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By Sharon Miki, on May 12th, 2011
 Paul, Patricia and Jeffery Brantingham (Credit: Simon Fraser University)
Is there a reason why certain areas of town have reputations for being “sketchy,” “dangerous,” or full of crime? What impact does an urban area’s design and layout have on promoting criminal activity?
One Simon Fraser University husband and wife research team–Paul and Patricia Brantingham–have been working to analyze urban crime patterns and find solutions and recommendations for how to make things better. Specifically, they study the impact of factors such as the placement of certain buildings, transit systems and roads as well as hours of shopping centres on the frequency and severity of crime in an area.
The criminologists, who founded SFU’s Institute of Canadian Urban Research Studies (ICURS) in the early 1990s, have recently been given a monetary show of support for their work in the form of a RCMP supported $4-million, five-year renewal of their research chairs to . . . → Read More: SFU Researchers Fight Crime with Urban Design
By Sharon Miki, on May 4th, 2011
 Growing up, I can’t remember a time where I wasn’t the target of some sort of advertising—whether it be for Barbies, Tamagotchi pets, or iPods. As a kid, commercials were distinctly aimed at me, and it was my job to find a way to acquire whatever the product du jour was. According to a new joint study from Concordia University and the University of Texas, this adolescent-directed consumerism was likely the result of where I grew up: Canada. The study found distinct differences in the consumer patterns of adolescents in Canada and China.
Dr. Michel Laroche (Credit: Concordia)
Teenagers are prime consumers, and understanding the cultural differences that influence how and where they spend their money could be of great importance to marketers. The study, which used data from 1,289 Chinese and 305 Canadian teenagers, found that—when it comes to spending—Canadian teens tend to make their own decisions . . . → Read More: Marketing to Mom? Study compares Canadian and Chinese teen consumer patterns
By Sharon Miki, on May 1st, 2011
 Dr. Betty Anne Younker (Credit: University of Prince Edward Island)
University of Prince Edward Island alumna Dr. Betty Anne Younker has been appointed as the next dean of the University of Western Ontario‘s Don Wright Faculty of Music. [University of Prince Edward Island]
Ian Penny (Credit: Dalhousie University)
Ian Penny, a Dalhousie University MBA grad, has been appointed as the Chair of the Board of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Penny said of his new role, “I plan to talk a lot about the amazing place Halifax is and the assets we have,” he says. “We really pull together to make things happen in this community. I would like to influence decisions that will ensure there is choice for those graduating from university—choice to stay or choice to go and then come back to build their career.” [Dalhousie . . . → Read More: Alumni Updates: Ian Penny and the Halifax Chamber of Commerce
By Sharon Miki, on April 26th, 2011
 Kevin Dickie (Credit: Acadia University)
Acadia University has selected Kevin Dickie as its new Director of Athletics. Dickie—a long-time coach currently stationed as Director of Athletics at the University of New Brunswick—said of the appointment that “I’ll always appreciate the opportunity UNB gave me six years ago, but I’m really looking forward to taking my skills and experience to Acadia. The commitment Acadia’s senior leadership team has shown to make me a part of the Acadia family is a wonderful opportunity for me as well as Cindy and our two boys. We’re looking forward to coming to Acadia and back to the Valley. Acadia is headed in a very positive direction and it’s going to be exciting to be part of it.” [Acadia University] Chancellor Henry Champ has been approved to serve a second term at Brandon University. Champ, who is also a Brandon University alum and . . . → Read More: Movers and Shakers: Kevin Dickie Director of Athletics at Acadia, Henry Champ’s 2nd Term at Brandon
By Sharon Miki, on April 25th, 2011
 Water is one of the essential building blocks of life, but some Canadian communities may not have access to clean, drinkable water. With over 150 boil-water advisories currently in place on Canadian First Nations reserves, many First Nations people feel that their water is not safe to drink. Researchers suggest that consuming this unsafe water may have slow-showing but long-term health repercussions for those that consume it.
A new documentary called Crisis on Tap: First Nations Water for Life looks at shortages of clean water in First Nations communities and the resulting health implications of these shortages.
Produced by the University of Victoria’s Centre for Aboriginal Health Research (CAHR) and Cedarwood Productions, the documentary will be screened on Tuesday, April 26th at 3:30pm at the University of Victoria.
The trailer for the film can be seen below:
DON’T DRINK THE WATER [University of . . . → Read More: UVIC Documentary examines water quality of First Nation reserves
By Sharon Miki, on April 25th, 2011
 Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick (Credit: University of Lethbridge)
University of Lethbridge professor and Vice-President Research Emeritus Dr. Dennis Fitzpatrick will be the new Vice-President, Research at the University of Regina. Dr. Fitzpatrick will begin in this new role in July. University of Lethbridge President Mike Mahon said of Dr. Fitzpatrick’s appointment, “this is an excellent opportunity for Dennis. His contributions here were significant, and we wish him well in this new role at the University of Regina.”
Dr Dennis Fitzpatrick Appointed VP Research at University of Regina [University of Lethbridge]
By Sharon Miki, on April 24th, 2011
 Warmer temperatures at Canada’s northern glaciers are causing them to rapidly lose ice and contribute to rising sea levels, reports a new study entitled “Sharply increased mass loss from glaciers and ice caps in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago” published in this month’s Nature journal.
According to the six-year, multi-authored study, the amount of ice loss in the Canadian glaciers tripled between 2007 to 2009—losing 92 billion tonnes of ice per year in that period—when compared to the level of ice lost in the period from 2004 to 2006. The increase in ice loss translates to sea-level rises.
“A sixth of a millimetre of sea-level rise per year might not sound like much”, said study co-author Professor J. Graham Cogley from Trent University, “but it adds up, year on year, and recent studies have confirmed that the actual rise varies around the world. Some places, including the Maritimes and New . . . → Read More: Canadian Glaciers Losing Their Cool
By Alexandra Davison, on April 22nd, 2011
 Anyone tuning into a hockey game in the heat of playoff action can see that players put their all on the ice—often sacrificing their bodies to the sport. Aggressive play often leads to aggressive injuries, but are players taking more time to protect their minds after suffering concussions and head injuries? A new Canadian study — produced by the University of Calgary in cooperation with the National Hockey League (NHL) — found that while incidence of concussion have gone down, the time it takes to recover has gone up.
In the study, published by Canadian Medical Association Journal, researchers examined 559 incidents of concussions (classified as head injuries caused by traumatic force) experienced by NHL players between 1997 and 2004. With an estimated 1.8 concussions per 1000 NHL player-hours, the study found that those suffering head injuries reported the most common post-impact symptoms as headache and dizziness.
Over the . . . → Read More: Hockey Heads: Conclusions on Concussions in the NHL
By Sharon Miki, on April 22nd, 2011
 Dr. Ian McKay (Credit: Queen's University)
Queen’s University History Professor Dr. Ian McKay’s book “In the Province of History: The making of the public past in twentieth-century Nova Scotia” has been awarded the International Council for Canadian Studies’ (ICCS) Pierre Savard Award. The award honours outstanding scholarly monographs on a Canadian topic.
McKay’s book, which was co-authored by University of Chicago PhD candidate Robin Bates, provides an in-depth look how the province of Nova Scotia selectively uses its history to promote tourism. The book examines what people have come to recognize as symbols of Nova Scotia and the actual historical significance of those symbols.
In response to the award, Dr. McKay says “It’s such a nice development. It’s a very local book, but it’s received all this attention from all over the world. It’s very nice to have a global audience and to attach our local interests to . . . → Read More: Nova Scotian Nostalgia: Queen’s Professor’s Book Wins International Award
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