Daily Bulletin

UW plays a role in 'smart' city

"The University of Waterloo is a very enthusiastic member of the consortium," he said, in making public the "letter of intent" that local leaders have sent to Ottawa expressing interest in a $5 million grant for a demonstration project.

There's heavy competition for that money. In Ontario alone, the likes of Algoma District, Hamilton, Brant County, Fergus and Kingston are among the applicants, along with Ottawa and Toronto. Canada-wide, 129 applications were received for grants from the federal Smart Communities Program. The government says twelve grants will be given: one in each province, one in the north and one in an Aboriginal community. Some of the 129 applicants will be asked to submit full-scale business plans this fall.

A project involving UW has at least one big advantage: Johnston himself. He was the chair of the federal "information highway advisory council" that last winter recommended the creation of the Smart Communities program.

"A Smart Community," says Industry Canada, "is a community with a vision of the future that involves the use of information and communication technologies in new and innovative ways to empower its residents, institutions and regions as a whole. As such, they make the most of the opportunities that new technologies afford -- better health care delivery, better education and training and new business opportunities."

The Waterloo-based proposal embraces not just the city of Waterloo but the whole "Canada's Technology Triangle" area of Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. It involves the Economic Development Corporation operated jointly by Waterloo Region and Guelph, the Communitech organization of high-tech businesses, local educational institutions, and other agencies. "This is a very harmonious and cohesive effort," the president said.

Johnston is a member of the board that's directing the CTT proposal to Ottawa. So are former UW president Doug Wright and computer science professor Don Cowan. "On the actual steering committee," Johnston said, "Jim Kalbfleisch is the university representative." (Kalbfleisch is UW's vice-president, academic, and provost.)

He noted that while getting the federal government's endorsement, and the money, is important, 'it's more than just applying for a five-million-dollar government grant." Turning the K-W region into a smart community is essential, and will go ahead, whether the project is approved or not, he said.

Fees up in eight provinces

Students "will face another substantial increase in tuition fees when they return to classes," said StatsCan in Wednesday's daily news, "but the pace of growth has eased somewhat. Fees for undergraduate arts students for the 1999/2000 academic year have increased an average 7.1% across the country. This compares with increases of about 11% each in the two previous years and an annual average of about 9% during the past five years."

This fall, StatsCan said, undergraduate arts students will pay on average $3,379 in tuition, up from $3,156 in 1998/99. "This is more than double the tuition fees of about $1,500 in 1990/91. Tuition fees this fall increased in every province except two -- British Columbia and Quebec. British Columbia has frozen fees in public universities for the fifth consecutive year. In Quebec universities, fees for residents of the province will remain frozen at $1,668."

Average undergraduate arts tuition is highest at universities in Nova Scotia ($4,113) and Ontario ($3,872), the federal agency said. "Tuition in Ontario increased 9.6% on average for the coming academic year, slower than the annual average of about 12% during the past five years."

Said Wednesday's report: "Tuition fees have soared during the past decade, mainly the result of attempts by universities to offset reductions in government funding. . . . As government funding has decreased as a percentage of universities' total operating revenue, tuition fees paid by students have become an increasingly important source of revenue for Canadian universities.

"In 1996/97 -- the most recent year for which data on university revenues is available -- tuition fees represented 16% of operating revenue for universities, twice the level (8%) in 1980/81. During the same time period, the proportion of operating revenue represented by government contributions declined from 74% to almost 58%."

On average, said StatsCan, graduate students will pay $3,681 this fall, up 8.3 per cent from the previous year, "although many universities have kept their graduate tuition stable or have imposed relatively small increases for 1999/2000".

It added: "As well, a few universities have stabilized or lowered tuition for foreign students at the undergraduate and/or graduate level for the coming school year, possibly with the intention of improving their competitive position in terms of attracting foreign and graduate students."

Local volunteers are wanted

• Planned Parenthood of Waterloo Region is looking for pro-choice, non-judgmental volunteers with excellent communication skills. Volunteer Counsellors are needed to provide pregnancy options counselling, support and appropriate referrals regarding sexuality issues. Education Volunteers are needed to present workshops to youth on sexuality issues, including birth control, sexually transmitted infections and healthy relationships. Training will begin September 24, 1999 for these two interesting positions.
• Classroom and artist assistants are needed at Homer Watson House and Gallery. Volunteer assistants work with professional artists who come in to teach art classes to children. Duties include helping children with instructions as well as assisting with set-up and clean-up. Classes are usually held on weekdays. Volunteers are also needed as reception and events assistants to greet visitors, answer the telephone, help with mailings and answer basic questions about the house and gallery. If you are willing to learn, would like to work in a cultural institution, and have 3-4 hours per week on Tuesdays, Saturdays or Sundays during the day, then this is the position for you.
• John Howard Society is recruiting volunteers for their programs. Especially needed are volunteers for their Alternative Measures Program. This position requires 4-8 hours per month. Volunteers meet with 1st time young offenders, discussing their offence, deciding on measures to be completed and making a contract with the youth. Volunteers 19+ with excellent communication and problem solving skills who are tolerant and non-judgmental would be perfect for this position. Call for more details.

Buskers, dancers, libraries

"We are gearing up for classes in the fall," writes Allyson Fox from the Carousel Dance Centre in East Campus Hall, "and have a lot of things planned." Among them: registration day tomorrow at Waterloo's Conestoga Mall, for youngsters looking for dance classes in the fall term. Fox adds that Carousel will hold open house on Tuesday, August 31, and Thursday, September 2, from 6 to 9 p.m., "for registration and to meet the staff, view the facilities, and to see what we are all about! Our term adult classes start the week of September 20 and run for 10 weeks, offering dance for beginners to a pre-professional level. Ballet, modern and jazz classes are being offered. It is a great way to have fun, stay in shape, and meet new people, all while learning something new!" Carousel dancers were performing at the Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival earlier this week, and will be in action again October 2 at an Oktoberfest Preview event.

The UW libraries will be closed Saturday and Sunday. The reduced hours that began with the end of spring term exams will continue until after Labour Day.

CAR

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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