September 08, 2010 – News Release

The University of Guelph is launching a one-day event aimed at ensuring relations between students living off campus and their neighbours start off on the right foot.

In partnership with the City of Guelph, the new Right Foot Forward program will see 120 volunteers venturing out to areas of the city to knock on the doors of students and their neighbours, hand out resources and even offer to introduce them to one another.

Right Food Forward will take place Sept. 11 during the first weekend after the start of classes.

“We want to be proactive and ensure the students and Guelph residents start the year off on a positive note,” said Brad Williams, U of G manager of off-campus living.

The volunteers, which will include University faculty, staff and students, as well as city staff and neighbourhood volunteers, will travel in teams of three or four to hand out to students 2,000 welcome bags containing information about University and city resources.

The teams will also hand out a new information pamphlet created by city hall for both students and their neighbours. The pamphlets have information about city bylaws and where people can call if they have complaints, as well as tips for students on how to be a good neighbour.

“The overall aim of the new program is to educate students, especially those living off campus for the first time, on what it means to be a good neighbour and to provide them with information to aid in their success within the community,” said Williams.

In its inaugural year, the program will take place in the Old University area, the adjoining Hanlon Creek and Rickson Ridge areas, and an area east of downtown and north of York Road.

Volunteers will meet on campus and travel by bus to key neighbourhoods; a free barbecue in Branion Plaza will end the day’s activity.
“This program is a fantastic partnership between the City of Guelph and the University,” said Williams. “We hope it will ensure that our students continue to have a positive impact on the community.”

September 07, 2010 – Campus Bulletin

Fourteen outstanding U of G employees received President’s Awards for Exemplary Staff Service today at the eighth annual community breakfast.

President Alastair Summerlee presented the awards, which recognize staff members who have consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and exceeded their job expectations. He also recognized the recipient of the Susanne Sprowl Community Service Award and 62 employees with 25 years of service at U of G.

Exemplary Staff Service Award winners are:

Community Service
Rodger Tschanz, a greenhouse technician in the Department of Plant Agriculture, was honoured for “the ideas of community service.” His humble attitude makes it difficult to know how many community projects he is involved in, but they include the United Way, Big Brothers, Guelph Museum, Canada Blooms and the Guelph Interaction conference.

Tschanz also received the Susanne Sprowl Community Service Award. Presented by United Steelworkers Local 4120, it recognizes significant contributions to the University and external community through community spirit and volunteer work.

Spirit Award
Barry Townshend, manager of the Centre for New Students and a counsellor/therapist in Student Life, was recognized for his giving attitude and desire to ensure excellent student experience. He often volunteers on nights and weekends to deliver Peer Helper Training and Project Service, and helps with non-student life programs.

Innovative Leadership Award
Linda Hawkins was honoured for being “an exceptional leader who embraces uncertainty and complexity.” As the executive director of the Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being, she has built community partnerships and fostered student service learning opportunities, mobilized teams, and opened new and innovative research pathways.

Service Excellence Award
Bruno Mancini, director of student life and counselling services, was recognized for “going above and beyond the call of duty” by taking on new projects and always being accessible to students or staff. Recently he sought and received external funding for a project to improve services to students with serious mental health issues.

Hidden Hero Award
Barbara Chance, Department of Communications and Public Affairs, was recognized for more than two decades of service to the University community. The recently retired editor of At Guelph served as the official and unofficial editor of most U of G publications, dedicating her time and skills to supporting people and departments across campus.

Mario Finoro, who has worked as the chief technician in the Department of Geography for 34 years, has been called “the glue that holds the department together.” Working quietly behind the scenes, he helps and advises faculty and staff, and is a mentor and role model to research assistants and students.

Exemplary Team Recognition Award
Ann Bolger, Sandra Campbell and Louise Lamble
The administrative team in the Department of Economics was recognized for dedication, work ethic and mutual support. The trio has more than 42 years of service to the University, and share their experience and knowledge with others.

Joan Cascio, Cheryl Fitzgibbon, Diana Foolen, Anna Gallina, Joanne Gillis and Sue Hall
As colleagues in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, these employees were honoured for going “beyond the call” to improve the entire School.

Sixty-two staff members with 25 years of service received gifts and a special breakfast. A Human Resources website provides for photographs and information, along with names of U of G employees celebrating 30, 35 and 40 years of service.

September 03, 2010 – Campus Bulletin

The summer of 2010 at the University of Guelph seemed to follow the themes of digging, building and renovating. With seven major construction projects underway and some minor ones as well, John Vanos, manager of the project management portfolio in Physical Resources, acknowledges that there has been more construction this summer than in most years.

He says the amount of work to be done during any particular summer depends partly on the timing of funding for new construction and partly on the need for upkeep on older buildings and walkways.

“Some projects increased in scope because of what we found once we started,” he explains. “For example, the stairs at War Memorial Hall were in very poor condition, and some walls actually collapsed when we started the work, so it all had to be redone. In the case of Winegard Walk, we originally planned to replace the roof of the utility tunnel, but since we had to remove the pavers to do that, it made sense to replace them.”

Vanos thinks students returning next week will appreciate the improvements. One example: “The big lecture theatres in Axelrod will be quite different ? they have new seats, new ceilings and new presentation equipment.”

Here’s a review of the major projects and their current status:

Winegard Walk tunnel restoration ? The service tunnel under the walkway has been waterproofed, the roof has been replaced, and the walkway base and pavers have been replaced along the walkway from College Avenue to just north of the library. The walk should be open for pedestrian use by Sept. 4.

War Memorial Hall stair rehabilitation ? The front stairway and stone wing walls are being completely rebuilt. The exterior stairs will be usable for emergency purposes only starting Sept. 7 and should be completed by mid-October. New seating in the balcony should also be completed by mid-October.

University Centre entrances rehabilitation ? Four main ground-floor entrances to the University Centre are being waterproofed, and the concrete in them is being repaired. The entrances will be usable by the first week of September, but the final floor surfaces won’t be completed until early October.

Richards/Thornbrough integrated engineering construction ? Additions are being built and renovations completed to provide space for the mechanical, biomedical and computing engineering programs in the School of Engineering. Construction should be completed by the end of December. Three new classrooms at the south end will be ready for Sept. 7.

Axelrod adaptive re-use ? All interior spaces are being renovated, including teaching and lecture rooms, and the entire building will be reskinned. Lecture theatres should be complete for Sept. 7, and the rest of the building will be done by the end of March 2011.

Pathobiology and Animal Health Laboratory ? A new building is being completed to house the Department of Pathobiology and the Animal Health Lab, with space dedicated to teaching, research and animal care. It should be completed by the end of September, with moves into the new facility taking place early in October.

Clinical Skills and Barn 037 ? The renovations to the barn and barnyard should be completed in September; the new clinical skills building for teaching animal handling should be completed in October.

For those buildings where work is not complete, signs will be installed to indicate alternative routes, fire safety and evacuation plans, and other information.

Vanos adds: “Everyone is pushing hard to get it all done before the students return. We owe a big thank you to all the project managers, construction co-ordinators and contractors for all the work that has been put in since the spring.”

September 02, 2010 – News Release

Peach season is in full swing, and fresh fruit is in demand in Ontario. But many of the fruits sold in the province are imported. A University of Guelph researcher is trying to change that by creating peaches that are more tolerant of colder conditions.

Prof. Jay Subramanian of the Department of Plant Agriculture is developing a series of peach varieties that he hopes will allow Ontario to extend its peach-growing season and serve the fresh-fruit market.

“Tender fruits such as peaches taste better and have their full aroma and flavour when consumed fresh, as opposed to apples and bananas, where the taste continues to improve after picking,” he said. “People are also realizing that the health benefits of these fruits are at their highest when they are consumed fresh.”

Consumption of fresh fruit in Canada has increased by 12 per cent over the past 20 years, according to a recent report by Deloitte and Touche LLP.

Peaches are commonly grown in Ontario’s Niagara Region, where more than 200 producers serve open markets. But like most fresh foods, peaches have a limited shelf life. And in Ontario, the peach-growing season is relatively short compared with other exporting nations.

Subramanian says developing peach varieties that are more resistant to colder temperatures isn’t easy. It takes time because perennial fruits such as peaches have a long breeding cycle of about 15 years. But after several years of breeding, he has created a number of genotypes that are resistant to cold temperatures. The next step is to identify the correct combinations – cold-resistant varieties with rich quality and commercial attributes.

This discovery is important for local growers, who are always searching for better varieties, including those that appeal to different ethnic tastes, he said. Indeed, the Deloitte and Touche report found that demand for fresh fruit is rising as the population ages and becomes more ethnically diverse.

“People from different countries prefer different types of peaches,” said Subramanian. North Americans, for example, prefer a yellow-fleshed peach with bright red skin and a lot of stripes or blotches. The Asian market favours a white-fleshed peach with more greenish skin. And Europeans tend to prefer a uniform garnet-skinned peach with minimal stripes.

“I won’t rest until peaches are grown comfortably in the Niagara Region to satisfy both the consumers’ demands and the growers’ needs,” he said. With this region “being the fruit bowl of Canada — and perhaps the only region to commercially produce peaches — it’s imperative that the industry remain vibrant to supply the needs of not just Ontarians but as many Canadians as possible.”

This research is supported by the University’s partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

September 02, 2010 – News Release

The University of Guelph Muslim Students Association and the Muslim Society of Guelph hope to bring attention and aid to the people affected by devastating floods in Pakistan.

The two groups will host a fundraising dinner Sept. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at Guelph’s Evergreen Seniors Community Centre, 683 Woolwich St. The event will include talks by local politicians and a motivational speaker, as well as an opportunity to make donations.

“Our goal is to raise $20,000 from the event and further donations,” said Ahad Manzoor, a third-year business student at U of G who is helping to organize the event.

Like many of those involved in setting up the event, Manzoor has family in Pakistan, where monsoon floods have had an impact on 20 million people.

“I have two brothers over there,” he said. “They aren’t living in the areas that are now under water, but they are still affected. When one-fifth of a country is under water, it affects everyone living in that country.”

Manzoor is frustrated by the lack of attention the disaster has received from the media and hopes this fundraiser will raise more awareness.

“This is not a small disaster. The number of people affected is more than the number affected by hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami (in Thailand) combined. It’s a disaster that may not seem close to home, but it is. There is a huge Pakistani population in Canada with family over there.”

With the money raised, the two groups are planning to make up boxes filled with water bottles, blankets, first-aid kits and other supplies essential for survival.

“When you send money, it doesn’t always go where it needs to go, and it has to go through so many hands before it reaches those in need,” he said. “Plus, the people affected by the floods don’t need money; they need water and food and blankets.”

If they reach their goal, Manzoor says the organizers will be able to make 1,000 boxes to send over by the end of the month, as well as a monetary donation.

Tickets for the fundraising dinner can be purchased in advance by sending email to muhammed.sayyed@gmail.com.

For those who are unable to attend the event, the organizers have set up an account that will accept donations until the end of September: www.guelphmsa.ca.

September 02, 2010 – Campus Bulletin

What is the relationship between Shakespeare and the popular music of artists such as Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler and Eminem?

This question is the focus of the Shakespeare and Popular Music Colloquium running Sept. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the University of Guelph.

The University community and general public are invited to attend the one-day event, which will be held in Room 107 of the MacKinnon Building in affiliation with Orientation Week events.

Hosted by the School of English and Theatre Studies and the Canadian Adaptations of Shakespeare Research Project, the colloquium will feature roundtable and panel discussions involving Canadian and international professors and graduate students.

Adam Hansen, an English professor at Northumbria University in Newcastle, England, and author of Shakespeare and Popular Music, will give the keynote lecture on “Predicting Riots: Shakespeare Goes Pop in the City.” He will also participate in a roundtable discussion on “Shakespeare, Music and Pedagogy”
with three U of G faculty.

Panel discussions will focus on:

“What a Piece of Work Is Man: Gendered Voices and New Directions”;
“’Vomit on His Sweater Already, Mom’s Spaghetti’: The Performance of Masculinity in 8 Mile and Two Gentlemen of Verona”;
“The Commercialization of Nothingness: King Lear and Bob Dylan’s Experiments in the Basement”;
“’Revels in the Songs That He Sings’: A Musical Exploration in Storytelling of William Shakespeare’s The Rape of Lucrece”;
“’You Are a Lover, Borrow Cupid’s Wings and Soar With Them Above a Common Bound’: Romeo and Juliet and the Modern Cultural Imaginary”;
“Humours, Hormones and Harmonics: Baz/Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet”;
“Modernization, Transformation, Returning to the Source: Mark Knopfler’s Rendition of Romeo and Juliet”;
“Shakespeare: Good Beats and Great Lyrics”; and
“Giving Rhyme a Reading: Correlations Among Shakespeare, Hip-Hop and Social Change.”

September 01, 2010 – News Release

The University of Guelph will welcome more than 4,200 new students to campus Sept. 4 to 11 for this year’s Orientation Week.

More than 300 events are planned, including a pep rally, a world record event, a series of special lectures and the president’s traditional welcome and luncheon.

The theme of Orientation Week is “Legendary Beginnings.”

“We’re excited to welcome new students to campus and the community and are looking forward to providing them with a safe, fun and legendary transition into a new phase in their lives,” said Robert Routledge, co-ordinator of orientation programs. “This year’s Orientation Week will instil a sense of school spirit in our first-year students and demonstrate that Guelph is a campus that will help and support them throughout their time here.”

Orientation begins Sept. 4 with residence move-in day and a special event for new students living off campus. About 4,000 students will be moving into U of G residences with help from almost 1,000 members of the University community.

Gordon Street will be closed between Stone Road and College Avenue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to accommodate the move-in. The Guelph community should anticipate increased traffic on Stone Road and College Avenue as students make their way to various residences on campus.

Once the students are moved in, they can participate in “Your Legendary Beginnings,” an event running from 7 p.m. to midnight that includes community meetings, sport activities, dancing and movies.

The pep rally is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sept. 5 at Alumni Stadium and includes the “OV Boogie,” a time-honoured U of G tradition.

Students are invited to participate in the annual world record challenge Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. on Johnston Green. The event will give students the opportunity to break a world record and also learn more about the Bracelet of Hope campaign. Participants are asked to wear a red or white shirt for the challenge.

At 8 p.m., the band Down With Webster will perform in the Athletics Centre.

The president’s welcome and luncheon is Sept. 8 at 11 a.m. in the Gryphon Dome. President Alastair Summerlee, alumni, students and staff will offer insights on the keys to achieving success at university. A free lunch will follow.

Classes begin Sept. 9, and Orientation Week wraps up Sept. 11 with “Everyone’s Orientation Week Challenge,” followed by the OVie Awards to recognize various achievements and celebrate the hard work of more than 600 orientation volunteers, event planners and the orientation team.

For more information and a complete list of Orientation Week events, visit www.guelphoweek.ca.

August 31, 2010 – Campus Bulletin

University of Guelph graduate research assistants will be voting Wednesday as a result of an application for certification from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the University Centre, Room 103.

Information about the vote and certification process was emailed to all graduate research assistants Monday afternoon, once the University received required information from the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Bulletins were also sent to deans, chairs and administrative assistants, who were asked to post the information in appropriate locations.

People who did not receive emails but believe they should be included are welcome to show up to vote. You will be asked to present your student identification, and eligibility will be determined at the voting station.

Voting will be in-person by secret ballot. There will be no proxy voting, no advance polls, no mail-in ballots or any other variation on voting. The vote will be supervised by a Labour Relations Board Officer.

The outcome of a vote is determined by a majority of those who cast ballots, not by a majority of those who are eligible to vote.

All Graduate Research Assistants are potentially affected by the outcome of the vote. The University urges all graduate research assistants to educate themselves on this issue and to exercise their right to vote on Wednesday.

August 31, 2010 – News Release

Bilingual employees earn more than their unilingual counterparts even if they aren’t using their language skills on the job, according to a new University of Guelph study.

Economics professors Louis Christofides and Robert Swidinsky examined the earnings of Canadians and compared the difference in wages between bilingual and unilingual employees as well as bilingual employees who are required to speak a second language on the job.

They found that bilingual men earn 3.6 per cent and bilingual women earn 6.6 per cent more than those who speak only English, but there was no additional financial reward for bilingual employees who actually speak French in the workplace.

“In English Canada, the economic benefits of having French as a second language are associated with language knowledge rather than language use in job-related activities,” said Christofides. “It seems you don’t have to actually speak a second language on the job to reap the financial rewards of being bilingual.”

These research findings are featured in today’s Globe and Mail.

The study, which was recently published in Canadian Public Policy/Analyse de Politiques, is the first to explore the distinction between language knowledge and language use.

To obtain their findings, the two researchers examined data from Statistics Canada’s 2001 census, which for the first time asked respondents not only about their knowledge of the official languages but also about the languages used at work. This allowed Christofides and Swidinsky to compare people’s use of bilingual skills with their income.

The reason bilingual employees are often paid more even though they may not actually be using their language skills could be that these skills indicate other marketable qualities, said Christofides.

“In light of the limited demand for French in the marketplace in English Canada, a possible interpretation for why bilingual employees tend to earn more money than unilingual employees is that second-language skills may indicate those individuals are stronger in unmeasured labour market characteristics such as ability, cognition, perseverance and quality education. These unmeasured characteristics can potentially have a bearing on labour productivity and increase the wages of bilingual individuals.”

The two economists did find, however, that speaking a second language on the job does pay off for employees working in Quebec, where the demand for English is higher than the demand for French in the rest of Canada.

Study results show that bilingual francophone men in Quebec earn up to seven per cent more than those who speak only French, and that number increases to almost 21 per cent for those who actually speak English on the job. Results were similar but slightly lower for women.

This means that for every $1,000 a unilingual francophone man earns in Quebec, one who knows but doesn’t use English at work makes an additional $70, and one who knows and also uses English earns a further $139 ? a total of $209 more than a unilingual francophone.

“In Quebec, too, a significant component of total rewards for English second-language skills is derived from language knowledge,” said Swidinsky. “However, because of the substantial demand for English in Quebec and international workplaces, an important further component of the overall return, especially for francophone men, is associated with the actual use of language in the workplace.”

The study also found that Quebec bilinguals who use both languages at work have similar earnings regardless of whether their mother tongue is French or English, he said.

“In general, the study concludes that the gains from language reflect the needs of the marketplace.”

August 31, 2010 – Campus Bulletin

The 2010 Community Breakfast will be held Tuesday, Sept. 7, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the Gryphon Dome.

The Community Breakfast is an opportunity to celebrate the start of the academic year and the achievements of staff and faculty who make significant contributions to life at the University.

Awards to be presented are: the President’s Awards for Exemplary Staff Service, the Undergraduate Academic Advising Medallion, the alumni association’s Employee Volunteer Award and the Susanne Sprowl Award. In addition, people who have dedicated 25 years of service to U of G will be recognized.

RSVP either online or by calling Ext. 53789.