Ontario finance minister Jim Flaherty came to campus yesterday and issued a statement announcing $13.4 million in provincial funds for UW's north campus "research and technology park". Flaherty previously announced this grant November 6 as part of his fall economic statement in the Legislature. Above, Flaherty and local MPP Elizabeth Witmer lead UW president David Johnston upstairs for a Davis Centre laboratory tour.

The last weekend of autumn

The Physics building was evacuated "as a precautionary measure" about 4:30 yesterday afternoon. It's open again this morning. UW safety director Kevin Stewart said the shutdown was the result of "a lab incident", but couldn't give further information until an investigation is finished. He did say no one was hurt.

Management sciences professor Thomas Åstebro is beaming (he's in Australia just now on sabbatical, but I'm sure I can see his smile from here) after his spinoff company, Astebro Bernhardt Ltd., was awarded second prize for "most promising technology" this week by the University of Toronto Innovations Foundation. The foundation assesses business plans from small companies and chooses winners in "promising technology" and "promising business" categories, with the top firms being given equity investments through the foundation. Astebro Bernhardt was founded in 1998 to market "credit scoring solutions"; Åstebro says its current clients include CIBC and Business Depot.

Kim Spenceley, manager of hardware support in information systems and technology, sends this warning: "The building power to IST's main computer and communications rooms in the Math and Computer building will be undergoing major renovations on Saturday between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. This work will allow the two equipment rooms to have power fed to them from the Davis Centre in cases when building power in the Math and Computer building is interrupted for any reason. IST is confident that its distributed UPS (uninterruptible power supply) system will handle any power glitches that may occur, but because of the possibility of unexpected equipment failure some server and network outages could occur. Please note that the VM and SP(isenguard) systems will not be available at all during this time."

From the local Volunteer Action Centre: "K-W Sexual Assault Support Centre is currently recruiting volunteers to help with crisis line work, public education, office support and the Board of Directors. This is an opportunity to receive excellent training and work in a supportive environment. Women who are interested in becoming involved are invited to attend an information night on Thursday, January 10, from 7-9 p.m. in the boardroom at the Community Resource Village, 151 Frederick Street, Kitchener." For more information, the VAC can be reached at 742-8610.

April 1-5 seems a long way off just now, but time flies. Those will be the dates of the second annual Graduate Student Research Conference at UW, and now is the time for grad students to be thinking about it, because January 15 is the deadline to submit abstracts and be part of the event. "Oral or poster presentations are intended for a general university audience," a brochure explains. "All presentations will be judged and eligible for awards." There's no registration fee.

Of interest, from a news release issued by the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations: "Young adults from low-income families are 2.5 times less likely to attend university than those aged 18-21 from high income families, reveals a Statistics Canada report released Friday. The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) believes that every person in Canada should have access to an education regardless of socio-economic status. The study doesn't go far enough, says Liam Arbuckle, National Director for CASA. The Government of Canada has a responsibility to find out why young people from low income families don't go to university. . . . CASA is asking the Federal Government commission a study to find out why only 16% of 18-21 year olds from the lowest family income quartile go on to university."

Students win volunteer awards

The ten students, picked by a selection committee, have received the President's Circle Awards for Volunteerism. The awards were established in 1997 to recognize the significant contributions of students who volunteer within the community or campus. Members of the President's Circle, a group of individual high-end donors to the university, fund the awards, which are worth $250 each. Nominations are invited from the university and local community. The awards dinner and presentation were held December 4 in the University Club with some members of the President's Circle on hand to help honour the students.

Here are this year's winners:

Shannon Daniel, third-year science -- volunteering at the Grand River Hospital, currently in the Joke Junction humour therapy program. She's also involved with the Extend-A-Family Program and sings with the Bethel Chapel Music Ministry, a group that visits nursing and retirement homes. She is also a member of the varsity cheerleading team and was actively involved in Science Orientation.

Kingsley Fregene, graduate student in electrical and computer engineering who works with Frontier College, a literacy organization, as a volunteer tutors. The students at St. David's Catholic Secondary School Homework Club report that they "have come to rely on his being there for them every week without fail."

At the awards dinner, left to right: Schnass, Yu, Shim, MacDonald, Wanas, Fregene, Gower, Daniel, Pillai, Jung, and UW president David Johnston.

Stephanie Gower, graduate student in health studies and gerontology. Formerly a leader for the Girl Guides for three years in Kingston, she has continued her involvement with Guiding in Waterloo. She is also a member of the Music Alive Choir based in Kitchener.

Tina Jung, graduate student in earth sciences, who works with children at the Hildegard Marsden Day Car Centre on the north campus. She has also had the opportunity to volunteer in Nicaragua.

Heather MacDonald, fourth-year social work -- her volunteer contributions include two years as a coach for the Special Olympics, work for the AIDS Committee, and most notably involvement in the Big Sisters Association.

Arun Pillai, fourth-year computer engineering, involved with the Canadian Mental Health Association as a distress line volunteer. With the stress of a heavy workload he is still able to find the time to commit to the phone line and has contributed over 200 hours of volunteer listening, support and crisis intervention.

Katherine Schwass, fourth-year English -- at various times Student Ambassador, Imprint Publications Writer and Board Member, Orientation Leader, Federation Orientation Committee Member, Wellness Centre Coordinator, Off Campus Don and Coordinator of the Off Campus Dons.

Ji-Yun Shim, second-year social development studies -- work with Big Sisters, Canadian Mental Health Association (distress centre volunteer and weekend emergency back-up volunteer), and Canadian Hearing Society. Most recently she has been involved as a Hospice of Waterloo Region client volunteer.

Nayer Wanas, graduate student in systems design engineering -- actively involved in the Egyptian Student Association of North America, holding several leadership roles including president and vice-president. He has also been involved in the Kitchener-Waterloo International Languages Programme as the Assistant Coordinator and Teacher of the Arabic Language, and was also the Vice-Chair of the Canadian Islamic Congress.

Karen Yu, second-year optometry -- involved in Hospitality Crew, Student Shadow Program with international students office at UW, camp director for the Chinese Overseas Christian Mission, Kids Camp Worker, Operation Mobilization, and OASIS volunteer. Since September 2001 she has also been involved as a Sunday School group leader and a member of Out of the Cold.

Events du jour The student newspaper Imprint will hold an end-of-term open house today (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) at its offices in the Student Life Centre. "Drop in for a drink and some goodies," says an invitation on behalf of "the editor, board members and volunteers". Reminder: various pieces of the Quest student information system are out of operation for the next few days as software updates are carried out. It should be a hot time tonight at the Graduate House: "karaoke with a Christmas theme" starts at 9:30 p.m. The Waterloo Concert Band -- not UW-affiliated, with with quite a number of UW people involved -- will be caroling on Saturday night (7 to 9 p.m.) at the "Wonders of Winter" display in Waterloo Park. "We'll be playing a selection of carols," says one of the members, James Harynuk of the earth sciences department, "and also collecting food for the food bank."

A joyful noise at St. Jerome's -- a news release from St. Jerome's University

The St. Jerome's 9:30 Choir, with members from the entire music ministry of the University Catholic Community, and the choirs of Sir Edgar Bauer, St. Nicholas, and Our Lady of Lourdes elementary schools, will be celebrating the release of their new Christmas CD, "One Child, One Voice".

The performance will include many seasonal favourites, including a choral version of Pachelbel's Canon, a rendition of "O Holy Night," and an arrangement of the "Huron Carol" by Steve Lehmann, a member of the 9:30 Choir. The songs will be set within the context of the Christmas story, as read by Rev. Jim Link, chaplain of St. Jerome's.

"Song: A Celebration of Community," which is presented as the annual Joint Waterloo Catholic District School Board Lecture, takes place at 7:30 p.m. in Siegfried Hall at St. Jerome's University. All are welcome.

The more serious purpose of the performance is to help bring the arts back to Catholic schools, says Bill Waters, director of the 9:30 Choir. Since funding was cut for arts programs in the Catholic school board, volunteers have been trying to fill the breach. "We are thinking about doing this as an annual event, as a way to motivate schoolchildren to continue their experience with music," Waters says.

While the performance is free of charge, freewill offerings are welcome. All donations and proceeds from the sale of CDs, including the 9:30 Choir's first recording, "Rise Up", will go to support volunteer arts programs in local Catholic schools and to replace and upgrade equipment for the UCC Music Ministry. The $20 CDs can also be ordered by e-mailing Waters at bill@wecreate.ca.

The Joint Waterloo Catholic District School Board Lecture is part of the 2001-2002 season of the St. Jerome's Centre for Catholic Experience.

CAR