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Interesting & Funny
Marlene Zuk: What we learn from insects’ kinky sex lives
Marlene Zuk is a biologist and writer who researches animal behavior and evolution, mostly using insects as subjects. Zuk is interested in the ways that people use animal behavior to think about human behavior, and vice versa, as well as in the public's understanding of evolution. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at the University of Minnesota -- including a seminar called “What’s the Alternative to Alternative Medicine?”
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Cross-Border Crises Communication
The Jeff Eller Group and Scout Public Affairs Announce Cross-Border Agency Affiliation
Waterloo – The Jeff Eller Group and Scout Public Affairs are proud to formally announce their agency affiliation. This affiliation will allow the firms to access in-market public affairs and crisis communications expertise for clients with interests in both Canada and the United States. The Jeff Eller Group was founded in 2014, by seasoned crisis communications strategist Jeff Eller. His career includes work in the White House in the Clinton era to some of the most well publicized crises in modern business, such as GM’s ignition switch issue and the Firestone tire recall.
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Simulated Environment
Christie launches AccuFrame Pro at I/ITSEC 2015
Software works at the pixel level to reduce smear and improve perceived dynamic resolution in simulator visual systems
Kitchener/Orlando – Christie Digital is launching AccuFrame™ Pro at I/ITSEC 2015. AccuFrame Pro software reduces visual artifacts, like smear, that contribute to “negative training” – a simulated environment that gives false visual and motion cues - by targeting low-to-mid intensity content at the pixel level, without reducing brightness caused by shortening the time each frame is displayed in a simulator.
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Diet
The global diet is getting sweeter, particularly when it comes to beverages
Chapel Hill - A Personal View, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, highlights that the global diet is getting sweeter, particularly when it comes to beverages. This Personal View paper is written by Professor Barry M Popkin, School of Public Health, Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, and Dr Corinna Hawkes, City University London, UK.
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Milestone
75 Years Serving Humanity in Kitchener-Waterloo
The KW St. John Ambulance is celebrating its 75th anniversary
Kitchener - For over seven decades the Kitchener-Waterloo St. John Ambulance has been helping members of the local community live safer lives by providing first aid training and volunteer services. Yesterday Kitchener-Waterloo has over 200 volunteers providing services including Medical First Response, Therapy Dog visits and a Campus Response Team at the University of Waterloo. Recently they introduced the Home Caregiver Support Program aimed at connecting people providing loved ones with end of life care with important resources.
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Positivity
Positive psychology certificate now available from Laurier’s new Centre for Public Safety and Well-Being
Program uses science to understand how we can shift our emotions and thinking from a neutral state to a more positive, flourishing state
Brantford – Wilfrid Laurier University’s new Centre for Public Safety and Well-Being is now accepting applications for its certificate program in Positive Psychology. The wholly online program is the first in a series of continuing education opportunities that will be offered by the centre, which was created by the university’s Faculty of Human and Social Sciences.
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Appointment
New Director of Education & Public Programs
Kitchener - Homer Watson House & Gallery recently embarked on a search to fill the role of Director of Education & Public Programs. After an extensive search, which included applicants from across Canada, Homer Watson House & Gallery has filled the position. The Gallery is excited to announce the appointment of Paige Bolta as the new Director of Education & Public Programs.
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Sustainability Challenge - Video
Laurier students’ 3D printing idea wins at IKEA Canada sustainability challenge
Waterloo – An idea to recycle old IKEA furniture using 3D printers has won the IKEA Sustainability Challenge – a three-week competition held at Wilfrid Laurier University for second-year students at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics. The challenge is sponsored by IKEA Canada to find groundbreaking ideas to integrate sustainability within the IKEA brand.
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New Legislation
Ontario Passes Police Record Checks Legislation
Province Removing Barriers to Opportunity and Promoting Fairness
Queens Park - Yesterday Ontario passed the Police Record Checks Reform Act, 2015 to protect public safety and strengthen individual civil liberties by removing unnecessary barriers to employment, education and volunteer opportunities resulting from the inappropriate disclosure of non-conviction and non-criminal records, such as mental health information, in police record checks.
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Advocacy
Guelph Chamber Urges City to Initiate Service Rationalization Review
Guelph - The Guelph Chamber of Commerce presented to Guelph City Council as part of the stakeholder engagement and public presentations process on the City Budget. A central objective of the Chamber’s continued involvement in the municipal budget process is to ensure that municipal public finance decisions are made with a lens of sound financial principles that balance support for a community’s range of services with a community’s ability to pay and remain competitive as an investment and growth location. In order to achieve this, the Chamber urged the City to commit to investing in a thorough Service Rationalization Review.
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Appointment
MasonryWorx appoints Bob Sanders as board president
Mississauga – MasonryWorx, the association representing brick, block and stone manufacturers in Ontario, has a new face at the head of its board table. Bob Sanders, who joined the board as a director two years ago, was recently named President of the organization. He takes over the position from outgoing President Judy Pryma.
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Bankruptcy
National Delinquency Rates Decline to Their Lowest Levels Ahead of the Holidays
Delinquency Rates Continue to Increase in Oil-Producing Provinces
Toronto - On average, Canadians' ability to pay back loans has never been better, according to Equifax Canada's Q3 2015 National Consumer Credit Trends Report. The report now pegs the 90+ delinquency rate (excluding mortgages) at its lowest level ever at 1.05 per cent, a decrease of 4.3 per cent when compared to the same quarter last year.
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Energy
Ontario Passes Legislation to Further Protect Energy Ratepayers
Robust New Tools Will Provide Consumers With a Stronger Voice
Queens Park - Yesterday Ontario passed legislation to protect consumers by strengthening the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and improving its ability to ensure continuity of service.
The Strengthening Consumer Protection and Electricity System Oversight Act, 2015 will enhance the OEB’s role to ensure that it continues to have a robust set of tools to protect consumers and regulate the energy sector.
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Increased Stake
Sun Life Financial to increase its shareholding in Birla Sun Life Insurance from 26% to 49%
Investment will strengthen long-standing partnership with the Aditya Birla Group in India, a major growth market for Sun Life in Asia
MUMBAI, India - Sun Life Financial Inc. and Aditya Birla Nuvo Limited, a part of the Aditya Birla Group, announced an agreement for Sun Life to increase its ownership in Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Limited ("BSLI") from 26% to 49% by purchasing additional BSLI shares from ABNL for consideration of Rs. 16.64 billion (approximately C$340 million).
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Aquisition
Morneau Shepell acquires Bensinger, DuPont & Associates
Purchase of US company providing problem gambling services, drug testing management and employee and family assistance programs, expands US operations
Toronto - Morneau Shepell a provider of employee and family assistance programs (EFAPs), human resources consulting and technology, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Bensinger, DuPont & Associates (BDA), a US leader in EFAPs, problem gambling services and drug testing management.
