Daily News

Posted on Sept. 24: Study examines health in the city

Exploring how health outcomes and determinants of health vary at the local level is the broad goal of a large collaborative research project recently conducted by the McMaster Institute of Environment and Health and its community partners. "We know that there are lots of things that influence our health - environment, lifestyle, health services and so on," said medical geographer John Eyles, who is the lead project researcher and the institute's director. "In Canada, most work has been done at the national and provincial levels. This research is unique as it examines these factors and health at the neighbourhood level." A survey, the first of its kind in Canada, was administered to 1,500 Hamilton adult residents, grouped into five zones in the Hamilton area: Chedoke-Kirkendall; central downtown core; northeast industrial; southwest mountain and the former City of Hamilton. Interviews were also conducted with a number of study participants in each of these neighbourhoods. The survey included questions about health status, lifestyle behaviours, social networks, community involvement, health service use, and demographic questions, including age, education, occupation or status in the workforce. People were also asked if they liked their neighbourhood, how it may be improved, and about features of their home, such as the age of their dwelling, and if it was in need of major repairs.

Posted on Sept. 23: Hamilton couple support McMaster’s community of discovery with $1-million gift

Margaret and Charles Juravinski know hard work and inspiration are the keys to success in research and in business. They've found success exhibiting those same qualities. The Hamilton residents have once again shown their support for innovation and a commitment to excellence with a generous financial donation to the Hamilton community that includes $1-million to McMaster University's Centre for Learning & Discovery. The new building, under construction and set to open in August 2004, will be home to the Margaret & Charles Juravinski Education, Research & Development Centre. The research centre will be a central home for educators who are in the vanguard of research on new ways to teach health science students. The McMaster community gathered today (Tuesday) in Convocation Hall to thank the Juravinskis for their generosity and their commitment to enhance teaching and learning research. "Margaret and I are delighted that we are able to show our support for the centre's ground breaking research that will help the University better educate our future generations of health care professionals," said Charles Juravinski. "The accolades that have come forth to us are quite gratifying. We want to lead by example and would urge anyone who is able and is considering giving, to do so. It is a remarkably rewarding experience."