Top Ten
February 6, 2008
Boeing commits $52 million to Atlantic Canada
Boeing Company is pumping $52 million into Atlantic Canadian institutions and corporations. Memorial University has apparently received the largest investment of the bunch, with $750,000 going towards an autonomous systems laboratory for its engineering faculty. Boeing is obligated under the Canadian Industrial Benefits Policy to invest in Canadian corporations and institutions an amount equal to the cost of the four airplanes that Canada purchased from Boeing in 2007.uToronto researchers receive $23 million from Ontario
Ontario has announced $23.3 million to fund researchers at the University of Toronto. The funding will support projects aiming to reduce the threat of global infectious diseases, such as SARS. Other projects include solar powered wireless networks, and a computer system to support climate change and health researchers.Mount Royal receives $5 million to honour Mr. Chinatown
Calgary's Mount Royal College has received a $5 million gift in the memory of Roddy Mah, also known as "Mr. Chinatown," who was an MRC alumnus and lifelong supporter. The 3 founders of Resverlogix, a biotechnology company worth more than $100 million, were originally introduced to each other by Mah, who passed away a year ago yesterday. They are donating the funds in Mah's memory, for health and science facility upgrades.Mount Allison receives $3 million for new student centre
Mount Allison University will have a new student centre, thanks to a $3 million investment by the New Brunswick provincial government. The centre will improve accessibility to the admissions office, bookstore, and student health centre, and add a physical fitness centre, meeting spaces, student council offices and an international student centre.OPSEU aims to represent Ontario part-time college workers
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is intensifying its drive to represent 12,500 part-time and sessional workers at 24 Ontario community colleges. The campaign, reportedly the largest union drive in Ontario history, is expected to reach its target by April.uManitoba renews partnership with uNairobi
The University of Manitoba and the University of Nairobi have formalized 5 new agreements that will expand a successful partnership of almost 30 years. The agreements include a general MOU, a faculty exchange, a student exchange, and collaborative research. The Manitoba/Nairobi agreement has produced one of the world's "best HIV/AIDS research programs" and a state-of-the art infectious diseases research facility in Kenya.Alberta rumoured to launch lifelong student numbers
Alberta hopes to launch a provincial student numbering system within the next year, according to a blog from the Ontario Undergraduate Students Alliance. A provincial system would allow for more accurate collection and measurement of PSE data. Currently, if a student drops out or transfers, their student number does not follow them through the rest of their educational journey.Waterloo mathematicians take international poker prizes
Waterloo, Ontario is earning a name as the "poker capital of Canada" with its fourth major win in 2 years. A University of Waterloo graduate, Steve Paul-Ambrose, took home $1.3 million in a World Poker Tour event 2 years ago, and says that the math element in the Waterloo community is the reason that new players tend to get "very good, very quickly." Nenad Medic started playing poker while he was at uWaterloo, and took home $1.7 million at a World Poker event last year. This past Saturday, another Waterloo player took home $1.4 million.
Post-script: uMontreal law grad has top-ten poker face: A loyal Top Ten reader has pointed out that Isabelle "No Mercy" Mercier, a former law student at the Université de Montréal, is also ranked among the world's top ten female poker players. Casino City Times
