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This is an archive of CharityVillage NewsWeek.
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NewsBytes: October, 2002
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Manitoba farmer leaves a legacy of $1.2 million
October 28, 2002
The Manitoba Heart and Stroke Foundation recently received a bequest of $1.2 million, one of the largest donations in its history. The gift is from the estate of William Howard Alguire, a farmer from Grandview, Manitoba. His family believes the money is a lasting legacy to the memory of his parents, who both died as a result of strokes. "This gift to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba is very generous and comes from an everyday Manitoban who believed strongly in the mission of our Foundation and what it offers its citizens," said Rick Zaplitny, chair of the board of directors. For more information, visit: ww2.heartandstroke.ca/Page.asp?PageID=28&CategoryID=16.
Proposals now being accepted for Innovation Fund Competition
October 28, 2002
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is allocating $450 million for its Fourth Innovation Fund Competition. The competition is open to all eligible universities, colleges, hospitals, and not-for-profit research institutions. "Canada's research community requires state-of-the-art infrastructure to tackle research that is increasingly multidisciplinary," said Dr. David Strangway, president and CEO of CFI. "This competition will help to create new ideas that will ultimately benefit Canadians from all walks of life." Requests for eligibility status must be submitted by November 22. The deadline for Notices of Intent is December 18. For more information or to apply online, visit: www.innovation.ca/whatsnew/dsp_news.cfm?newsid=70.
October 28, 2002
The New Brunswick Government reversed a decision that would have prohibited the War Amps from accessing accurate and up-to-date driver's lists. Earlier this month, the War Amps announced that it could no longer assist with the purchase of artificial limbs for adults and children in the province, without access to lists from the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. The lists are crucial to the organization's Key Tag campaign, which raises approximately $397,000 from the key tag mailing in New Brunswick each year.
"New Brunswickers will now realize that there is a difference between the protection of privacy and continuation of the 40-year policy under which the province had been giving access to the War Amps for its annual mailings," said CEO Cliff Chadderton. "Some members of the public may have thought that the information being made available to us from government files would include sensitive information involving medical situations, employment, marital status, driving records, and prosecutions under the Highway Safety Act. None of this is true." For more information, visit: www.waramps.ca/news/driver/02-10-18.html.
Fast Fact: 1990s presented many challenges for the performing arts
October 28, 2002
A Statistics Canada report reveals that the 1990s were not kind to many performing arts groups. Approximately 75 companies went out of business or became temporarily inactive every year throughout the decade. However, this didn't stop new companies from entering the arena. In 1998/99, there were still 625 companies encompassing the four main disciplines: theatre, music, dance and opera. This was down from a record high of 682 companies the year before. Earned revenue, from ticket sales and other sources, accounted for one-half of the total operating revenues of $474.1 million in 1998/99, up from 47% in 1991/92. Nevertheless, total attendance dropped 5% between 1991 and 1999. Opera companies suffered a 9% drop in attendance, followed by music companies (-7%), theatre (-4%) and dance (-1%). -- Statistics Canada
October 28, 2002
Students attending the University of Western Ontario (UWO) will soon have a spacious new engineering facility on campus. The $27.4 million project got a generous shot in the arm recently from John Thompson, IBM's New York-based vice chair, who is also a Western engineering grad, and his wife Melinda. Their $1 million gift is the largest single donation from a private citizen toward the structure. The new Thompson Advanced Technology Centre, which opens next fall, will house more than 1,900 engineering students expected to be registered next year. For more information about UWO, visit: www.uwo.ca.
October 28, 2002
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation-Ontario Chapter is calling for proposals for its Community Education Grant Program. The objective of the program is to support communities throughout Ontario in implementing education and health promotion projects that respond to their unique breast cancer and breast health needs. Not-for-profit community groups and organizations, hospitals, public health units, and other related organizations are invited to apply. The deadline for submissions is November 22. For more information or application guidelines, visit: www.cbcf.org/ontario/whatwefund/community/community_apply.html.
October 28, 2002
A Calgary organization that sends hundreds of children with special needs to Disneyland each year, is looking for new sponsors. Dreams Take Flight Calgary, learned that the California amusement park will no longer allow children or accompanying volunteers to enter the park for free. Organizers say their relationship with The Walt Disney Co. has deteriorated over the past few years. "Disney's contribution to the program was one of sponsorship, and (the program) is now being treated as a group sales account," said Lucille Parkinson, co-chair of the charity. Currently, Air Canada donates the airplane, Shell Canada covers part of the fuel costs, and the Calgary and Los Angeles airports waive their landing fees. Although the end of Disney's sponsorship means the costs of taking the children to the park will increase, there are no plans to discontinue the program. For more information about Dreams Take Flight Calgary, visit: www.dreamstakeflight.org/calgary_main.htm.
October 28, 2002
The Ontario Government has given final approval to an investment of $2.7 million for community museums. Approximately 178 museums across the province will soon receive cheques under the Community Museum Operating Grant (CMOG) program. The funds will assist museums to protect and interpret Ontario's heritage, encourage community-based support for local museums, and improve the quality of museum operations. "I take great pride in supporting Ontario's community museums because I know they play a vital role in promoting, preserving and protecting Ontario's heritage," said Culture Minister David H. Tsubouchi. "Working on a recommendation from the Ontario Museum Association (OMA), we have been able to speed up the process of getting the funding to the museums early in the year, so that they can go ahead with plans for future programs and exhibits." For more information about Ontario's Ministry of Culture, visit: www.culture.gov.on.ca.
October 28, 2002
For the first time ever, eBay.ca is embarking on a "Charity for the Holidays" campaign. Beginning on December 2, merchandising and marketing activity will put the spotlight on charity and charity auctions for the three weeks leading up to Christmas. The promotion will reach its height of awareness during the week of December 17-24, when a charity tile will occupy the eBay.ca home page every day. Nonprofit organizations are invited to include their charity auctions on eBay and take advantage of this exposure during the busiest shopping time of the year. For more information about eBay Canada's charity auctions, visit: www.ebay.ca/charity or contact Ira Grossman, charity consultant, at: ira.grossman@ebay.ca.
October 28, 2002
A new report from the US-based Direct Marketing Association (DMA) found that recent postal rate increases had "a measurable and adverse effect" on the ability of nonprofit organizations to raise funds and deliver programs to their communities. "Given the close dependence of nonprofit organizations on direct mail for fundraising, especially so with charities, it is clear that postage rate increases must only be undertaken as a last resort," said Senny Boone, executive director of the DMA Nonprofit Federation.
The report states that rate increases, in addition to putting a financial strain on direct mail budgets, are forcing charities to explore other options for reaching donors. However, it also concedes that this may be the last increase for which nonprofits have no alternative recourse. "The rise of the Internet and e-mail may herald a day when fundraising may become less expensive, to the benefit of nonprofits and their charitable purposes." For more information or to view the report, visit: www.the-dma.org/cgi/disppressrelease?article=363.
October 28, 2002
The University of Ottawa School of Management received a $500,000 donation from alumnus Mark R. Bruneau, the president and CEO of ADVENTIS, a strategy and management consultancy in Boston. The gift will be used to establish a named professorship in an effort to attract top scholars interested in the management of science and technology-based enterprises. "I believe in education as an investment," said Bruneau, who will also dedicate time to working with the school and provide his advice and expertise as a member of the DeanÚs Advisory Board. "I am eager to help students at my alma mater achieve success in a school that is equipped with first-rate professors and high quality programs." For more information about the University of Ottawa School of Management, visit: www.management.uottawa.ca.
October 28, 2002
Canada's premier hip hop and r&b artists came together in Toronto recently to record Keep The Beat, a benefit song to support War Child Canada and its humanitarian efforts overseas. The song is featured on the upcoming MuchDance 2003 compilation, and also shares its name with a national school-based awareness and fundraising initiative being launched by War Child on November 15. Young people in schools, universities, and communities across Canada will show their support for war-affected children by participating in the Keep The Beat music marathon and fundraiser. Participants will create a relay of musical activities that together 'Keep the Beat' for 6, 12, or even 24 hours. For more information, visit: www.warchild.ca/news_article.asp?ID=51.
October 21, 2002
Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has appointed Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps to be responsible for leading the federal government's efforts to strengthen its relationship with the voluntary sector. "The Government of Canada and the voluntary sector have a long history of working together to help develop strong, healthy communities," the Prime Minister said. "The appointment of a Minister Responsible for the Voluntary Sector indicates that we are committed to hearing the voices of the 1.3 million Canadians who work in the voluntary sector, so that our policies and programs can better reflect the diverse views of Canadians." Minister Copps will work to ensure that the government fully implements the Accord signed by the Government of Canada and the voluntary sector on December 5, 2001. The Accord sets out the values, principles, and commitments that both parties feel will be a starting point for their future work together. For more information about the Accord, visit: www.vsi-isbc.ca.
October 21, 2002
A well-known nonprofit international development agency voluntarily returned money it received from a Toronto man who was charged in connection with an alleged $40 million fraud scheme. The Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) released $350,000 to a receiver appointed by a Toronto court to help relieve the hardship on the victims of the alleged scheme. The funds came from the company Strategic Trading Systems, which sponsored a fundraising event for the foundation in 2001, and provided $350,000 as part of a $1.5 million pledge over five years. Toronto Police arrested 32-year-old Salim Damji last April and charged him in connection with the alleged scheme, which persuaded victims to invest in a tooth-whitening product marketed by Strategic Trading Systems, or S.T.S Dental White. For more information about AKFC, visit: www.akfc.ca.
October 21, 2002
The donations are still coming in from the Say Hay fundraising concerts that took place in Calgary and Edmonton during the Thanksgiving weekend, but organizers are thrilled with the results. Although they are still tallying donations, it is estimated that the event raised approximately $2 million, doubling the original goal of $1 million. Forty-five country music acts took to the stage to help raise funds for farmers afflicted by the drought in the prairies. The money will be used to transport donated hay from the East and parts of the West not affected by the drought to farmers in Saskatchewan and Alberta. For more information about Say Hay, visit: www.sayhay.com.
October 21, 2002
The new 2002/2003 Association Executive Benefits and Compensation Report finds that Canadian women and men are represented almost equally in top executive positions with nonprofits, however there is still a significant difference in their paycheques. Fifty-seven percent of CEOs are men earning an average of $101,655, 34% more than their female counterparts, who earn an average of $75,785. The average annual CEO salary overall is $90,600. Aside from gender, age also determines the level of compensation executives receive. For those under 35, the average salary is $53,202 and that amount steadily increases until it levels off at about $100,000 for those over 50. Almost half (49%) of CEOs are over 50 and approximately 25% are between the ages of 46 and 50. -- CSAE
October 21, 2002
The War Amps will announce on October 28th that, effective January 1, 2003, it will no longer assist with the purchase of artificial limbs for adults and children in New Brunswick. The decision comes after a letter was received from the province's Registrar of Motor Vehicles, indicating that, in the interest of protecting personal information, it will no longer make its driver's list available to the War Amps. The organization relies on this up-to-date information for its well-known Key Tag Service, which allows the War Amps to return lost keys to their owner. "We are being forced to close down our successful operation, due presumably to the fact that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles has given an interpretation to New BrunswickÚs Protection of Personal Information Act to which we had no opportunity for consultation," said War Amps CEO Cliff Chadderton. For more information, visit: www.waramps.ca/news/driver/02-10-15.html.
October 21, 2002
Local health charities will soon benefit from a Canada-wide fundraising campaign that raised more than $1 million this fall. The Tree of LIFE Campaign gave Shoppers Drug Mart customers the opportunity to purchase and personalize their own "Leaf" for only a dollar. The funds raised will help local charities working in treatment, awareness and research initiatives in the areas of: AIDS; Alzheimer's; asthma; breast cancer; cardiovascular disease; Crohn's and colitis; diabetes; osteoporosis; and ovarian, colorectal, and prostate cancer, among others. "Our pharmacist owners in each region are directing us to local healthcare charities most in need or that affect the lives of their customers most profoundly," says Arthur Konviser, of Shoppers Drug Mart. "By thinking nationally and acting locally, we have helped mobilize the community spirit of our customers." For more information about Tree of LIFE, visit: www.shoppersdrugmart.ca.
October 21, 2002
In an effort to save itself from financial ruin, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra filed for bankruptcy protection. Concerts were postponed and 82 employees were laid off temporarily, while the board assesses the situation and tries to come up with a course of action. The orchestra is currently carrying a debt of $1.1 million and a recent subscription drive did not achieve the target needed to continue operating. "Believe it or not, this action is taken to save this organization," said CPO chair Larry Fichtner. "If we don't take this action, it's a given that we are out of business." He added that a survival plan could include reducing the number of performances, and permanently laying off some musicians and administrative staff. For more information, visit: www.cpo-live.com/03about_us/news.htm.
October 21, 2002
Ottawa's Saint-Vincent Hospital kicked off a $15 million fundraising campaign last week with some good news. Toyota Canada and an anonymous donor each gave $250,000 to the "Adding Life to Years" campaign, which is raising funds for the construction of a new wing and several other projects. The Toyota donation will be used to build a new garden to help improve the quality of life for patients, staff, and visitors at the hospital.
October 21, 2002
A survey of more than 270 chief financial officers (CFOs) from a random sample of Canadian companies finds that almost 75% of respondents feel social responsibility programs that support charitable giving are important to their organizations. Thirty-five percent said it was very important to their company, another 39% said it was somewhat important, and 17% said it was not very important. Only 4% said it was not important at all. -- Robert Half Management Resources
October 21, 2002
Partners of the professional services firm Ernst & Young in Calgary are hoping to attract 500 new donors to the Calgary and Area United Way. The firm announced it will donate $100 (to a maximum of $50,000) to the United Way for every new person in the community who decides to give to this year's campaign. "We want to encourage all Calgarians to join us in supporting our community by contributing. No gift is too small - if the donor is new, we'll give the United Way a hundred dollars," said John Murphy, Office Managing Partner with Ernst & Young - Calgary, and a volunteer on this year's United Way Campaign Cabinet. "We like to think of this idea as a way of creating a legacy of new donors, because once you start to give to the United Way, we believe you'll want to keep on giving." For more information about the United Way of Calgary and Area, visit: www.calgaryunitedway.org.
October 21, 2002
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced that the Internet Society (ISOC) has been chosen to take over registration of .ORG, a popular web site domain among nonprofit organizations. "We are thrilled to have this opportunity to serve the worldwide .ORG community and are dedicated to making .ORG a truly global home that will serve the unique interests of non-commercial organizations on the Internet," said Lynn St. Amour, ISOC president and CEO. ISOC, which is a not-for-profit membership organization, is establishing a new nonprofit organization - the Public Interest Registry (PIR) - to succeed VeriSign Global Registry Services as the .ORG registry operator when its contract with ICANN expires on December 31, 2002. The organization anticipates that the technical transition will be virtually invisible to .ORG users. For more information, visit: www.isoc.org/isoc/media/releases/021014pr.shtml.
October 21, 2002
As the annual Scotiabank and United Way Community Spirit Awards approach, United Way of the Lower Mainland is seeking nominations for the Celebration of Community Award, which honours a community or neighbourhood in Vancouver's Lower Mainland where people have exemplified true community spirit by coming together to help improve the quality of life in their neighbourhood. The award recognizes a volunteer-initiated, grassroots, community-based project. One project will be awarded a $5,000 grant with two others receiving $2,500 each. The deadline for nominations is Friday, November 29, 2002. For a nomination form, visit your nearest Scotiabank branch location, visit: www.UnitedWayLowerMainland.ca, or call 604-294-8929 for more information.
October 15, 2002
This year's Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure was a resounding success, raising a record $13 million so far, with the Victoria, BC Run taking place on October 20th. More than 135,000 runners and walkers in 33 cities and towns across Canada took part. "On behalf of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, I want to recognize and thank the national and local sponsors, our volunteer Run Directors and participants across Canada for outstanding commitment to our important cause and for a spirit of giving that goes far beyond the Run itself," said Joanne Dunbar, national board chair for the foundation. For more information, visit: www.cbcf.org/insidepage_news_run2002post.html.
October 15, 2002
A Supreme Court ruling ordered that three organizations must return money donated to them by the PEI Protestant Children's Trust, which is part of an organization that once operated the Mount Herbert Orphanage. Former orphanage residents, who claim they were victims of sexual and physical abuse while at the institution, are suing the trust and the province. The lawsuit was launched on January 14, 2002, but on November 7, 2001, the trust made substantial donations to three educational institutions. Supreme Court Justice Gordon Campbell found that the trust exceeded the powers given to it by legislation when it transferred the money it once controlled. Alex MacAulay, president of Holland College, said he is please the issue is being resolved, and that a $175,000 donation from the trust will be returned immediately. The University of Prince Edward Island received $550,000, which will also be returned. The Eastern School District Education Foundation, which received $200,000 from the trust, said they are awaiting directions from the court ruling and will comply with all requirements.
October 15, 2002
A $750,000 gift from Casino Niagara will create a permanent endowment at the Niagara Community Foundation. The Casino Niagara Cares Fund will be used for the benefit of the Niagara community. "We look for special projects that will help that charity to become a much stronger and effective organization with things like strategic planning and volunteer training," said Liz Palmieri, the foundation's executive director. "There are a lot of organizations out there doing great things and we want to be able to make them better." According to John Potts, president of the foundation, the donation is the largest the foundation has received since being formed two years ago. For more information about the Niagara Community Foundation, visit: www.niagaracommunityfoundation.org.
October 15, 2002
A new study suggests that online shoppers would spend more if their e-shopping experiences were better. Although Canadians spent $2 billion at retail web sites in the first six months of 2002, about 40% of internet users say they have abandoned at least one virtual shopping cart on a Canadian web site within a three-month period. The study also found that for every online purchase made by a Canadian, another is not completed. Among the reasons cited for online shopping cart abandonment, 21% of survey respondents said they were just browsing or comparison shopping, while 17% blamed shipping costs, which 60% of online Canadians believe are inflated. -- NFO CFgroup
October 15, 2002
Little League Baseball executives announced a new policy that requires every volunteer, from the board of directors to first base coaches, to be screened for previous sexual offences or crimes against minors on a yearly basis. The policy is the first of its kind in youth sports and applies to Little League affiliates in more than 100 countries, including Canada, which registers almost 50,000 players every spring.
Many league directors are now wondering who will pay for the mandatory screening of thousands of volunteers, considering it can cost as much as $50 per person in Canada. Joe Shea, president of Little League Baseball Canada, said he will continue to lobby head office for permission to extend the 2003 deadline for some of his leagues. In the meantime, he is urging convenors to negotiate with police in the hope that they can obtain the background checks at a fair price. For more information about the new requirements, visit: www.littleleague.org/childprotect/index.htm. For more information about Little League Baseball Canada, visit: www.littleleague.ca.
October 15, 2002
The national launch of the Raise-a-Reader program earlier this month raised $439,000 for children's literacy programs and resources in nine cities across the country. The program is a fundraising initiative of the CanWest Global Foundation, in partnership with CanWest's metropolitan newspapers, Global Television and canada.com. "We are very gratified by the outstanding results of the Raise-a-Reader programs in each city," said Gail Asper, president of the CanWest Global Foundation. "We believe this program has the potential to make a tremendous ongoing contribution to the advancement of literacy - both for children and adults - in Canada." For more information about Raise-a-Reader, visit: www.canada.com/national/features/raiseareader/index.html.
October 15, 2002
The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) is proposing that the provincial government pool charities' shares of revenues raised in casinos. According to AUMA data, Edmonton charities earn an average of $44,700 for every day that they work in a casino. In Calgary, the average is $55,200. In other cities, the charity shares range from $9,000 in Fort McMurray, to $22,900 in St. Albert. Opponents of the proposal point out that most big-city casino revenue comes from residents of the same city, and that charities in Edmonton and Calgary, like those in other major centres, face greater demands and need more resources to address the various needs of the community. The AUMA motion is now going to Gaming Minister Ron Stevens for review. For more information on the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, visit: www.munilink.net.
October 15, 2002
Craig Keilburger, a well-known children's rights activist, was among the 156 nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded last Friday. The 19-year-old was nominated by Revenue Minister Elinor Caplan and US Congresswoman Lois Capps for his tireless efforts to combat child labour and improve the lives of young people around the world. "It's a victory to be nominated," said Keilburger, who at the age of twelve founded Free the Children, the largest organization of children helping children in the world, with 100,000 members in 35 countries. The recipient of this year's prize is former US president Jimmy Carter, in recognition of his attempts to find peaceful solutions to international conflict. For more information about Free the Children, visit: www.freethechildren.org.
October 15, 2002
A survey of 900 US organizations reveals that 86% of nonprofits and 72% of religious congregations collect and report program results. Fifty-eight percent of nonprofits report on the quality of their services, while only 21% of religious congregations do the same. As well, 68% of nonprofits and 34% of religious congregations track client satisfaction. Sixty-one percent of nonprofits use outside parties to evaluate their activities, as do 38% of religious congregations. The report, entitled Balancing the Scales: Measuring the Roles and Contributions of Nonprofit and Religious Congregations, suggests that the variance between nonprofits and religious groups can be partially explained by the fact that religious congregations are rarely asked by external sources to evaluate their results. -- Independent Sector
October 15, 2002
During the month of September, 64 communities across Canada took part in the Annual SuperWalk for Parkinson's 2002, raising a record amount of nearly $1.2 million dollars. "The outstanding success of SuperWalk 2002 will enable Parkinson Society Canada and its regional partners to continue their roles within the Parkinson's community. We are so close to a cure that every dollar raised is crucial in enabling us to reach this inevitable goal," said national executive director Mary Jardine. "Our sincere thanks to all our caring supporters." Proceeds from the event will be directed to local support services and the funding of research projects. For more information about the SuperWalk for Parkinson's, visit: www.superwalk.com/main.html.
October 15, 2002
The du Maurier Arts Council is expanding its granting program for individuals to include all Canadian students who are enrolled in their final year of either undergraduate or graduate study in the discipline of visual arts, cinema, video and animation, or multimedia and new technologies. The council launched the program in 2001 to assist emerging Canadian artists attending institutes of higher learning in Quebec and Ontario to complete their arts projects and to present them to the public. It decided to broaden the scope of the program after it proved to be successful among students in those provinces. All students who are nearing the completion of their studies in one of the aforementioned disciplines in a Canadian degree-granting post-secondary institution are invited to submit an application. Application forms and guidelines are available at www.dumaurierartscouncil.ca or by calling 1-800-398-1141. Completed applications must be received no later than April 1st, 2003.
October 15, 2002
The Langley Community Music School (LCMS) was recently presented with a $100,000 donation from the estate of the late Ms. Nora Goold. The gift will establish an operating endowment fund, to be administered by the Vancouver Foundation. Revenues from the fund will be used for the purchase and maintenance of the school's inventory of instruments, ongoing training of faculty, and acquisitions in the library. Ms. Goold acquired an admiration for the school while her nieces and nephew studied piano, violin, and cello. Her gift will enable LCMS to continue to provide high quality education opportunities in music, which she appreciated so much.
October 7, 2002
We at CharityVillage are sad to report the death of Mary Gomer, our Advertising Account Manager for Toronto. Mary died of a heart attack on October 2, 2002. She had been with the CharityVillage team for nearly a year and had been involved in Toronto's nonprofit and arts communities for many years as an artist, community worker, and researcher. We will miss her terribly. Learn a bit more about our friend and colleague Mary in this special tribute: www.charityvillage.com/charityvillage/maryobit.asp.
October 7, 2002
The University of British Columbia announced that its main library will undergo a $60 million overhaul thanks to a gift from forest industrialist and former student Ike Barber. Barber is donating $20 million to the project, which will transform the library into a state-of-the-art facility that will be accessible from anywhere in the world. Expected to open in 2005, the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre will feature Canada's first robotic book storage and retrieval system, which will hold 1.25 million books; library staff who can be accessed from anywhere by telephone, Internet, or fax machines; and an expanded role as a research centre for the whole community. "I have created some disposable income and I wanted to find a responsible way to inject this income back into the roots of BC so that it can be made available on a productive basis to the widest range of people," said Barber, who is the founder of Slocan Forest Products, one of the province's leading lumber producers. For more information, visit: www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/media/releases/2002/mr-02-92.html.
October 7, 2002
Although some were expecting last week's Throne Speech to be his social legacy, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said that was not his intention. Instead, the speech presented a Liberal agenda that included good news for some groups but left others hoping for more. Announcements made in the speech include: a commitment to modify existing programs to ensure that Canadians can provide compassionate care to family members in need; a significant increase to the National Child Benefit for poor families; the introduction of early childhood development programs for First Nations; reforms to the Criminal Code to increase the penalties for abuse and neglect of children; the creation of ten new national parks and five new national marine conservation areas; and a comprehensive agreement with the provinces to remove barriers to participation in work and learning for persons with disabilities. For more information, visit: www.sft-ddt.gc.ca/overview.htm.
October 7, 2002
When 350 top-ranking Canadian executive women were asked about the barriers they faced in the workplace, 69% cited men's lack of comfort in dealing with them on a professional level as a major barrier to their advancement, and 66% say their exclusion from "the boys' club" and the "meeting after the meeting" is holding them back. Sixty-five percent said they work in an environment where the workplace culture makes it easier for men to succeed than women, and 59% of executive women feel they have to work harder than a man they know who has similar qualifications and background as themselves, and who occupies a similar position. Still, there is some light at the end of the tunnel, with 36% of respondents saying their organizations are making a strong effort to help women overcome these barriers. -- Women's Executive Network
October 7, 2002
Composer, musician, and long-time philanthropist Don Wright will have the University of Western Ontario's Faculty of Music named after him, following a $3 million donation to the faculty. "Don Wright is a true renaissance individual, with a rare combination of leadership, vision and dedication," said Dr. Paul Davenport, Western's president. "His generosity through the years has supported excellence in a great many areas of our University, and this unprecedented donation to the Faculty of Music will make a difference in the lives of students, staff and faculty for years to come." The funds will be endowed at Foundation Western and the annual income will be used to support the faculty's highest priority needs, including faculty positions, student awards, building renovations and expansion, library support, and performance equipment. For more information, visit: www.westernnews.ca/stories/2002/oct/30-4/dwrightrelease.htm.
October 7, 2002
McGill University's Faculty of Management and DuPont Canada are teaming up to promote innovation in the social sector. The Social Innovation Initiative will consist of research leading to techniques and models for breakthrough results in community-based social projects. Research will be funded through DuPont Canada's Social Innovation Enterprise, which aims to foster a culture of innovation in the social sector. The intention is to be a hub for attracting the best thinking and resources to support systems-changing projects in communities. For more information, visit: www.management.mcgill.ca.
October 7, 2002
Tom Christensen, principal of Olds Junior Senior High School, was recently contacted by a Las Vegas lawyer who informed him that the school was named as a beneficiary in a former student's will. Woodrow W. Junkins, who lived in central Alberta during the Great Depression and attended high school in Olds, left approximately $500,000 to the school. He also left similar amounts to three American universities - UCLA, Purdue University, and Pepperdine University. "I'm overwhelmed that somebody would remember us after so long," said Christensen. "This just doesn't happen to public schools." Although the school won't receive the money until the validity of the will is established, the principal says the funds will most likely be used to establish scholarships for students.
October 7, 2002
Several new sections of the Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2001(ODA) came into effect last week. The latest proclamation sets out specific accessibility obligations for the government of Ontario, municipalities, and other scheduled organizations, including public transit organizations, school boards, hospitals, colleges, and universities. "Making Ontario accessible is a shared responsibility that will benefit us all," said Ontario's Minister of Citizenship, Carl DeFaria. "Many Ontario municipalities and others with obligations under the act are already advancing the vision of a province where no new barriers are created and existing ones are removed over time." Tools are available to assist those with obligations under the ODA, including a resource package for municipalities on how to establish municipal advisory committees, as well as accessibility planning guidelines for affected organizations. For more information, visit: www.gov.on.ca/citizenship/accessibility/index.html.
October 7, 2002
A survey conducted by the United Way of America finds that only about one third of respondents had volunteered their time in the past 12 months. However, 97% said they considered volunteering to be an important endeavour. When asked why they hadn't volunteered, 37% said a demanding work schedule was to blame. Other reasons mentioned include not knowing how to get started, lack of interest, transportation problems, age/health issues, safety concerns, inertia, and family obligations. The study also found that 79% of those surveyed said they would volunteer through their jobs if their bosses helped arrange it and if it didn't conflict with their regular duties. -- United Way of America
October 7, 2002
Xerox Canada announced the winners of the 2002 Xerox Canada Aboriginal Scholarship Program. The scholarship program was created to assist Aboriginal students in acquiring the education needed to thrive in the new digital economy. Xerox awards eight $3,000 scholarships, renewable for up to four years, to exceptional Aboriginal students enrolled in college or university programs related to the information technology industry. For more information, visit: media.xerox.ca/n ews/default.asp?aID=371. Aboriginal students who wish to apply for Xerox scholarships in 2004 should visit: www.xerox.ca/english/4_0/4_6/absp.html.
October 7, 2002
Bayer Biological Products (BP), a division of Bayer Corporation, has introduced a $2.75 million (USD) annual grant initiative to fund hemophilia research and education programs around the world. The Bayer Hemophilia Awards Program, open to any professional in the hemophilia community worldwide, will provide grants supporting basic and clinical research and education in hemophilia to early career investigators, fellows in training, and other hemophilia care professionals. There will be four award categories: special projects, early career investigator, clinical scholarship, and caregivers education. Since 1990, Bayer has awarded $10 million (CDN) for hemophilia-related research in Canada. For more information or to apply for funding, visit: www.bayer-hemophilia-awards.com.
October 7, 2002
SOS-Kinderdorf International, umbrella organization of SOS Children's Villages, a global child welfare organization, will receive the 2002 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. The prize, with a value of $1 million (USD), is the world's largest humanitarian award and is presented annually to an organization making extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering. "Receiving the Hilton Humanitarian Prize is a very special honour for our thousands of SOS co-workers worldwide, and it emphasizes the absolute right of children to a family, to respect and to having equal chances," said Helmut Kutin, president of SOS-Kinderdorf International. Kutin said the million-dollar award will be used to expand several pilot projects in Africa that are testing new ways to support AIDS orphans and assist children and families affected by AIDS. For more information about SOS Children's Villages Canada, visit: www.soschildrensvillages.ca/English/index.htm
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