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CROSH researchers at Laurentian University receive three grants from the government of Ontario

CROSH researchers at Laurentian University receive three grants from the government of Ontario

January 16, 2017 - Laurentian University’s Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) will receive more than $300,000 in new research funding from the Ontario government. Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault made the announcement at the CROSH lab today in the presence of Laurentian University’s Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Pierre Zundel.

Ontario is awarding a total of $310K to support innovative research projects and top talent. The funding will assist CROSH researchers as they carry out three projects aimed at addressing mobile equipment hazards, advancing Indigenous occupational health and safety in Northern Ontario, and improving safety for people who work around heavy equipment.

 

The awards include:

  • 182K through the MOL Occupational Health and Safety Prevention Innovation Program to support the project: Development of Knowledge Transfer Kits to Address Mobile Equipment Hazards.
    Project lead: Dr. Tammy Eger
    Project Aims: To develop three Knowledge Transfer Kits to address the following hazards related to the operation of mobile equipment: 1) Line-of-sight and situational awareness, 2) Exposure to vibration, and 3) Fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders. The KTKs are designed to be used by occupational health and safety trainers in the workplace.
     
  • 68K through the MOL Research Opportunities Program: Research for the Workplace to support the project: Mino-nokiiwin: Advancing an Understanding of Indigenous Occupational Health and Safety in Northeastern Ontario
    Project leads: Dr. Nancy Lightfoot and Dr. Darrel Manitowabi
    Project Aims: In the Ojibwa language, mino-nokiiwin refers to a good working environment. This project will identify factors that compromise and contribute to mino-nokiiwin in Indigenous communities.
     
  • 59K through the MOL Research Opportunities Program: Evidence for Practice to support the project: Improving line of sight knowledge for pedestrians working around heavy equipment
    Project lead: Dr. Alison Godwin
    Project Aims: To develop and test a line-of-sight virtual reality intervention aimed at improving line-of-sight awareness and knowledge for workers who move around heavy equipment on a daily basis at work.

 

These research projects were evaluated through a rigorous peer review process involving academic and industry experts and were chosen based on their research excellence and societal benefits for Ontarians. They build on the innovative research already underway at CROSH and foster new discoveries to support best practice in the workplace.

Minister Thibeault agrees and says: “Addressing high hazards associated with the operation of mobile equipment was a priority identified in the 2015 Mining Health Safety and Prevention review.  Furthermore addressing indigenous workplace issues will begin a conversation about what is needed to improve occupational health and safety of Indigenous peoples in the workplace.”

CROSH Research Chair Tammy Eger and Director Sandra Dorman believe that these funds will help drive the development and implementation of the Centre’s research and innovation strategy. They also underscore the province’s commitment to the long term sustainability of the only Occupational Health and Safety Research Centre addressing the specific research needs of northern Ontario.

 

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian University, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe peoples of Atikameksheng First Nation, prepares students as agents of change and empowers them to create innovative responses to local and global challenges. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and eighteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics, rural and northern children’s health, and occupational health and safety. 

Laurentian University welcomes Dr. David Fortin as next Director of the McEwen School of Architecture

Laurentian University welcomes Dr. David Fortin as next Director of the McEwen School of Architecture

McEwen students and faculty applaud the ongoing contribution of Founding Director Terrance Galvin

January 10, 2018 - Laurentian University is pleased to welcome Dr. David Fortin as the next Director of the McEwen School of Architecture (MSoA). Dr. Fortin, a faculty member at the MSoA, assumed his new duties at the beginning of January, 2018, taking over from the school’s Founding Director, Dr. Terrance Galvin, who successfully led the creation and development of the MSoA since its inauguration in 2012.

“It is truly an honour to have been chosen to lead our country’s newest architecture school,” said Dr. Fortin. “The unique vision for this school, one deeply grounded in celebrating place, culture, and community through design, has always inspired me as these are the principles that ground technological innovation and creativity towards a future we all want to live in.”

A member of the Métis Nation of Ontario, Dr. Fortin is the first Indigenous director of a Canadian architecture school. He is also a Member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (MRAIC) and a registered architect, having worked with various professional firms in Calgary. He has taught design, history, and theory in the UK, USA, and Canada, including study abroad courses in Kenya and South America, and currently teaches a class exploring the impact of climate change on design. Dr. Fortin currently focuses on Indigenous design in contemporary architecture and is co-curator for a team of Indigenous architects (UNCEDED) representing Canada at the world-renowned 2018 Venice Biennale competition in Italy.

“I feel privileged to lead a school that does what no other architecture school in Canada does,” said Dr. Fortin. “Our students learn through hands-on experience and direct community engagement. Furthermore, they are guided by Indigenous teachings and the highest level professional standards, to design buildings and communities in cold climates worldwide, by incorporating innovative uses of wood and developing appropriate sustainable strategies.”

"The McEwen School is rooted in northern landscapes and northern communities and our teachings have always been an important part of its curriculum," said Douglas Cardinal, world-renowned architect known for designing structures inspired by his Indigenous roots.  "Having a person such as David who has experience with both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous perspectives can only result in a positive force towards reconciliation for future generations of architects."

Since its launch in 2012, the MSoA has not just changed its students, but also communities in Northern Ontario. Its students have worked closely with numerous communities on projects such as seniors housing in Chapleau, ice fishing huts in Sudbury and a health centre for Batchewana First Nation.

Founding Director, Dr. Terrance Galvin will continue to teach and play an active role in the MSoA’s future. Under Dr. Galvin’s leadership, the MSoA became the first new school of architecture to open in Canada in over 40 years, eventually moving into its award-winning building in downtown Sudbury, and attracting students and staff whose work has already received national and international acclaim.

Under Terrance’s leadership, the School also received a $10 million gift in support of its vision from philanthropists Rob and Cheryl McEwen. In addition to teaching the next generation of Canadian architects, Dr. Galvin continues to lead the School’s application for initial accreditation with the Canadian Architectural Certification Board and working with the Walking With Our Sisters organization in Sudbury to design their commemorative art exhibit for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women of Canada and the USA. Speaking of his six years as Founding Director, Dr. Galvin said, “I am proud of our diverse approach to working with communities. The School’s approach to innovation is both technological and pedagogical, experimenting with traditional knowledge and contemporary form. Working in local and northern communities, the lessons we learn can be extrapolated nationally and globally, as evidenced by Tammy Gaber’s graduate studio situated in Iceland. I look forward to continuing on this amazing journey, working with David and my colleagues to make the McEwen School a model for architecture schools all over the world.”

“I want thank Terrance for his outstanding work and leadership in building the McEwen School into the award-winning institution it is today” said Dr. Pierre Zundel, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University “I also want to congratulate David and wish him tremendous success as he takes on the challenge of guiding the McEwen School of Architecture to international acclaim.”

 

About the McEwen School of Architecture

The McEwen School of Architecture (MSoA) is founded upon pride of place. This philosophy embraces the resiliency of northern people and the unique beauty of the northern Ontario landscape. The MSoA is an unfolding experiment in emerging pedagogies and diverse cultures. Our unique program highlights design and culture for northern climates, regionally and internationally, with an emphasis in developing expertise in wood, design-build studios using traditional and emerging fabrication methods, community-led design, and an extensive co-op program in both industry and professional contexts. Our French, English, Métis, and First Nations faculty and student body participate in design studios in both French and English, as well as opportunities to work alongside Indigenous Elders-in-residence. Our innovative award-winning four-building complex is both intentionally didactic and environmentally sustainable, acting as our first and most accessible teaching tool.

 

McEwen School of Architecture Awards and Recognition

In addition to three separate “Insight Grants” awarded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to Dr. David Fortin, Dr. Tammy Gabor, and Dr. Kai Mah, the following awards or recognition have been received by students, in collaboration with McEwen School of Architecture faculty members:

  • 2017​    Bill Mason Scholarship Fund 
    Student Maeve Macdonald receives Bill Mason Scholarship Fund, established by Paddle Canada.
  • 2017    Wood Works Ontario: “Over $10 million Institutional Wood” Award
    Won for the use of wood in the construction of the MSoA.  The awards honour people and organizations that, through design excellence, advocacy, and innovation, are advancing the use of wood in all types of construction.
  • 2016    CCA Annual Interuniversity Charette: Reassembling the North
    “Public Opinion Prize” awarded for Nutri-Nunavik: The Potential of Northern Farming (team of undergraduate students)
  • 2016    IIDEX Canada
    Student Edward Chung selected to exhibit EAB Floor Lamp, in Toronto
  • 2016    Bergen International Wood Festival
    McEwen Architecture students win “First Prize” for design-build wood installation (Profs. Tammy Gaber, Randall Kober + students)
  • 2015    Pride House that Kids Built, Sudbury for Para Pan-Am Games
    Human Resources “Award of Excellence,” Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines for installation quilt of children’s “Inclusion in Sports” paintings. (Professor Thomas Strickland + students)
  • 2015    Science North
    “Partnership Award” given to McEwen School of Architecture, for design of Dynamic Earth Pavilion (Profs. David Fortin, Roch Belair, with Francis Thorpe + students)
  • 2015    CANStruction
    “People’s Choice Award” for PARALLAX: “a” is for architecture
    (Prof. Terrance Galvin + students)
  • 2014    International VELUX Award for students of architecture (Vienna)
    “Honourable Mention” for “Northern Lights” Ice Fishing Hut design
    (Prof. Tammy Gaber + students)

 

Examples of projects underway at the McEwen School

Ongoing projects involving MSoA researchers and students include; a SSHRC-funded research project and exhibit on Métis architecture (Dr. David Fortin), a SSHRC funded project on mosque design and gendered spaces across Canada (Dr. Tammy Gaber) which will also include a Toronto exhibit and forthcoming book, an application for a UNESCO Research Chair (Dr. Émilie Pinard), and the founding of a Master Timber Tall Building Institute including an international competition in Sudbury (Randall Kober and colleagues), to name only a few.

Laurentian names new Vice-President, Administration

Laurentian names new Vice-President, Administration

Lorella Hayes to play key role in Laurentian’s continuing success

December 21, 2017 - Laurentian University is pleased to announce the nomination of Lorella Hayes, CPA, CA, to the position of Vice-President, Administration.  Mrs. Hayes will commence her role on January 15, 2018 leading a significant portfolio that includes 133 full-time employees and responsibility for a $182 million budget.  

After an extensive search, Ms. Hayes has been selected to replace Carol McAulay who left the university at the end of October.  In her role, Ms. Hayes will guide financial services, human resources and organizational development, facility services, information technology, campus safety, and equity, diversity and human rights.

“In Lorella Hayes, we have found the perfect combination of talents, skills, and expertise to help our university thrive as we prepare to launch our new 2018-2023 strategic plan,” said Dr. Pierre Zundel, Laurentian University Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. “I am thrilled to welcome Lorella and know that she will bring the strategic thinking, financial know-how, management counsel, and leadership experience we need to propel our university and our community into the future.”

A proud alumna of Laurentian University, Lorella Hayes has built a distinguished career in finance and management in both the public and private sectors. After graduating from Laurentian in 1995, she worked for a decade with KPMG LLP accountants where she rose to the position of Senior Manager. Since 2005, Mrs. Hayes served in the public sector as Chief Financial Officer and General Manager of Assets and Finance for the City of Greater Sudbury before moving to Greater Sudbury Utilities as Vice President of Corporate Services in 2015.

“I am honoured and very excited to take on this role at an important milestone in the university’s history,” said Lorella Hayes, Laurentian University’s new Vice-President, Administration. “I look forward to working with the leadership team and all the talented faculty and staff as we continue to build this world-class institution. ”

Laurentian University Board of Governors welcomes new member

Laurentian University Board of Governors welcomes new member

December 15, 2017 - Laurentian University Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Pierre Zundel and Laurentian’s Board of Governors are pleased to welcome Suzanne Corbeil as the newest member of the Board. Ms. Corbeil’s nomination was approved by the Board of Governors on Friday, December 15, 2017.

“On behalf of the entire community, I want to express how happy I am to have Suzanne Corbeil join our Board of Governors,” said Dr. Pierre Zundel, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University. “Suzanne’s professional experience, knowledge of the university sector and passion for research is a tremendous asset in understanding the values of Laurentian’s next strategic plan.”

A graduate of Laurentian University, Suzanne Corbeil has more than 30 years of management and executive management experience. From March 2012 until September 2017, Corbeil served as Executive Director of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities, a collective of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities. Her mandate with U15 included developing a more formal association of the group’s members and advocating for stronger partnerships among universities, government and other research stakeholders. Through her firm Corbeil Consulting Inc., Ms. Corbeil also provides strategic advice to public sector organizations.

The Chair of Laurentian University’s Board of Governors Jennifer Witty also welcomed Suzanne Corbeil’s nomination, “Suzanne is well-known in the Canadian university community and has extensive knowledge about large-scale university research. She is an excellent choice for our Board right now as we get ready to move forward with our new strategic plan.”

 

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian University, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe peoples of Atikameksheng First Nation, prepares students as agents of change and empowers them to create innovative responses to local and global challenges. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and nineteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics, rural and northern children’s health, and occupational health and safety.

Algoma U Set to Offer First Year Engineering

Algoma U Set to Offer First Year Engineering

Pathway to Laurentian University’s Engineering Program

December 7, 2017 - Algoma University and Laurentian University have collaborated to expand options for students in Sault Ste. Marie who wish to study Engineering and remain close to home. Intake to the Engineering pathway will begin immediately for September of 2018.

“We are pleased to be able to offer the first year of engineering at Algoma University; there is a real need in our community for engineers and we believe this partnership with Laurentian University will help to support students in our local community(s) who may be looking for an option to stay closer to home. Laurentian's program is exceptional and we are pleased to be working in partnership in an effort to increase the number of students entering this field of study,” said Algoma U President, Asima Vezina.  "We are also thrilled to see employers like Algoma taking an interest in supporting coop placements for students in their third year of the program. These partnerships are also critical to helping retain youth in our community." 

Algoma will offer four, one-year co-op placements for students in their third year of study. “We are pleased to participate in this unique partnership to develop future engineers locally. The students who work with us will receive first-hand experience with the kinds of stimulating projects that an advanced manufacturer can offer. It is our hope that many of them will return upon completion of their studies and have long and successful careers here in the Soo at Algoma,” remarked Algoma’s Vice-President, Human Resources Jim Rennie.  

The pathway agreement provides qualifying students access to a first year of study at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, followed by direct access to the second year of Engineering at Laurentian University in Sudbury in either Mechanical, Chemical, or Mining Engineering. Students in the first year at Algoma University will study in areas such as Mathematics, Chemistry, and Physics in courses that prepare them to enter the high demand field of Engineering. In year two, they will transfer directly to their second year of study in the Bharti School of Engineering at Laurentian University.

“The Bharti School of Engineering has enjoyed tremendous growth and success in the past ten years,” said Dr. Markus Timusk, Director, Bharti School of Engineering. “This partnership with Algoma University represents a great opportunity to offer access to Engineering education to Northern Ontario.”

In year two, students at the Bharti School of Engineering benefit from a growing reputation and enrolment. Laurentian has the highest post-graduate employment rate in the province at 95%, meaning Engineering graduates will have a wide breadth of career options available to them upon graduation. Students will study in the brand-new Clifford A. Fielding Research, Innovation and Engineering Building which is presently under construction on the Laurentian campus. The new building will feature four capstone innovation labs, a material analysis lab, environmental and soil mechanics lab, prototype development and machine shop, integrated software lab and lecture theatre, and a hydraulics and fluid mechanics lab.

The Bachelor of Engineering programs are accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board.

An information session for students and parents and an employer luncheon are being planned for Tuesday, December 19. Email info@algomau.ca for details.

For more information on the program or to apply, please visit www.algomau.ca/engineering.

 

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian University, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe peoples of Atikameksheng First Nation, prepares students as agents of change and empowers them to create innovative responses to local and global challenges. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and nineteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics, rural and northern children’s health, and occupational health and safety.

 

About Algoma University

Algoma University was established in 1965 and is located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Algoma University is a small, undergraduate, teaching-focused university that places an emphasis on serving the needs of Northern Ontario. Algoma University offers a wide range of degrees spanning the liberal arts, sciences, and professional disciplines. As a partner with Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig and the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association, Algoma University has a special mission to cultivate cross-cultural learning between Aboriginal populations and other communities. Algoma University also offers satellite programming in Brampton and Timmins. For more information, please visit www.algomau.ca.

Laurentian tops Canadian undergraduate research schools outpacing national average

Laurentian tops Canadian undergraduate research schools outpacing national average

Laurentian University tops the list of research income among universities in its category in rankings of Canada’s top 50 research universities compiled by Research Infosource Inc.

The rankings show Laurentian raised $23.4-million in research funds in the 2015-2016 year placing the University at the top of the country’s undergraduate research universities. Overall, Laurentian University ranks #30 out of the top 50 undergraduate, comprehensive, and doctoral/graduate institutions across the country. That is up from the #33 on the list last year.

“The quality and extent of our research are what make Laurentian University one of the premier schools for students and faculty not only in Northern Ontario, but across the country,” said Dr. Rui Wang, Vice-President, Research at Laurentian University. “Our researchers are simply the best. From mining and the environment, to Indigenous issues and medical research, Laurentian remains a great investment for the future.”

Laurentian University also out-performed many post-secondary institutions in research income growth for the year. While the national average for growth stood at 2.2%, Laurentian University saw its research income jump by 18.3%.

“Our growth should not come as a surprise to anyone aware of our focus on innovation and discovery,” said Dr. Rui Wang. “Governments, donors, and our wonderful corporate partners all know that investing in Laurentian research pays off in knowledge, discoveries, new techniques, and myriad other benefits for the economy, our communities, and our entire country.”

Laurentian University’s research success stretches across many fields of study, from award winning studies in mining, biochemistry, and environmental remediation, to ground-breaking projects including the new Maamwizing Indigenous Research Institute. Research income and impact are expected to continue to grow and prosper with the opening of the new $30-million Cliff Fielding Research Innovation and Engineering Building in 2018.

“These rankings are of course gratifying proof of the impact of all the work our faculty, researchers, and staff have put in over the years to transform Laurentian into a research powerhouse in Ontario,” said Dr. Pierre Zundel, Laurentian’s Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. “As we prepare to unveil our new five-year Strategic Plan, we will continue to build on this solid foundation to push our school to the head of the class. When it comes to the potential of our university and our people, the sky is the limit!”

Laurentian's McEwen School of Architecture wins major prize for integrating woodwork into modern Canadian design

Laurentian's McEwen School of Architecture wins major prize for integrating woodwork into modern Canadian design

McEwen’s Architectural team wins the Ontario Wood WORKS! 2017 award for innovative building in Sudbury

The designers of one of Canada’s most innovative educational buildings have received a prestigious award for their focus on woodwork in modern architectural teaching and design. LGA Architectural Partners, responsible for designing the McEwen School of Architecture building in downtown Sudbury, has been granted the Ontario Wood WORKS! 2017 prize in the “$10-million Institutional” category.  The prize was handed out by the Canadian Wood Council on November 1, 2017 at a special ceremony in Toronto.

“This award is well-deserved for the innovative Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) wing of the McEwen School of Architecture” said Dr. Terrance Galvin, Founding Director of the MSoA. “The LGA team did their research in wood early on in the design process of the School, successfully applying for a $350,000 Centre for Research & Innovation in the Bio-economy (CRIBE) grant early on in the design process. The design team’s work has paid off with this award.”

Woodwork and design have been at the heart of the McEwen project from the very beginning. Since classes began in 2013, students have focused on creative uses of traditional, sustainable resources as well as state-of-the-art designs in their work and have already won a number of prestigious awards, including the 2016 Bergen International Wood Festival in Norway.

That same philosophy guided the LGA Architectural Partners design for Phase 2 of the McEwen School’s building which opened at the beginning of 2017. From exposed beams and innovative integration of wood features with high-tech equipment, to the preserved wood features of the historic CP Telegraph train shed building which houses the Fabrication Labs, the blending of natural wood design and modern concepts is key to the facility’s beauty and functionality.

“The McEwen School of Architecture is a prime example of the ingenuity and bold thinking that make our university a Canadian leader in education and research,” said Pierre Zundel, Laurentian University’s Interim President and Vice-Chancellor. “I congratulate the LGA team for this award and their outstanding ability to place our region’s forestry resources and landscape at the heart of the project.  Those elements, along with our country’s Indigenous peoples and French and English cultures, combine to make the McEwen School of Architecture a unique place to study innovation in order to design buildings using renewable resources for the future.”

 

About Laurentian University

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian University, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe peoples of Atikameksheng First Nation, prepares students as agents of change and empowers them to create innovative responses to local and global challenges. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and eighteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics and rural and northern children’s health. Laurentian University has secured over $100 million in research income in the past five years. 

The Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources at MIRARCO represented on new Climate Adaptation Expert Panel

The Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources at MIRARCO represented on new Climate Adaptation Expert Panel

National panel will advise federal government on measuring progress on climate change adaptation.

Al Douglas, Director of the Ontario Centre for Climate Impact and Adaptation Resources (OCCIAR) at MIRARCO, a Laurentian University research centre, will hold a seat on Canada’s new Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Results.

Climate change is already having negative impacts and posing significant risks to communities, the private sector, and the environment. Recognizing this reality, actions are already being taken by governments, businesses and individuals to adapt to climate impacts.

“It’s important for our governments to know if the actions they’re taking to build resiliency and adapt to climate change are effective,” explained Al Douglas. “We need to know if the things were are doing are the right things, if they’re working, and if they’re cost-effective.”

The new Expert Panel will report to Dr. Stephen Lucas, Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada, in the spring of 2018. The report is expected to outline indicators that will help Canada measure progress on adaptation and resiliency throughout Canada.

“First Nations, communities and many critical economic sectors in Ontario face significant climate change related challenges, and opportunities,” emphasized Al. “I believe the work of this Panel can play an important role in shaping how we, collectively, adapt to climate change.”
 

Quick Facts 

These examples highlight the impacts and adaptation already taking place within Ontario. With increasing investments being put into climate change adaptation, there is strong interest in monitoring progress and evaluating effectiveness of adaptation in order to gauge whether vulnerabilities and risks are being reduced. The Expert Panel will help to develop indicators to help Canada, and Ontario, measure progress on adaptation and resiliency.

 

  • Climate change is resulting in more extreme weather events with unparalleled damage. On July 13, 2013 the City of Toronto received 126mm of rain in only two hours, causing over $1B in damages. To date, this is the most expensive natural disaster in Ontario. In order to increase resilience, Toronto has undertaken vulnerability assessments and is working to update their stormwater infrastructure. 
  •  Since 1948, Ontario has experienced a 1.5°C rise in annual average temperature and is experiencing more days over 30°C. Extreme heat events can cause significant injury and illness, including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and sometimes death. Many Ontario communities are taking action by developing Heat Alerts Response Systems (HARS) and opening cooling centres on extremely hot days to help protect against heat-related illnesses (e.g. Toronto, Windsor).
  • Forest fires are a significant danger to Ontario communities. In July of 2011, approximately 120 forest fires were reported in northern Ontario during a 17-day period. These fires caused the evacuation of 3,292 First Nations people from 8 communities due to smoke inhalation, food shortages and a lack of food storage capacity. Individuals are encouraged to download FireSmart, a manual that provides planning tools to mitigate the risk of fire. 
  • In Ontario, winter activities (e.g. ice-fishing, snowmobiling) have been affected by warming winter temperatures and more variable weather patterns. To account for this, Blue Mountain Ski Resort has diversified their business strategy to accommodate year-round activities and has invested in snow-making equipment to supplement natural snowfall.
  • The Government of Ontario will be releasing a plan for adapting to climate change and becoming more resilient in 2017. It will build on the last provincial adaptation strategy and plan, Climate Ready: Ontario’s Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan 2011-2014. 

 

About OCCIAR

The Ontario Centre for Climate Impacts and Adaptation Resources (OCCIAR) is a resource hub for climate change impacts and adaptation based at MIRARCO, a Laurentian University research centre, in Sudbury, Ontario. With over 16 years of experience in all sectors of society and the economy, we are leaders in the field of climate change adaptation. Our aim is to inform and facilitate the adaptation process, helping to ensure that decisions made today are informed by tomorrow’s climate challenges. We accomplish this by developing and implementing the resources and tools that communities, professionals and experts from all fields require in their decision-making processes. We communicate the latest research on climate change impacts and adaptation, and we foster the critical conversations within and across communities and sectors that help build resilience.

 

About the Expert Panel 

The Expert Panel will advise the Government of Canada on measuring progress on adaptation and climate resilience to better understand how federal, provincial, and territorial adaptation efforts are building Canada’s resilience to climate change, for instance, by providing up-to-date climate information, supporting climate-smart infrastructure, and updating building codes.

The panel will also support the federal government in better communicating to Canadians how we are preparing for and adapting to the current and future impacts of climate change. 
The Expert Panel will support the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, which is Canada’s plan to meet our greenhouse gas emissions reduction target, build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and create clean growth and jobs through investments in clean technology, innovation, and infrastructure. 

Dr. Blair Feltmate, Head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, will chair the Expert Panel. The panel will also include academic, private sector, government, non-government, and Indigenous representation. The panel will engage with provinces and territories in its work. 

For more information, click here.

Laurentian’s Goodman School of Mines launches certificate program in project management

Laurentian’s Goodman School of Mines launches certificate program in project management

Laurentian University’s Goodman School of Mines has officially launched its new Project Management Certificate program. The certificate program will offer training in resources, techniques, and practices needed to successfully oversee all aspects of managing industrial projects in a wide variety of fields across Northern Ontario.

“This new certificate program is just the latest example of the Goodman School’s leadership in mining research and education,” said Dr. Bruce Jago, Founding Executive Director of the Goodman School of Mines. “But it goes much further than that. The project management skills offered through this program will benefit all industrial sectors across our region and beyond.”

The Goodman School of Mines Project Management Certificate covers the complete project lifecycle from initiation, through project planning and execution, to project close-out. It is divided into two sets of courses, beginning with a three-day mandatory Project Management Essentials (PME) course. The PME involves one day of self-paced online study followed by two days in-class and is designed to give new project managers and team members an overview of the various tools/techniques of project management and the key elements needed to deliver successful projects.

Following the PME, participants are asked to choose seven days of additional instruction from the following options;

  • 1-day introduction to the “Agile” technique,
  • 1-day project stakeholder management course,
  • 1-day project close-out best practices,
  • 1-day project procurement and contract management,
  • 2-day business analysis for project managers,
  • 2-day risk management practices,
  • 3-day preparation for those writing the PMI’s Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPR) exam,
  • 5-day PMP exam preparation.

 

The new Goodman School of Mines Project Management Certificate comes on the heels of a set of highly successful project management courses offered in the Spring of 2017. Those courses attracted more than 20 participants from a full range of sectors that will benefit from this professional training. They included members of four Northern Ontario Indigenous communities, the mining sector, local municipalities, and the Laurentian University Community.

“Most of the people who took part in our initial project management courses expressed great satisfaction with the new tools and techniques they acquired as well as the team atmosphere that is a key component to our educational style,” said Dr.Jago. “Our new Certificate program will build on that foundation and continue to offer professional, affordable, and effective skills that will continue to benefit our communities and industries for many years to come.”  

Ming Cai wins prestigious John A. Franklin Award for his work in rock mechanics and Rock Engineering

Ming Cai wins prestigious John A. Franklin Award for his work in rock mechanics and Rock Engineering

Dr. Cai recognized for his work finding innovative solutions that improve mine safety and efficiency

Laurentian University congratulates its own Dr. Ming Cai, Geomechanics Research Chair, for receiving the prestigious John A. Franklin Award from the Canadian Geotechnical Society (CGS). The award recognizes Dr. Cai’s work in rock mechanics and rock engineering aimed at improving safety and efficiency in the mining industry in Canada and around the world.

“I want to the thank the CGS for this award which has left me both humbled and proud,” said Dr. Ming Cai, full professor and Geomechanics Research Chair at Laurentian University. “Being honoured by my peers in the engineering community is a deeply humbling experience of course. But I am also proud of the work we are doing here at Laurentian to continually improve mining technologies and practices to the benefit of the industry and its workers.”

The Canadian Geotechnical Society, which represents civil and mining engineers, created the John A. Franklin Award to recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to rock mechanics and rock engineering. The 2017 prize was awarded to Dr. Cai for his work related to rock support in difficult ground conditions, interpretation of acoustic emission and microseismic monitoring data, and proposed quantitative approaches to estimate peak and residual rock mass strengths.

“I want to congratulate Dr. Cai for this prestigious award. It could not have gone to a more deserving person,” said Vic Pakalnis, CEO of the Mining Innovation and Rehabilitation, and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO) at Laurentian University. “Ming truly represents the best that MIRARCO and our university have to offer when it comes to developing ground-breaking tools for the mining industry.”

Among Dr. Cai’s accomplishments recognized by the John A. Franklin Award is the development of ground-support products to prevent a potentially life-threatening effect of deep mining known as rockburst. They include the MCB33 dynamic rockbolt which has been used by some deep mines in Canada, and another prototype rockbolt which has superb dynamic support capacity giving it the potential for being used in deep underground mines for enhanced safety and productivity.

“Thanks to researchers like Dr. Cai, Laurentian has a well-earned reputation as a leader in developing efficient, cost-effective tools and techniques being used by the mining industry right now, and for years to come,” said Dr. Pierre Zundel, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurentian University. “I congratulate Ming on this award and look forward to his continuing work not only in the lab, but also in the classroom where he is helping shape the next generation of creative, innovative researchers.”

 

ABOUT LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY

Laurentian University offers an outstanding university experience in English and French, with a comprehensive approach to Indigenous education.  Laurentian University, situated on the traditional territory of the Anishinabe peoples of Atikameksheng First Nation, prepares students as agents of change and empowers them to create innovative responses to local and global challenges. Laurentian’s students benefit from small class sizes and exceptional post-graduation employment rates.  With nine Canada Research Chairs and nineteen research centres, Laurentian is a recognized leader in its specialized areas of research strength, which include mining innovation and exploration, stressed watershed systems, particle astrophysics, rural and northern children’s health, and occupational health and safety. 

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