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Wednesday, December 22, 1999
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![[Quartet in SCH]](/images/19991222stringquartet.gif)
Music from the Prima Vera string quartet set the stage for a seasonal celebration in the UW bookstore earlier this month to mark the launch of Lord of the Mountain: the Sardiel Poems, by Rienzi Crusz. Guests were treated to refreshments and holiday discounts on purchases from the bookstore and UW Shop. Photo by Barbara Elve. |
The libraries are open late tonight (Dana Porter until 11 p.m., Davis Centre until midnight). The Physical Activities Complex is open today until 3:30. Today's the last day for food service at Mudie's in Village I, and Bon Appetit in the Davis Centre has already closed for the season (though Tim Horton's next door to it remains open).
A. N. (Archie) Sherbourne, distinguished professor emeritus of civil engineering, who was UW's dean of engineering 1966-1974, died December 17 at the age of 70. A private funeral service has been held, the family's announcement said.
Water leaked into the Early Childhood Education Centre, on the first floor of the PAS (Psychology) building, in a big way over the weekend. The original leak, in a third-floor washroom, was found on Saturday afternoon and plant operations staff were called in to fix the problem. But nobody realized until Monday that it had spread all the way down to the ECEC. Says Sharon Adams, administrative assistant in the psych department: "The water collected and sat in one corner of the large office -- covering one large desk and resource area for the entire weekend. Toy containers held about 5 inches of water and at least half of the resources and books were damaged; a desk, chair, carpets in the office and our large reception area were soaked and stained. I made a quick call, and within a few hours we had half a dozen Plant Ops staff dealing with the restoration and cleanup." She says the ECEC teachers are "reorganizing their programs" to deal with the damp new reality.
Some web links to illuminate the season:
There is no change to the biweekly payroll. Staff in that group (members of Canadian Union of Public Employees local 793) were paid last Friday and will be paid again December 31. The next "casual" payroll comes January 7.
As the new year begins, there are various changes to deductions made from paycheques to keep the government happy. Revenue Canada (now the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency) officially told UW's payroll office yesterday that the "basic personal" exemption -- the amount of income on which an individual isn't taxed -- will go up from this year's $6,456 to $7,131 in 2000. And the "spousal or equivalent" exemption goes up from $5,918 to $6,055.
"There will be a reduction in the Ontario basic provincial tax rate from 39.5% to 38.5%" of federal tax, adds Sandra Hurlburt, assistant director of human resources.
Both those tax changes will mean an increase in take-home pay. Two other government-imposed changes also affect the bottom line, says a December issue of the human resources newsletter, distributed this week. One deduction is going up and one is going down.
What's costing employees more: the Canada Pension Plan, where contribution rates for both employers and individuals are going up from 3.5 per cent of earnings to 3.9 per cent, and the maximum annual earnings subject to CPP deductions rises from $37,400 to $37,600. The result: people may pay as much as $1,329.90 in CPP premiums next year, up from this year's maximum of $1,186.50.
What's costing employees less: the Employment Insurance program, where premiums are going down from 2.55 per cent to 2.4 per cent of earnings. The annual maximum is $936.
The December issue of the HR newsletter also notes changes for 2000 in the maximum amounts that UW's extended health care plan will pay for some services. The maximum for various paramedical services will rise by about 1 per cent (from $515 in 1999 to $520 in 2000), and the maximum amount paid by the individual employee for drugs and paramedical services will rise from $103 (single) or $206 (family) to $104 or $208.
A final note from human resources: "If your tax credit status has changed recently," says Hurlburt, "please visit Human Resources, GSC room 130, to complete a new TD-1 form."
Well, next week will bring the best basketball tournament ever -- or, at the very least, "the best field this tournament has ever attracted", according to Tom O'Brien, coach of the women Warriors.
His team will host the annual Waterloo Warriors Women's Basketball Christmas Shoot-Out, which has become one of the premier tournaments in Canada, this year bringing some of the nation's top competition to Waterloo December 28-30.
![[Tournament poster]](/images/19991222bball.gif)
For those three days, crowds in the Physical Activities Complex can see
three CIAU top-ten
teams: Manitoba (#5), University of British Columbia (#7), and Queen's
University (#8). Also on hand will be Western Ontario (only one loss
in the OUA West this season, and a particular target for Waterloo's
Warriors, who are right behind them, tied for second place.
Rounding out the field are Wilfrid Laurier, Carleton, and Bishop's.
Says an announcement from UW's athletics department: "The tournament provides a good geographic cross section of conferences, including the Great Plains Athletic Conference (Manitoba), Canada West (UBC), Quebec (Bishop's), Ontario East (Queen's and Carleton), and the remaining teams from the OUA West."
"This provides a great opportunity for teams to face competition from other conferences and is great for the fans," says O'Brien. And although the results have no bearing on the overall standings, the outcome of the tournament certainly can affect the CIAU top ten rankings.
The Warriors, who are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent memory, open against the tournament's top-seeded Manitoba Bisons. According to O'Brien, "We don't want to take the easy road to the final. You get better by playing the good teams, and Manitoba certainly is very good."
The tournament, presented by B-K Motors of Waterloo, starts on Tuesday, December 28, with games at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. -- and then the Warriors versus Manitoba at 7 p.m. Games continue on Wednesday at the same times, including the Warriors at 7 p.m. Games on Thursday, December 28, take place at 9 a.m. (7th place game), 11 a.m. (5th place game), 1 p.m. (3rd place game), and 3 p.m. (the championship).
Ticket prices for a "session" (two to four games) are $7 ($4 for students and seniors). Tournament passes are available for $15, students and seniors $8.
With the assistance of UW's staff training and development fund, continuing education courses are now being offered to staff at a 50 per cent discount. "Some exceptions may apply," says the fine print. Faculty members and students are entitled to a 25 per cent discount.
"Everyone has ideas of what lifelong learning means," says continuing ed manager Maureen Jones. "As our jobs become more complex and demanding, many people view lifelong learning as the key to success. It is a way to keep current and on top of new technologies.
"Lifelong learning is also a way to expand our horizons and meet new people with similar interests," she adds.
Winter courses -- running throughout January to April -- include offerings in personal development, professional development, languages, business writing and communications, computing skills, even courses for kids. New this winter:
To learn more or to register, check out the continuing education Web site or phone ext. 4002.
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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