march 2009 insidelaurier

Laurier authors celebrate latest worksEnglish and Film Studies authors’ reading brings out staff, faculty and community members

By Mallory O’Brien

Staff, faculty and community members gathered together in February to listen to professors from Laurier’s Department of English and Film Studies read excerpts from their recently published works. The third-annual event featured three books that covered a range of content and form.

Dr. Tanis MacDonald started the event with a reading from her fourth book of poetry, Rue the Day (Turnstone Press, 2008). A self-described poet of “biblio-philic chaos,” MacDonald also explores notions of contem-porary femininity in her latest book. Her work has won the

Bliss Carman and Acorn-Rukeyser poetry awards.

Finding the time to write on top of professorial duties may seem like a daunting task, but for MacDonald it’s simply habit.

“I don’t think I would actually know how to stop writing,” she says. “I keep the poem that is obsessing me in the back of my mind and do the mental work on it for weeks, then sit down and work with the text for a few hours. My partner is usually trying to get me out of the house on weekend mornings while I’m saying, ‘Wait, I’m just working out this one problem with line breaks …’”

MacDonald has been publishing in literary journals and writing poetry books for 17 years, and doesn’t see a big difference between her critical and creative writing.

“While it’s certainly true that poetry and rhetoric are classically defined as very distinct, poetry in the modern eras often engages rhetoric, and rhetoric will often use poetic language or techniques in argumentation,” says MacDonald. “For me, not only are these two ways of writing not opposed, they actually support each other.”

Dr. Madelaine Hron was

AUTHORS see page 4

Photo captions can go in here

CAMPUS | COMMUNITY | CONNECTIONS VOL. 1 | NO. 1 | APRIL 7,2008

CAMPUS | CONNECTIONS | COMMUNITY VOL. 1 | NO. 1 | APRIL 7,2008







5 Meet Dr. David Pfrimmer, seminary principal, professor and witness of profound moments.

7 Dr. Michael Haughton is researching solutions to optimize transborder trade.

8 Staff and student volunteers travel to New Orleans to help rebuild houses.

Ray Robichaud, left, and Gary Nower of Laurier’s Physical Resources department look over campus blueprints.

Wilfrid Laurier University • March 2009

Laurier embarks on campus master plan

Dr. Eleanor Ty, left, signs a book for community member Dale Vaillancourt.

Framework to guide the university’s physical development will be created


Building on last year’s Envisioning Laurier initiative, the university has begun work on developing a campus master plan. Over the course of 2009, staff at Laurier will be working with IBI Group, a local planning company, to create a document that will guide the physical development of the Waterloo and Brantford campuses in the coming decades.

The university has experi-enced significant growth in recent years through major increases in student enrolment. As a result, the Waterloo campus has grown by leaps and bounds, and the university has a thriving campus in Brantford and a new home for the Faculty of Social Work in Kitchener.

“In the past, we’ve made

decisions based on need and have been very opportunistic,” said assistant vice-president: physical resources Gary Nower.

“The role of the Laurier campus master plan will be to shape and manage the physical changes that lie ahead by devel-oping a strategic document for the ongoing planning, design and physical development of the two main campuses. It’s like a map, a framework to help us make informed decisions and allocate our resources more effectively.”

Last fall, Laurier began preparations for developing the campus master plan. IBI Group is now gathering essential infor-mation such as building surveys, traffic studies and aerial photos, to begin a physical analysis of the Waterloo and Brantford campuses. The next step will

involve looking at ways to expand, whether by replacing older buildings or buying more land.

“The challenge on the Waterloo campus is that we’re landlocked. But even though

we are landlocked, we do have opportunities to grow,” said Nower. “Brantford, on the other hand, is a mainly urban campus; a different kind of environment presents different kinds of opportunities and challenges.”

Finding room to grow is only one part of the task. Some of the other major issues to be covered in the campus master plan include managing parking and

PLANNING see page 6

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CAMPUS COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008

CAMPUS CONNECTIONS COMMUNITY VOL. 1 NO. 1 APRIL 7,2008



March 2009

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And now some good news ...There has been no shortage of bad news since the financial markets began to tumble last September. Media reports are full of bleak stories: stock-market declines, budget cutbacks, plant closings, job losses … the list goes on. The reality is that we are living through very challenging times, and we all feel the impact in one way or another.

Yet even as we wrestle with our own challenges at Laurier, there are many good-news stories unfolding around us. In an effort to look beyond the dark clouds, I would like to draw your attention to a few of the stories that brightened my days in recent weeks:

• The Waterloo Region Record’s 40 Under 40 list of young community leaders. Fourteen of the people named to the list have a Laurier connection as either a student, graduate or faculty member. The university can’t take credit for their achievements, but I do think their inclusion on the list says a lot about the kind

of people Laurier attracts and supports. Congratulations to all!

• Laurier was well represented on the Canadian team competing at the 24th Winter Universiade games in Harbin, China. The chef de mission for the Canadian team was Peter Baxter, Laurier’s director of athletics and recre-ation. He was joined by our men’s and women’s curling teams and Laurier hockey players Andrea Ironside and Andrea Bevan, who skated with the gold-medal-winning Canadian women’s hockey team.

Laurier’s women’s curling team earned a silver medal, and skip Hollie Nicol was chosen to carry the Canadian flag in the closing ceremonies. Two Laurier alumni, Paul Webster (BA ’98) and Mark Mathies (BA ‘98) served as team leads for curling and speed skating, respectively. Well done everyone!

• Laurier has joined a new provincial initiative aimed at helping Crown wards — children and youth in the care of the government — to pursue post-secondary education. As a member of the local Education Championship Team, Laurier will contribute to the mentoring, tutoring and counseling that will help these young people transition from high school to college, university or appren-ticeship training. Sincere thanks to Dr. Colleen Willard-Holt for representing Laurier on this new team.

• The Laurier Faculty of Music staged another successful opera,

Dialogues of the Carmelites. The depth and breadth of talent among our students, faculty and alumni never fails to impress me. Bravo to everyone involved!

• The Robert Langen Art Gallery at Laurier is currently featuring an intriguing sound and sculpture installation by renowned Canadian artist Marlene Hilton Moore. The exhibition runs until March 21. I encourage you to take the time to drop in and experience it.

I could go on, which is most pleasing, but space disallows further stories. The fact is, there are many good things happening around us; it is important to celebrate and to take courage and inspiration from them.

Dr. Max BlouwPresident and Vice-Chancellor

PReSIdeNT’S meSSAGe

Send us your news, events & stories

Email: [email protected]

All submissions are appreciated, however not all submissions will be published. We reserve the right to edit all copy for accuracy, content and length.

InsideLaurier

Volume 1, Number 10, March 2009

Editor: Stacey Morrison

Assistant Editor: Lori Chalmers Morrison

Design: Erin Steed

Contributors: Erin Almeida, Kevin Crowley, Mallory, O’Brien, Dean Palmer, Mike Whitehouse

InsideLaurier is published by The Department of Public Affairs

Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5

InsideLaurier welcomes your comments and suggestions for stories.

Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3341 | Fax: (519) 884-8848 Email: [email protected]

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Opinions expressed in InsideLaurier do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the university’s administration.

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April 2009





Laurier appoints new vp: development and alumni relations

deadline for submissions: march 16

Wilfrid Laurier University has appointed Robert Donelson to the senior leadership role of vice-president: development and alumni relations.

Donelson has more than 25 years of executive experience in fundraising and advancement, most recently as president of St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation in Hamilton. He previously served as executive director of St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation in Kitchener. He also played senior roles in development and alumni affairs at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo.

At Laurier, Donelson will lead a new philanthropic vision and alumni-engagement strategy as the university builds on the success of its recent $100-million fundraising campaign and prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2011.

“I am delighted to welcome Rob to the Laurier community,” said university president Dr. Max Blouw. “He brings a wealth of skill and experience in advancement and strategic leadership, and he has a proven

track record for building teams and relationships on behalf of organizations that value a sense of community.”

Donelson has led multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns for St. Joseph’s Healthcare and St. Mary’s General Hospital. At St. Joseph’s, he helped set a new record for annual donations to the foundation, including the largest personal and corporate donations ever in the organiza-tion’s history, and his team has launched a $75-million capital campaign, its largest ever. At St. Mary’s, he played a lead role in the One Voice, One Vision campaign that has raised $43 million for hospitals in Waterloo Region.

Donelson has extensive experience working with boards, volunteers and community groups. A resident of Waterloo for many years, he

Robert Donelson will assume the role of vice-president: development and alumni relations on March 30.

is looking forward to returning to his roots in education and working with Laurier’s advancement team and the university’s many alumni, friends and benefactors.

“I believe strongly that devel-opment and alumni relations can and must play a key role in achieving Laurier’s mission,”

Donelson said. “I look forward to partnering with all members of the Laurier family to achieve its ambitious goals and to propel this fine university into its second century.”

Donelson will join Laurier as vice-president: development and alumni relations on March 30.

The women’s curling team captured silver in China.





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March 2009

Laurier joins new team to help Crown wards pursue educationLaurier has joined a new provincially sponsored

“Education Championship Team” designed to help Crown wards

— children and youth under the care of the government

— pursue post-secondary education.

Each local Education Champi-onship Team includes advocates, professionals and experts from children’s aid societies, area school boards, universities, colleges and other organiza-

tions and agencies. The teams offer mentoring, tutoring and counselling to help Crown wards — most of whom come from troubled family situations

— transition from high school to college, university or appren-ticeship training.

Four teams were established when a pilot program was launched in 2007. The province recently announced three new teams — including the one Laurier is now part of, which represents Waterloo Region, Guelph and Wellington County.

Laurier’s representative on the local Education Championship Team is Dr. Colleen Willard-Holt, dean of the Faculty of Education.

Crown wards who pursue post-secondary education and training may also receive financial aid through tuition grants, reimbursement of university and college entrance application fees, and certain exemptions from Ontario Student Assistance Program income assessments.

“We know that young people who have been in the care of children’s aid societies experience unique challenges as they enter adulthood,” said Deb Matthews, Minister of Children and Youth Services. “But with a good education and the right supports, I’m confident they can achieve their dreams.”

One such student achieving her dreams is Abbie Gateman, a third-year sociology student at Laurier.

“This is one of the happiest days of my life,” said Gateman, 21, who had been a Crown ward from the age of 10. “This announcement provides us with the opportunities and support we need to reach the goals we want to reach.”

Agreement reached with WLU Faculty AssociationA new collective agreement for full-time faculty and profes-sional librarians at Laurier has

been ratified by the univer-sity’s Board of Governors and members of the WLU Faculty Association. The three-year deal, retro-active to July 1, 2008, covers salary and working conditions for about 500 full-time faculty and professional librarians at Laurier.

“The university is pleased to have reached a deal that we believe is fair and equitable for our faculty and profes-sional librarians, and which is sensitive to the difficult economic climate and the financial challenges facing Laurier and other Ontario universities,” said Laurier president Dr. Max Blouw.

“These were difficult negotia-tions under difficult circum-stances,” said Dr. Judy Bates, president of the WLU Faculty Association. “WLUFA members welcome an improvement in workload and acknowledge the effort of both negotiating teams to arrive at a satisfactory settlement.”

Outstanding Women of Laurier to be honouredLaurier will celebrate its excep-tional female student athletes at the fourth annual Outstanding Women of Laurier Luncheon on April 2.

The Outstanding Women of Laurier Award will be presented to the nominee who best demonstrates athletic

success, academic achievement and commitment to the devel-opment of young athletes through community teaching or coaching.

Emceed by Daiene Vernile of CTV Southwestern Ontario, the luncheon features keynote speaker Leigh Hobson, a cyclist in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing and a Kitchener-Waterloo native.

Since 2006, The Outstanding Women of Laurier Luncheon has raised more than $155,000 for women’s athletic programs, scholarships and Laurier’s mentor coaching program.

Last year’s winner was kinesi-ology and physical education student and Golden Hawks hockey team member, Lauren Meschino.

This year’s event will take place on April 2 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Waterloo Inn.

For ticket information, contact Heather Ferris at ext. 3289 or [email protected].

NeWS What’s new and notable at Laurier

Golden Hawks win silver and gold in China

By Stacey Morrison

Laurier athletes representing Canada at the 24th Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, have returned home after winning silver and gold medals

at the biannual event, dubbed the “Olympics of university sport.”

The Laurier women’s curling team won silver, losing a hard fought final match to China 6-5. Skip Hollie Nicol — who was

chosen as Canada’s flag-bearer for the closing ceremonies — and teammates Laura Hickey, Danielle Inglis and Hilary McDermott went undefeated in round-robin play, including a win against China in the

preliminaries and toppling Great Britain in the semifinal 7-5.

“Our goals coming in were a top-four placing and to give China a good game and we’ve now done both of those things,” said Canadian team coach Jennifer Ferris.

Laurier’s men’s curling team finished in sixth-place with a 4-5 record.

Canada’s women’s hockey team, which included Golden Hawks Andrea Beven and Andrea Ironside, defeated Slovakia 10-1 in the semifinals to advance to the playoffs. In the gold medal match they defeated China 3-1. Beven scored two assists in the championship game.

Also accompanying the athletes were Peter Baxter, Laurier’s director of athletics and recreation, who was appointed chef de mission for the Canadian team, and alumni Paul Webster (BA ‘98) and Mark Mathies (BA ‘98), team leads for curling and speed skating, respectively.

“It was an honour to be a part of the team that supported our Canadian university student athletes at this Univer-

siade,” said Baxter. “It was even more special to be with our own Laurier athletes as they competed, representing Canada in addition to the Golden Hawk program.”

The curling teams secured spots at the international event by winning the inaugural Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) curling championship last year, while Bevan and Ironside were selected to play alongside 18 other CIS all-stars from across the country.

Laurier’s curlers partici-pated in a 10-team round-robin competition, with the top four teams advancing to the medal round.

The hockey team competed against Slovakia, Japan, Great Britain, Finland and China in round-robin play. The top four teams advanced to the medal round.

The biannual Universiade takes place in a different country every other year, and has an athletes village and torch-bearing ceremonies. This year’s competition in China featured over 50 events in 12 winter sports, with almost 4,000 athletes and coaches participating.

Laurier’s contingent in China included athletes from the varsity women’s hockey team and the men’s and women’s curling teams, as well as alumni team leads and Peter Baxter, Laurier’s director of athletics and recreation.

Laurier athletes stand on the podium at “Olympics of university sports”

From left: Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities John Milloy, Laurier student Abbie Gateman and Minister of Children and Youth Services Deb Matthews, were on hand to announce the new provincially-sponsored Education Championship Team.





March 2009

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PeOPLe AT LAURIeR

Athletics update

The Golden Hawks varsity swimming, curling and hockey programs ended successful regular seasons and added some hardware to Laurier’s trophy case.

In the pool, business major Whitney Rich set the Ontario University Athletics record in the women’s 100-metre breast-stroke and also captured gold in the 100-metre individual medley, 200-metre individual medley and 50-metre breast-stroke. Rich finished the season with 13 first-place finishes and advanced to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS)

championships in B.C., along with teammate David Hughes. At the nationals Rich recorded personal best times in the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke, placing sixth in both events. Hughes finished in 11th place in the 1,500-metre freestyle, his best national finish in his four-year career.

On the ice, both the men’s and women’s curling teams competed in the OUA championships with the men winning the silver medal and the women taking home the bronze. Both teams advance to the CIS championships in late

March, where they will defend their national titles.

In other news, the Golden Hawks women’s hockey team finished the regular season with a near-perfect 26-1 record. The No. 2 nationally ranked team will next defend their provincial championship in the OUA championships. The No. 3 nationally ranked men’s hockey team also wrapped up a successful season, winning the OUA West division and advancing to the OUA semifinals.

For full athletics coverage, visit www.athletics.wlu.ca.

Dr. Susan Caddell, associate professor of social work, is part of a multi-university research

team whose work has been bolstered by a grant of $1.3-million over five years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Their “Charting the Territory” longitudinal study will track families of children diagnosed with progressive neurological, metabolic or chromosomal conditions to document the progression of the child’s condition and the experiences of the family. Researchers hope to provide new information that will lay the foundation for the best treatments to help support these families.

New appointments:

Debb Hohl, part-time food services associate.

Sarah Tedesco, transcription technologist/administrator, Brantford.

Sandra Wilson, food services associate, Science Building.

Changes in staff appointments:

Mallory O’Brien, writer, Public Affairs.

Lise Pedersen, manager: programs and services, Laurier International.

Retirements:

Don Crowther, custodial lead hand, Physical Resources.

Elsie Grogan, intermediate administrative assistant, SBE.

For a complete list of announcements visit www.wlu.ca/hr

Do you have a professional or personal milestone that you would like to share with the Laurier community? Email your announcement and photo to [email protected].

What are you reading?

What are you listening to?

Name: Megan Harris Job Title: Manager, Marketing and Communications, SBE Book Title: The Queen’s Fool Author: Philippa Gregory

The Queen’s Fool is the second book of a series, which includes the popular The Other Boleyn Girl. The series is a fictional account of the life of the royal court during the Tudor period, beginning with the reign of Henry VIII and his many escapades (wives), through the reigns of his children. As a history graduate this time period is fascinating to me, but anyone with an interest in royal intrigue will enjoy the book.

What are you reading?

What are you listening to?

Name: Scott Harris Job Title: Associate Director, Development: Annual Giving Cd Title: One Cell in the Sea Artist: A Fine Frenzy

A Fine Frenzy is not really a band, but a very talented 24-year-old named Alison Sudol. Her debut album, this CD is lyrical, poetic, emotional and atmospheric. If you’re a sucker for a girl and her piano and enjoy artists like Sarah McLachlan or Fiona Apple, you should give this album a listen.

Hawks dominate in the pool, on the ice

AUTHORS continued

delighted to have an audience for the release of her first academic book, Translating Pain: Immigrant Suffering in Literature and Culture (University of Toronto Press, 2009). In the book, Hron explores how the immigrant experience has changed in the post-Cold War, post-9/11 era by examining the representation of immigrant suffering in fictional literature from Muslim North Africa, the Caribbean and Eastern Europe.

Dr. Eleanor Ty, chair of English and Film studies, concluded the event with a reading from her introduction to Asian Canadian Writing Beyond Autoethnography (Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2008). Ty co-edited the collection of essays with Christl Verduyn, a professor at Mount Allison University. The collection explores some of the latest developments in the literary and cultural practices of Canadians of Asian heritage. Laurier’s Dr. Mariam Pirbhai is one of the book’s contributors.

Dr. Viviana Comensoli also has a new book, but was unable to attend the event. She edited an edition of Thomas Dekker’s 1608 play Lantern and Candle-light (Center for Reformation

and Renaissance Studies, 2007). Since 2002, the Department

of English and Film Studies has celebrated the publication of about 34 books by professors from Laurier’s Waterloo and Brantford campuses. Many of the books have won awards, including the 2007 Governor-General’s award for English to French translation for Dr. Tamas Dobozy’s collection of short stories Last Notes and Other Stories (HarperCollins, 2005).

“I am very proud of the faculty members in the Department of English and Film Studies,” says Ty. “Even our retired professors such as Jane Campbell, James Doyle, and the late Flora Roy have published books in the last few years. It is a pleasure to have an informal gathering where our colleagues, our graduate and undergraduate students, and members from the community can hear about our work.”

Dr. Madelaine Hron reads from her first academic book.

Swimmer Whitney Rich, above, captured four gold medals at the OUA championships.

Photo: Mallory O’Brien





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March 2009

How long have you been at Laurier?

I’ve been principal dean since 2005, but I started as an economics student at Waterloo Lutheran University in 1969. So you went from economics into the ministry?

In my fourth year I felt called to be a pastor. Many of us learned economics in the John Kenneth Galbraith tradition in order to make a difference in the world, so it wasn’t such a big leap into the ministry. I earned my Master of Divinity at the Seminary (’77), a master’s degree in social ethics in religion and culture

at Laurier (‘80), and a Doctor of Ministry from the Princeton Theological Seminary (’00).

What has changed on campus in 40 years?

When I was a student, Waterloo Lutheran was small and faith-based. Now it’s a much bigger place. What hasn’t changed is Laurier’s almost congenital commitment to developing students who want to make a difference in the lives of other people. Those are the things that matter.

Tell us about your career before Laurier.

I served parishes in Kingston and New Hamburg. I spent 25 years in public policy advocacy work on behalf of the Lutheran Church in Canada. We were active internationally with governments on various human rights issues. I led the initiative to get the Canadian Council of Churches recognized as a non-governmental organization by the United Nations. The UN recognized the role that churches do play.

What has been the most rewarding part for you?

To me it’s having a privileged seat on the edge of history — being with people during

profound moments. There have been many. Meeting Nelson Mandela in 1990 was a thrill. Churches had worked on ending apartheid for 25 years — no one expected to see the end of apartheid so soon. I was also in Fort Simpson for the Pope’s visit in ’84. The fog came up the river and the Pope’s plane couldn’t land. It was a privileged moment for me to be with these First Nation peoples and see how they handled this disappointment with such grace and dignity. There’s been no life like it and no better way to make a contri-bution to change the world.

What else would you like people to know about you?

For me it’s what I hope they learn, not about me, but about the seminary community. I hope people feel welcomed here at the seminary. I hope we enrich the campus with our chapel worships, our monthly public lectures and by offering a quiet area for reflection and prayer. Who rings the chapel bell?

The sacristan — a student member of the seminary who helps organize chapel worship services. The bells ring only when there’s a worship moment (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at noon).

By Lori Chalmers Morrison

COFFee WITH A CO-WORkeR A look at staff and faculty across campus

Name: The Rev. Dr. David Pfrimmer Job: Principal Dean and professor of Christian Ethics, Waterloo Lutheran Seminary.

Where you can find him: In his wood-paneled seminary office, filled with photos, mementos and comfy chairs. How he takes his coffee: Brewed with cinnamon, taken with a little bit of cream.

Friday Night Film Series: Screening South AsiaWhen: March 135 p.m. – 7 p.m.Where: Bricker 201Cost: Free

Organized by the Department of English and Film Studies, this part of the series is presented by Dr. Mariam Pirbhai and open to the public. The event features Bhaji on the Beach, directed by Gurinder Chada.

Police Decision-Making in Critical IncidentsWhen: March 1612 p.m.Where: Kitchener Public LibraryCost: Free

This Ideas & Issues lecture at the Kitchener Public Library will be presented by psychology professor Dr. Camie Condon. For more information, contact Melissa Ireland at [email protected] or ext. 3902.

Aboriginal Student Services Awareness Series: Exploring the Cultural LandscapeWhen: March 12 (Waterloo campus) & March 13 (Brantford)12 p.m. – 1 p.m.Where: Paul Martin Centre & Odeon BuildingCost: Free

This workshop will provide an in-depth look at the values and integrity of the original teaching of the Haudenosaunee. If you

ever wanted to discusss the spirituality of First Nations, this session will give you a glimpse of a tradition that is over 2,000 years old. To register, visit www.wlu.ca/ilovemyjob.

Creating Job Descriptions and Job PostingsWhen: March 1811:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.Where: TBD

*Open to managers only

This lunch and learn workshop will provide managers with tools to make creating job descriptions efficient and effective in recruiting excellent candidates. To register, visit www.wlu.ca/ilovemyjob.

March Break Open HouseWhen: March 18 (Brantford) & March 20 (Waterloo)9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.Cost: Free

Noon-Hour Seminars: Teaching CircleWhen: March 1912 p.m.Where: DAWB, 5th-floor lounge

Bring your lunch to this informal discussion about common concerns and interests related to teaching. For more information contact Dr. Bob Sharpe at [email protected] or ext. 2684.

Marlene Hilton Moore: Made to Measure TwoWhen: Until March 21Where: Robert Langen Art GalleryCost: Free

This exhibit takes the viewer on a voyage to understand how individual life encounters impact our personal and collective experiences. By incor-porating sculptural works with sound, Hilton Moore engages the viewer to re-engage their own personal sense of self.

The Migrant Muslim: A Fine Line Between the Public and Private Sphere of Muslims in the WestWhen: March 2510 a.m.Where: Waterloo Lutheran SeminaryCost: Free

Part of the Seminary’s Faith in Public lecture series, the speaker is Raheel Raza, director of Diversity Inc. For more infor-mation, visit www.semimary.wlu.ca.

WLU Symphony OrchestraWhen: March 282 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.Where: The Centre in the Square, KitchenerCost: $10/adults, $5/students, seniors

COmING eveNTS For a complete list of events visit www.wlu.ca/events

How to stay active at work Just because you sit behind a desk all day doesn’t mean you can’t be active at work. Here are a few tips to promote a healthy lifestyle while you’re at the office:

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible.

• Stand and stretch while talking on the phone.

• Walk and meet someone to discuss work rather than calling or emailing.

• Take a walk over your lunch hour.

• Replace your coffee break with a walking break.

• Use a pedometer and keep track of how many steps you take - it’s great motivation! Aim for 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day.

• Do desk exercises. Visit www.mayoclinic.com/health/stretching/WL00030 for a slideshow.

Prepared using infor-mation from Health Canada. For more information visit www.hc.gc.ca.

A witness to world change

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Many know him as the pastor who says grace at Laurier events, but Dr. David Pfrimmer has held a seat on the edge of history.





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What do a professor, a space security researcher, a literacy volunteer and an environmental advocate have in common?

They are among 14 people with ties to Laurier who were named by the Waterloo Region Record in its 40 Under 40 list of young leaders who are making a difference in the community.

The achievements of these students, professors and alumni are inspiring, and their efforts reflect Laurier’s mission to strive for excellence in learning, research and engaged citizenship.

Members of the Laurier community named to the list are:

Dr. Quincy Almeida, 35Associate kinesiology and physical education professorSelected for his Parkinson’s disease research and exercise rehabilitation program through Laurier’s Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre (MDRC).

Cathy Anderson, 32Bachelor of Music, 1999Cellist for the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and the Bremen Quartet. Selected for sharing music with the community.

Wendi Campbell, 38MBA, 2008Executive director, Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Selected for her work distributing food and

funds to needy residents and her community volunteer work.

Deborah DeJong, 39MSW, 1992Director of family and community solutions at K-W Counselling. Selected for educating parents as an author and parenting television show host.

Katerina Goros, 36BBA, 1995Human resource director, Royal Bank of Canada. Selected for her volunteer work in gymnastics, the Greek community and her children’s schools.

Catherine Grant, 20Third-year history studentSelected for her volunteer and advocacy work to mentor and encourage black students to stay in school.

Yasmine Mohamed, 36Part-time studentMother and volunteer. Selected for sharing her passion for reading and learning through teaching and community volunteer work.

Mike Morrice, 24BBA/BSc, 2008Co-founder and executive director of non-profit organization Sustainable Waterloo. Selected for encouraging local businesses to reduce carbon emissions.

Angela Olano, 24BA, 2007Marketing manager, Waterloo Regional Children’s Museum.Selected for her efforts in building the museum’s reputation and promoting Kitch-ener’s downtown.

Greg Overholt, 23BBA/BSc, 2008Executive director and founder of Students Offering Support (SOS) Charity. Selected for his work raising money to support devel-opment projects in impoverished areas of the world.

Shawn Sajkowski, 34BBA, 1998Materials management for a high-tech company. Selected for his volunteer work with cancer organizations and supporting patients as a cancer survivor.

Peter Sweeney, 35MBA, 2006Executive director, St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation.Selected for volunteering for the Rotary Club, his neighbourhood association and advocating for the hospital.

Jessica West, 29BA, 2003Manager, Space Security Index project, Project Ploughshares. Selected for her policy work on space security trends and devel-opments.

Brooke Young, 29MSW, 2007OK2BME program co-ordinator, K-W Counselling Services.Selected for her work supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender or questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

Laurier well represented on 40 Under 40 list

PLANNING continued

traffic circulation, maintaining a design theme, improving vegetation and aesthetics, ensuring campus safety and exploring sustainability options.

Transportation and sustain-ability are especially important for Laurier, said Nower, noting that the university recently presented a proposal to the Board of Governors that outlines new policies on sustainability. The suggested strategies touch all aspects of campus development, from water consumption and emission reductions, to green building and sustainable landscaping.

The completed Laurier campus master plan, which will be finalized by the end of the year, will include:

A physical analysis of the • Waterloo and Brantford campuses

Plan documents of proposed • site development and circu-lation patternsDesign guidelines for • planning, open space, archi-tecture, campus character and sustainabilityImplementation strategies, • including a phasing/priority schedule for a 25-year planA steering committee — • comprised of staff from both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses — and a team of IBI Group planners, archi-tects, engineers and transport experts, will work collab-oratively with the cities of Waterloo and Brantford. Laurier will also be engaging

faculty, staff and students in the planning process. More information, including updates, public forums and open house dates will be available on the Physical Resources web page at www.wlu.ca/physicalresources.

Canadian consul says opportunities abound in ChinaBy Mallory O’Brien

Shawn Steil, consul and senior trade commissioner at the Canadian Consulate in Chongqing, China, spoke to faculty, students and local business leaders at Laurier in February about opportunities for Canadians in the booming southwest region of China.

Steil spoke at both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses.

Fluent in Mandarin, Steil opened his talk in Waterloo with a Chinese greeting and proceeded to discuss the signifi-cance of Laurier’s Chongqing office, which Steil helped establish in 2007. The office serves as a central support for the university’s academic initia-tives in China.

Through its office in Chongqing, Laurier has 16 Chinese university partners and has established collaborative relationships with government and the private sector. In the spring and fall of 2008, the office facilitated Laurier faculty missions to China to discuss research and program oppor-tunities. During Steil’s visit to Waterloo, Laurier and the Canadian Consulate agreed to work together on four projects in Chongqing:

Healthcare reform, a Laurier • Brantford initiative in partnership with St. Mary’s Hospital and the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo;Capacity building in • supply chain management in southwest China at the post-secondary education and government levels, an initiative of Laurier’s School of Business and Economics; Capacity building in social • work at the post-secondary education level, an initiative of Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work; andMunicipal government reform, • an initiative of the Academic

Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS).Steil said southwest China is

poised for change, and what’s held it back is the distance from the coast and shipping lanes and the region’s tough, mountainous geography, difficulties that are now being tackled with a significant investment in infrastructure.

What he believes is lacking, and what he says the government acknowledges as lacking, is the expertise on the management side of these developments, which equals an opportunity for Laurier to take a leadership role in helping Chongqing develop its industry.

“There’s a real important role for Canada,” he said. “We have an economy and an expertise that’s well-matched for the needs in southwest China, and our expertise is welcomed.

“There are challenges to going to the southwest, but it’s one of the reasons Canada has an office there, to facilitate and help

where we can. And while there are challenges there are also tremendous opportunities; there is a tremendous enthusiasm in Chongqing for exposure to the West and Canada in particular.

“I’m very proud to count Laurier as a major partner in our efforts to move forward in that part of the country.”

The Waterloo Region Record’s 40 Under 40, above, included 14 Laurier community members.

From left: Paul Maxim, associate vice-president: research; Shawn Steil, Canadian consul and senior trade commissioner; Peter Donahue, director, Laurier International.

For complete profiles, visit http://news.therecord.com/News/article/493690.

Photo: Erin Almeida





7

March 2009

The evolution of transportation and transborder tradeDr. Michael Haughton searches for solutions to optimize Canada-U.S. commerce


“Buy American” may be one of the provisions the United States government has included in its stimulus package to help bring the country out of its economic slump, but many Canadians are wondering how it will affect this country. After all, Canada and the United States are each other’s largest trading partners.

“Yes, we have geographic borders and we have to respect our different jurisdictions, but ultimately the success of any individual country can’t be guaranteed without the success of the other; our economies are too intertwined for that to happen,” says Dr. Michael Haughton, associate professor in Laurier’s School of Business & Economics.

“Based on that, the notion of being insular and isolated is pointless. It may give you some success and make some people happy for a time, but it’s certainly not sustainable.”

* * * * *

Haughton recently returned to Laurier from his term as the 2008-2009 Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at Arizona State University’s North American Center for Transborder Studies (NACTS). He was awarded the prestigious position through the Fulbright program, which facilitates bilateral academic exchanges between the United States and over 150 countries, so scholars can examine subjects critical to strengthening the relationship between their country and the U.S.

While at NACTS, Haughton researched the evolution of the transborder trucking sector in the post-9/11 world, and how it’s a key contributor to the economic vitality of Canada-U.S. trade.

“Looking at the trucking sector is important,” says Haughton.

“Surface trade, specifically truck trade, accounts for roughly two-thirds of the volume of trade between our two countries,

so we’re talking about a sector that’s integral to the economic base of the Canada-U.S. relationship.”

Haughton’s research on freight transportation evolved from his initial interest in passenger transportation, initiated through a project with the Jamaican government.

Haughton considers himself fortunate to have had the support of the Fulbright program, both recently and at another crucial phase of his work on transpor-tation research: in 1996 he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to complete his PhD at Pennsyl-vania State University. It wasn’t long after that he found an oppor-tunity to extend his research to transborder transportation.

“Almost immediately after completing my PhD I was drafted into a project to look at how firms could improve their import/export processes, and I realized that it really was a fascinating subject. They are significant problems, practical problems, but

they also, rightly, are of scholarly interest.”

It was curiosity that brought Haughton to Canada. After spending time in the U.S., he wanted to experience living north of the border. He taught at the University of British Columbia for a year and a half and then came to Laurier in 2001, enticed by the university’s new supply chain management program.

“I’m very proud of the way the program has evolved over the years,” he says. “One of the things I’m particularly proud of is our students launching the WLU Supply Chain Management Student Association – they bring in guest speakers, provide readings and alert students of career opportunities – and it’s great to have encouraged it. I think that strong academic programs invariably have a strong undergraduate student associ-ation that supports them.”

* * * * *

During his term at NACTS, Haughton began his evolu-tionary analysis of truck trade by assessing what difficulties trucking practitioners were documenting post-9/11 in terms of moving goods between Canada and the United States. The most noticeable effect of 9/11 was increased security measures by the U.S., which caused major truck congestion at the border.

“It’s no secret to anyone that since 9/11 transborder issues have become particularly challenging,” says Haughton. “Hypersen-sitivity to security risks has resulted in border procedures that create uncertainty in the flow of freight.”

This threatens the “just-in-time” production that industries such as the auto sector rely on. “Just-in-time” production only works when the raw material imports are available when they are needed. If materials get delayed,

“you have production workers twiddling their thumbs with nothing to do because there’s no inventory for them to work on.”

At first, pressure was put on the government to fix the border issue, but eventually Haughton

began to see a “calmer reaction” and a greater willingness from the business community to resolve some of the issues on its own. This led to the second stage of his research, which involved analyzing the solutions that trucking practitioners generated for themselves.

“One of the things that became clear to me was that those involved in transborder supply chains understand the issues and they are generating solutions to those issues,” says Haughton.

“But I don’t think they’ve actually been able to analyze their solutions to see if they make sense or not. My sense of it was these are by and large hasty reactions that need to be rigorously analyzed.”

One example Haughton cites

is the “stockpiling inventory” solution. The rationale for stockpiling is if an organization has difficulty getting a shipment across the border, they will at least have some extra inventory to get them through.

“But the question is, does that really make economic sense?” asks Haughton. “And the question of whether it makes economic sense or not is not simply the matter of a private organization’s profitability — it has much larger implications. If a company is adding unnecessary costs to their goods and services then ultimately citizens end up paying the price.”

Another solution saw truckers seeking alternative border crossings. Although the Ambas-sador Bridge in Windsor is the primary border crossing for trade between the U.S. and Canada, truckers sometimes take detours to smaller crossings to avoid the crunch. Yet another solution was U.S.- and Canada-based organiza-tions merging to become a “North American” operation, thereby avoiding some of the legal restric-tions at the border.

In addition to his research, lectures and conferences in Arizona, Haughton also helped with the creation of a memo on behalf of NACTS to the leaders of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico to promote cooperation.

Now that he’s back at Laurier, Haughton is continuing his research on transborder issues by looking at new, untested solutions such as inventory sharing between two Canadian or two U.S. exporters. He will also be presenting his research at the Canadian Transportation Research Forum conference (CTRF), as well as the U.S. TRF conference.

“I know that practitioners don’t have time to experiment with all the potential solutions — they pick one and if it doesn’t work out, they lose some money and try another,” he says.

But he can perform that kind of analysis and provide an understanding of what makes sense and the conditions under which a particular solution could work.

Haughton emphasizes that there are so many parties that have a vested interested in the goods and getting them from the point of origin to the point of consumption that it’s very difficult for one party to come up with a solution that will work for everybody else.

“It’s really about developing understanding, not just in an isolationist, internal way, but to develop an understanding of how countries, businesses and institutions can work together to solve these issues,” he says.

ReSeARCH FILe

If a company is adding unnecessary costs to its goods and services then ultimately citizens end up paying the price.

“

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Dr. Michael Haughton delivers a lecture at Arizona State University.

As the Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at Arizona State University’s North American Center for Transborder Studies, Dr. Michael Haughton researched the evolution of the transborder trucking sector post-9/11. Photo: Mallory O’Brien





March 2009

8

IN THe CLASSROOm A look inside the lecture hall

Professor: Dr. Stephen MacNeil

Class: Organic Chemistry I & II

description: These courses deal with the fundamentals of organic chemistry, the structure of organic molecules and the role of functional groups in organic reactions and synthesis.

Dr. Stephen MacNeil begins most classes illustrating the potential application of organic chemistry.

“Students tend to find organic chemistry much more inter-esting once they realize that it can be used to explain things such as home field advantage in sports, why latex causes allergies, why blue lobsters exist, how curry combats cancer, how licorice may fight dental cavities or how simple hydrogen bonds caused the pet food contami-nation crisis of 2007.”

He hopes students not only learn the subject matter, but also apply it to their daily lives.

“In a general sense, I think it is useful for all students to have some basic knowledge in organic chemistry to help them under-stand and speak intelligently about everyday things such as common household cleaning and personal care products, the chemistry of cooking and the health benefits of certain foods.


volunteering for Alternative Reading Week

An organic approach

Photo: Dean Palmer

Staff and students help rebuild homes in New Orleans

Dr. Stephen MacNeil, right, joins students in the lab for one of his organic chemistry classes.


In St. Bernard Parish, a community adjacent to New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, every one of its 27,000 homes was destroyed by the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In an effort to assist with the rebuilding, a group of Laurier staff and student volunteers travelled to Louisiana for Alternative Reading Week in February.

In its second year, Alternative Reading Week is a service-learning experience organized by the Student Leadership Centre and the Office of Student Diversity. In addition to helping commu-nities in need, students participate in a learning component that focuses on leadership, diversity and community service.

For this trip, 14 students travelled to Louisiana, accompanied by staff members Adam Lawrence, coordinator

of student diversity, and Drew Piticco, manager of the Student Leadership Centre.

“We did workshops on the three Sundays leading up to the trip on team-building and educating students about the area — tools that helped make the trip more successful,” says Lawrence.

“While on the trip we took time every night to discuss and reflect on personal challenges and development.”

The group also had a chance to

experience the vibrant New Orleans’ culture, spending one day visiting the levies and the French Quarter, and watching a Mardi Gras parade.

“It’s important to ask not only ‘where is the need?’ but also, ‘where can our volunteer services best be utilized and where is the opportunity for learning?’” says Piticco. “It’s a great experience for everyone involved.”

Staff members Adam Lawrence (left photo, sitting) and Drew Piticco (above photo, far left)), accompanied students to New Orleans for Alternative Reading Week, where the group helped rebuild houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

march 2009 insidelaurier

Documents

campus connections community

campus blueprints

campus master plandr

book of poetry

laurier authors

poetry books

wilfrid laurier university

laurier initiative