Red letter day: Members of the campus community painted the town red yesterday for the launch of the University's United Way Campaign. Pictured above are staff members from Housing and Residences. At right are members of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, who foreswore their usual teal for a more scarlet shade.

Yesterday marked the start of the annual University
of Waterloo campaign in support of the United Way of
Kitchener Waterloo and Area. The goal for the 2014 campaign is $250,000.

In working to address the social service issues in the community, The United Way helps to create a support network, whether it be with a food basket, counselling services, or a literacy program.

For more information about the United Way campaign, check out the website.

And if you have any "going red" team photos you'd like to share, send them my way.

 

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Researchers recognized for disease prevention

Two University of Waterloo researchers specializing in chronic disease prevention are newly appointed Applied Public Health Chairs, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has announced.

The prestigious positions, awarded only once every five years, include close to a million dollars each in funding for highly focused research programs of national relevance to public health.

Professors Scott Leatherdale and David Hammond, both of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and the School of Public Health and Health Systems at Waterloo, are recognized nationally as leading experts in developing and evaluating strategies for reducing the prevalence of chronic disease among the Canadian population. 

Professor Leatherdale, an expert in youth health and an advisor for provincial and national policy- makers, will use his award to further expand his project COMPASS — the world’s largest and most comprehensive longitudinal study of youth focused on using programs and policies to reduce the future cancer burden in Canada.

The first study of its kind, COMPASS uses a systems science approach to guide evidence-based decision making in youth-focused policy and practice. Its goal is to change the major modifiable risk factors for cancer, including tobacco use, poor diet, alcohol use, physical inactivity and obesity.

“A key to improving the health of large segments of the population is in understanding the relationship between the environmental context in which people live and how it impacts their future disease risk,” said Professor Leatherdale.  If we can change or adapt the environment to reduce the future risk of cancer and other related diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, the outcomes for Canada can be substantial.”

Professor Hammond will continue his work on obesity and tobacco use—two major health issues.

“The number of obese children and youth in Canada has tripled over the past 30 years and smoking rates remain at more than 4 million Canada,” said Professor Hammond.

“Obesity is a leading cause of death and disease in this country, but it is a risk factor we can change.”

Professor Hammond specializes in nutrition policies and the efficacy of nutritional labelling, including ways to improve nutrition labels on food products and promote healthier diets. He works closely with policy-makers around the world to evaluate new laws and regulations, including with the World Health Organization’s first public health treaty.

He is also conducting a clinical trial on e-cigarettes as a cessation aid, as well as research to prevent youth uptake of e-cigarettes.  His work on the effects of plain packaging on smoking behaviour has helped shaped legislation in such countries as Australia, the UK and Ireland.

“Tobacco control has unparalleled potential to impact population-level health at the national and international scale,” said Professor Hammond.

Professors Hammond and Leatherdale join 12 other Applied Public Health Chairs across the country. CIHR and the Public Health Agency of Canada funded the positions.

 

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Staff Association awards available for students

The University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) is offering three student awards, each valued at $500. Two are aimed at undergraduate students, and one is being offered to graduate students.

One of the undergraduate awards is proudly sponsored and funded by the Education Credit Union.

Eligibility requirements are straightforward - the recipient must be a full or part-time student in a degree program at the University of Waterloo and must be either a member of the UWSA, or the spouse, child, grandchild, or dependent of a UWSA member.

More details about the awards, including the application forms and terms of reference, are available on the UWSA website.

The application deadline for the Fall Term is Wednesday, October 15.

 

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Cooking, Lunch & Learn, and other tasty tidbits

Food Services is putting on a cooking show next week. Executive Chef David Evans will be teaching students how to make simple meals they can prepare quickly and with minimal ingredients on Wednesday, October 8. The UW Cooking Show will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Festival Room of South Campus Hall. Afterwards, UW Chefs will be making other simple dishes for attendees to enjoy. The event is free, but registration is recommended. Attendees will be entered into a draw for a door prize provided by Campbells Soups.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has organized an October Brown Bag Lunch & Learn session, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 15 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in DC 1302. It's entitled "Navigating the University Admissions Process." Here's the lowdown:

"Are you a staff or faculty member who knows a student who is planning to attend university? Come join the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for a brown bag lunch session and learn more about applying to Ontario universities. Representatives from the Registrar’s Office and HR will cover the application process, financing an education, and Waterloo’s tuition benefit."

No registration is required to attend. If you have questions about the session, contact Mark Lisetto-Smith of the EAP steering committee via email or by calling extension 38257.

The Faculty of Arts is hosting a public lecture by Professor Robert Park of the Department of Anthropology on Thursday, October 9 at 5:00 p.m. in the Theatre of the Arts. Park, you'll recall, has spent parts of the past four summers assisting the Government of Nunavut in its land-based archaeological investigations into the Franklin Expedition tragedy, which has been a top story in the national media after the Prime Minister's announcement on September 9 of the discovery of one of Sir John Franklin's two ships, missing since 1845. Yesterday it was announced that the shipwreck had been identified as the HMS Erebus, Franklin's flagship.

Professor Park helped make the find that led Parks Canada's underwater archaeologists to the wreck. In his presentation, "Finding Franklin's Ships and other remnants of the 1845 Northwest Passage Expedition," Park will describe what recent archaeological research has revealed about the lives and deaths of these explorers, and how the first of Franklin's ships was finally found.

When the Warriors men's hockey team plays their opening game today, they'll be honouring the memory of Tyler Norrie with a special pre-game ceremony. Norrie, a native of Simcoe, Ontario, died suddenly in June at the age of 22.

As part of the ceremony, the Warriors will welcome Norrie's mother Karen, father Duncan, and sister Lynsey for the ceremonial puck drop. Team members will be sporting a memorial jersey patch on their uniforms for the 2014-2015 season that prominently features Norris's number 16 prominently, along with the phrase "Warriors live forever."

The Warriors will be playing the Brock Badgers at the Columbia Icefield.

 

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