Daily
Bulletin

Cross-Canada cyclists stop here

The goal of the Climate Change Caravan is "to engage Canadians on the issue of climate change with the hopes of persuading them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions".

In Waterloo Region, climate change and air quality are particularly important issues, said local organizer Bruce Davison, a UW civil engineering graduate student. The Citizen's Advisory Committee on Air Quality says the local area often has the "worst smog levels in all of Ontario".

While most of the pollution comes from the United States, much of it also comes from local sources, he notes. Activities such as driving and cutting the grass add atmospheric pollutants that affect climate change and air quality.

How does this affect the community? Besides the obvious impact on quality of life -- who wants to enjoy a warm summer day from behind a window? -- health is at risk. CACAQ says that "asthma rates have quadrupled in the last 15 years," and of the 39,000 affected people, 75 per cent are children under 12.

"Despite all of this disturbing news, there are clear skies on the horizon," Davison said. "Through local initiatives, our community continues to improve the air quality by reducing our dependence on fossil fuels."

Caravan riders will be meeting with community groups in today's forum about initiatives to reduce greenhouse gases, including several that are based at UW and in Kitchener-Waterloo:

• The Residential Energy Efficiency Project is a partnership among UW's faculty of environmental Studies, the Elora Centre for Environmental Excellence, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro and Waterloo North Hydro. REEP uses the national Energuide for Houses system to evaluate the energy efficiency of homes and advise residents on how to cut their energy consumption (by 25 per cent on average) and save money.
• The People's Car Co-op is a community project with involvement from some UW people. Co-op members have access to vehicles "without the cost, hassle, or pollution of owning your own". The co-op takes care of repairs and cleaning as well as insurance and roadside assistance.
• Waterloo Region authorities have developed a clean air plan to reduce pollution, which includes both short-term and long-term goals. One short-term goal is "to continue to improve energy conservation and efficiencies in all facilities". One of the long-term goals is to help local groups implement a "broad public education campaign about smog, including what residents can do to reduce their own emissions".
• ARISE Technologies Corp., a local company, develops residential solar energy systems and wants to "help take solar energy mainstream". To achieve that goal, ARISE installs pool and domestic water heating systems and electricity generating solar panels. The extra electricity generated causes meters to run backward, thus reducing hydro bills.
• The UW hydrology group is involved in studies of the Mackenzie basin, a watershed that covers 1,805,200 square km of Canada. The studies involve researchers from around the world who are working "to assess our water resources within the context of the overall climate system and its variability and possible change." This effort is a part of the Canadian contribution to the World Climate Research Program.

Tennis outing next month UW alumni are invited to attend the Rogers AT&T Cup tennis tournament at the Tennis Canada Centre, York University on Thursday, August 16. Players currently entered include Martina Hingis, Serena Williams, Anna Kournikova, Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati. "Last year, over 120 UW alumni and friends enjoyed networking, wine sampling and excellent tennis," says alumni officer Dave McDougall. "This year we have new UW giveaways for everyone who attends." The discounted ticket price ($27.07) will include Bordeaux wine sampling, access to a private patio with a UW alumni booth, and a souvenir magazine. Third-round action begins at 7 p.m., with gates opening at 5:30 p.m. To order tickets, phone Tennis Canada group sales at (800) 398-8761 ext. 306 or e-mail groups@tenniscanada.com.

On the last day of lectures

Techworx in South Campus Hall is moving to a new location -- out of the concourse and around the corner, to the space just vacated by the Courseware operation. To get things moved, Techworx will be closed today, Monday and Tuesday, says Noemia Fernandes, the store's manager. "Should you need any stationery or supplies," she notes, the other location of Techworx -- in the Student Life Centre -- remains open. "The staff there will be more than happy to assist you."

Math students will be partying at the Grad House tonight, at "Last Night Out", sponsored by the Math Grad Committee. "There will be karaoke and some food available," an announcement promises (or threatens).

And as the weekend rolls on, the International Student Association will hold an end-of-term barbecue Sunday at 1 p.m. beside Columbia Lake. "There'll be free food cooked for you by the lovely ISA committee," says Darlene Ryan in the international student office. "After the food, we'll play some soccer and baseball."

The arts copy centre -- that's the one in the Humanities building will be closed on Monday, the graphics department notes. It will also close August 7-10 and August 20.

Catching up on local news after my weeks away, I note that Waterloo city council has voted in favour of a plan to widen Columbia Street. It wasn't entirely popular, especially with nearby residents who are afraid of more speed and noise, but I imagine the project will hearten drivers who use Columbia to come to the UW campus each day, as well as those heading for the future research park on the north campus. "Right now," the Waterloo Chronicle reports, "between 14,000 and 16,000 cars travel along this section of the street each day. At this rate, volumes will soon reach and exceed the set capacity for the two-lane roadway. The widening of the road will include sidewalks and cycling lanes on both sides of Columbia Street."

And the Record reports that "A local university professor who was allegedly stabbed May 30 by his 17-year-old son has been released from hospital. The man went to Grand River Hospital with knife wounds after his son allegedly attacked him in his sleep at their Waterloo home. . . . The youth, who cannot be named under the Young Offenders Act, is charged with two counts of attempted murder."

A memo from UW's office of development and alumni affairs introduces Diane Boyle of the consulting firm of Ketchum Canada, who will spend the next three months at UW as "campaign counsel and assistant campaign director. . . . Diane will advise on strategic plans, leadership and prospect management, and generally help to manage and develop the infrastructure, systems and policies needed for us to be successful" in the planned fund-raising campaign.

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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