Monday April 25, 2011

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Ted Talks

John Hunter on the World Peace Game

John Hunter puts all the problems of the world on a 4'x5' plywood board -- and lets his 4th-graders solve them. At TED2011, he explains how his World Peace Game engages schoolkids, and why the complex lessons it teaches -- spontaneous, and always surprising -- go further than classroom lectures can.

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Environmental Award

Region of Waterloo named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2011

Waterloo – The Region of Waterloo is pleased to have been named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for 2011 by Mediacorp Canada Inc. as part of their annual Canada’s Top 100 Employers project.

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Social Services

Residents of Waterloo Wellington Face Uphill Battle to Conquer Addiction

Waterloo – Addiction is not uncommon. Many people in Ontario and in Waterloo Wellington struggle with substance use problems. The CAMH Monitor, a measure of substance use among Ontario adults, shows that significantly more adults in Waterloo Wellington used alcohol at hazardous or harmful levels, engaged in binge drinking and used cannabis when compared with the Provincial averages. In 2009/2010 over 5, 400 adults and youth sought help for an addiction issue in our communities and services are stretched to keep up with the demand for support.

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Survey

Workforce Planning Board Monthly Labour Force Survey
Employment Stats Covering the Month of March 2011

Waterloo - The Workforce Planning Board thanks the 62 employers who participated in this month’s survey regarding their workforce.

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Convocation

University of Waterloo will award 11 honorary degrees at spring convocation

WATERLOO - One of the world's most influential scholars on leisure and a celebrated French classical pianist are among the 11 recipients of honorary doctorates to be presented during the University of Waterloo's spring convocation in June.

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PSA

BE THERE. BE INPSIRED - CANCELLED

The Power of the Purse-One Day Women’s Conference

Kitchener - "The Power of the Purse" celebrates women's earning power, spending power and giving power; women making an impact in the corporate world, women as creative forces in the arts world, as researchers and healers in healthcare and as generous philanthropists helping those in need.

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Ats & Culture

A CULTURAL EXCHANGE RETURNS TO THEMUSEUM

Local Federal Candidates Invited to an Exchange on Arts and Culture In Association with 570NEWS

KITCHENER - THEMUSEUM will host A Cultural Exchange 2.0 with Federal Candidates from Kitchener – Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo and Kitchener-Conestoga for an informal discussion of arts and culture in Waterloo Region.

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Funding

Council approves arts sustainability funding

KITCHENER – Kitchener City Council reinforced its support for the arts and culture sector on Monday night when it approved an investment of $220,000 to four anchor arts organizations.

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Award

Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery exhibiting artist Althea Thauberger receives the 2011 VIVA Award.

Kitchener – The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery is pleased to recognize the achievement of Canadian artist Althea Thauberger, recently named as one of two recipients of the 2011 VIVA awards. Currently exhibiting not afraid to die at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Thauberger shares the annual award with Reece Terris. A presentation ceremony takes place May 5th at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

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Community

Guelph Community Foundation Looks Back on a Decade of Gifts and Grants

Guelph – At its Annual General Meeting last week, volunteer board members for The Guelph Community Foundation looked back on a decade of community granting and leadership with intense pride.

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Demonstration

Marching for the land and the water

Farmers and First Nations on second day of a five day march against hedge fund mega-quarry

Brampton - Dozens of people marched from the outskirts of Toronto through Brampton on the second of a five day trek against a proposed 2316-acre mega-quarry to be situated in Melancthon, just north of Shelburne. Local residents, farmers and First Nations representatives started with a rally at Queens Park in Toronto on Friday and plan to finish on Tuesday at a potato farm next to the proposed site on Highway 124.

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Entrepreneur Awards

Who are Canada's Best Young Entrepreneurs?

PROFIT Magazine and Impact Entrepreneurship Group launch the innovative FUEL Awards to promote youth entrepreneurship and secure Canada's economic future

TORONTO - Every year, thousands of eager and confident young Canadians, brimming with innovative ideas and a passion for shaping the future, strike out on their own in business.

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CAW Union

Toronto School Bus Drivers Vote to Strike, if Necessary

TORONTO - CAW members who drive school buses for the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Toronto French School Board have voted 91 per cent in favour of taking strike action, if a fair and equitable first contract cannot be reached. Drivers will be in a legal strike position as of April 28, but may extend the deadline depending on the pace and success of negotiations.

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Taxes

Mark This Date: 2010 Tax-Filing Deadline is May 2, 2011

OTTAWA - The Canada Revenue Agency encourages Canadians to file and pay on time and online using its quick, easy, and secure electronic services. As has been the practice of the CRA when April 30 falls on a weekend, this year's filing deadline extends to Monday, May 2, 2011. You have until midnight on May 2 to file your 2010 income tax and benefit return and to pay any balance owing. If you or your spouse or common-law partner is self-employed, you have until midnight on June 15, 2011, to file your 2010 return, but you still have to pay any balance owing by May 2, 2011.

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Trade

Retail trade

Statscan - Retail sales increased 0.4% in February to $37.3 billion, offsetting most of the decline in January. Higher sales were reported in 9 of 11 subsectors.

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Guest Column

Does Your Business Really Need An App for That?
By David M. Mastovich

Smart phones now account for 27% of the mobile phone market led by nearly 50 million iPhone or Android purchases in the fourth quarter of 2010. Those seemingly smart consumers want to be able to communicate, buy and enjoy, whatever they want, whenever they want. As a result, more than 400,000 mobile applications or apps have been developed in the last three years.