Daily News

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: Clarica boosts children’s evaluation methodology project

McMaster's Canadian Centre for Studies of Children at Risk was given $100,000 to help fund an evaluation methodology project. The donation is part of Clarica's Contribution to Canada's children 2002 grant program, which provides funding to 36 children's programs across Canada totaling nearly $1.36 million. Of these 36 programs, 21 will participate in the Evaluation Methodology Project, assisting organizations funded by Clarica in their evaluation strategy development. The lessons learned at each site will build understanding about what works best and lead to improvements in programs for children and youth. Evidence of the value of these projects will assist these organizations attract future funding from various sources. Photo caption: Gerd Stucke, branch manager of Clarica in Hamilton, right, presents Dan Offord, director of the Canadian Centre for Studies of Children at Risk, with a cheque for $100,000 for an Evaluation Methodology Project by the Canadian Centre for Studies of Children at Risk.

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."

Posted on Oct. 24: Centre for Spatial Analysis opens its doors

A new research centre officially opens its doors in the Burke Science Building this week. The Centre for Spatial Analysis, located in Room 345, will celebrate its official launch with a reception for invited guests beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24. The new centre is dedicated to the study of human activities over space, the effect those activities have on the physical environment and in turn, the impact of the environment on population health. It will combine mathematical and statistical techniques, as well as new technology for the analysis of complex interrelationships and for the development of decision support tools that can be useful in planning. Examples are the long-term effects of new transportation infrastructure and/or urban sprawl on the quality of urban life. Pavlos Kanaroglou, professor of geography and holder of McMaster's Canada Research Chair in Spatial Analysis, will head the centre. "This centre will support teaching and research in spatial analysis, which is an emerging scientific field," says Kanaroglou. His own research interests include the application of spatial analysis methods to the evaluation of urban air pollution from mobile sources and the impact of environmental pollution on human health. The new facility encompasses the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) laboratory and will be dedicated to providing undergraduate, graduate, certificate and diploma programs relating to spatial analysis. Along with Kanaroglou, three other faculty members in the School of Geography & Geology are aligning their teaching and research interests with the new facility (Bruce Newbold, Antonio Paez and Darren Scott). Funding for the facility was provided from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Ontario Innovation Trust (OIT) and McMaster University.