Is it getting hot in here? Report says yes

a news release from Intact Financial Corporation

Intact Financial Corporation and the University of Waterloo, along with more than 80 experts from across the country, have released the Climate Change Adaptation Project report, which provides a roadmap for adaptation in Canada. It projects rising temperatures across the country and substantial fluctuations in precipitation levels, all of which will leave a range of sectors, cities and rural regions in Canada vulnerable. City infrastructure, biodiversity, freshwater resources, Aboriginal communities and agriculture were targeted as the most vulnerable areas where adaptive solutions to address climate change are most urgently required.

The report outlines 20 practical and cost-effective recommendations that can be implemented on a priority basis in the short term.

To guide the project, climate projections for Canada were developed. The results are striking. Canada will continue to warm by up to 2 degrees Celsius by 2020 and 4 degrees by 2050. The most significant impact will be in the Arctic, which will see increases of up to 4 degrees by 2020 and 8 degrees by 2050, along with increased precipitation of up to 20 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2050. Climate change will impact regions across Canada differently. For example, Vancouver will see a decrease in summer precipitation, Winnipeg will see an increase in winter precipitation and Toronto and Montreal will see milder winters.

“Unfortunately, climate change is a reality that is already taking a toll on many parts of our country. When you consider that the 10 warmest winters on record have all happened since 1998, it becomes clear that we need to think immediately about how Canada must adapt,” said Professor Blair Feltmate, director of sustainable practice of the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development (SEED), based at Waterloo's Faculty of Environment. “If there is one take-away from this project, it’s that climate change needs to be an important consideration in all planning processes, whether you work for industry, government, an NGO or within an Aboriginal community.”

“It is quite clear that there will be serious implications for Canadians if we stand still while our weather patterns continue to evolve,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president & vice-chancellor of Waterloo. “The recommendations outlined in this project are the push we need to bring climate change adaptation to the forefront.”

The project draws attention to the leading climate change challenges facing this country as well as the cost-effective actions needed in order to adapt. City infrastructure, biodiversity, freshwater resources, Aboriginal communities, and agriculture will all be impacted, according to the report, and the insurance sector will also feel the effects, as extreme weather projections will need to be integrated into design and construction practices to protect homeowners from climate risks. Key recommendations in the report include updating the National Building Code, incorporated changes into new builds and modifications on current structures, and launching a public campaign to inform Canadians about improvements they can make to their homes to lessen risk.

“Climate change is an important issue for society at large. With rising temperatures, heavier precipitation and an increasing number of extreme weather events, we are seeing the impact of our new climate reality firsthand,” said Charles Brindamour, chief executive officer of Intact Financial Corporation. “This project is an opportunity for Canada to be a leader on implementing effective climate change adaptation solutions that will not only lessen the impact today but build strong, resilient and sustainable communities for years to come.”

The Climate Change Adaptation Project, funded in full by a grant from Intact Foundation, was launched in 2010. Instead of focusing on mitigation, which aims to reduce the rate and magnitude of climate change, this project is focused on how this country can adapt to the impending current and future impact. The 80 experts who contributed to the project come from diverse backgrounds including academia, law, banking, insurance, NGOs, Aboriginal communities, utilities and more.

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Pharmacy continuing ed program wins award

a news release from the Canadian Pharmacists Association

ADAPT, a ground-breaking continuing education program for pharmacists to better help their patients by embracing enhanced roles in medication management and collaborative patient care, was honoured today with a 2012 Award for Program Excellence from the Canadian Association of University Continuing Education (CAUCE).

The transformative multimedia patient care skills development program developed collaboratively by the Canadian Pharmacists Association (CPhA), the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (CSHP) and the University of Waterloo (uWaterloo), received top marks in the category of Non-Credit University Programming over 48 hours, in the CAUCE annual competition recognizing excellence in program development in university continuing education.

“Rapid changes in Canadian health care, including the emergence of interprofessional primary health care teams and expanding scopes of practice for pharmacists, have led to changes in the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists,” says Phil Emberley, Director of Pharmacy Innovation at CPhA. “By combining best practices in online education, evidence-based content and transformative learning, ADAPT gives pharmacists the specialized knowledge, skills and confidence they need to care for patients in this evolving health care environment. ADAPT is unique in the Canadian pharmacy landscape, and we are very pleased to see it recognized with this award.”

The knowledge and skills that pharmacists gain through ADAPT apply to any setting where pharmacists care directly for patients, according to Cathy Lyder, Coordinator of Professional and Membership Affairs at CSHP. “Hospitals, clinics, community pharmacies, even home care,” she explains. “Because ADAPT draws pharmacists from so many different environments, it helps them learn from each other, not just from their instruction materials. And that is good for their patients.”

“The ADAPT program represents a leap forward for pharmacy continuing education,” says Michael Hunt, Associate Director of Professional Development at uWaterloo. “Not only for its interactive nature, but also its emphasis on transferring learning directly to practice, instead of relying on traditional quizzes.”

“To have CAUCE recognize ADAPT as the most innovative and best program in Canada this year is a great honour and accomplishment,” adds Hunt.

Funded in part by Health Canada, ADAPT was extensively piloted in late 2010 and graduated its first full class in December 2011.

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GROSP extends its reach

The online review environment for graduate applications by faculty members is being redesigned, according to an email from Associate Provost, Graduate Studies Sue Horton that went out to faculty members Friday.

"The new environment is expected to deliver significant interface improvements and enhanced ease of use," the memo reads. "Members will be reviewing graduate applications in Quest instead of OnBase."

Development has begun and will continue through summer and early autumn, and is targeted to go live during the Fall 2012 term.

Faculty members are invited to participate in test phases of the project. If interested, please contact the project team at gradapp@ uwaterloo.ca.

Key new functionality in the new graduate reviewer online services environment includes:

• The ability to perform reviews in Quest, an environment reviewers likely already use;
• The ability to view key summary information for applications and perform multi-level sorting and filtering;
• The ability to view application documents (transcripts, references, etc.);
• Simple menu structure with intuitive navigation; and
• Optional email notifications of daily tasks.
  

"University of Waterloo faculty and coordinators have been central to the redesign and planning of the online environment," says the associate provost's memo. "Through membership in the Graduate Admissions Task Force, the Faculty Focus Group, or discussion at one of the many department or Faculty meetings held over the past eight months, faculty have teamed with key IST and GSO staff to improve graduate reviewer online services."

The Graduate Admissions Task Force, established in 2011 by the Provost, "has been instrumental in shaping the direction of the initiative and the Faculty Focus Group has been indispensable in providing user experience information," says the memo. "Both groups will continue to take a central role through the development and test phases of the project."

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