the frequency with which the parents report having arguments with their spouse over subjects such as money, chores and responsibilities, and the children.
For example, the probability that parents would sometimes or often argue over questions of money was 31% when there were two or more adult children at home, compared with only 21% when all children had left home.
These differences in the frequency of conflicts remained significant even when other factors, for example the parent's age, gender and level of income, were taken into account.
Parents were more likely to live with an adult child if they resided in a big metropolitan centre. The higher cost of living and easier access to postsecondary institutions might explain, at least in part, why parents in more urban areas are more likely to provide shelter for their adult children.
Cultural factors were also associated with co-residence of parents and their adult children. Parents born in Asia and South or Central America were more likely to co-reside with their adult children than those born in Canada. This was especially the case for parents who had immigrated to Canada recently. For example, the probability that an Asian-born parent who came to Canada between 1980 and 2001 lived with at least one adult child was 82%.
The study found that socio-economic status was not a factor in co-residence. In other words, parents with higher education or income levels were neither more nor less likely to provide accommodation for their adult children.
However the type of house, which can indicate the amount of living space available, did make a difference. Parents who had a single detached house, semi-detached or duplex were more likely to co-reside with their adult child than those living in apartment buildings.
Finally, parents who themselves had left home at a younger age were less likely to live with their adult children. Parents who left their own parents' house in their teens or early 20s may have provided an example for their own children or, alternatively, could have encouraged their children to leave home earlier.
This new issue of Canadian Social Trends also contains three other articles.
"Young adults who give and receive help" examines the extent of helping behaviours given and received by young adults aged 15 to 24.
"Home heating and the environment" shows that, since the 1940s, Canadians have rapidly adopted new energy sources for household heating and that this has affected greenhouse gas emissions in recent decades.
"Passing on the ancestral language" examines the preservation of ancestral languages by looking at the extent to which allophone immigrants (i.e., those whose mother tongue is neither English nor French) have transmitted their mother tongue to their Canadian-born children.
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Sole' Restaurant and Wine Bar
Presents Mexican Food
Festival, evenings March 20th to April 9th. A
celebration of family, friends, passion and the love of food. We
hope you will join us to be dazzled by the flavours of Mexican
cuisine.
March 20th to April 9th Evening Features
To view a copy of the menu
please visit our web site at www.sole.ca
If you do not wish to receive
further emails please reply with your email address to email@sole.ca
Sole' Restaurant
& Wine Bar
83 Erb Street West
Waterloo, Ontario
N2L 6C2
(519)
747-5622
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Prof to be Featured on National CBC Radio
U of G physics professor and jazz musician Diane Nalini de Kerckhove will be featured on the CBC radio program Jazz Beat on Sunday, March 26.
The national radio program airs at 8 p.m. on CBC Radio Two and at 11:05 p.m. on CBC Radio One. It may also be accessed via the Internet.
A former Rhodes scholar, de Kerckhove, who drops her last name when she hits the stage or the recording studio, joined the U of G faculty in July 2005. As a physics professor, she is building Canada’s first one-micron proton microprobe. As a jazz musician, she has performed for former U.S. president Bill Clinton, Sir Paul McCartney, the President of Malta and the Canadian High Commissioner to London. She has also sung at international music festivals in London, Malta, Montreal and Toronto.
Her third album is a project devoted to the words of William Shakespeare, for which she has written all the music. The album will be premiered at U of G May 25, with the concert serving as a kick off event for the University’s “Shakespeare — Made in Canada” festival planned for January to May 2007.
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Boomers in the Bedroom - Sexual Attitudes, Thoughts and Behaviours of the Boomer Generation
Landmark Canadian Study Shows Canadian Boomers are Too Tired, Stressed and Overworked for Sex
KIRKLAND, QC - They were born to be wild, celebrated
peace, love and pioneered the sexual revolution, but as the youngest of the
Canadian boomers head into their forties, they now report spending only
15 minutes a day - less than two hours a week - on sex and romance.
Boomers in the Bedroom: Sexual Attitudes and Behaviours of the Boomer
Generation, a landmark Ipsos-Reid survey of 2498 Canadian baby boomers (aged
40-64) shows that both male and female survey respondents say they devote
4-5 hours a day to TV watching and the Internet - more than 30 hours a week in
total. Yet, those surveyed report they spend only a fraction of that time
being romantic or having sex with their partners. The survey was commissioned
by Pfizer Canada, the manufacturer of VIAGRA.
Close to 60 per cent of respondents believe "the baby boomers started a
sexual revolution," and a whopping 87 per cent consider themselves to be "much
more sexually liberated" than the previous generation.
Not Tonight: I'm too Tired, Stressed and Overworked!
"The survey shows that the majority of Canadians who are 40 years and older say fatigue, work and stress are their major obstacles to sexual fulfillment," explains Ipsos-Reid Senior Vice President John Wright. "Fifty-eight per cent of Canadians 40+ report they are "too tired for sex," while 42 per cent say stress takes a toll on their sex life, and 40 per cent blame lack of time."
Boomers say they peaked sexually in their 30s, but remember sex in their
20s most fondly as exciting (57 per cent), fun (56 per cent) adventurous
(49 per cent) and wild (28 per cent). The majority report that as they move
into their 40s and 50s, sexual satisfaction begins to decrease gradually.
Joy of Cooking or Joy of Sex?
Boomers gourmet appetites appear to outweigh their sexual appetites, as the temptation of a night at a gourmet restaurant narrowly beats out the joy of sex (28 per cent compared to 25 per cent). Canadian women 40+ say they'd rather pamper themselves at a spa (29 per cent) than enjoy a night of passion with their partner (21 per cent).
BC bucks the national trend, with BC respondents voting for a night of
sex with their partner (30 per cent vs. 23 per cent) over a gourmet meal for
two. Conversely, only 18 per cent of Quebecers say they'd prefer a night of
great sex with their partner, compared to a meal for two at a gourmet
restaurant (34 per cent). Ontarians are split on the issue with 28 per cent
ranking a night of sex, ahead of a gourmet meal (26 per cent).
Love me Tender
On a positive note, although Canadian boomers reported that they are having less sex, they report that when they do have sex today, it is intimate (45 per cent) and tender (45 per cent) albeit, a little predictable (24 per cent). More than 80 per cent of men and women also agree that "having sex makes me feel loved and appreciated" and deepens intimacy in their relationship.
"The generation of love is ushering in a new openness about sexual health
and intimacy as they age, which will help us as a society address common
sexual difficulties associated with age in a more enlightened and proactive
way," says Dr. Richard Casey, Director of the Male Health Centres. "While
Canadian boomers are having less sex and their sexual lives are changing as
they age, it's encouraging to see people report that sex is very important to
their relationship because it continues to bring them deepening intimacy with
their partners. We know that a positive sex life correlates to overall better
health and wellness as you age, which is why it's great to see boomers
continuing to lead a new sexual revolution as they move into their forties and
fifties."
Atlantic Canadians 40+ are the most likely to report keeping the flames
of sexual passion ignited, and are more likely than Canadians in other
provinces to report their sex as "hot" (18 per cent), exciting (35 per cent)
and fun (46 per cent). Quebecers score the highest when it comes to
tenderness, with 52 per cent of Quebec boomers rating their sex today as
tender.
The Boomer Generation and Sexual Satisfaction
Overall, the majority of Canadian boomers say that while sex was wild, hot and more frequent in their 20s, their sexual enjoyment was not necessarily better. Only one-third of men and women rate their sex life as less enjoyable today compared to their twenties (28 per cent).
For men, erection quality is cited as a common source of sexual
dissatisfaction. About one-fourth of Canadian boomer men surveyed say they
have "difficulty gaining or sustaining an erection" and only 36 per cent of
Canadian men say they are very satisfied with their erections.
Most Canadian Boomers are Settled into Long-Term Relationships
Seventy-one per cent of Canadian boomers are married or living common law, with the average relationship celebrating the 21-year anniversary mark. Six per cent are in a steady relationship, and four per cent report they are dating casually. Eleven per cent of boomers say they are "looking for love," while eight per cent have taken themselves out of the game, and define themselves as "not dating and not looking for love."
Survey Background
Building on Pfizer's strong history of research and the growing leadership in the area of sexual health, Boomers in the Bedroom: Sexual Attitudes and Behaviors of the Boomer Generation provides unique insights into the factors that influence people's views towards physical intimacy and sexual relationships.
Pfizer Canada Inc is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., the world's
leading pharmaceutical company. Pfizer discovers, develops, manufactures and
markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals, as well as many
of the world's best-known over-the-counter healthcare products. Pfizer Canada
employs more than 2,000 people across the country. Canadian headquarters of
Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals Group is in Kirkland, Quebec.
The survey was conducted in late November 2005 through an online consumer
panel of 2498 respondents (1314 males and 1184 females) aged 40-64. The sample
was balanced by region according to Census data and has an accuracy rating
+/- 2 per cent.
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New Scholarship to be Awarded at Gay, Lesbian Literary Event
The University of Guelph will present its first annual scholarship for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) studies March 26 at the 15th annual Wilde About Sappho, a national celebration of gay and lesbian literature that brings prize-winning and up-and-coming queer writers to a number of Canadian cities. This is the second year the literary festival has included Guelph in its national tour.
“Those who write and research queer subjects are still desperately in need of encouragement for work that is often still marginalized in our society,” said Sky Gilbert, a U of G drama professor. “This scholarship provides both emotional and financial support for students who dare to be more than just a little different.”
Co-hosted by U of G and the Lambda Foundation, the Guelph event begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Ebar, 41 Quebec St., at 2:30 p.m.
Lambda Foundation scholarships are the world’s first series of national, annual university scholarships in gay and lesbian studies and have been established at seven universities. The award is provided to encourage research on LBGT people and build bridges of understanding among gays and lesbians, other equality-seeking groups and Canadian society.
In addition to the award presentation, the Guelph event will feature a gala reception and readings by Gilbert and two other prominent Canadian queer writers: Emma Donoghue, Elizabeth Ruth and Peter Schaffter.
Among her credits, Donoghue is the author of Hood, which won the 1995 American Library Association’s gay and lesbian book award, and Slammerkin, winner of the 2002 Ferro-Grumley Award for lesbian fiction. She is a five-time finalist in the Lambda Literary Awards and has had her work published in several languages. She has also written a collection of short stories, a collection of fairy tales and a number of plays for stage and radio.
Gilbert is the former artistic director of Toronto’s Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, as well as a director, filmmaker and writer. His plays, which include Drag Queens on Trial, Drag Queens in Outer Space, The Dressing Gown and Playmurder, have been produced around the world. He received Dora Awards for his plays The Whore’s Revenge and Suzie Goo: Private Secretary. Last summer, Gilbert received a ReLit Award for his fourth novel, An English Gentleman, and was awarded the Silver Ticket Award by the Toronto Theatre Alliance for his career accomplishments and for nurturing the development of Canadian theatre. He holds a University Research Chair in creative writing and theatre studies at Guelph.
Ruth is the author of Ten Good Seconds of Silence and Smoke. She was the founder and curator of Canada’s only monthly queer literary series between 1998 and 2002. She currently teaches creative writing at the University of Toronto.
Schaffter is a songwriter and classical pianist trained at the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto. He has produced a number of commissioned pieces of music and composed for theatre. His first novel, The Schumann Proof, was published in 2004.
Tickets for the readings and gala are $40. The cost of the reading and award-ceremony alone is $10. Tickets are available from the U of G drama office, (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53147; The Bookshelf, 41 Quebec St. in Guelph; and Words Worth Books, 100 King St. S. in Waterloo.
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Talk explores how leisure activities promote health, reduce risky behaviours among youth
WATERLOO-- How to develop leisure activities to promote health and reduce risky social behaviours among young people is the aim of the Hallman Visiting Professor Lecture next week at the University of Waterloo.
Hosted by UW's Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, the public talk yesterday, Thursday, March 16 was be given by Edward Smith and Linda Caldwell, professors at Pennsylvania State University. Title of their talk: "Leisure and Health: Joining Forces to Prevent Youth Risk Behavior." It tooke place at 4:30 p.m. in the Lyle S. Hallman Institute for Health Promotion, Room 1621, B.C. Matthews Hall.
The two researchers have done research on how to develop leisure-based interventions for school environments aimed at preventing substance use, HIV/AIDS and risky sexual behavior of youth. Their applied work has been conducted with colleagues in Pennsylvania, Germany and South Africa and has involved more than 8,000 adolescents.
The presentation described the evolution of their joint research and describe the evaluation of two interventions that they have developed: TimeWise: Taking Charge of Leisure Time; and HealthWise South Africa: Life Skills for Adolescents.
They also discussed issues about adapting programs to international contexts and policy.
Caldwell is a professor of recreation, park and tourism management in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State. Her research interests focus on the intersection of youth, leisure, and health domestically and internationally.
Smith, director of evaluation research for the Prevention Research Center at Penn State, conducts research focusing on the design, implementation and evaluation of school-based programs to improve the lives of adolescents. Key areas of the initiatives include the prevention of substance abuse, risky sexual behavior and other problem behaviors.
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Fascinating Facts and Figures from Guinness
TORONTO, March 9 - St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching, and
millions of Canadians from coast-to-coast will toast the day with friends and
family. Whether you're raising a glass of the brand new richer, fresher,
smoother Guinness Draught can at home, or enjoying a pint of Guinness out on
the town, conversations (and friendly arguments!) will focus on
all-things-Irish. You can be the resident St. Patrick's Day expert with these
fascinating facts and figures:
Guinness and Rock 'n' Roll Go Hand-in-hand
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- Guinness discovered U2! It's true - U2 was discovered at a Guinness
sponsored talent search in Dublin way back in 1977.
- The rollicking Gallagher brothers of world-famous rock band Oasis
count Guinness as one of their favourite drinks. In fact, the last
time they visited Canada, the Globe and Mail printed a picture of lead
singer Liam Gallagher with a Guinness in his hand and another at the
ready by his side.
- Brian May, of legendary rock band Queen and Madonna both list Guinness
as their favourite drink.
- A pub in Frankfurt, Germany called O'Dwyers actually serves up free
Guinness whenever a U2 song is played. So if you're in Frankfurt, hit
O'Dwyer's and request a U2 song!
- That shrine to rock 'n' roll and food, the Hard Rock Café, recently
launched a brand new burger with a bun made out of Guinness! So now
you can drink Guinness in a pub, or at home, or even eat it in a
burger!
The Guinness Hollywood Files
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- Renowned director, Jonathon Glazer, famous for his feature film work
on Sexy Beast and Birth and cutting-edge videos for artists such as
Radiohead and Blur got his big break by directing award-winning TV
commercials for Guinness.
- Actor Russell Crowe loves his Guinness. In fact, he regularly watched
rugby and soccer matches with his idol and mentor Richard Harris where
they sipped on Guinness together. When Harris died, Crowe watched a
rugby matched he planned on enjoying with his old friend, then toasted
Harris with a Guinness and wrote a poem in his honour on a coaster.
- American Pie star Tara Reid says her dad has a bar in his house
complete with Guinness taps and draught.
- Danny Masterson who plays Hyde on the hit TV show That '70's Show
nixes hard partying in favour of record-hunting, rock-climbing and
downing a Guinness or two with friends.
- Pierce Brosnan and Matt Damon also cite Guinness as one of their
favourite drinks.
- Toronto's ultra-exclusive Member's only hot spot, The Spoke Club, has
Guinness ice cream on its menu.
More Amazing Guinness Facts and Stats
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- 10 million pints of Guinness are enjoyed every single day across the
globe.
- More than two million pints of Guinness will be served in Canada on
March 17th.
- Every drop of Guinness enjoyed in Canada is brewed at the legendary
St. James' Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland.
- Guinness and St. Patrick's Day is a powerful combination - around the
world, some 13 million pints are expected to be enjoyed during the
St. Patrick's Day period.
- The St James' Gate Brewery now produces 810 million pints per year, or
2.22 million pints per day to keep up with global demand.
- In 1991, the brewers of Guinness won the Queen's Award for
Technological Achievement for developing the widget which enabled
Guinness Draught to become the first-ever draught beer available in a
can.
- The widget is a plastic moulded device found inside every can or
bottle of Guinness Draught. When the can or bottle is opened, a small
amount of beer and nitrogen, trapped in the widget, is forced out
through the beer, which creates the famous creamy head that you find
on a pint of Guinness Draught served in a pub. The widget has
revolutionized home enjoyment of Guinness by delivering the true taste
and texture of a pub-poured Guinness pint in a can or bottle.
- An online public opinion poll for T3 Magazine in the UK named the
Guinness widget as the single most important invention of the last
40 years.
- Jay Ingram, one of Canada's most popular television personalities and
co-host of the internationally acclaimed program The Daily Planet,
lists the Guinness widget as the greatest technological advance of the
last 10 years.
- Canada hosted the global launch of Guinness' new can product in
October, 2005 and also revealed a brand new look that reduces
formality with a modern typeface emphasizing the icon Harp logo and
Guinness brand name.
- If Niagara Falls was flowing with Guinness it would take 1.2 million
pints in volume per second to keep it rolling.
- Arthur Guinness started brewing the famous stout in Dublin, Ireland in
1759. Today Guinness is sold in more than 150 countries.
- The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is Ireland's number one visitor
attraction, having welcomed more than one million people through its
doors in just two years. A shrine to all-things-Guinness, the
Storehouse has a now-famous circular bar with spectacular 360-degree
views of Dublin.
- Guinness has 40 less calories than a pint of standard lager
(210 vs 250).
- Guinness has 0 grams of fat per 100ml and just 0.4 grams of sugar per
100ml.
- A pint of Guinness actually has fewer calories than a pint of
one per cent milk or orange juice!
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Profile of Selected Culture Industries in Ontario- 1996 to 2004
Ontario is a major force in Canadian culture industries. Firms within each culture industry in the province form clusters and cross-pollinate, generating employment and industrial growth in other culture and non-culture industries.
Keeping these industries humming are the many consumers in Canada's most populous province who buy or use culture goods and services.
The new report, Profile of Selected Culture Industries in Ontario, produced for the Ontario Media Development Corporation, examines three culture industries in the province — publishing, sound recording, and film, video and audio-visual.
The report also analyzes recent trends in the supply of and demand for culture goods and services, examines labour force trends and characteristics, and government spending on each selected industry.
Ontario's culture industries as a whole accounted for 4.2% of employment and 4.1% of gross domestic product in the province in 2001.
Ontario's film and publishing industries thrived during the late 1990s and early 2000s, while the sound recording industry faced serious challenges.
Ontario's emergent film industry was not only strong domestically. Film and video products constituted 41% of culture goods exports from Ontario in 2004, nearly double the proportion of 24% in 1996.
Sound recording, on the other hand, saw total revenues fall 21.6% from 1998 to 2003. This decline may well reflect the competition for the consumer's entertainment dollar from a multitude of media, ranging from computer games to DVDs to cell phones.
Some industry sources suggest that file sharing may have also played a role in the revenue decline for the music industry as a whole, including in Ontario.
The trend in profitability was mixed, for these three industries. Profits as a percentage of total revenues fell for sound recording, film production and film post-production.
Ontario's book publishers and exclusive agents saw profit margins rise in 2000/01 (the most recent year for which data are available), while profit margins for periodical publishers held steady between 1998/99 and 2003/04.
Film distributors and wholesalers led the pack, with a profit margin of 27.3% in 2003/04, the highest in the seven years examined.
The motion picture theatre industry and private radio and television broadcasting in Ontario were also examined in this report.
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UW holds fourth annual International Celebration Week
WATERLOO -- The University of Waterloo hosts its fourth annual "International Celebration Week" to raise campus awareness of different cultures, the event started Friday and will end March 10.
Organized by a committee of staff and students, International Celebration Week was developed to build understanding of the diverse cultures in the UW community. The week will provide an informative, educational and entertaining look into unique aspects of many different nationalities, as well as promote internationalization at UW.
"The goal of the week is to provide an opportunity for students from all countries to learn more about and interact with the many different cultures on campus," said Darlene Ryan, Director of the International Student Office.
Starting off the week will be the International Development Student Conference held at the Davis Centre. The conference theme is "Effective Development through Foreign Aid." On Friday evening, the keynote speaker is Naresh Singh, the Director-General for Governance and Social Development at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Also starting on Friday will be UW's Warrior Weekend with an international spin to the events. Some of the international events at Warrior Weekends will include salsa dance lessons, henna tattoos, origami making, and multi-cultural cuisine for students to try international dishes like spanakapita, spring rolls and samosas.
There will also be entertainment provided by the Aboriginal Student Society, which will be bringing in women drummers from Mino Ode Kwewak Ngamowak.
Staying with the international food theme, Renison College and UW's Food Services will be serving different types of food every day of the week, ranging from Greek to Chinese.
An event always popular with the students is the 2005 World's Best Commercials that will be presented by the Princess Cinema in the Humanities Theatre, Hagey Hall, at 8 p.m. on Monday. As part of UW's Diversity Campaign, the documentary film Scared Sacred will be screened at the Humanities Theatre next Wednesday.
For some of the practical elements of International Celebration Week, UW's Co-operative Education & Career Services department will present two sessions: "Work Search Strategies for International Students" and "Working Effectively In Another Culture." Both sessions will take place at the Tatham Centre on Monday and Tuesday.
The first session will help international students learn effective approaches to search for work in Canada after graduation. The second will assist anyone planning to work in another culture, exploring the impact of culture and intercultural communication on the work environment as well as presenting strategies for success in a different work culture.
For a complete list of scheduled activities and events, visit www.international.uwaterloo.ca/iso/IEW or contact Darlene Ryan at the International Student Office.
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New evidence further links community design and health, says Heart and Stroke Foundation
OTTAWA - Two studies released last week show that those who live in less walkable neighbourhoods are more likely to be overweight and generate more auto-related air pollution, another potential health threat, says the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
The results of two recent studies conducted in King County, Washington,
which includes the City of Seattle, were summarized in a paper entitled "Many
Pathways from Land Use to Health," published in the winter edition of the
Journal of the American Planning Association.
"These studies, co-authored by Dr. Lawrence Frank at the University of
British Columbia, are yet more evidence that the way we live, particularly how
our communities are designed, has a serious impact on our health," says
Stephen Samis, director of health policy for the Heart and Stroke Foundation
of Canada.
"In our study, just a 5 percent increase in the walkability of a
neighborhood was associated with a quarter point drop in body mass index
(BMI), a 32 percent increase in reported walking, and a 4.7 percent increase
in total moderate and vigorous activity measured through hip worn activity
monitors," notes Dr. Frank, the Bombardier Chair in Sustainable Urban
Transportation Systems at UBC.
A second study found that the same increase in walkability was associated
with 6.5 percent less driving and a 5.5 percent reduction in air pollution
"Imagine the possibilities if we began to make really significant changes in
how we design our living spaces," says Frank.
The study developed the most comprehensive "walkability index" yet,
incorporating land use mix, street connectivity, net residential density, and
retail floor area ratios. This index was then compared to health outcomes in
King County, taking into account other variables such as age, income,
education and ethnicity.
Seventy five adults in each of 16 neighbourhoods were surveyed and
monitored. The neighbourhoods were split evenly between high and low
walkability, and higher and lower incomes. On average the BMI of those in the
more walkable neighbourhoods was lower, and they were more likely to get at
least 30 minutes of daily activity.
"Much of what Dr. Frank and other researchers have learned in American
cities is relevant here in Canada," says Stephen Samis. "But there are
considerable differences between the development of U.S. and Canadian cities.
There is a need for original Canadian research in this area, which is why the
Heart and Stroke Foundation is acting as a leader in the development of
research opportunities on the built environment."
The Foundation will be presenting its plans to move forward with research
in health and the built environment at the World Urban Forum in Vancouver in
June 2006.
"It's exciting to be part of the groundswell of demand for this kind of
research in Canada," says Dr. Frank, who is an advisor to the Heart and Stroke
Foundation.
Dr. Frank's new hometown of Vancouver B.C. might be the city to take the
lead in this area, thanks in large part to the work of city planner Larry
Beasley.
Mr. Beasley was recently acknowledged with the Heart and Stroke
Foundation Leadership in Healthy Public Policy Award, in recognition of his
"commitment to designing urban places that are conducive to active living."
"In the mid-'80s we took a leap of faith - because there was very little
research or evidence - by adopting and implementing what we now call our
"living first" strategy for the downtown," says Beasley. "I'm talking about
neighbourhoods that each have a commercial high street; lush open space and
green linkages, a social mix by income and household type (especially
providing for families with children), and an infrastructure of public
facilities and services."
Despite Vancouver's success to date, Beasley agrees that original
Canadian based-research would help his community and others across the nation.
"Our three most recent annual health reports on Canadians have clearly
tracked an alarming increase in obesity in this country, and a relationship
between weight, activity and where we live," says Stephen Samis of the
Foundation. "It's time to start applying some of the knowledge we already have
from the U.S. and elsewhere, and develop some Canadian research to make sure
we know what will have the best positive impact on our health."
Dr. Frank's co-authors on the studies were Dr. James Sallis of San Diego
State University and Dr. Brian Saelens at the University of Cincinnati.
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| Heritage Canada Foundation Releases the 2005 Heritage Report Card. City of Kitchener owned Forsyth Factory tops the Lists of the Worst Losses
OTTAWA - The Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) release its 2005 Heritage Report Card on the state of heritage conservation in Canada, which includes the worst losses of the past year and the "Top Ten" most endangered places lists. Released at the Foundation's national headquarters in Ottawa, the Heritage Report Card takes stock of Canada's heritage performance in four categories: sustainable use of existing buildings; investment in the heritage sector; federal stewardship of historic places and protecting the unique identity of Canadian communities.
Although the report card acknowledges the work of the federal government
through such programs as Parks Canada's Historic Places Initiative, Canada
received a failing grade in its overall commitment to heritage conservation.
"The Heritage Canada Foundation's report card is a wake-up call that
brings national attention to destroyed or threatened places in Canada," stated
executive director Natalie Bull. "While it sets some clear priorities for the
new government, it's also about how Canadians can improve the score. We can
keep our historic downtowns alive by shopping on Main Street instead of
encouraging more big-box retail, and we can support groups who are working to
protect landscapes and landmarks in our communities."
Topping the list of the worst losses for the past year is Kitchener,
Ontario's Forsyth Factory. Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1999
it was demolished last month. Described as a moment of "profound failure" the
demolition is clearly a result of the city's reluctance to take responsibility
for its stewardship of an important heritage resource.
http://www.heritagecanada.org/eng/news/worstLoses.htm
The Forsyth joins other landmark heritage buildings in Kitchener that are
now gone: the original City Hall, the old farmer's market, the Waterloo County
courthouse and the vanished Carnegie library.
The other significant losses for the past year include the 88-year-old
Clairmont Grain Elevator, located five kilometres north of Grande Prairie,
Alberta, which was razed to make way for a new housing development, and the
recent demolition of three rural barns in Eastern Ontario, symbolizing the
constant threats posed to Canada's rural heritage due to neglect, vandalism
and urban sprawl.
The "Top Ten" list of endangered places in Canada, which was compiled
from the stories and news items that HCF has been following and reporting on
throughout the year, include Ontario's Alma College in St. Thomas, the Bata
Shoe Headquarters in Toronto, and the Lister Block in Hamilton; the Bell Barn
in Indian Head, Saskatchewan; British Columbia's Burrard Bridge in Vancouver,
and the Officers' Mess and Quarters at Work Point Military Base in Esquimalt;
the Lessard House in Edmonton, Alberta; the Southwest Point Lighthouse on
Quebec's Anticosti Island; the proposed towers threaten historic district and
Citadel in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and lastly, the York Street Train Station in
Fredericton, New Brunswick.
http://www.heritagecanada.org/eng/news/endangered.htm
The Heritage Canada Foundation continues to promote Heritage Day, the third Monday of February, as a national holiday. The Heritage Canada Foundation is a national, membership-based, non profit organization with a mandate to promote the preservation of Canada's historic buildings and places.
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Toronto's Hingson Corporation launches major entertainment acquisitions – Toronto’s newest and biggest nightlife experience
Toronto, Over the past year, Hingson Entertainment has taken Toronto's entertainment district by storm, with a number of new acquisitions of popular restaurants and nightclubs, including Fez Batik, Richmond Lounge, Banzai, and Circa (formerly Lucid).
Hingson is ushering in what the Toronto Star has identified as the “New Nightlife” – a reenergized, totally revamped entertainment experience.
Hingson launched its latest dining and entertainment venue Eight Restolounge and Eight Below at a packed exclusive party on Saturday February 18, 2005.
Circa – an international club and entertainment experience conceived with New York City Nightclub legend Peter Gaiten - and Fez Batik are slated to open this spring.
Headed by Chairman and C.E.O., Dr. John C. Cheong, Hingson Corporation is the parent company of Hingson Entertainment. The organization is Canadian owned and operated, committed to innovation, technology and style in its diverse array of operations including engineering, construction, financial, and entertainment.
The Hingson Group of Companies was conceived in 1959 out of the inspiration and vision of the late Hing Kwong Cheong. Dr. John Cheong currently heads Hingson, as its Chairman and C.E.O. The leadership of Hingson Entertainment includes Fredrick W. Bain, President and C.O.O. and Dan Etcher, Sr. Vice President of Operations.
As community activists, Hingson has participated in numerous charity benefits for The United Way, the Canadian Cancer Society and CNIB. In 1984, the company purchased three rundown houses on Winchester Street, renovated them and then donated them to the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
In 2007, Hingson and Hingson Partners are planning to invest $40 million to build a boutique hotel in the city. Established in 2005, Hingson Entertainment is a diversified hospitality group with operations and ownership in restaurants, nightclubs, lounges and hotels. The commitment of the entertainment group is to deliver style, quality and innovation to its patrons.
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First Study on Canada's Creative Class conducted by Culture Creatives and Company
New Study shows that female and youth consumers are demanding more information and added value on the products and services they purchase.
TORONTO - Culture Creatives and Company, www.ccandco.com, Canada's first company to profile and research the emerging Canadian Creative Class, released research on the values and beliefs amongst Canadians between the ages of 18 and 45. Issues researched were attitudes and current beliefs about media, marketing, responsible investment, progressive lifestyle, sustainability and creativity.
This is the first research study measuring values and attitudes on this
market segment in Canada, where it has been identified in the United States by
researcher Paul Ray as a group, which represents an economy of over 50 million
individuals.
New research indicates that the Creative Class in Canada is estimated to
be at a growing number of over 4 million, according to a study by Catalytix in
2005, co-authored by Richard Florida, PhD., who coined the term Creative
Class, now recognized on a global scale. This group includes those who work
primarily at creative problem solving. They include artists, writers and
designers; scientists, doctors, lawyers and engineers; and creative
professionals, managers, and technicians in many fields. These women and men
are between the ages 25-45, and youth 18-24. These members of the Creative
Class reside in a "Creative Economy" which is one of the fastest growing
consumer sectors today.
"The results clearly indicate that the Canadian Creative Class is not
only aware but are concerned about the issues surrounding responsible
lifestyles including investment", said Andrika Boshyk, ccandco's Director of
Research and Development. "More importantly, 52% of respondents felt that cost
was a very important factor when purchasing a product, complimented with
findings that 45% felt that the environmental and social impacts of a product
were key factors in the decision making process when making a purchase or
investment decision.
Research indicates that the Creative Class has the energy, talent, and
desire to drive positive change. For example, 98% of respondents indicated
that they would purchase and align their financial decision making with
"responsible" products should the cost, convenience and social/environmental
impact be considered in the product offering.
"What this means to marketers is that the new wave of consumers is
placing their purchasing power on a higher level, and at ccandco, we like to
call this "putting your money where your mouth is. Companies which offer
products that speak to these needs and attitudinal shifts will succeed and
hold promise for popularity and support amongst this emerging market of
consumers," continued Ms. Boshyk.
Similar research conducted in the United States by LOHAS (Lifestyles of
Health and Sustainability), representing the Cultural Creatives, indicates the
U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on health, the environment,
social justice, personal development and sustainability currently represents a
$228.9 billion market. Approximately 30 percent of adults in the U.S., or
63 million people, are currently considered LOHAS Consumers.
Research derived in the UK by Phatgnat indicates that youth and females
are more interested in social issues, and overall, the ethical values and
community support brands/companies demonstrate that this is an area which
presents opportunities for future market development. The need to be ethical
and to communicate those values is an area in which brands/companies need to
refine, as it's obviously a factor in aligning young people and women with
their next potential purchase.
Boshyk continued, "What these initial findings demonstrate is that
Canadians are on a level playing field, and are thought leaders on today's
societal issues. Research indicates that Canada's youth and female segments
portray progressive viewpoints and hold high standards with regard to
sustainable lifestyles, similar in fact, when compared to the US and UK. The
Canadian Creative Class is now poised as a key leader on these issues."
Surveys were conducted in October of 2005 in Toronto, Montreal and
Vancouver with a total of 400 valid results. 30% of respondents were less than
25 years of age while 51% were between the ages of 25 and 35. 42% of
respondents were female, 58% male.
Full report will be available at www.ccandco.com as of March 1st, 2006.
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Walt Disney World Resort Moves Mountains To Celebrate New Expedition Everest Attraction
NEW YORK -- New York City's famed Times Square will be transformed into the legendary Mount Everest on Feb. 15-16 by Walt Disney World Resort. A 57-story spectacular brings the Himalayas to life, with powerful avalanche effects, daytime pyrotechnics and the ferocious roar of the yeti, plus world-renowned aerialist acrobats performing a never-seen-before display of vertical acrobatics.
The two-day show, "Everest in the City," will take place hundreds of feet above Times Square to celebrate the launch of the thrilling new Walt Disney World attraction Expedition Everest, grand opening in April at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Project Bandaloop, featuring the world's most creative aerial acrobats, will fly through the sky as they perform off a pair of towering billboards spanning two skyscrapers at Broadway and 47th Street. Serving as the dramatic backdrop, the billboards feature a runaway train racing through snow-covered mountains, just narrowly escaping the wrath of the fearsome red-eyed yeti, legendary protector of the Himalayas.
The brave climbers will face the wintry elements as they navigate the mountain while performing an exhilarating acrobatic ballet accompanied by an original musical score. New Yorkers and visitors to Times Square in February will have the chance to view the incredible mountain billboard.
To broaden "Everest in the City" beyond a traditional billboard, Walt Disney World Resort partnered with industry leaders including Sylvania, Hip Cricket and AOL. Sylvania gives the yeti his glowing red eyes using the new OSRAM LED-powered light technology. Each of the yeti's two 30-inch-diameter eyes will be lit with six OSRAM DRAGONchain® LED modules, making the fearsome protector's glare visible from hundreds of yards away.
While Sylvania is responsible for giving the yeti his eyes, Hip Cricket will control their stare. Thanks to technology provided by Hip Cricket, visitors to Times Square can use their wireless phones to interact directly and in real time with the yeti by texting the word DISNEY to the short code "4YETI", which will make the yeti's eyes flash at a specific time.
For anyone not able to view the spectacular show in person, AOL will feature the event. Visitors on AOL also can enter an online contest that will award 25 lucky visitors to the site a trip for four to Walt Disney World Resort to experience an exclusive tour of Expedition Everest.
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Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Expands National Sales & Distribution Presence Through The Strategic Acquisition Of Brave New Wines Ltd.
- Brave New Wines Ltd. is responsible for introducing the Canadian marketplace such innovative wine brands as Fat Bastard, Mad Fish and Angus the Bull
- Acquisition falls on the heels of Diamond Estates' recent announcement that Canadian icon Dan Aykroyd invested $1 million into the company's wineries
Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Niagara Cellars Inc., (NCI), has announced the acquisition of the Toronto-based national wine agency, Brave New Wines Ltd, announced Murray Marshall, President of Niagara Cellars Inc., and co-founder of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The acquisition is Diamond Estates' second major announcement in the past three months. The first was the announcement of Canadian acting legend Dan Aykroyd's $1 million investment into Niagara Cellars, Inc.
The acquisition of Brave New Wines Ltd. (which has offices in Calgary and Vancouver and is responsible for introducing such innovative wine brands as Fat Bastard, Mad Fish and Angus the Bull) catapults Diamond Estates into the top ten of Canadian sales agencies based on revenues and market presence.
"My investment into Niagara Cellars and Diamond Estates is clearly one that has already been positively leveraged through this strategic acquisition. By adding the Brave New Wines' portfolio to our existing brands, we are rapidly becoming one of Canada's leaders in the wines and spirits industry," said Dan Aykroyd, who also owns the Canadian rights to Patron Tequila.
Founded in 1995 by Peter Whitney and Marnie Griffith, Brave New Wines Ltd., first introduced Fat Bastard wines to the Canadian marketplace in 1999 and to date, the brand has reached sales of approximately 50,000 cases annually across Canada and continues to grow at 20 percent.
As a marketing-focused organization, Brave New Wines Ltd., builds innovative, consumer friendly brands while also representing premium wineries including Cellarmaster Wines (Australia), Jackson Estate (New Zealand), Delta Vineyards (New Zealand) and Fat Bastard creator Guy Anderson's French and Spanish wines Le Freak and Mad Dogs & Englishmen.
A key component of the company's offerings is the Australian Regional Portfolio of other prestigious brands including Leeuwin Estate and Howard Park Wines from Western Australia, and Leconfield & Richard Hamilton, Woodstock, Paxton, Mountadam and Kilikanoon from South Australia.
"With this acquisition, we are now a national wine and spirits company with a balanced portfolio of both imported and domestic wines and spirits that fully integrates the chain from vineyards through to national distribution and marketing, said Marshall.
Niagara Cellars Inc., continues to build on a model of mergers and acquisitions combining the strength of the fastest-growing wine and spirits agency and distribution companies with a family of Ontario wineries.
In addition to the Brave New Wines, the company's key brands include domestic wines from Lakeview Cellars, EastDell Estates, Birchwood Estates and Thomas & Vaughan as well such compelling international wines as Kendall-Jackson Wines, Rodet Burgundy Wines, Cheviot Bridge's Long Flats Australian Wines and Kopke Ports. Key spirits brands include Newfoundland Screech Rum, Hpnotiq, Patron Tequila, Fire Ball Shooter, Dr. McGilllicuddy's Schnapps and Liqueurs.
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Creative City News February 8, 2006 | N. 64
"Art helps citizens establish connections with their communities...it
creates understanding between cultures because it's something we all
share. It also plays an important role in the economic development of an
area. "
– Suzanne Greening, Public Art Coordinator, City of Richmond, BC,
Richmond Review, January 21, 2006
Centre of Expertise on Culture and Communities: February Cultural
Research Salon
The Creative City Network's Centre of Expertise on Culture and
Communities launched its first Cultural Research Salon at the end of
January. Over 30 people from the academic, planning, and cultural
sectors participated and discussed issues arising from Kat Runnalls'
research plans. The next Salon will take place on Friday, February 24th
and will feature Derek Simons, PhD candidate at Simon Fraser University
in Vancouver (details will be posted on the CECC website soon).
This informative networking series is for faculty and students from SFU,
UBC and other academic institutions, as well as members of the general
public, who are interested in culture and the city in terms of issues
like sustainability, infrastructure and community.
For information: Website
The Lulu Series: Art in the City
The Lulu Series, a series of free public lectures, was launched by the
City of Richmond in 2003 to inform the general public about art and
their city. The 2006 series, entitled The Art of Making Places Public,
kicked off in January. The February event will feature Fred Kent,
President of Project for Public Spaces Inc., New York.
For information: Website
Cultural policy, planning, and context
Ajax, ON: Focusing resources on arts and culture services
The Town of Ajax is developing a plan to promote arts and cultural
activities and allow council to focus resources on arts and cultural
services.
(News Durham Region.com, "Ajax working on arts, culture plan", January
23, 2006. Reported by Arts News Canada.)
| Website
Lake Country, BC: Town takes arts first approach to planning
When Public Art Commission Chair Sharon McCoubrey looks at the vacant
Town Centre area she sees an empty canvass waiting to be moulded into
something great.
(Wylie Eden, Lake Country News.Net, January 25, 2006) | Website
Montréal, QC: Citizens are at the heart of new cultural development
programs
A greater awareness of citizens' needs, particularly those living in
remote areas, is central to the new funding programs offered by the City
of Montreal's Division de l'action culturelle et des partenariats.
(« Les nouveaux programmes de développement culturel », City of
Montreal, January 2006. Reported by Les Arts et la Ville, Le réseau,
January 23, 2006)
(Les activités de l'association > Bulletin) | Website
See also:
City of Montreal – Culture: Website
"Division de l'action culturelle de la Ville de Montréal" |
Website
(french only)
Regina, SK: Arts groups hopeful artists will play a role in downtown
revitalization
Downtown Regina is on the upswing and ArtsAlliance Regina wants to
ensure that artists are included in the downtown revitalization plans.
To that end, the Alliance is conducting a feasibility study to explore
the possibility of artists using two key buildings in the downtown area.
(The Regina Leader-Post, "A Dream for Downtown", January 18, 2006) |
Website
Tweed, ON: Arts Council formed to unify arts and culture
The Tweed and Area Arts Council is one step closer to reality. The
grassroots arts council, which has been endorsed by the municipality, is
in the initial stages of formation. The idea behind the arts council is
to "unify" arts and culture in the area and instill a sense of pride in
the community.
(Shannon Binder Bray, Stirling Community Press, January 19, 2006) |
Website
Winnipeg, MB : Arts groups concerned about funding organization
"Some Winnipeg's arts groups have grown increasingly concerned about the
future of the Winnipeg Arts Council, which has been without a director
for months."
(CBC News, January 31, 2006) | Website
Vancouver, BC: Commissioner plans to host unofficial arts-and-culture
committee
Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Spencer Herbert is disgusted that the
culture-and-recreation committee was axed. He plans to host his own
unofficial, unauthorized, "tell-all" arts-and-culture committee instead.
(Pieta Woolley, The Georgia Straight, January 26, 2006) | Website
See also: "Council duo say they'll care for City's art and
artists"
(AM 980 CKNW, January 27, 2006) | Website
Cultural spaces
Whitehorse, YK: Ambitious waterfront plans designed to create cultural
mecca
Development plans for the Yukon Arts and Heritage Village riverfront
were unveiled a public event recently. The plans, which outlined
millions of dollars' worth of infrastructure, are designed to make the
city's riverfront an arts and cultural mecca.
(Matthew Grant, Whitehorse Daily Star, January 31, 2006) | Website
North Vancouver, BC: National Maritime Centre plans underway
The City of North Vancouver is taking the next steps in transforming
their waterfront into a vibrant maritime precinct with the creation of
The National Maritime Centre. More than a museum, the Centre, located in
Vancouver's Inner Harbour, will be the destination for people to
celebrate, discover and participate in the unique maritime fabric of the
west coast.
(City of North Vancouver press release, January 11, 2006. Reported by
Municipal Suppliers.) | Website
LaSalle, ON: Culture and recreation complex fundraising campaign
underway
The fundraising campaign for the LaSalle Culture and Recreation Complex
was officially launched with the presentation of a ceremonial cheque to
Mayor Mike Raymond for over $2 million.
(Municipal Suppliers, January 30, 2006) | Website
Website: www.ourcommunitycampaign.ca
Caraquet, NB: Village Historique Acadien receives gift from Irving Oil
A 1934 garage donated last year by Irving Oil will be moved from its
present location in Sackville and installed at the Village Historique
Acadien in Caraquet. This development will help the village maintain its
position in the New Brunswick tourism industry as the centre of the
Acadian experience.
("Village Historique Acadien to receive donation of Irving service
station," Village Historique Acadien/Irving Oil news release, February
2, 2006. Reported by Municipal Suppliers.) | Website
Website: www.villagehistoriqueacadien.com
Edmonton, AB: Art program for street youth finds new home
The iHuman Youth Society has found a new home that will allow them to
continue their highly successful art, music and addiction treatment
programs to help young people get off Edmonton streets.
(Karen Kleiss, "Human Youth Society finds shelter with new studio", The
Edmonton Journal, January 31, 2006) | Website
Matane, QC: Partnership sets the stage for a new performing arts venue
The City of Matane has signed an agreement with a local presenter and
the Cégep de Matane, for the construction of a new, 650-seat performing
arts venue to be located adjacent to the Cégep.
("Nouveau projet de Salle de spectacle et de congrès", January 25, 2006.
Reported by Fournisseur municipal.) | Website
Quebec City, QC: Performing spaces enjoy a facelift
Two major capital projects are set to take place this year. Bishop's
University Théâtre Centennial, in Lennoxville is planning building
upgrades and the acquisition of new technical equipment. Quebec City's
Palais Montcalm is now set to complete a major restoration project in
preparation for its new vocation as a Maison de la musique (music
institute).
("Le gouvernement du Québec accorde 752 000 $ pour la rénovation du
Théâtre Centennial", January 31, 2006) | Website
("Rénovation du Palais Montcalm" Le gouvernement du Québec accorde une
somme supplémentaire de 1,6 M$", January 24, 2006. Reported by
Fournisseur municipal.) | Website
Toronto, ON: Condo boom pushing small theatre companies out
It seems there is never enough cheap, safe space for small theatre
troupes to develop new work, and the condo boom is making the situation
only worse.
(Kate Taylor, "Enter stage right: a condo boom", The Globe and Mail,
February 1, 2006) | Website
Vancouver, BC: Vancouver Art Gallery on the move
Two years ago, a master planning committee was formed to examine the
possibilities for physical expansion as the gallery had outgrown its
current home. Now, a decision is close.
(Alexander Gill, The Globe and Mail, January 28, 2006) | Website
Winnipeg, MB: Pantages Playhouse loses biggest tenant
"The Pantages Playhouse is steeling itself against some long dark nights
in 2006 with the loss of its single largest tenant."
(Morley Walker, Winnipeg Free Press, February 1, 2006. Reported by Arts
News Canada) | Website
Cultural Tourism
Charlottetown, PEI: Set to celebrate "Fabulous February"
Charlottetown's is preparing to celebrate four major events as part of
"Fabulous February" that will stimulate tourism growth, creating an
estimated economic impact of over $7 million.
(City of Charlottetown press release, January 19, 2006. Reported by
Municipal Suppliers) | Website
Canadian tourism seeks marketing push
As the number of American tourists visiting Canada continues to decline,
tourism officials are urging all levels of government to generate some
badly needed buzz about Canada.
(Cassandra Szklarski, "Wish You Were Here Americans", The Globe and
Mail, February 2, 2006) | Website
Public Art
Banff, AB: Art Committee denied public art funds
Town Council has cancelled the annual grant used to develop and
implement public art programs. Council's refusal to provide the grant is
a blow to the committee as it attempts to secure funds from other
agencies.
(Carol Picard, Rocky Mountain Outlook, January 26, 2006. Reported by
Arts News Canada) | Website
Pontiac, QC: A new palette of cultural assets
Following confirmation of its renewed participation to Villes et
villages d'art et de patrimoine program, the District plans to promote a
new artists studio tour and undertake "L'Art dans le parc," a large
outdoor mural project created by professional artists in collaboration
with the public.
("72 000 $ à la MRC de Pontiac pour sa participation au programme Villes
et villages d'art et de patrimoine", January 31, 2006. Reported by
Fournisseur municipal) | Website
Rives-du-Saguenay, QC: The case of the vanishing public art piece
Without warning, the School District single-handedly decided to demolish
an outdoor sculpture it received in 1980. A work by artist Pierre
Bourgeault, Le Cheval de La Baie was created on the occasion of the
Symposium international de sculpture environnementale that year. The
artist decried the gesture and demanded greater respect for works of
art.
Progrès-Dimanche, December 25, 2005. Reported by Les Arts et la Ville,
Le réseau, January 23, 2006.)
(Les activités de l'association > Bulletin) | Website
Saint-Boniface, MB: Ice goddess artist invited to Torino
An imposing snow sculpture representing a woman's head, with hair
blowing in the wind, sits at the entrance of Provencher Boulevard in
St-Boniface. The artist, BC's David Ducharme, has been invited to will
create and present a replica of his "Le Dévoilement de l'esprit", at the
2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
(François Cavalliès, « Sculpture de rêve », La Liberté, le 1er février
2006.) | Website
Winnipeg, MB: Graffiti cop mounts show of favourites
A Manitoba gallery devoted to youth art is featuring the photos of an
unlikely artist: a rail worker assigned to eliminate graffiti.
(CBC Arts News press release, January 26, 2006. Reported by Arts News
Canada) | Website
Resources
Arts Manager: New guide for arts managers
This free resource is geared towards arts managers and arts
administrators offering solutions to some of the diverse challenges
faced by many not-for-profit arts organizations.
Website: www.artsmanager.org/home
Arts Research Monitor
This free web resource provides access to articles from current and past
issues of Arts Research Monitor.
Website (fully bilingual): artsresearchmonitor.com
French website: www.SurLesArts.com.
Manage Culture
Online Certificate Courses and Specialist Diplomas are offered by The
Centre for Cultural Management at the University of Waterloo. Courses
are available in disciplines as diverse as fundraising, human resources
management, marketing, board management, cultural tourism and much more.
Website www.manageculture.com
Brazil: Minister of Culture also active artist
Brazil's most famous export may well be its minister of culture, fabled
songwriter/guitarist/singer Gilberto Gil. Still active as an artist, Gil spoke with Billboard about music and politics.
(Leila Cobo, Reuters UK/Billboard, January 29, 2006) | Website
Culture Vultures: Is UK arts policy is damaging the arts?'
A new book being published next week examines UK arts policy and states the government is being wasteful in its effort to promote socially inclusive art.
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New Orleans pianist to perform in rescheduled hurricane concert
WATERLOO – Wilfrid Laurier University has rescheduled a cancelled benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Soviet-born pianist and composer Faina Lushtak, who lost her New Orleans home, will perform on Saturday, February 18.
Lushtak will perform a variety of works, including some of her own compositions, during a concert at 8 p.m. in Laurier’s Maureen Forrester Recital Hall. Net proceeds from ticket sales, estimated at $4,000, will be donated to the Mennonite Central Committee’s Hurricane Katrina response efforts.
The program includes works by Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. Laurier voice professor Daniel Lichti, who invited Lushtak after meeting her at the Schlern International Music Festival in Italy this summer, will perform the Michelangelo Lieder by Hugo Wolf with Lushtak. She will finish the concert with her own compositions.
“We are very pleased to have been able to reschedule this extremely worthy event,” said Lichti. “Faina is an exceptional performer and person, who was soon thinking of others even as her own home was destroyed.”
Lushtak’s home in New Orleans was among those devastated by Katrina. “We lost photo albums and a great many personal effects, but the greatest loss was of my piano,” she said. “Steinways are all different. Like people, they all have different personalities.”
But no sooner was the damage reviewed, than Lushtak was confirming existing engagements and booking new ones. “One has to have a certain degree of optimism in order to leave the Soviet Union,” she explains.
Lushtak was born and raised in the Soviet Union. A child prodigy, she began her piano and composition studies at the age of six. She graduated from the Stolyarskii Special Music School for Musically Gifted Children and later earned her degrees in piano performance and composition from the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory.
Since her debut at the age of 10, Lushtak’s concert performances have inspired audiences throughout her native Russia, in Western halls from Austria to Italy, and in the United States. She has performed both as a solo recitalist and as a guest artist with numerous symphony orchestras, under the batons of William Henry Curry, Maxim Shostakovich, Alfred Slavia, John Paul and Larry Cullison.
A dedicated teacher, Lushtak is on the faculty of the Schlern International Music Festival in Italy. She is also the Downman Professor of Music at the Newcomb music department of Tulane University, where she heads the piano division and is music director of Tulane’s concert piano series.
Lushtak was originally scheduled to perform on January 6 and conduct a masterclass the following day. A new family crisis, following just months after the hurricane, forced her to cancel. Scheduling difficulties prevent the teaching of the masterclass.
Tickets for the concert are $30 per person; $20 for students and seniors. Laurier’s faculty of music is suggesting that patrons, whether supportive of music or Katrina victims, might give tickets as gifts for Valentine’s Day. They are available from Laurier’s faculty of music at (519) 884-0710 ext. 2150.
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Experience your Region’s History during February’s Heritage Week
Waterloo Region has so much local history to celebrate, that the traditional Heritage Week designated by the Province just isn’t long enough.
Throughout the month of February, a variety of activities are planned that will celebrate and explore local history, science, music, art, cultural heritage and the environment.
“We are very fortunate in Waterloo Region that our history and cultural heritage is so highly valued,” said Lucille Bish, Director of Community Services at the Region of Waterloo, whose division is responsible for managing the Region’s historic and cultural heritage assets such as Doon Heritage Crossroads, Joseph Schneider House, McDougall Cottage and the Regional Curatorial Centre. “It is so encouraging to see the range of activities planned by individuals and organizations throughout our community.”
In 1985, the Ontario government designated the third week in February as Ontario Heritage Week (OHW), with Heritage Day launching the week. Heritage Week is an opportunity to celebrate our past, experience current traditions and plan legacies for the future. Heritage Canada is promoting ‘Our Cultural Heritage Places’ as the theme for 2006.
For a quick and easy introduction to many of the heritage organizations in the Region plan to drop by the Heritage Showcase on Saturday, February 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fairview Park Mall, hosted by the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation.
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Great design vital to success of new condominium projects
TORONTO - There is one thing Danny Salvatore and Sam Crignano agree on: When it comes to condominiums, great design truly matters.
Mr. Salvatore, president of Fernbrook Homes and Mr. Crignano, a principal
in Cityzen Development Group, have put their money where their beliefs are.
They jointly sponsored a ground-breaking international architectural design
competition for the fourth tower at their new Absolute Community in
Mississauga.
While the design call drew more than 600 inquiries, 92 firms from every
continent wound up submitting design proposals. From among them a blue-ribbon
panel of judges has selected six finalists:
1. Nicholas Boyarsky, Boyarsky Murphy Architects; United Kingdom
2. Michel Rojkind, rojkind arquitectos; Mexico
3. Roland Rom Colthoff, Quadrangle Architects Limited; Canada
4. Sebastian Messer, Studio MWM; United Kingdom
5. Yansong Ma, MAD office; United States of America
6. Tarek El-Khatib, Zeidler Partnership Architects; Canada
Each will be awarded an honourarium to help underwrite the cost of
preparing final design submissions; the winner will be awarded the contract to
create a 50-plus storey tower on the northeast corner of Hurontario Street and
Burnhamthorpe Road, the anchor for the pair's successful new Absolute
Community located at the most important crossroads in Mississauga.
Why go to the trouble? Why spend the money? Why search the world for
bold, innovative ideas?
"We believe strongly that there are both aesthetic and commercial
benefits to great design," says Mr. Salvatore. "Above all, great design
endures and creates lasting value and that is what we want to create for our
customers, the families who will make Absolute their home."
The GTA condominium market has matured, he says. With maturity comes
increased levels of buyer sophistication and knowledge.
"As the market changes, those in our industry who will continue to be
successful will be builders who recognize the value that excellent design
brings to projects," says Mr. Crignano.
Days are gone when builders could erect projects, which were little more
than reworked apartment buildings, series of rectangular bays stacked on atop
the other, he says.
Condominiums are intrinsically different from rental units, he adds.
"Rentals are intended for shorter term stays, for a more mobile market.
Condominiums must reflect the demands of permanency," he says. "Look at
European markets. In major centres across the continent, more families own
condominiums than lowrise homes and they become part of a family's legacy. For
that to happen here we simply must pursue excellence in design and in quality
of craftsmanship and materials."
A landmark project must also deliver benefits to neighborhoods,
communities and the cities they represent, the pair says.
There is another reason for staging an open international competition,
says Antonio Gomez-Palacio, a partner in Office for Urbanism Inc., the
planning and design firm retained to oversee the competition.
The open nature of this competition has meant that young, innovative
architects have been able to compete on the same footing as old established
firms, he says. "There was no requirement for things like CVs or portfolios of
past work. The aim was to attract the broadest possible spectrum of
architectural talent."
Mr. Gomez-Palacio says the result is 92 of the world's top designers
working on the challenge instead of the handful that a competition based on
invitations would bring.
"You have almost a hundred of the brightest minds in the field submitting
their ideas," he says. "In international architectural circles this has been a
near historic event. Not only was it an open competition but an open
competition for a condominium tower, sponsored by private not public
interests."
The Absolute partners hope is that the competition will also introduce to
Canada, design and construction techniques and materials new to the market.
"Developers tend to have blinkered vision, a situation forced on them by
circumstances," says Mr. Salvatore. "We believe approaching this project in
this fashion will prove a breath of fresh air, a new window onto the latest
trends and techniques in other cities, other nations."
As both men agree, great design matters and their support of a
groundbreaking way to approach condominium design simply smoothes the path.
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Laurier art show has showcased campus talent for 25 years
WATERLOO – The Robert Langen Art Gallery will mark 25 years of showcasing the talents of on-campus artists during this year’s annual Laurier art show. The gallery will host an opening reception from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 15 to introduce the display of artwork created by faculty, staff and students.
The exhibition, which runs from February 8 to 18, offers artists in the Laurier community the opportunity to display their work in a non-juried show. In previous years, this exhibition has included paintings, sculptures, stained glass, photography and mixed-media works.
“Over the past 25 years, the Laurier art show has consistently displayed an exciting and diverse range of artwork,” said curator Suzanne Luke. “Every year I am amazed by the artistic talent and enthusiasm that is generated by this annual exhibition.”
The show, sponsored by the Laurier bookstore, is an open call, which means that any interested member of the Laurier community can submit artwork. Some of the art will be for sale by the individual artists.
As Wilfrid Laurier University’s visual arts centre since 1989, the Robert Langen Art Gallery provides knowledge, stewardship, appreciation and enjoyment of Canadian art and culture to the local community. The gallery is located in the John Aird Centre and is open noon to 5 p.m. from Wednesdays to Saturdays. Admission is free.
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MUHAMMAD ALI, BOXING LEGEND, RECEIVES C-100 AWARD FOR IMPROVING WESTERN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS
Davos, Switzerland, 28 January 2006 - The Council of 100 Leaders: West-Islamic World Dialogue Initiative (C-100) of the World Economic Forum is pleased to launch the C-100 Award at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2006. The award is for an individual who has made an especially noted contribution in promoting dialogue and understanding between the Muslim and Western worlds.
This year in Davos, the first-ever award from the C-100 is being presented to the boxing legend Muhammad Ali, who has devoted himself to the ideals of advancing tolerance and cooperation around the world. As a convert to Islam living in the West, he is a living witness to the principles of peaceful cooperation that the C-100 seeks to promote. His work has now reached a new level with the recent opening of the US$ 82 million Muhammad Ali Center in his home town of Louisville, Kentucky, with the mission to promote respect, hope and understanding among children and adults.
The Centre has been designed as an "educational and cultural global gathering place" dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding "where people can come, both online and in person, to learn, share and celebrate commonalities as human beings, and formulate ways of advancing humanity today and in the future." It is the culmination of his lifelong efforts to improve understanding and cooperation between different cultures, and it is for his devotion to this cause that the first C-100 Award is being presented to Muhammad Ali.
The C-100 was launched by the World Economic Forum to promote enhanced cooperation and mutual understanding between the Muslim world and the West. It is a uniquely multistakeholder community drawn from public figures and other leaders in business, media, religion, civil society and academia that has an unparalleled capacity to mobilize and promote practical change, and has already received contributions for its work in excess of US$ 1 million. Even though it is only in the early stages of its work, it has become a vital platform for innovative thinking and over a dozen on-the-ground initiatives currently at various stages of development with real impact in areas ranging from youth and media to education and religious exchange.
Specific examples include: The Soliya programme which is a unique cross-cultural education programme connecting students from 16 universities based in the United States and across the Middle East through Web-based videoconferencing; the Common Ground News Service which solicits and distributes key articles on current West-Islamic issues in multiple languages around the world and has had 2,300 articles reprinted reaching a worldwide audience thus helping combat misperceptions; an in-depth dialogue which seeks to clarify the central issues with a view to focusing subsequent work in the areas that are most needed including the relationship of religion to modernity and to violence, currently exploring how to create a better understanding of our commonalities in the light of our real differences.
It is expected that, after its launch at the Annual Meeting 2006, each year the C-100 Award will continue to recognize and honour individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improving dialogue and understanding.
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Most Comprehensive Collection of Canadian Family Research Records Online Launches at www.ancestry.ca
Collection of More Than 150 Million Names Includes the First and Only Fully Indexed Online 1911 Census of Canada
PROVO, UTAH The leading online network connecting families, MyFamily.com, Inc., haslaunched a new Canadian family research Web site, Ancestry.ca, (www.ancestry.ca), offering the largest number of Canadian family research records online, including more than 150 million names, and the first and only fully indexed 1911 Census of Canada collection online.
"Ancestry.ca is designed to provide Canadians and those people with
Canadian ancestry the most comprehensive tools and content needed to easily
and efficiently research their family history," said Tim Sullivan, president
and chief executive officer of MyFamily.com, Inc. "Our goal was to create the
best place to research your Canadian ancestry online, and with the large
volume of names, data, records and images accessible on Ancestry.ca, we're
pleased to accomplish the goal."
Sullivan noted the site contains a significant amount of Canadian content
never before published online.
"The fully indexed 1911 Census of Canada is searchable by family name for
the first time anywhere on the web," Sullivan said. "The Census, only the
fifth general census in Canada, includes information on each inhabitant of the
country, including place of habitation, marital status, age, place of birth,
religion, occupation, education, and more. It is truly a wealth of
information to anyone researching Canadian ancestry."
The 1911 Census of Canada includes nine provinces, Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, and Saskatchewan, and two territories -- the Yukon Territory and the
Northwest Territories.
In addition, Ancestry.ca offers access to online collections of:
* Ontario Vitals
* Ontario Marriage Index, 1858-1899
* Ontario Birth Index, 1869-1907
* Ontario Death Index, 1869-1932
* Ontario & Nova Scotia Census Records, 1800-1842
* Canadian Genealogy Index, 1600s-1900s
* Canadian Address and Phone Directories, 1995-2002
* British Columbia Death Index, 1872 -1979
The site also includes the ability to view authentic 1911 Census images of
historical records from the Library and Archives Canada.
Other record collections on the site include content beginning in 1592 and
continuing through 2002. Records from all provinces and territories are
represented.
To view all the content on Ancestry.ca, membership is CDN $99.95/annually,
or CDN $14.95/monthly. A pay-per-view option is also available for CDN
$5.95/10 views, 14 days.
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Perimeter and Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery Partnership brings Canadian’s Best
“When it’s not even noon on day one of the press preview of the art exhibition at the Venice Biennale and there’s already a massive lineup outside the Canadian pavilion, you know the exhibit inside has struck a chord.
This biannual gathering in Italy is the pinnacle of the contemporary art scene, so when a Native artist with no international profile draws crowds like this, it’s no wonder presiding Canadian officials are gloating. There’s even an ironic twist: the installation that’s causing such a buzz is a fountain, essentially an Old World import brought back by a New World Aboriginal, with a message that is as beautifully realized as it is forceful.” – CBC.ca Megan Williams (June 10, 2005)
In 2005, KW|AG and the Perimeter Institute formed a partnership to bring cutting edge visual art presentations by distinguished artist and cultural figures to the Region of Waterloo. The commitment to the world of ideas shared by both institutions and the desire to see art as part of the constellation of contemporary discussion is the basis of this partnership. Lectures this year have included noted Toronto photographer Edward Burtynsky and New York painter Eric Fischl.
The third in a series of artist presentations on Friday, January 27, 2006 at 8:00 pm at Perimeter Institute features Vancouver-based performance artist Rebecca Belmore, hosted by Robert Enright in a lecture and interview format. Belmore is of Anishinabekwe background, and was recently chosen as Canada’s first aboriginal woman to represent Canada at the 2005 Venice Biennale.
During the last two decades, Belmore’s performance and mixed media installations have addressed the complexities of identity and representation. Her relationship to the concept of a nation is complex because of Canada’s history as a peopled land that became a settler’s nation. Through her brilliant works, Belmore has continually expressed with emotion and clarity the continual negotiation between her First Nations roots and Canadian identity. “The critically acclaimed performance video loop “Fountain” at the 2005 Venice Biennale highlights her powerful metaphoric imagery that extends and complicates the relations of identity” (Calgary Herald, Diana Sherlock - June 25, 2005). Belmore’s stature is one of compassion and humour, and the artist presentation promises to be highly engaging.
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Audio Lunchbox Launches MP3 Subscription Program
Offers Users Legal Downloads For as Low as 20 Cents Per Song
Audio Lunchbox's new subscription program allows customers to purchase points redeemable for downloads throughout the entire Audio Lunchbox catalog. Monthly programs are $9.99 for 40 points and $24.99 for 125 points. Yearly programs are $100 for 30 points per month with 120 anytime points and $250 for 80 points per month and 250 anytime points. With single tracks as low as 1 point and entire albums as low as 10 points, the Audio Lunchbox customer can purchase tracks as low as 20 cents each. Subscription tracks will be offered in open MP3 format which means users can cancel at any time and keep their downloads forever.
"Digital music is exploding and ALB is on the cutting edge of the revolution. We take user feedback very seriously and are proud to say we are the only digital music provider to offer "permanent" a la carte and subscription downloads side by side without DRM restrictions of any kind. ALB will continue to offer our users as many options as possible to download their music legally," said Morgan Harris, CEO of Audio Lunchbox.
Audio Lunchbox will also be giving away 50 free MP3s to customers joining the new subscription program. ALB will now offer a combination of great catalogue depth and the best possible price structure for legal music downloads, positioning itself among the leaders in digital content providers.
About Audio Lunchbox: Audio Lunchbox, LLC was formed in April 2003. Our mission is, simply, to increase the exposure and availability of independent artists and their music. ALB features a cross platform system, which works on PC, Mac and Linux. Albums and tracks are available for purchase by subscription or a la carte plans. The file capability of ALB audio is 100% compatible with all portable music players including Apple's iPod. ALB has secured a licensed catalogue of over 1 million tracks with 79 sub-genres ultimately providing something for everyone. ALB works with the greatest independent labels and aggregators in the world including Epitaph, Razor & Tie, IODA, Digital Rights Agency, INgrooves, Parasol and CD Baby. The store boasts artists ranging from Queens of the Stone Age to Nickel Creek and Death Cab For Cutie to Louis Armstrong. ALB also carries the current indie big sellers such as Elliot Smith and Nada Surf to name a few. |
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The
Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery
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WINTER
UPDATE
Happy
New Year! Here at the CCGG we have a busy winter
season ahead with new exhibits, new work in the
Gift Shop and a plethora of activites including
classes, our 2nd Annual Wine Gala - "Pretty in
Pink" - and some great opportunities to
unwind...
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OPENING
January 15, 2-5pm/Artists' talk at 1pm
"Fragile
Nature" by Brent Bukowski & Kathryn Ward
explores landscape, nature and culture while
celebrating the tenacity of nature in urban,
densely populated environments with works that
incorporate glass with natural and industrial
materials. | | | | | | | |
