Between April 2003 and March 2010, the number of concussion-related visits for youths ages 3 to 18 increased by nearly 50 per cent, according to a study from York University and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), reported the Toronto Star and others Dec. 6…. “It’s a good-news, bad-news story,” said York University Professor Alison Macpherson, the study’s lead author and adjunct scientist with ICES. “The bad news is that the number of children who are getting treated for concussions is definitely rising…. But the good news is that I think at least some of that is because parents and everybody generally are more aware that concussion is a problem.” Read full story.
Lawyers, law students denounce treatment of Manitoba judge Lori Douglas
Several hundred lawyers and law students across Canada have risen to the defence of Manitoba Associate Chief Justice Lori Douglas, calling her treatment by the Canadian judicial community, including the most recent appointee to the Supreme Court, “callous” and “irrational,” reported the Winnipeg Free Press and others Dec. 5. Esther Mendelsohn, a second-year law student at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, sent the letter across the country last week after Douglas’s decision to retire from the bench ended a four-year inquiry into her fitness to remain on the bench. Read full story.
Woman freed after being trapped under bus at York University
A female pedestrian has been transported to a trauma centre after she became trapped under a TTC bus at York University on Friday, Dec. 5, reported the North York Mirror and others Dec. 5. Read full story.
Gamers smash it up at York University eSports competition
A throng of smashers – video gamers and eSports enthusiasts – gathered Sunday at York University to compete and build a sense of community, reported Metro Dec. 7. Read full story.
Former prisoner in Iran believes freedom unappreciated in Canada
Philosopher Ramin Jahanbegloo spent four months in solitary in an Iranian prison, reported the Toronto Star Dec. 5. Now a York University professor, he examines the misuse of freedom in Canada. Read full story.
Historicist: Here comes the equestrian statue
Representatives of both the ROM and AGO expressed the belief that the statue should not be in a museum but outdoors in a public place, as it was intended to be seen, reported Torontoist Dec. 6. The Globe and Mail spoke with York University art consultant Michael Greenwood, who said, “I think it would be delightful if the statue were installed as a kind of playground. It would be disastrous to regard it as a work of art, but as a campy symbol of the British Empire it would be perfect. Particularly if it were painted in Sergeant Pepper colours!” Read full story.
Social media hasn’t fully embraced politics
University of Lethbridge political science Professor Harold Jansen wanted to uncover what the impact the Internet has on democratic citizenship, reported the Lethbridge Herald Dec. 6. He collaborated with four professors from the Universities of Montreal, Laval, Manitoba and Guelph. They conducted a telephone survey of 2,021 individuals across Canada between February and April, through the Institute for Social Research at York University. Read full story.
‘Raising our sights: Building a 21st century workforce’ Notes for remarks to the 2014 Canadian Aerospace Summit
Featuring new classrooms, workshops and hangar space, the Downsview aerospace cluster will benefit students not just from Centennial, but from the University of Toronto, Ryerson and York University, reported the Canadian Council of Chief Executives Nov. 18. Together, these schools will be educating the aerospace workers of tomorrow and undertaking R&D that will keep Canada at the forefront of the global aerospace industry. Read full story.
Business schools seek to master analytics with new data degrees
Managers and MBA students are only too eager to brand themselves as analytics professionals. But most of them are far from it, according Murat Kristal, director of Schulich School of Business’ Master of Business Analytics program. “People might love the idea [of data analytics] but doing it is a different story,” he said in BusinessBecause.com Dec. 7. He believes that there are only a few “elite” business schools able to cater for analytics, with few elite students. Read full story.
Silhouette of ‘super earth’ detected for first time using ground-based telescope
Until now, it was thought that expensive follow-on space telescopes would be needed, reported the South China Morning Post and others Dec. 7. “There are many more telescopes on the ground with a wide variety of instruments than in space, so this is a huge advantage,” said Ray Jayawardhana, professor of astronomy at York University in Toronto, Canada. Read full story.
Expert optimistic N.L. can reduce youth homelessness
Newfoundland and Labrador has the knowledge and leadership required to be a leader in ending youth homelessness, says York University Professor Stephen Gaetz, director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Homeless Hub. Gaetz was a guest speaker at a forum on youth homelessness in St. John’s Monday, reported the Telegram Dec. 4. Read full story.
United Way York Region seeks permanent homelessness solution
With more than one million residents, York Region has a range of public, non-profit and charitable programs, systems and services for low-income and homeless individuals and families, said York University Professor and observatory director Stephen Gaetz in the Aurora Banner Dec. 4. However, in spite of some excellent programming for young people, many homeless youths are forced to leave because they and their families are not getting the supports they need, the study found. Read full story.
Tory unveils six-point plan for easing Toronto’s gridlock
York University Professor David Wiesenthal, who studies driving and stress, noted that aggravation and aggressive behaviour rise with congestion. “When people don’t see traffic moving and there’s an obvious target, the person at the curb lane making a delivery, that I think would make people even more stressed and angered,” he said in the Globe and Mail Dec. 4. Read full story.
Integral York Region chairperson role demands dialogue
The following realities are upon us and the realities require that our new chairperson consider a pronounced action for youth, said Seneca College board chairperson and former York Region District School Board education director Bill Hogarth in the Aurora Banner Dec. 4…. The action required is to make new jobs a part of economic development and invite youth to participate in entrepreneurial hubs. “Involve Businesses, Seneca, York University and Boards of Education as participants,” Hogarth added. Read full story.
Succession planning is even more important with billions at stake
Proper governance is also a “huge issue” for private firms, and plays an increasingly critical role in creating a framework for a smooth transition, observed Eileen Fischer of York University’s Schulich School of Business, in Canadian Business Dec. 4. As with boards for public companies, she says firms are well advised to adopt best practice governance principles, including a board with independent, qualified and properly remunerated directors who bring a range of specializations to the task of oversight. Read full story.