A growing chorus of Toronto voices, including the director of York’s Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration & Settlement (CERIS), is opposing Ottawa’s plans to change the national census, which gathers in-depth information from Canadians to form public policy, wrote The Beach-Riverdale Mirror July 13.
Beginning with the 2011 census, held every five years, Industry Minister Tony Clement is doing away with the mandatory long form, which had been sent to one in five Canadians. The much shorter survey that goes to all Canadians will remain compulsory.
Instead of forcing 20 per cent of the population to fill out the long form under threat of jail time and fines, Clement said a third of Canadians will be sent the long form, which they can voluntarily complete.
But the change has prompted an outcry across the country from people who believe making the long form voluntary will result in less accurate information.
York University Professor Valerie Preston, director of CERIS, told Toronto Community News she is upset with the changes. “We have a 97 per cent compliance response to the (mandatory) long form and so it gives us a very complete picture of Canadians. A voluntary survey will not give us anything like that compliance rate. It won’t even approach it,” she said.
Communities such as recent immigrants and lower-income Canadians who move often will be less likely to fill out a voluntary survey, she added. And less reliable census information could mean the needs of the most vulnerable, such as newcomers to Canada, the elderly, the poor and single parents, will be ignored, she said.
“I’m very concerned,” she said. “Without that information, how are you going to transfer (government) funds where they are most needed?”
Preston argued reputable public polling firms, which rely on voluntary responses, can start out with a sample of 17,000 possible respondents but only end up getting answers from 1,000 people.
Marketing campaign boosts ice cream, burger, beverage sales
Large integrated ad campaigns like [Loblaws’ Canada’s Biggest BBQ] show the company is taking “a solid approach at an appropriate time in a newly competitive environment,” said Alan Middleton, a marketing professor with the Schulich School of Business at York University and director of executive programs at the Schulich Executive Education Centre, in the Toronto Star July 14. “You can’t just show people. You’ve got to get in front of people with free samples and social networking,” he said.
Basketball action at York helps charities
Check out some of Toronto’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball players at the Clash of the Charities with Canadian Football League legend Michael "Pinball" Clemons on Saturday, July 17 at York University, wrote the InsideToronto.com July 13.
NCAA basketball players and former grads from schools across the city will also be participating including Paul Campbell, a grad from Northview Heights, Andre Wilkins, a grad from Emery Collegiate, Boris Bakovic from East York, Tristan Blackwood from Eastern Commerce Collegiate, Alex Johnson and Jared Mintz from Vaughan Road Academy. Tut Ruach (BA Spec. Hons. '10)and David Tyndale from York University and former University of Toronto player Nick Magalas will also be participating.
- Ajax’s Eric Smith is set to take part in the fifth annual All-Star Charity Shootout (ASCS) on Saturday, hosted by York University , wrote The Ajax News Advertiser July 13.
Smith, a standout forward with the Durham Lords men’s basketball team, will be joined by some of Canada’s best men’s basketball players as well as Canadian Football League legend Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons as they raise money in support of two worthy charities in War Child Canada and the Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons Foundation.
Smith will represent team War Child Canada coached by Bob Bain, former coach of York University.
‘The Boss’ spent his way to top
So how did George Steinbrenner, the son of a shipbuilder, revive the New York Yankees baseball franchise to become a $1.6-billion sports empire and one of the most recognized clubs the world over? asked the Welland Tribune July 14.
In truly American fashion: By spending his way to seven World Series Championships, 11 American League pennants and 16 American League East titles.
The Yankees, along with UK football club Manchester United, are the two most valuable sports brands in the world, according to Alan Middleton, a marketing professor at York University’s Schulich School of Business. “There’s no doubt that one of the things he did was front the money to buy the best,” Middleton said. “So, yes, there will definitely be a question mark about the future with a strong leader like Steinbrenner gone.”
Top grad perfectly insecure
Dimple Dalal has always lacked confidence when it comes to her academic prowess, wrote the Brampton Guardian July 13. So she was a little skeptical when the school board called with news she had managed to earn the highest academic average among this year’s graduating class.
But her perfect 100 per cent in six Grade 12 courses left no room for doubt. The Turner Fenton Secondary School student was tops among the Peel District School Board’s 3,629 Ontario Scholars this year.
Next year she will be studying at the Schulich School of Business at York University.
Top Catholic student scholars hail from Etobicoke
The Toronto Catholic District School Board’s (TCDSB) top four graduating students all hail from Etobicoke this year, including Erin Compeau, who each earned an overall average of 99.67 per cent, wrote The Etobicoke Guardian July 13.
Compeau, who will be attending the Schulich School of Business at York University in September, was the school champion for the Fermat and Euclid Math contests and was a member of the school’s tennis and swim teams, earning MVP on both. She earned a $21,600 President’s Scholarship from York, and will be spending her summer doing research for the University of Toronto and the CNIB.
On air
- Alan Middleton, marketing professor in the Schulich School of Business at York University, spoke about problems with the move to create regional offices for a new federal securities watchdog agency, on 680News Radio July 13.