Daily News

Posted on Oct. 28: Tourism Hamilton recognizes McMaster staff

McMaster chair of Biology Turlough Finan has received the 2002 Tourism Hamilton Convention Ambassador Award. The award recognizes Finan for helping organize "The International Congress on Nitrogen Fixation" conference held at the Hamilton Convention Center July 2 to 7, 2001. "I am honored to receive this recognition from Tourism Hamilton," Finan says. "It's nice to be recognized for something that helps boost Hamilton's image. The folks and facilities at the Hamilton Convention Center were excellent." Attended by 300 scientists from 44 countries, the five-day conference discussed biological and chemical aspects of nitrogen fixation -- the process in which ammonia is formed from the gas nitrogen. Sponsored by About Town Event and Meeting Planner, the award is given to a local individual who played a significant and active role in securing and co-ordinating a conference, meeting or related event that is generally held in a different city each year. The individual, who demonstrated a concerted effort to promote Hamilton's image, did not receive personal financial gain and the activity was not job-related. Earlier this year, Finan received a $3-million Genome Canada award with biology professor Brian Golding to support their research into Genomic Analyses of Soil Microorganisms. Click here for more information about the award. Wendy Read, conference co-ordinator of McMaster's Housing and Conference Services, was nominated for a Tourism Hamilton Behind the Scenes Award. Sponsored by the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce, the award recognizes an individual who typically works behind the scenes ensuring that complete customer satisfaction is obtained through the effective and efficient delivery of his or her responsibilities.

Posted on Oct. 25: Piano is his life

Sitting on a bench in front of a new Steinway piano in Convocation Hall, Hugh Hartwell plays a couple of lines of Billy Boy. In his head, he sings a few lines, hums softly. His fingers bounce off the piano keys like raindrops and the jazz resonates throughout the stained glass hall. "When I play, what I'm doing is singing to myself. In the end, everything is melody and melody comes from inside of you," he says. Born in Hamilton, McMaster's former director of Art, Drama and Music, has been playing the piano since he was six. Music has had a tremendous impact on his life since then. He began his professional career as a musician at 13, traveling with rock and roll bands and playing in festivals and competitions. At 16, he was a guest soloist with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. He played with a trio band on a ferry that toured the islands of Montreal and when he was 18, he ventured to London, England to tone his technique in classical piano. There, he practiced eight hours a day, seven days a week and took lessons once a week. At night he played in jazz clubs in Soho. Later, Hartwell taught music at Hamilton College in upstate New York, studied music at McGill University and did his graduate work at Pennsylvania State before joining McMaster's music faculty in 1976. But among his musical experiences, his fondest is what he is doing now. The associate professor of jazz music, 20th-century concert music and music theory plays in the Hugh Hartwell Trio Band that will perform in the School of the Arts' annual McMaster Concert Series for 2002-03. His trio band, which includes music studio instructor Kevin Dempsey on drums and Marek Semeniuk on bass, performs Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. in Convocation Hall. Click here for a listing of the McMaster Concert Series.

Posted on Oct. 25: Take Your Child to Work Day set for Nov. 6

Across Canada during the week of Nov. 4-11, an estimated 400,000 Grade 9 students will visit their parents, guardians or volunteer hosts in the workplace as part of Canada Career Week. The program will also touch McMaster where a number of high school students are expected to join their parents --McMaster's faculty and staff - at work on Wednesday, Nov. 6 as part of Take Your Child To Work Day. Within the Hamilton-Wentworth area, approximately 5,000 students are expected to participate in the annual program. McMaster wholeheartedly supports the initiative and is committed to providing the young students with an informative, enriching and exciting experience. It also wants the experience to be a safe one. The health and safety of each student who visits the campus on Nov. 6 is a priority for the institution. "We want to make sure that children who are brought into the McMaster workplace have a safe experience. So we have developed guidelines for the community which are aimed at ensuring our young people are safe. These guidelines state that the only acceptable role for a child in the workplace is an observer," says Ron Angus, manager, risk management services. Faculty and staff who plan to bring a young person to work with them on Nov. 6 must complete a permission form and have it signed by a supervisor. The parent/guardian of the visitor must also conduct a safety evaluation of his/her workplace and in the event any mechanical, chemical or other hazards exist, specify how those hazards will be controlled or eliminated. To download the permission form for Take A Child To Work Day, click here. The workplace deaths two years ago of two high school students in southern Ontario have raised awareness of the importance of having guidelines and regulations for such visits. McMaster is among a number of institutions who have drafted policies to guide such activities. "Things went very smoothly last year," says Angus. "People were grateful for the work that McMaster did in advance to ensure that our workplace was ready for these students. It was a positive experience and one that we can repeat again this year with the support and co-operation of the community." As part of this year's plans for the student visitors, Human Resources Services (Working at McMaster program) and the Office of Student Affairs will be organizing a luncheon for program participants. Last year, about 70 people (parents and students) attended the event.

Posted on Oct. 25: School of the Arts’ concert series

Below is a listing of the School of the Arts' annual McMaster Concert Series. Lunchtime concerts: Rebecca Morton (cello), Nov. 12 Brass Arts (trombone trio), Nov. 26 Toronto Percussion Ensemble, Jan. 21 Pam Van Weelden (piano), Feb. 25 David Gerry (flute) and Cheryl Gobetti-Hoffman (flute), March 11 Gloria Saarinen (piano), March 25 The Smooth Jazz Series: Guitarist Brian Hughes tonight (Oct. 25) at 8 p.m. in Convocation Hall. Tickets are $25 Joe Sealy, Cindy Church and George Koller, Feb. 7 Vocalist Carol Welsman, Feb. 28 The Celebrity Classical Series: Penderecki String Quartet, Nov. 1 Valerie Tryon (piano) and Suzanne Shulman (flute), March 7 Toronto Consort, March 28. The Celebrity New Frontiers series: The Montreal Guitar Trio, Jan. 31 Barachois (Acadian musical show), Feb. 21 David Braid (new music original jazz), March 21 Showcase Concerts: The McMaster Chamber Orchestra, Nov. 3 and March 9 at 3 p.m. McMaster Concert Band, Nov. 17 and Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. McMaster University Choir; dates TBA Marta Hidy & Friends, Nov. 24 and March 30 at 3 p.m. All concerts take place in Convocation Hall, second floor of University Hall, Room 213. Tickets for all performance can be purchased in Togo Salmon Hall, Room 414. For further information about the series visit soto.humanities.mcmaster.ca/misc/calendar.html Photo caption: Guitarist Brian Hughes plays tonight (Oct. 25) at McMaster at 8 p.m. in Convocation Hall. Tickets are $25.

Posted on Oct. 24: Strong academic niche, research profile contributes to successful bond issue

McMaster University has successfully completed its first-ever capital financing bond issue. The $120-million bond issue is part of a capital financing strategy approved by the Board of Governors to provide financing for the $262-million in approved expansion projects such as new lecture halls, labs and research space. The successful private debt placement follows on the heels of the University acquiring its first credit rating - an AA rating - that matches the Province of Ontario's credit rating. The capital financing strategy supports the University's planning process for future growth and ensures stability in the financial planning process. The 50-year bonds have an interest rate of 6.15 per cent. "The success of this private debt placement speaks to the confidence that the business sector has in McMaster University," said Karen Belaire, vice-president administration. "Securing financing at a fixed rate for 50 years provides us with stability for future planning. Many individuals participated in this project and worked very hard to ensure the successful completion of the bond issue and I would like to thank everyone for their efforts."