Friday May 27, 2011

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Ted Talks

Mustafa Akyol: Faith versus tradition in Islam

At TEDxWarwick, journalist Mustafa Akyol talks about the way that some local cultural practices (such as wearing a headscarf) have become linked, in the popular mind, to the articles of faith of Islam. Has the world's general idea of the Islamic faith focused too much on tradition, and not enough on core beliefs?

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Health And Saftey

Health and Safty Training on the Rise

Queens Park - On Wednesday, May 18, 2011, the Government of Ontario passed Bill 160, An Act to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 with respect to occupational health and safety and other matters. It is expected to receive Royal Assent shortly. Most of the provisions in the Bill will come into force upon Royal Assent. The other provisions in Bill 160 will come into force at different times.

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Digital Media

Fast, Fun and Loud

The 1st ever DIGIS Awards will "Rock Stratford" on May 28th

Stratford – On Saturday, May 28, 2011, Canadian secondary school students will be recognized for their video work in the first ever digital media awards for high school students – the DIGIs. The theme for this year is fast, fun and loud. TV, film and stage superstar Seán Cullen will host the awards.

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Pending Lock Out

Electro-Motive Girding for Lock-Out in London, CAW says

London - Management at locomotive manufacturer Electro-Motive in London, Ontario have sent a clear and aggressive message to 650 unionized plant workers that they will be locked out and their jobs put in jeopardy if they do not submit to massive workplace concessions, a belligerent move that threatens to destabilize contract talks, says CAW President Ken Lewenza.

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Homeland Security

Steelworkers say Conservative Cuts Compromise Airport Security

TORONTO - Cutting funding and jobs in Canadian airport screening services goes completely against the Harper government's stated priority on national security, says Ken Neumann, national director of the United Steelworkers (USW).

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Education

Laurier takes innovative approach in battle against academic misconduct

Waterloo - Academic cheating is an ongoing concern at most post-secondary institutions, but an innovative approach by Wilfrid Laurier University is going a long way to combat a problem that many believe devalues degrees and creates cynical students.

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Travel

International travel deficit increases in First quarter of 2011

Statscan - Canada's international travel deficit increased $213 million to reach $4.2 billion during the first quarter. The increase was largely attributed to a rise in spending by Canadian travellers in the United States.

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Making Money

Raising the Curtain on Canada's New Polymer Notes

OTTAWA - Canada's new polymer bank notes will soon be unveiled said a recent report from the Bank of Canada.

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Economic Development

New General Manager Announced for South Central Ontario Region (SCOR) Economic Development Corporation

Yesterday Scor Launches New Business Portal

Tillsonburg - Dennis Travale, Chair and Members of the Board of Directors are pleased to announce the appointment of Art Lawson as the new General Manager of SCOR EDC. Mr. Lawson is joining the corporation on June 1, 2011.

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Depression

Study shows brain’s response to sadness can predict relapses into depression

TORONTO – A University of Toronto study shows that when formerly depressed people experience mild states of sadness, their brain’s response can predict if they will become depressed again.

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Education Partnership

Seneca and University of Toronto partner for student success

Signing of agreement gives students opportunity to earn Seneca diploma and U of T degree in four years

TORONTO, ON – Seneca College and the University of Toronto (U of T) are pleased to announce a unique post-secondary partnership that shortens the time it takes eligible Seneca students to earn a diploma and a degree at both institutions to four years.

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Recognition

Global Outlook Nets McMaster Student Engineering Gold

HAMILTON - Some students attend class to become engineers, others to change the world. Erica Barnes falls into the latter group and her mission to turn her future colleagues into global engineers who practice sustainability has netted her the 2011 Gold Medal Student Award from Engineers Canada.

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Rapid Transportation

PLANNING FOR PROSPERITY - Statement of Support for Rapid Transit for Waterloo Region

Waterloo Region - Prosperity Council of Waterloo Region member organizations jointly support the following:

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Stereotypes

“Invisi-mom” or “mamazon”? York U prof challenges stereotypes of motherhood with new anthology

TORONTO – Invisimomibility? Mamazon? If these terms aren’t familiar to you, the concepts should be, according to a new book edited by a York University professor.

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Shifting Manufacturing

Honda North American Production to Reach 100% in August for Most Models

TORONTO - Honda announced plans for the accelerated recovery of its auto production in North America following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Honda will increase production volume at its North American automobile plants to a rate of 100 per cent of its original production plan in August, for all models except the 2012 Civic.

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Self Help

Scientific proof for karma? York U study finds small acts of kindness have big impact on emotional well-being

TORONTO – Practicing small acts of kindness will make you a happier person, and the boost in mood stays with you for months, according to research out of York University.

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Pensions

U of G Receives ‘Stage-One’ Approval for Pension Relief

Guelph - The University of Guelph’s application for stage-one temporary pension relief has been approved by the provincial government. Under recent provincial legislation, universities facing significant solvency funding requirements for their pension plans were given the opportunity to seek temporary relief under certain conditions.

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PSA

Join in the fun and be part of the BIG Picture

KITCHENER - Family and Children’s Services of Waterloo Region is inviting the public to join them on May 28, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for some family fun – including the chance to be in a group aerial photo – to celebrate the public launch of the $2.5 million Better Together Capital Campaign for the Family Centre.

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Recycling/Festivals

Green Is Our Favourite Colour!

Burlington - Burlington's Sound of Music Festival is Green all the way. Burlington's Sound of Music Festival's Eco Team is a group of dedicated individuals that work with a number of volunteers throughout the duration of the Festival.

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Energy

New Solar Cluster Formed

Guelph - Shortly after drawing interested stakeholders together in early spring, Innovation Guelph has begun working directly with an industry-lead group to look at current and future policy directions that directly affect the solar community.

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Privacy

Bill C-29 PIPEDA Amendment “must be resurrected”

Second reading of proposed amends to data protection bill failed pre-election but should be reassessed to benefit Canadian consumers and businesses

Toronto - One year on from the Federal Government’s introduction of legislation to enhance the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA in the form of Bill C-29, yet the Bill remains in limbo, leaving consumers potentially unaware of any data breaches that may impact their personal information.

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Water

STUDENTS GET “WATER-WISE” AT WATERLOO REGION MUSEUM

Waterloo/Wellington - Children throughout Waterloo Region, Guelph and Wellington County will be getting water-wise at the 16th annual Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival to be held from Monday, May 30 to Friday, June 3, 2011, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

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Multilateralism

Leading international scholars on the UN system gather in Waterloo June 2-4

WATERLOO – A senior official with the U.S. State Department will deliver the opening keynote address as international scholars on the United Nations system convene June 2-4 at Wilfrid Laurier University and The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada to discuss the future of multilateralism.

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Communications

Transcontinental Closing Spot Graphics

Winnipeg - Canada’s largest printing company, Montreal-based Transcontinental, has announced that it will be winding down operations at its Transcontinental Spot Graphics printing plant in Winnipeg by the end of 2011.