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Report - Economic Freedom

Albertans enjoy highest levels of economic freedom in Canada while rest of the nation falls far behind

Ontario has the second highest economic freedom ranking in Canada, but is 51st overall in North America

TORONTO, ON—Alberta has the highest level of economic freedom in Canada, and the second highest level in North America, trailing only Delaware and tied with Texas, according to a new study from independent research organization the Fraser Institute.

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Domain Study

The Billion-Dollar Domain Babies

The latest ICANN plan to allow the global populace to assemble an entire domain name like www.yourname.yourname as their free-choice is a revolutionary and timely decision. This now open doors to cyber-brands like my.ibm, hotel.toronto, it.jobs, play.poker, fly.usa or go.telus and applicants will submit a non-refundable fee of $100-500K USD for each name idea and the businesses are already jumping to get started.

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Digital Media Group

Open Text Acquires Media Management Division of Corbis

Adds Digital Media Capabilities for Enterprise 2.0

WATERLOO - Open Text(TM) Corporation announced the acquisition of eMotion LLC from Corbis Corporation. The eMotion division will become part of Open Text's Artesia Digital Media Group.

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US Regulation Burden

Cost of Federal Regulation Grew to $1.16 Trillion Americans Burdened by Government’s “10,000 Commandments”

Washington, D.C.— What goes up and doesn’t come down? The federal budget and the cost of federal regulations. A new report finds that the cost of federal regulations on consumers at a staggering $1.16 trillion in 2007.

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Entrepreneurship

UW global business expert heads international project on entrepreneurship

WATERLOO - A University of Waterloo expert on global business will lead an international research project on 'born global' startups -- new ventures that enter markets around the world soon after their founding.

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China Economy - part 2

China's economy to become world's biggest in 2035: study
by Rob Lever

WASHINGTON (AFP) - China's economy will overtake that of the United States by 2035 and be twice its size by midcentury, a study released Tuesday by a US research organization concluded.

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R&D Appointment

McMaster Professor Elected Chair of Canada’s Synchrotron

HAMILTON – One of Canada’s leading innovators has been elected Chair of the Board of Directors of Canadian Light Source Inc. (CLSI), Canada’s national synchrotron research facility.

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Conference - Global IMF

CIGI hosts IMF reform conference

Waterloo, ON – Leading experts and policymakers will gather in Waterloo July 18 and 19 for a conference aimed at expanding the debate about reforming the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to include the developing countries’ perspectives.

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Education

Student Wins Fellowship for Breast Cancer Research

Guelph - A University of Guelph graduate student has received a $55,000 fellowship from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation - Ontario Region to study the role of diet during puberty in helping protect against breast cancer.

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International Merchandise Trade

Canada's trade surplus with the world expanded to $5.5 billion in May 2008

Statscan - The Trade Surplus expanded from $4.8 billion in April 2008, as exports to countries other than the United States reached their highest level ever and exports to the United States remained strong.

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Stock Market

The NASDAQ Stock Market Attracted More New Listings Than Any Other U.S. Exchange

NEW YORK - The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. announced that The NASDAQ Stock Market(r) (NASDAQ(r)) attracted more new listings in the second quarter of 2008 than any other U.S. exchange.

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Race to Replace Buzz

CAW National Skilled Trades Council Executive Board Endorses Lewenza and Kennedy

TORONTO - The CAW National Skilled Trades Council Executive Board has unanimously endorsed Ken Lewenza for the position of CAW national president and Peter Kennedy for the position of CAW national secretary-treasurer.

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Retail

Retail Florist Students Win Awards at Toronto Event

Kitchener - The students in Conestoga*s Retail Florist program continue to earn praise and prizes for their imagination, creativity and technical excellence.

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Market Confidence

CEO Confidence Holds Steady, The Conference Board Reports

The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence, which had declined in the first quarter of 2008, inched up to 39 in the second quarter, up slightly from 38 in the first quarter (a reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses).

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China - Economy

China's Economy To Become World's Biggest In 2035 - Study.

"China's economy will overtake that of the US by 2035 and be twice its size by midcentury", a study released Tuesday by a US research organization concluded.

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Aquisition

LaserNetworks buys Alberta's ComPrint Solutions

Together they offer comprehensive print solutions, supplies and service in Alberta and Nationally

OAKVILLE – LaserNetworks has acquired ComPrint Solutions Inc., Alberta’s largest printing and imaging service provider whose commitment to quality, service and innovation has been respected by thousands of businesses including some of the most prestigious throughout the province.

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Morning Column

Overcome the Barriers to Lean Six Sigma Results
By Jay Arthur

If you're like ninety-nine percent of all businesses today, you're losing twenty-five to forty percent of your profit margins to mistakes, rework, errors, omissions, defects, and delay.

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Appointment

Cheryl Smith joins Prestige as Senior Interior Designer

Prestige Business Interiors, a leading Southern Ontario office interiors provider, is pleased to announce that Cheryl Smith has joined our team in the role of Senior Interior Designer.

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Labour Force Survey

Employment was unchanged in June for the second consecutive month.

Statscan - The unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 6.2%, still among the lowest in 30 years. Over the past 12 months, employment in Canada has grown by 1.7% or 290,000.

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Safe Cities

Making Cities Safer By Investing in Prevention Strategies

Waterloo Region – The Community Safety & Crime Prevention Council of Waterloo Region (CS&CPC), in partnership with 13 other Canadian municipalities, supports the national report “Making Cities Safer: Canadian Strategies and Practices”, released by the Institute for the Prevention of Crime (Ottawa).

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Climate Change

Study: conservation for carbon sequestration may not protect species

In this era of climate change, of the need to maintain biodiversity and of the growing reliance on agriculture for the production of energy and renewable materials, land-use choices need ever more careful scrutiny. What happens to species and the carbon cycle when we convert 'wild' land to farmland?

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Philanthropy

Community Foundation Grants Boost Family Services

Kitchener/Waterloo - House of Friendship gratefully acknowledges receiving three grants from the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation that will greatly assist its Family Services Programs.

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Divesture

Wolverine Tube Sells Canadian Plumbing Tube Unit for $42 Million

HUNTSVILLE, Ala, London, Ontario - Wolverine Tube, Inc. announced the sale of its Canadian plumbing tube unit for US $42 million in cash. Steven S. Elbaum, Chairman of Wolverine, stated, "The sale of this unit is in line with Wolverine's strategy of focusing its business and capital on the development and sale of value added, energy efficient heat transfer tubing, fabricated assemblies and metal joining products to market leading customers.

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Aquisition

Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd. Acquires 20 Bees Winery

TORONTO - Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd, the award-winning wine and spirits distribution and marketing agency company that owns EastDell Estates, Lakeview Cellars and Birchwood Estates wineries and Dan Aykroyd Wines, has acquired the 20 Bees Winery (originally owned by Niagara Vintners Inc.), announced Murray Marshall, President & CEO of Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits.

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Retail Recognition

Golf Town President and CEO Named to Canadian Retail Hall of Fame

Stephen Bebis Honoured for 30+ Years of Industry Achievement, Mentoring

TORONTO – Golf Town – Canada’s largest golf retailer with unequaled selection, certified experts on-staff and competitive prices at 39 locations coast to coast – is pleased to announce the induction of President and CEO Stephen Bebis to the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame on Tuesday, June 3.

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Buy Local

Buy Local! Buy Fresh! Recipe Contest

Waterloo Region - If you like to shop local and eat local, this recipe contest is for you. Foodlink Waterloo Region is launching its first-ever recipe contest to highlight all of the wonderful foods grown in the area.

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Socail Responsibility

CSR emerging as a governance issue for boards

OTTAWA - Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is directly linked to a firm's future and needs to be elevated to the board level as a governance issue. A new Conference Board of Canada report introduces a "CSR Governance Road Map" to help boards integrate social and environmental issues as part of their oversight, strategic direction and reporting.

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Appointment

Active Control appoints Cameron Sturgess as Vice President, sales of ActiveMine(TM)

Sturgess brings proven track record in technology sales to ACT

TORONTO - Active Control Technology Inc. announced that Cameron Sturgess, an accomplished technology executive who has led highly successful sales programs in the advanced technology sector in North America, Europe and Asia, has been appointed as the company's Vice President, Sales of ActiveMine(TM).

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Housing Starts

Housing starts remain high in June despite decrease

Seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts went down in all regions of Canada, except Ontario, where housing starts increased by 10.8 per cent to 77,900 in June.

OTTAWA - The seasonally adjusted annual rate(1) of housing starts was 217,800 units in June, down from 227,700 units in May, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

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Video

Torsten Reil: Using biology to make better animation

Torsten Reil talks about how the study of biology can help make natural-looking animated people -- by building a human from the inside out, with bones, muscles and a nervous system.

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CAW Successor

CAW endorses Ken Lewenza for presidential candidate and Peter Kennedy for secretary-treasurer candidate

TORONTO - In a meeting of the CAW's national executive board and the union's staff, both groups unanimously endorsed candidates Ken Lewenza for national president and Peter Kennedy for national secretary-treasurer.

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New Designation

A “state of the art” facility for beautiful skin!

Kitchener, ON: Pino and Marisa Cherubino, owners of “Pino's Salon and Medispa” are pleased to announce their new designation as “medispa” highlighting their ongoing commitment to bring their education and experience to new and existing customers.

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Recycling Cash

NCR Lauded by Federal Credit Union Association Services Corp. for Innovative Cash Recycling Technology

NCR Branch Assist 10 enhances branch cash management and teller efficiency

DAYTON, Ohio – NAFCU Services Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions, has recognized NCR Corporation with a 2008 NAFCU Services Preferred Partner Innovation Award. NCR Branch Assist™ 10 teller cash recycler (TCR) was selected for its unique design and attributes which improve the productivity, accuracy and security of teller and branch operations.

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Financial

Canadian plan sponsors ask for a better member statement, Sun Life Financial delivers

Sun Life Financial bolsters leadership position with new group retirement and savings plan member statement

TORONTO - Canadian plan sponsors are asking for improvements in the member statements delivered by group retirement and savings plan providers. Sun Life Financial unveils my statement, a bold new plan member statement developed with input from plan sponsors, plan members, and advisors.

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Appointment

Brian Martin Named Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Schenker Canada

MISSISSAUGA - Schenker of Canada today announced that Brian Martin has been promoted to the role of Vice President, Sales and Marketing. In his new position, Martin is responsible for managing the company's national sales team and leading Canadian business development initiatives for its 4PL services as well as warehouse and freight forwarding solutions.

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Home Sales

K-W HOME SALES REMAIN FAVOURABLE RELATIVE TO NATIONAL FORECAST

KITCHENER – Sales of residential properties in Kitchener-Waterloo and area declined 5.7 percent during the first six months of the year, while the total value of those sales increased 0.5 percent to $930 million.

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Appointment

Legalwise Appoints CIO to Guide Development of Information Security Management System

Darren Traub charged with creating highly secure technology infrastructure to protect client data accessed by offshore legal team

TORONTO - Legalwise Outsourcing Inc., the first Canadian provider of offshore legal outsourcing services, today announced that it has appointed Darren A. Traub as its Chief Information Officer.

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Climate Change

CIGI launches major Africa project

Waterloo – Today, Monday, July 7, the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) will launch the Africa Project, a major five-year initiative exploring the impact of climate change on Africa’s security and socio-economic development.

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2008 Car Sales

Vehicle Imports from U.S. Hit New Record

TORONTO - In the first half of 2008, 151,169 vehicles were imported into Canada from the United States. Import volume has more than doubled from the same period last year and Canadians are on pace to smash the 2007 record for buying American vehicles.

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Art Grants

Region of Waterloo Arts Fund awards $78,300 in grants to assist:

The Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society with its “Shostakovich String Quartet Festival” –comprised of five concerts performed by the Aviv String Quartet

Michele Hopkins and Sandra Clarke with “Holiday Celebration in Dance” which will launch their Cambridge-based dance company Spectra Creations in Dance

The chamber ensemble Greensleaves with production of a CD entitled “Na bliskich lakach” (On the Meadows Nearby), featuring early Polish music of the 16th and 17th centuries

KITCHENER – The Region of Waterloo Arts Fund announced that it has made grants totaling $78,300 to artists and arts organizations, in response to proposals submitted for its spring 2008 deadline.

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Climate Change

CIGI launches major Africa project

Waterloo - The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) is launching the Africa Project, a major five-year initiative exploring the iSmpact of climate change on Africa’s security and socio-economic development.

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Health Care

Sourdough Bread Has Most Health Benefits, Prof Finds

Guelph - Not all bread is created equal. The type of toast you eat for breakfast can affect how your body responds to lunch, a University of Guelph researcher has discovered.

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Climate Change

G8 Endorses Halving Global Emissions By 2050

“The G8 leading industrial nations on Tuesday endorsed halving world emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, edging forward in the battle against global warming but stopping short of tough, nearer-term targets

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Global Food Crises

Canadians Concerned Over Global Food Crisis, Profs Find

Guelph - A majority of Canadians are concerned about the impact the global food price crisis is having locally and around the world, and believe Canada should take action, according to a new survey by University of Guelph researchers.

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Sponsorship

Home Hardware Proud Blue Ribbon Sponsor of 2008 American Quarter Horse Youth World Cup

St Jacobs – Sunday, July 6th, London welcomed teams from eighteen countries around the world to compete in the prestigious American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Youth World Cup.

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Design Recognition

Krug Receives ADEX Platinum Awards – Jordan and Corfu Seating

Kitchener – Krug is pleased to announce that we received two Platinum ADEX awards for Jordan Healthcare Seating and Corfu Multi-purpose and Management Seating.

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Tourism

Local Tourism in Waterloo Region Wins Eight “Best Travel Value Awards”

Waterloo Region - Waterloo Regional Tourism Marketing Corporation is pleased to announce that Waterloo Region has been awarded eight “Best Travel Value” Awards by WestJet’s Up! In-Flight Magazine.

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Building permits

Total value of building permits increased for the second consecutive month in May, despite a substantial decline in the residential sector.

Statscan - Contractors took out $6.6 billion in permits in May, up 1.1% from April and the highest value for permits since October 2007. The total was 6.7% above the monthly average for 2007.

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Bio Fuels

EU to change biofuels policy: imports from Brazil, solid biomass for electric transport, biohydrogen

BIOPACT - After a three day informal meeting, European Energy Ministers have signaled the beginning of a change of policy on biofuels. Instead of producing liquid biofuels in the EU, they are considering to import the green fuels from Brazil, where they can be made far more efficiently.

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National Recognition

Laurier’s Career Development Centre wins two national awards

Waterloo - Due to the support and dedication shown by Laurier’s Career Development Centre towards the Canadian Association of Career Educators & Employers (CACEE), the university has won the Educational Institution Recognition Award, one of the major annual awards of the association, at the recent 2008 CACEE National Conference in Montreal.