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| Path: Main Street : NewsWeek : Archive : NewsBytes : Article |
This is an archive of CharityVillage NewsWeek. To find a word on the page,
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at their publishing date, the quick-changing nature of the web means that some
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To view other articles in the archive, use our Chronological Index.
NewsBytes: April 2007
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Lafleur pleads guilty in sponsorship scandal
April 30, 2007
Jean Lafleur, one of the key players in the federal sponsorship scandal, pleaded guilty last week to 28 of 35 counts of fraud. In total, Lafleur Communications Marketing Inc. billed the government $37 million dollars to sponsor and advertise at events and community festivals, mostly in Quebec. The auditor-general and the Gomery Commission later found that many of the firm's invoices were bogus or were paid on work that was never completed. Lafleur will remain in jail until his sentencing hearing.
April 30, 2007
A bill requiring mandatory background checks for Ontario referees and trainers who work with kids passed second reading in the provincial legislature last week, although its chances of becoming law are still slim. Conservative backbencher Jerry Ouellette introduced the private member's bill after hearing about a hockey referee who was allowed to be around kids despite multiple convictions for sex offences. Bill 201 now makes its way to the legislature's standing committee on social policy. For a draft of the bill, visit: www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=1516
April 30, 2007
A $2.25-million cash donation to the University of Victoria, announced this week, is the biggest single gift the school has received from alumni. The donation is expected to attract a top-calibre researcher and put the university at the forefront of national research on the process of aging. The unprecedented donation is from UVic alumni Erich and Shelley Mohr, who graduated in the 1980s. Erich Mohr co-founded several biotech companies based in Ottawa and last year founded MedGenesis, which is developing treatments for Alzheimer’s and dementia. Shelley Mohr is a clinical psychologist at the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children’s Health. For more information, visit: communications.uvic.ca/releases/release.php?display=release&id=824
Fast Fact: Only 27% of Canadians are convinced that work-life balance is possible
April 30, 2007
Nearly 80 per cent of Canadians said they don't consider themselves to be "workaholics." When asked what they valued above all else, 54 per cent said family, 25 per cent said honesty, and 23 per cent said good health. Only 10 per cent listed work as most important, while 5 per cent said money. Yet, only a quarter of those surveyed feel their organization "walks the talk" when it comes to work-life balance and only 29 per cent feel their employer truly cares about their work-life balance. Only 27 per cent are convinced that work-life balance is even possible and just 17 per cent believe our society supports its workers having that balance. -- Desjardins Financial Security
April 30, 2007
The May 15, 2007 deadline is fast approaching for the Donner Awards. A total of $70,000 in awards is available, with eleven awards granted. Organizations may apply to the Donner Awards online. Organizations that complete the application online by the final deadline of May 15, 2007 will also be entered for a $5,000 cash draw. The application and guide may also be downloaded from www.donnerawards.org/main/index.php?page_id=98.For questions about the Donner Awards or completing the application, call
toll-free 1-877-714-4531 or email info@donnerawards.org.
April 30, 2007
Beginning in 2010, 50% of all reported continuing education activities for certification or recertification by CFRE International must come from CFRE-approved providers. Although the changes will not go into effect until 2010, candidates who were planning to apply in 2010 and beyond should ensure that their continuing education activities over the next couple of years will meet this new standard.CFRE International reports that the vast majority of candidates already meet this requirement and emphasizes that courses not approved will still count toward the education needed, but not the 50% requirement from approved providers. In addition, they now offer an online application form and candidates can track their progress toward certification. For more information, visit: http://www.cfre.org
April 30, 2007
Said Arrata, CEO of Alberta energy company Centurion Energy International, recently gave the Calgary Opera the biggest single gift in its 35-year history. Opera CEO Bob McPhee announced the donation of an undisclosed amount at the opening-night performance of Carmen along with the subsequent name change of the Calgary Opera Centre to the Arrata Opera Centre. For more information, visit: http://www.calgaryopera.com/content.php?section=News
April 30, 2007
Web 2.0, a catchphrase for the latest generation of web sites where users contribute their own text, pictures and video content, is far less participatory than commonly assumed, finds a recent study by Hitwise, a web audience measurement firm. For example:Wikipedia, the anyone-can-edit online encyclopaedia, is the one exception cited in the Hitwise study: 4.6 per cent of all visits to Wikipedia pages are to edit entries on the site. Despite relatively low-user involvement, visits to Web 2.0-style sites have spiked 668 per cent in two years, cites the study. – Hitwise
- only 0.16 per cent of visits to Google's top video-sharing site, YouTube, are by users seeking to upload video for others to watch
- two-tenths of one per cent of visits to Flickr, a popular photo-editing site owned by Yahoo Inc., are to upload new photos.
April 30, 2007
Edmonton City Council agreed last week to bankroll a fund that would lend money to businesses whose profits go to worthy social causes. Council will give $1.8 million to the Social Enterprise Fund this year, with the possibility for another $1.8 million next year. The city's seed financing will be matched by the Edmonton Community Foundation, The Edmonton Real Estate Board has also promised to invest money. The fund will establish a $10.5-million endowment to finance socially beneficial businesses that might not qualify for loans from banks. For more information, visit: www.edmonton.ca
April 30, 2007
The Ottawa Hospital has built smoking shelters at two of its facilities so that patients don't have to cross the road to light up. The hospital had banned smoking on all hospital grounds last June to ensure that patients, staff, and visitors to the hospital were not exposed to second-hand smoke. Determined patients who still wanted to light up were crossing busy streets to abide by the policy, causing staff concern for their safety in the traffic. For more information, visit: www.ottawahospital.on.ca
April 23, 2007
The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), General Rick Hillier announced the creation of the CDS Military Families Fund, adding a new vehicle to support military families. Gen. Hillier said the CDS Military Families Fund will fill the “voids and grey areas” that fall outside existing programs. The registered charity will augment government-funded programs, but will not replace them and will be supported by the contributions of private citizens and corporations. For more information, visit: www.mdn.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=2234
April 23, 2007
Last week's Alberta provincial budget included an increased tax credit for total annual charitable donations over $200. The tax credit on gifts over $200 will increase to 21 per cent from 12.75 per cent. When combined with the federal charitable donations credit, Albertans will receive a 50 cent tax credit for every dollar donated over the $200 threshold. For more information, visit: www.gov.ab.ca/budget2007/index.cfm?page=1625
April 23, 2007
The Alberta government announced $1.5 million in funding for women's emergency shelters to support professional development and training for staff, child care for families where parents go to shelters, and emergency services at rural shelters. The funding helps address some recommendations from a review of the Women's Emergency Shelter Program. For more information, visit: www.gov.ab.ca
April 23, 2007
Ontario Minister of Culture Caroline Di Cocco announced that The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) will receive an additional $20 million each year to support communities across the province. The 20 per cent increase announced in the Ontario budget, will be phased in over three years, starting with a boost to $105 million in 2007-2008 from the current budget of $100 million. This will increase to $120 million by 2009-2010.For more information, visit: www.culture.gov.on.ca/english/about/budget_2007.htm
April 23, 2007
Companies that help their employees volunteer their professional skills to nonprofit organizations could have a leg up when it comes to recruiting Gen Y talent reports a new survey of 18-26 year-olds. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents (62 percent) said they would prefer to work for companies that give them opportunities to contribute their talents to nonprofit organizations. -- 2007 Volunteer IMPACT survey by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP
April 23, 2007
Kids Help Phone and Bell Canada marked the launch of the sixth annual Bell Walk for Kids Help Phone campaign with the release of a research study documenting the effects of cyber bullying on Canadian children and adolescents. “The report shows how important the online community is in the lives of young people today, and it also highlights some of the realities that kids are facing when it comes to the Internet,” said Donna Hansplant, vice president of counselling services. “Kids have a false sense of safety and anonymity online that is resulting in some very risky behaviours and leaving kids open to things like cyber bullying. Our goal is to provide kids, parents and educators with insights on how we can all work together to help young people deal with this emerging problem.” For more information, visit: www.kidshelpphone.ca/beingthereforkids/newsroom/images/Cyber-Bullying_Report_2007_full.pdf
April 23, 2007
Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (New Delhi, India) is seeking submissions for four multi-volume anthologies edited by Dr. Prasenjit Maiti. The anthologies will focus on poverty, human rights, social capital and globalization. Individual or joint submissions are acceptable as well as previously published papers (along with their earlier publication history provided there are no copyright restrictions). For more information, contact publisher Dr. K.R. Gupta at editorial@atlanticbooks.com.
April 23, 2007
According to a new Ipsos Reid survey released this week on behalf of Canon Canada, it seems that there is a difference between what Canadian teens think about the environment and the actions they are taking to be more environmentally friendly. Just 2 in 10 (19%) teens in Canada consider themselves to be ‘green fiends’ (people who recycle everything, conserve energy and encourage others to do the same). Alternatively, three-quarters (74%) say that they are ‘environmentally laid back’ (they do what they can, but are not obsessed with the environment). And 1 in 10 (7%) even consider themselves to be an ‘environmental cynic’ and do not get involved in helping the environment at all. The greatest proportion of “green teens” were in Ontario and Atlantic Canada, the fewest were in BC and Manitoba. For more information, visit: www.ipsos-na.com/news/pressrelease.cfm?id=3441
April 23, 2007
The Vancouver School Board announced this week that DVDs containing Al Gore's Oscar-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth will be distributed to all public high schools in British Columbia. Tides Canada Foundation is donating the DVDs as part of their ongoing work to support climate change initiatives. Distribution will use Novex Courier’s clean fleet of hybrid and low-emission vehicles and bicycle courier service. For more information, visit: www.tidescanada.org/cms/page2658.cfm
April 23, 2007
A study by the Corporation for National and Community Service reports that voluntary service dipped slightly in 2006 in the United States after record levels in the years following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The top five states for volunteerism in the new report were Utah, Nebraska, Minnesota, Alaska and Kansas, with volunteer rates ranging from 45.9 percent in Utah to 38.3 percent in Kansas. The lowest five were Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, New York and Nevada with volunteer rates ranging from 24.2 percent in Mississippi to 17.5 percent in Nevada. – Corporation for National and Community Service
April 16, 2007
June Callwood, known as “Canada’s Conscience,” died last weekend at age 82, after a 4-year battle with cancer. Callwood inspired Canadians for more than six decades through her journalism and social justice activism.She was the founder or board member of more than 50 nonprofit organizations. Always driven to meet a need where she saw one, she commented, “The point is, when you dream, do not be realistic and fit your dream to what exists and is possible. Fit your dream to what should exist, and should be possible."
Casey House Hospice and Jessie's Centre for Teenagers invite all who loved June Callwood to walk with them in a candlelit procession in Toronto on Tuesday, April 17 at 7:45 p.m. For comments about June Callwood's contributions to the nonprofit sector and plans for the candlelit procession in Toronto, visit: www.charityvillage.com/cv/archive/anew/anew07/junecallwood.asp.
April 16, 2007
Professor Vic Murray of the University of Victoria and an associate, Professor Yvonne Harrison of Seattle University, are conducting a study of the role and impact of chairs of nonprofit boards of directors. Noting that there is very little information about the impact board chairs make, Murray and Harrison are recruiting a large sample of people who have had the chance to observe board chairs in action. They'd like feedback on how the best of these chairs carried out their job and what impact they had on the organization.If you have seen a variety of board chairs at work, go to www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=310453643283 to answer a brief questionnaire. Murray and Harrison will present the findings in a paper being prepared for an upcoming conference on new developments in board governance in Kansas City. Those who respond to the survey will receive a summary of the results after the conference.
April 16, 2007
Bowing to an appeal launched by a group of students calling itself Education-Bringing Youth Tobacco Truths (E-BUTT), the University of Toronto Asset Management Corp. will now begin divesting itself of roughly $10-million in tobacco stocks immediately. The university will divest investments with companies that derive 10 per cent or more of their revenues from tobacco products along with tobacco stocks that make up 10 per cent or more of pooled funds. University of Toronto’s decision is a first for a Canadian university. For more information, visit: www.news.utoronto.ca.
April 16, 2007
The Regina Leader-Post reports that the Block Parents Program of Regina is closing due to falling membership and lack of public support. With people spending more time at work and a higher number of women participating in the work force, recruiting Block Parent volunteers became increasingly difficult. Members have been asked to return their signs to the police station, any fire hall or any public library. The program was started in Regina in 1976, reaching more than 4,000 homes at its height. In 2002 the number of registered Regina houses dropped to 2,300 and fell to 1,800 by 2005.
April 16, 2007
Almost $1 trillion in cash and other assets will transfer from seniors to their offspring in the years to come. A poll of 2,256 adults indicated that about one-third of Canadians have received an inheritance, worth on average about $56,000. For the 54 per cent who are expecting an inheritance in the future, the value is expected to be about five times the amount of past inheritances, or $283,000 on average, half in cash and the rest in real estate and other valuables. -- Decima Research
April 16, 2007
The British Columbia government announced $2 million in funding last week to support community projects aimed at increasing accessibility in the province. The Measuring Up Accessibility and Inclusion Fund, managed by 2010 Legacies Now, will provide approximately 70 grants of up to $25,000 in support of community projects that help to create fully accessible public spaces and promote employment and community involvement for people with disabilities. The first intake deadline is June 30, 2007. For more information, visit: www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2007EIA0005-000422.htm
April 16, 2007
The Hospice of Windsor and Essex County opens Canada’s first Hospice Village this week. The idea is to create a mini-village where doctors, nurses, specialists and families help comfort patients. The new three modern single-storey homes complement the 20,000-square-foot Hospice headquarters, as well as a newly built house to help patients manage pain, and a soon-to-come children’s house to provide a play space for youngsters visiting ailing family members. For more information, visit: www.hospicewindsoressex.com/village/index.php
April 16, 2007
The National Post reports that Toronto's "big five" arts projects, with simultaneous development plans totalling $870-million, appear to be set for an improbable fundraising triumph. The most recent figures released by the Canadian Opera Company, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Gardiner Museum show that together they have accumulated $742.2-million for their simultaneous expansion and renovation projects. That is 85% of their combined goal. Toronto's success has influenced the arts communities in Montreal and Vancouver, which are now looking at launching similar campaigns.
April 16, 2007
Foundation giving in the United States grew to $40.7 billion in 2006, an 11.7 percent increase from the previous year, according to a new study by the Foundation Center. This growth, which follows a 14.3 percent increase in giving in 2005, is the first time U.S. foundations have reported consecutive years of double-digit growth since the period between 1996 and 2001. -- Foundation Center's 2007 "Foundation Giving Forecast Survey"
April 16, 2007
Three exceptional Ontario young women who made a marked difference in their communities are the first recipients of the provincial government's "Leading Girls, Building Communities award," announced Minister Responsible for Women's Issues Sandra Pupatello. The award recognizes young women, aged 18 years and under, who demonstrate exceptional leadership to improve the lives of others and champion issues that lead to positive social change in their schools, communities or province. The 2007 award recipients are:
- Sarah Dell from Toronto receives the award for her volunteer efforts, which include co-host and co-creator of the Easter Seals Scholarship Program and Provincial Ambassador for Easter Seals, and her involvement in the Communications Association for Riding for the Disabled;
- Nicole Turner from London receives the award for her work as a peer facilitator at the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, where she advocates on behalf of girls with physical disabilities;
- Jenna Lambert from Harrowsmith, who is the first female with a physical disability to swim across Lake Ontario, receives the award for raising over $170,000 to build a swimming pool for kids with disabilities at the Kingston Family YMCA.
For more information, visit: www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/owd/
April 16, 2007
The Yellow Pages Group "Make It Real" program recognizes and rewards local small businesses committed to improving their community. Any established small business (with no more than 50 employees) that demonstrates outstanding community contribution is eligible for a cash prize for them and their charity of choice. These efforts may include, but are not limited to: fundraising for charitable or non-profit organizations, paid and unpaid person hours devoted to a cause, gifts-in-kind supplied to a charitable or non-profit organization, environmentally friendly business practices, employment and personnel practices, etc. Prizing for the Make It Real program is as follows:The deadline for submissions is June 1, 2007 and the winners will be announced on July 3, 2007. For more information (including participating cities), visit: www.ypg.com/makeitreal.
- 1st place, Platinum: $5,000 ($4,000 for the winning small business and $1,000 to the selected beneficiary organization)
- 2nd place, Gold: $2,500 ($2,000 for the winning small business and $500 to the selected beneficiary organization).
- Yellow Pages Group will publicize the winners’ names in the community section of the local Yellow Pages™ directory.
April 9, 2007
A $10 million gift from 20 prominent families in the Italian community has boosted the Art Gallery of Ontario's Transformation AGO campaign to $225 million - 88% of its $254 million fundraising goal. Each family donated $500,000 to the gallery, which will name its sculpture promenade Galleria Italia. “Through its collections, programming and outreach, the transformed AGO will celebrate the diversity of our city and province,” said Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO’s Michael and Sonja Koerner director, and CEO. “In recognition of this extraordinary support from leading members of the Italian community, the AGO will commission a work by a contemporary artist for its permanent collection. This work will honour the many contributions made by Italian Canadians to the social fabric of this country.” For more information, visit: www.ago.net.
April 9, 2007
The 21st Annual SickKids Radiothon wrapped up last week with a final tally of $3.7 million, an all-time high for any radiothon in North America. The money raised from this year’s radiothon will go toward the highest priority needs at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, ensuring SickKids has the facilities, equipment and staff needed to conduct leading-edge research and to provide life-saving care. For more information, visit: www.sickkidsfoundation.com.
April 9, 2007
British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell announced that the province will fund 996 more units of supportive housing to reduce homelessness. The $80-million investment includes the purchase of 15 buildings in Vancouver, Victoria and Burnaby to protect affordable housing. “We have an obligation to give people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness the opportunity to live in safe, clean and affordable housing,” said Campbell. “With [this] funding, the provincial government is making the largest single investment in this critical type of housing stock ever.” NDP leader Carole James said Campbell's plans fall short of addressing the homelessness crisis. "City officials and Olympic planners have told Mr. Campbell that he needs to make a commitment to 3,200 new affordable housing units by 2010 to make a serious dent in the homelessness crisis," James said in a statement. For more information, visit: www2.news.gov.bc.ca.
April 9, 2007
A new survey reveals that more than 70% of young nonprofit employees in the US don't expect to ever serve as the executive director of a charity. Less than 9% said they are highly likely to seek the top job at the nonprofit group where they currently work. And 45% of nonprofit workers predict that their next job will not be at a charity, but rather in government or business. Young charity workers cited burnout and low pay as the biggest reasons they might leave nonprofit work. When asked why they would not pursue leadership jobs, they cited concerns about the pressure from board members, grantmakers, and heavy work burdens that face executive directors. -- Young Nonprofit Professionals Network
April 9, 2007
A new media platform was unveiled last week to help nonprofit organizations share their stories with the world. Quantum Shift TV is a broadcast forum for charities and associations that focus on social justice and environmental sustainability. It also features corporations that take action toward corporate social responsibility, and individuals who actively create a more socially and environmentally responsible world. This online news and entertainment TV station will highlight stories of: human cooperation and survival; solutions to combat global warming; the positive impact of aid workers around the world; perspectives and contributions of philanthropists; corporate social responsibility progress; environmental improvements and breakthroughs, and other stories about those making a positive difference on this planet. Check out Quantum Shift TV at: www.quantumshift.tv.
April 9, 2007
Saskatoon's Persephone Theatre recently received one of Canada's largest theatre endowments, and the largest ever for a Saskatchewan theatre. The Remai Foundation donated $1.5 million to the theatre, which also received a $483,000 matching grant from the Canadian Arts and Heritage Sustainability Fund to create the Frank and Ellen Remai Fund for Persephone Theatre. The endowment will be used to ensure long-term sustainability for the theatre being built at the River Landing. Persephone president David Gerecke expects the fund to generate about $90,000 annually to support Persephone productions and other projects. For more information about Persephone Theatre, visit: www.persephonetheatre.org.
April 9, 2007
Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), Canada's largest consumer co-operative, is calling on the Canadian business community to join it in making a significant commitment to the environment. MEC set the bar by announcing its membership in One Percent For The Planet (1% FTP), an alliance of some 500 companies in more than 20 countries that are committed to a healthier planet. Members of One Percent For The Planet commit at least one percent of their revenues each year to supporting environmental causes. As a result of its membership, MEC will donate an estimated $2.25 million to environmental causes in 2007 alone.MEC CEO Peter Robinson said, "Business can and must be a force for change if we are to overcome the environmental challenges facing the planet. In Canada, we have vast ecological wealth in our backyard that every day supports our communities, our businesses and our quality of life. The time has come for the business sector to take stock of what is most important, and move now to support community efforts to protect the environment." For more information, visit www.mec.ca.
April 9, 2007
The Values Added Initiative of Imagine Canada is challenging community groups to use the many resources available online at valuesadded.ca to tell others about the work of charities and nonprofits. Start by registering online, then download the many resources that you and your organization can use to help people learn more about the diversity, reach and impact of charities and nonprofits in Canada. It provides a quick overview of the sector, statistics and descriptions, and key links to leading organizations. For more information, visit: valuesadded.ca.
April 9, 2007
Wal-Mart Canada and its customers raised $1.2 million this year for school nutrition programs through the Go Bananas! campaign. The goal of the campaign is to help children from coast to coast start their day at school with the right nutrition to fuel their learning. The money raised benefits Breakfast Clubs of Canada and school nutrition programs supported by the Breakfast for Learning network. "Each dollar we collect helps to buy food and equipment for nutrition programs and contributes to the well-being of children in communities across Canada," said Daniel Germain, president and founder of Breakfast Clubs of Canada. "That's why contributions from Wal-Mart's customers and associates in campaigns such as the Go Bananas! fundraiser are so important to us." For more information about Breakfast Clubs of Canada, visit: www.breakfastclubscanada.org. To learn more about Breakfast for Learning, visit: www.breakfastforlearning.ca.
April 2, 2007
Retired Supreme Court justice Peter Cory reached a long-awaited verdict last week in the highly publicized dispute between Fredericton's Beaverbrook Art Gallery and the Beaverbrook Foundation in Britain. Cory determined that 85 works given to the gallery by Lord Beaverbrook before and at the time of its opening in 1959 were clearly a gift, and that the gift was "irrevocable." However, the ruling also found that 48 works given to the museum after it opened remained the property of the British foundation. "No intention was expressed to make a gift of these paintings to the gallery," Cory wrote. It is expected that the Beaverbrook Foundation will appeal this ruling. For more information, visit: www.beaverbrookartgallery.org.
April 2, 2007
Vancouver-based Goldcorp Inc. recently presented the Vancouver Aquarium with a $1-million donation to create the Goldcorp Ocean Theatre. “Goldcorp is an industry leader with headquarters in Vancouver. This makes Goldcorp a rare commodity in this city, and one who has shown vision and commitment to the community with its charitable support,” said Dr. John Nightingale, president of the aquarium. “Their donation...will allow us to show our visitors and schoolchildren new, engaging stories from around the world.” For more information, visit: www.vanaqua.org.
April 2, 2007
Preliminary results from the AFP’s 2006 State of Fundraising Survey show that 69% of charities raised more money in 2006 compared to 2005, and almost a quarter (23%) saw fundraising increases of 50% or higher. Overall, environmental, public/society benefit, and education organizations fared the best when comparing sub-sectors. Most fundraisers are optimistic that this upward trend will continue in 2007. Sixty-seven percent believe they will raise more money in 2007 than they raised in 2006, while 22% foresee raising about the same amount. Only 9% of respondents expect to raise less. -- Association of Fundraising Professionals
April 2, 2007
A Quebec man died in late March while pursuing his lifelong dream to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Marcel Bujold was taking part in a climb to raise funds for CARE Canada when he became ill on the mountainside. He was provided with oxygen and was accompanied by a medically trained guide and four porters to return to the base of the mountain, but his condition deteriorated and hours into the evacuation he passed away. “We are devastated by the news of his death and send our deepest sympathies to his family and his friends,” said John Watson, president and CEO of CARE Canada. “Marcel had visited CARE’s projects in Kenya and was integrally involved with our work in the past through his volunteer work with us in Quebec. The news of his passing is having a profound impact on all those who were close to him.” For more information, visit: www.care.ca.
April 2, 2007
The Government of Canada is seeking nominations of young rural Canadians (18 to 29 years old), who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and contributions to rural, remote and northern Canada for the fourth Young Leaders in Rural Canada Awards (YLRCA). The YLRCA are open to young rural Canadians for their initiative at the local, regional and/or national level in rural, remote and northern Canada. Nominations must be for initiatives undertaken in 2005 and/or 2006 that demonstrated their passion and skills and made a contribution to the benefit of rural Canada. The deadline for submissions is April 16th. For more information, visit: www.rural.gc.ca.
April 2, 2007
The Hudson's Bay Company (Hbc) and Canada's National History Society announced a new $50,000 funding program to help promote Canada's history at the local level. The Hbc Local History Grant Program will offer $1,000 to individuals and organizations that promote greater public awareness of Canadian history, particularly among young people. "Communities across Canada are defined by the history of their residents," said Jerry Zucker, governor and CEO of Hbc. "We are proud to continue with our commitment to promote and preserve Canadian history through our new Hbc Local History Grant Program. These projects are meant to breathe life into Canadian history at the local level." For more information or to apply for funding, visit: www.hbc.com.
April 2, 2007
The "one page" rule for resumes may be on its way out, a new survey suggests. Only 13% of senior Canadian executives polled believe a single page is the ideal length for a staff-level resume, while 73% said they prefer two pages. Respondents were also more receptive to three-page resumes for executive roles, with nearly half (49%) citing this as the ideal length. Only 1% of respondents said a one-page resume was acceptable for executive positions. -- Accountemps
April 2, 2007
The finalists for the 2006/2007 Donner Prize, the award for best book on Canadian public policy, were announced last week. This year's three shortlisted books were chosen from a field of 65 submissions. The finalists are: Towards North American Monetary Union? The Politics and History of Canada's Exchange Rate Regime by Eric Helleiner; Dreamland: How Canada's Pretend Foreign Policy Has Undermined Sovereignty by Roy Rempel; and Visiting Grandchildren: Economic Development in the Maritimes by Donald J. Savoie. The winner will receive $35,000, with $5,000 awarded to each of the other finalists. For more information, visit www.donnerbookprize.com.
April 2, 2007
Alberta's Wild Rose Foundation is accepting submissions for this year's Corporate Volunteer Awards of Excellence, which recognize corporations for their contribution to Alberta communities. The awards are open to any local or international business that promotes and encourages a culture of giving and volunteering among employees and is committed to corporate philanthropy and other forms of community support and investment within the province of Alberta. The deadline for nominations is April 13th. For more information, visit: www.cd.gov.ab.ca.
April 2, 2007
The Learning Disabilities Association of Canada (LDAC) recently released its long-awaited research study on the true costs of learning disabilities. Putting a Canadian Face on Learning Disabilities set out to discover what it means to be a child, youth or adult with learning disabilities in Canada. “[This] study is unique,” said Dr. Alexander M. Wilson, the study’s co-principal investigator. “It represents the first time that any disability organization in Canada has requested access to Statistics Canada data surveys. Our team examined ten different data sets - the most comprehensive look ever at the impact of living with a learning disability in Canada.” The study points out the societal costs of ignoring learning disabilities. Chief among its findings are:For more information or to download the full report, visit: www.pacfold.ca.
- Canadians with learning disabilities (in some ages) are twice as likely to report that they did not successfully complete high school.
- Nearly a third of parents who have children with a learning disability reported that they could not afford the learning aids their children need to succeed academically.
- Canadians with learning disabilities are less likely to report being employed.
- Canadians with learning disabilities are two to three times more likely to report high levels of distress, depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts, and visits to a mental health professional and poorer overall mental and physical health compared to the general population.
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