Thursday October 7, 2010

____________________
Ted Talks

Barbara Block: Tagging tuna in the deep ocean

Tuna are ocean athletes -- fast, far-ranging predators whose habits we're just beginning to understand. Marine biologist Barbara Block fits tuna with tracking tags (complete with transponders) that record unprecedented amounts of data about these gorgeous, threatened fish and the ocean habitats they move through.

TORONTO – Rogers Communications Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Atria Networks LP, owner and operator of one of Ontario’s largest fibre-optic networks for cash consideration of $425 million, subject to certain adjustments. Atria Networks is privately owned by Birch Hill Equity Partners.

____________________
Space

COM DEV Europe Signs (euro)5 Million Contract With European Space Agency

Pioneering development promises a revolution in LEO spacecraft communications

AYLESBURY, UK. - COM DEV Europe, a subsidiary of leading space hardware manufacturer COM DEV International Ltd, announced that it has signed a (euro)5 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development of new SB-SAT (SwiftBroadband for Satellite) technology.

____________________
Wage Insight

Recognize Skills to Improve Ontario’s Competitive Advantage

Toronto - In Ontario in the Creative Age the Martin Prosperity Institute examined how Ontario can gain a competitive advantage by raising the creative content of all occupations. The analysis began by looking at the skill content of occupations (see Insight, “Occupations Draw on Three Types of Skills“, and how wages varied with the differing skill content.

____________________
Recognition

Grand River Country Wins National Marketing Award

Cambridge - Every now and then an idea takes flight, and it did again this past week as the Grand River Country tourism alliance won a second award for its “Trails Take Flight” project.

____________________
PSA

In The Mind’s Eye 2011: Series Explores Issues of Substance Use

Waterloo Region - The Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council’s 6th annual In The Mind’s Eye film and forum series opened last night in Cambridge with a premiere screening of the National Film Board’s “Racing Thoughts”, a new Canadian film about mental health.

____________________
Work Place Health

Waterloo Region’s Healthy Workplace Awards Recipients and Celebration Event

Waterloo Region - Region of Waterloo Public Health is proud to announce the winners of “Waterloo Region’s Healthy Workplace Awards Program”. This program recognizes and celebrates workplaces in Waterloo Region who demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the health of their employees.

CALGARY - Starting today and throughout the Thanksgiving weekend, the Calgary Counselling Centre will be the official Canadian testing centre for National Depression Screening Day. The screening couldn’t come at a better time. In year over year comparisons, Calgary Counselling Centre requests in 2010 for depression treatment are up 16 per cent. Requests for treatment of anxiety issues are almost as significant – up 12 per cent over 2009.

____________________
Fund Raising

Conestoga’s United Way Campaign Kicks Off

Kitchener - The annual United Way campaign at Conestoga College kicked off yesterday with an awareness event to be held in the Student Life Centre at the Doon Campus from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A number of local agencies will be in attendance to show how the United Way serves our communities.

____________________
Education

Go Eng Girl! showcases a world of opportunities for young women interested in engineering

WATERLOO - More than 150 young women interested in what a future in engineering could hold for them will make their way to the University of Waterloo campus on Saturday, Oct. 16 for the sixth annual Go Eng Girl! event. The girls, in Grades 7 to 10, will have the chance to discover firsthand what engineering is all about.

Professor John Smol has been named to a federal panel that will look into the state of environmental research and monitoring in the Alberta oil sands region.

Biology professor John Smol has been selected to participate in a national oil sands advisory panel. Last week, the federal government announced that six of the country’s leading scientists, including Dr. Smol, will take on the task of looking into the state of environmental research and monitoring in the Alberta region.

____________________
Union Protest

DHL workers stage cross-Canada protests against company malpractices

TORONTO - Hundreds of DHL workers and members of the CAW will stage a series of early morning protests at company locations across Canada on Thursday October 7, calling on the multi-national courier service giant to stop its systemic attack on workers' rights and demanding fair treatment for its global workforce.