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LAURENTIAN COMMERCE PROFESSOR WINS ‘BEST RESEARCH PAPER’ AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PERU

LAURENTIAN COMMERCE PROFESSOR WINS ‘BEST RESEARCH PAPER’ AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN PERU

October 10, 2012

Laurentian Commerce Professor wins ‘Best Research Paper’
at International Conference in Peru

Professor of Business Administration Mohammad S. Pakkar was awarded a “Best Paper” citation at the International Conference on Business Performance Measurement and Management (ICBPMM) last month in Peru.  His paper was one of only two research presentations honoured as Best Paper at the 3-day international conference, attended by business scholars and theoreticians from the U.S. and Canada, Peru, Russia, Croatia, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa. The Conference was hosted by the CENTRUM Catolica Graduate School of Business, one of South America’s leading business schools. Dr. Pakkar’s paper was titled Measuring the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Decison-Making Units by Integrating the DEA and AHP Methodologies.  “I am so honoured to receive the best research paper award,” said Dr. Pakkar.  “I am also gratified by adding value and contributing to my field of specialization, Management Science.”

Mosquito trap claims to kill 90 per cent of West Nile Virus mosquitoes

Mosquito trap claims to kill 90 per cent of West Nile Virus mosquitoes

October 10, 2012 - Canadian scientist Gerardo Ulibarri is ready to start marketing a mosquito trap he says can kill 90 per cent of the pests in a few months. 

From the Toronto Star: 

Canadian scientist Gerardo Ulibarri is ready to start marketing a mosquito trap he says can kill 90 per cent of the pests in a few months.

And they’re hoping you can help.

The Mosquito DMZ, as the Laurentian University professor and his partner Kris Holland call it, is the product of six years of research in Canada and Guatemala. No governments in Canada were providing research and development, money, however, so they have opened the door to crowdfunding. “The evidence is so overwhelming, we want to repeat it again next summer,” Ulibarri told the Toronto Star. He and Holland have discovered, after five years of trap use, that their northern Ontario properties have no signs of West Nile Virus mosquitoes. 

As a scientist, however, Ulibarri still looks south with trepidation, to the dangerous outbreak in Texas this past summer of the neurological type of West Nile that killed 71 people.“Here in Canada, we have been lucky to be very low on neurological cases, but this tendency in the southern states is alarming to me. Because they are transported by migrating birds, any summer we could have an outbreak.” One trap, which fits in a five-gallon bucket, works in a backyard area using a naturally decomposing plant material designed to attract a specific species of female mosquito to lay her eggs.

Other larvae traps on the market use pesticides that can’t be recycled, said Ulibarri. What he discovered, almost by accident, was that the more his simulated swamp solution is used, the more it becomes irresistible to egg-laying females. The downside? “We need to make it less smelly.”

His work has been concentrating on the Culex mosquito, carrier of West Nile Virus, because of outbreaks in Ontario. Different solutions can be adapted to different species of mosquito, including those that carry the malaria virus so deadly to people in Africa. The UN Environmental Programme is interested in the Mosquito DMZ but needs something that costs about $20 a unit for use in the developing world, he said. To that end, Ulibarri and Holland have created a crowdfunding account at Indiegogo.com to raise $350,000 to get their trap into production in Canada by next summer. Proceeds from Canadian sales will help lower the costs for organizations such as the United Nations.

Ulibarri is also planning a double-blind controlled study of the traps with the Sudbury and District Health Unit next summer, although he, Holland and their friends have been trying the traps out themselves for years. Ulibarri admitted the long research time was “a bit of my fault.” He explained, “I wanted from the very beginning to make the manufacture right here in Canada. I had invitations to go to Michigan about four years ago. But this is Canadian technology, I am Canadian, I wanted to do this for Canada.”

Ulibarri also wants to develop an automatic trap that won’t require the weekly maintenance of the manual version and will encourage more people to use it.

Sudbury Family Invests in Healthy Lakes

Sudbury Family Invests in Healthy Lakes

October 2, 2012 - The Vale Living with Lakes Centre has accepted a pledge of $500,000 from Nora and Milad Mansour of Sudbury, a donation in  support of environmental remediation studies to ensure the health and sustainability of the world’s freshwater systems. 

Members of the Laurentian University community and special guests attended a ceremony held Monday evening to recognize the Mansour family’s generosity, and to celebrate the official renaming of the Vale Living with Lake Centre’s atrium as the Milad Gebrael Mansour Atrium.

 “This contribution is very special,” said Dr. John Gunn, Director of the Vale Living with Lakes Centre and Canada Research Chair in Stressed Aquatic Systems.  “Private investment of this size from a prominent Sudbury family is a clear sign that members of this community understand the importance of the work being done here at the Centre.  Our students, staff and researchers will all benefit from this gift, as will the broader community and the whole of Northern Ontario.          

“The leadership shown today by the Mansour family is remarkable,” said Laurentian University President Dominic Giroux.  “I have no doubt that this donation will help us achieve the outcome in our 2012-2017 Strategic Plan of having established Laurentian world-wide as the University synonymous with fresh water research.  I’m excited about this new partnership, and proud to have the Mansour name associated with the Lakes Centre. ”       

“The future sustainability of our lakes is a pressing issue—one of the most important of our lifetimes,” said Milad Mansour, President of Milman Industries Inc.  “We need to find innovative solutions to ensure their preservation, and this is the absolute best place to do it, no question.”                

“I have always taught my children that giving is more precious than receiving,” said Nora Mansour. “It is a wonderful feeling to give back to our community by supporting Laurentian University.”

The Mansours’ gift will be counted among a growing list of contributions made through the Sudbury Families initiative, a university-led recognition program that honours and celebrates local families who have shaped the growth and development of the city.

“The Mansours have been economic drivers in this city for many years,” said John Pollesel, The Next 50 Campaign volunteer and Sudbury Families co-chair. “Now they are driving efforts to ensure its long-term environmental health.  The example they have set here today will surely inspire others to aid in improving the quality of life of all Sudbury residents, Northern Ontarians and members of the global community.”

About Milman Industries Inc.

Milman Industries Inc. provides a wide array of products as well as services.  Located at two sites, Milman Industries Inc. features thirteen companies to serve the customer’s needs from hoses to diesel or electric locomotives, scrap metal recycling, railway equipment and track repair to sea and rail transloading on the onsite spur.

About The Next 50 Campaign

To ensure that Laurentian continues to drive creativity, innovation and prosperity, the university has launched The Next 50 Campaign—the most ambitious fundraising campaign ever undertaken in Northern Ontario—which aims to raise $50 million in new investments.  The campaign, which will continue through to April 2013, secures funds in support of Laurentian’s key projects, including the Indigenous Sharing and Learning Centre; the School of Architecture; a School of Mines and an expanded endowment fund to increase opportunities for researchers, graduate students, and student athletes to excel through the creation of chairs, fellowships, and scholarships.

 

Architecture Faculty Hiring Begins

Architecture Faculty Hiring Begins

September 25, 2012 -  Laurentian University’s School of Architecture this week began the process of interviewing and selecting faculty for the September, 2013 launch of the charter class.  Candidates for faculty positions are being interviewed by the selection committee over the next 6 weeks.   As part of the selection process, candidates have agreed to present talks on architecture projects and architectural approaches.  The series will be open to the public and will be held weekly, each Monday at 5:30 pm at the Laurentian Architecture Project Office in downtown Sudbury.

“We are very pleased with the calibre of the applicants, and the range of experience they represent,” said Laurentian School of Architecture Founding Director, Dr. Terrance Galvin.  “We have candidates from schools and from architecture firms in Canada and the U.S., and we have people coming in from Kuujjuaaq in northern Quebec, to Connecticut.  This is a very good start, and an exciting step in the process of building our school,” he added.   

Visiting candidates for positions in a faculty of architecture typically deliver talks for the selection committee, according to Dr. Galvin.  “We’re just taking that tradition and extending it into the community, so that anyone interested in learning about architecture will have the opportunity to hear and to enjoy these discussions,” he said.

Laurentian Architecture faculty are expected to begin their work in early January. 

The hiring of architecture faculty is among 24 faculty positions to be filled at Laurentian during the current academic year. 

 

Laurentian Architecture Receives Fednor Funding

Laurentian Architecture Receives Fednor Funding

September 21, 2012 - A $5-million dollar investment by the federal government’s regional development program in Laurentian University’s School of Architecture will help to fund construction of the new state-of-the-art facility at the historic crossroads of Downtown Sudbury.   

The funding announcement was made this morning at the downtown project office of Laurentian Architecture by Federal Industry Minister Tony Clement, the Minister responsible for FedNor.   

“By helping establish Canada’s first school of architecture in more than 40 years right here in Northern Ontario, our Government is delivering on its commitment to develop a competitive and diversified economy, create jobs, and support long-term growth and prosperity,” said Minister Clement.   

The $5-million is provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program.  It will help to support the construction of a new, 65,000-sq-ft landmark building at the intersection of Elm and Elgin Streets in the heart of Sudbury.  The funds will also support the renovation of two historic buildings at the site, both of which will be incorporated into the design of Canada’s newest School of Architecture.   

“This forward-looking investment by the Canadian government, along with the support previously affirmed by the Ontario government and the City of Sudbury, brings us close to our target for the capital cost of this ambitious project,” said Laurentian Vice President, Administration and Project Steering Committee Chair, Carol McAulay.  “With capital funding almost fully in place, and the design work underway, we are on track to welcome our first Architecture students in the fall of 2013,” she added.   

“We appreciate the federal government’s support of the vision for our School of Architecture,” said Laurentian University President and Vice-Chancellor Dominic Giroux.  “This represents the latest in a series of federal government investments in Laurentian University, which include significant investments in support of our Vale Living With Lakes Centre, and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.   With the new School of Architecture moving ahead to a fall 2013 launch, Laurentian and its partners are building a solid foundation for the future growth and development of Sudbury and Northern Ontario.”  

For more information on the School of Architecture, please visit www.laurentianarchitecture.ca

New Starbucks, Bistro At Laurentian University Sudbury Campus

New Starbucks, Bistro At Laurentian University Sudbury Campus

September 14, 2012 - Laurentian University today announced the opening of two new food and beverage locations at its Ramsey Lake Road campus, part of a long-term plan to create dynamic new social spaces for students, staff and faculty, and to enhance campus life.

“We’ve looked at the University setting as a series of neighbourhoods, and we are responding to the needs of these areas with new services,” said Laurentian VP, Administration, Carol McAulay.  “The additional food and drink options will be a reflection of the needs expressed by our university community,” she added. 

The new Starbucks location is at the western end of the campus, between the Library and the Engineering building.  It will offer a range of snacks, coffee, blended and bottled beverages, and will provide 32 additional seating spaces adjacent to the Library.  Renovations to the Rotunda of the Library have also created 4 new quiet study rooms and a fifth room was created on the second level.

The East Bistro is located on the ground floor of the new East Residence building, officially opened in late August.  East Bistro will offer a range of hot and cold beverages and a menu of fresh food choices, including salads and Panini (grilled sandwiches).  The Bistro provides comfortable seating as well as an array of armchairs around a fireplace. 

The university’s main cafeteria location in the Great Hall will also undergo a makeover in the year ahead.  As part of a long-term $2-million food services modernization plan, the University will begin renovations in the Great Hall in the spring/summer of 2013.

“We’re really responding to what we’ve heard from students, in providing a broader range of food and beverage options, and at the same time creating comfortable and welcoming spaces for our students, staff and faculty to relax, read and socialize,” said VP McAulay.  “The overall plan is to enhance the student experience on campus, but we hope that all members of the broader Sudbury community will enjoy the benefits of these improvements,” she added.

Laurentian Architecture to begin work at Elm and Elgin site

Laurentian Architecture to begin work at Elm and Elgin site

September 9, 2012 - Work on Laurentian University’s new School of Architecture will be proceeding in the weeks ahead at the historic intersection of Elm and Elgin Streets in downtown Sudbury.  The transfer of title for the property took effect on November 6, 2012.  Laurentian University purchased the site from the City of Greater Sudbury as the home of Canada’s newest School of Architecture, which will welcome its charter class of students in September 2013.

The first cohort of students will be studying in renovated space in the CPR Freight Shed, while faculty offices will be located in the CP Telegraph Building.   Both structures were erected on the site in the early 20th century and will be incorporated into the design of the new School, which is scheduled to be completed in 2015.  

“This is an exciting juncture for the Architecture project, and we are anxious to begin the work of preparing the buildings for occupancy next fall,” said Laurentian Architecture’s Founding Director, Dr. Terrance Galvin.  “Phase One of the renovation work will give us our studio and seminar space for the first two years of the School’s operation,” said Galvin.

Bids have been received for Phase One of the Laurentian Architecture construction project from a list of Ontario contractors who were successful in the pre-qualifying process.

“We were pleased to see several northern Ontario companies qualified to bid, as well as some firms from other parts of the province,” said Brad Parkes, Director, Capital Projects at Laurentian University.  The successful bid for the Phase One contract is expected to be announced in mid-December. 

The renovations to the Freight Shed in Phase One will include upgraded insulation and new finishes to the interior, new siding and roofing, as well as updated electrical, mechanical and ventilation systems.  The brick and mortar of the Telegraph Building will be freshened, and many of the interior surfaces re-finished, while the original wooden staircase will be refurbished.  Laurentian Architecture and its design team have worked with Sudbury’s Local Heritage Committee in planning the renovations of the CP Telegraph Building, and all changes will respect the integrity of this historic downtown landmark.

To mark the occasion of Laurentian Architecture’s beginnings at Elm and Elgin Streets, there will be a ground-breaking and “welcome ceremony” at sunrise on Friday, November 23rd, 2012.  The event will include a blessing of the land, under the auspices of the Whitefish Lake First Nation and Chief Steven Miller.

New Varsity Hockey Coaches Introduced

New Varsity Hockey Coaches Introduced

September 6, 2012 - Laurentian University Athletics Director Peter Hellstrom today introduced the two coaches who will lead the University’s Varsity men’s and women’s teams for the 2013 Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS) season.  

“We had a huge amount of interest in these two positions, and some very compelling candidates.  We couldn’t be happier with the two coaches we’ve selected, and we have very high hopes for the Voyageurs’ hockey prospects in 2013 and beyond,” said Hellstrom at a news conference.  

Stacey Colarossi joins the Voyageurs as Head Coach of the Women’s hockey team from York University, where she has been the lead associate coach of the women’s Lions hockey team for nine seasons. 

She has also served as assistant coach for Team Ontario and for the Canadian women’s team at the FISU World event in 2011.  Colarossi is a fully-certified NCCP level 3 and Hockey Canada high performance level 2 coach, and played her junior hockey in Brampton, Ontario. Colarossi is extremely highly regarded in the elite hockey community and is seen as a tremendous hire by Laurentian around which to build the program.  

“The talent that’s out there in women’s hockey both locally, as well as across the country is phenomenal, and I’m thrilled about the prospect of building a team from the ground up,” said Colarossi. “I’m confident that we can be competitive from the outset, and I’m anxious to get on the ice and prove it,” she added.  

A familiar face will be at the helm of the men’s varsity team for Laurentian.  Craig Duncanson was head coach of the university’s men’s varsity team from 1997-99, following his own professional career as a player from 1985-1997.  Duncanson was a first-round draft pick in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, and went on to play five seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.  Duncanson later played with the Winnipeg Jets, and the New York Rangers, along with stints in the AHL and the IHL over the course of his career.  

Duncanson also has a long resumé of coaching and development assignments.  Most recently, he has served as Head Coach of the OHL’s Under 16 Development Program, Associate Coach of the Sudbury Wolves Minor Midgets, and an evaluator in the Hockey Canada Under 17 Program.  

“I’m honoured to be coming back to Laurentian for the return of varsity hockey in this community,” said Duncanson.  “This is a proud hockey town, and Laurentian’s Voyageurs are going to take their rightful place in the game.  Building a team from the ground up is a dream job for me, and there’s no question that Laurentian should be a powerhouse in the CIS.”  

“We’re all tremendously excited about the return of varsity hockey,” said Laurentian Chief of Staff Chris Mercer.  “This is a ‘game-changer’ for the University,” he added.  

LU Officially Opens New Residence Building

LU Officially Opens New Residence Building

August 30, 2012 - With the snip of a ribbon, Laurentian University today officially opened the newest residence facility on the Ramsey Lake Road campus. The New Residence is a 12-storey complex providing accommodation for 236 upper year students in ‘suite-style’ living spaces.

The New Residence is the 5th Laurentian residence on campus, and the first since the adjacent West Residence was opened in 2006. Along with the residences of the three Federated Universities (Huntington, Thorneloe and the University of Sudbury), Laurentian now has 8 residence facilities on its main campus. The New Residence brings total campus housing capacity to 1600.

“This beautiful new building allows us to meet the significant and growing demand for residence accommodation, while adding a fresh look to our campus silhouette,” said Laurentian Vice-President, Administration, Carol McAulay.

The New Residence has 62 self-contained apartments, each unit having three or four single bedrooms, two bathrooms, and shared living room and kitchen. The apartments are also wired for cable TV, high-speed internet and telephone service. The New Residence will serve 3rd and 4th year students and is already filled to capacity as the fall 2012 academic year is set to open.

Laurentian guarantees a place in residence for first-year students, who make up about 35% of all students living in residence. The university also has a high proportion of returning students who are seeking accommodation on campus, according to Manager of Residences Ben Demianiuk.

“Laurentian is unique in that so many of our students want to live on campus throughout their 3 or 4 years of study,” said Demianiuk. “The New Residence responds to the needs of the upper year students, allowing for privacy and quiet spaces while also providing ready access to all of the amenities and social activities of residence life,” he added.

“It really is a wonderful place to live and to study. It’s a very comfortable environment with some very impressive views,” said SGA President Andrew Rollins. “We’re fortunate to have this kind of facility to add to our housing supply here on campus.”

The $20M project was designed by local architects J.L.Richards and built by Sudbury-based construction firm TESC Contracting. 

Architecture to Showcase Cross-Laminated Timber

Architecture to Showcase Cross-Laminated Timber

August 27, 2012 - A provincial investment of $350,000 through the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE) will help to fund the incorporation of cross-laminated timber technology, or CLT, in the construction of Laurentian University’s School of Architecture.  The CRIBE grant will allow Laurentian Architecture to showcase the first significant use of cross-laminated timber in a public building in Ontario.

An engineered wood product, CLT is made by gluing and pressing together successive layers of spruce, pine or fir 2x4s or 2x6s to form large solid blocks or sheets that can be precision-trimmed to specific purposes.  CLT manufactured products can be used as walls, floors and roof panels in building construction.  CLT construction is now being widely used in Europe, and is increasingly seen in taller wooden structures in the United States and in British Columbia. 

“The possibilities created by CLT really are exciting from the architectural point of view,” said Laurentian Architecture’s Founding Director, Dr. Terrance Galvin.  “This innovation in materials fits perfectly with our focus on green and sustainable building techniques, as well as our commitment to northern and Canadian design.”

“We are thrilled by CRIBE’s support for this forward-looking initiative,” said Laurentian Vice-President, Administration, Carol McAulay. “We wanted Laurentian Architecture to speak to a future generation of designers and architects, and this generous investment will help us realize that vision.”

In making the announcement today, Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci called it a “great boost, not only for Laurentian Architecture, but for Ontario’s forest industry.”

“Our government has and will continue to work to support this important sector. This is good news for the lumber producers and manufacturers across northern Ontario and beyond, as we explore new and innovative techniques to expand the use of wood and value-added wood products,” he added.

CRIBE is a non-profit agency set up by the Ontario government to advance the commercialization of the forest products industry in the province. 

The CRIBE grant will assist in the purchase of CLT materials, and will also defray the costs for the consultant team including building code experts, to develop strategies to successfully detail and secure approvals for the 2-storey section of the new Laurentian School of Architecture, set to open in the fall of 2015.

Current schematic designs by Levitt Goodman Architects show the West Wing of the new structure, comprising the Classroom, Lecture Hall and Library, built with CLT.  Much of the 12,000-sf structure would be exposed to view, with clear curtain glazing.  The result will be “a beautiful use of wood, creating a warm and acoustically tempered environment,” according to the architects.

“We are tremendously excited to be involved with CRIBE and to have the opportunity to showcase CLT in a purpose-built school of architecture,” said lead architect Janna Levitt.  “We also hope this demonstration project will stimulate interest in developing local manufacturing of the product.”

CRIBE is the sole funder of the Wood Demonstration Project at Laurentian Architecture.  The new School, the first to open in Canada in more than 40 years, has also received significant funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, and the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, TD Insurance Meloche Monnex and the organization representing businesses and service providers in Downtown Sudbury. 

Donations to Laurentian Architecture will be used to support scholarships, bursaries, state-of-the-art computer software, and resources needed for the Community Design/Build projects.

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