Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Bergman re-appointed as St. Jerome's president

The Board of Governors of St. Jerome’s University has announced that Katherine Bergman has been re-appointed to a second term as President and Vice Chancellor of St. Jerome’s University.

“Under Professor Bergman’s leadership the University has seen unprecedented infrastructure renewal, and is in the midst of an active and successful fundraising campaign,” says the official announcement.

“We are delighted that Dr. Bergman has accepted a second term as President of St. Jerome’s University,” said Cathy Horgan, chair of St. Jerome’s Board of Governors. “Her proven leadership skills and sound vision will lead us into the future as a premier Catholic university.”

“I am honoured to be re-appointed,” said Professor Bergman, who is completing her first five-year term in office. “It has been such a pleasure to serve this community over the past four years. I look forward to the future of St. Jerome’s University, where it is important to us that we remain focused on the learner and committed to the gospel values of our Catholic faith. Our vision is to steward our students’ unique talents, nurture their ability to think critically, and inspire them to become life-long learners. We look to educate our students to become informed, courageous citizens with the humility to work together for the common good and the courage to lead by example in building a more just global society. I am proud to say that over the years thousands of our students have taken this overarching philosophy out into the world.”

Bergman is an avid volunteer, building community partnerships and active in both the Rotary and with KidsAbility. She is the seventh President and Vice Chancellor at the University.

Indigenous filmmaker to screen films on campus

by Lucy Vorobej.

Award-winning filmmaker, actor, and activist Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers will visit the University fo Waterloo for a free screening of a selection of her short films followed by a discussion. Please join us for this engaging presentation by one of Canada’s new Indigenous voices.

​Elle-Máijá is a member of the Kainai First Nation (Blood Tribe) as well as Sámi from Norway. She draws from the lived experience of her community and uses the medium of film to engage wide audiences with critical issues facing Indigenous peoples in the world today. Her recent award winning short Bihttoš delves into her family history and the story of her parents, who met as members of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples. In the critically acclaimed A Red Girls Reasoning (2012), Elle-Máijá exposes the inequalities of the justice system. The film depicts a young First Nations woman who seeks revenge on men who perpetrate violence against Indigenous women. This film won the Best Canadian Short Drama at the 2012 imagineNATIVE Film Festival in Toronto.

Tailfeathers’ films have captured the attention of international  audiences. Her work has been highlighted at the Vancouver International Film Festival, imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, the Seattle International Film Festival, and the TIFF Top Ten Festival. She was nominated for a Leo Award for her performance in Not Indian Enough and an American Indian Motion Picture Award for her role in White Indians Walking. For her work in bringing Indigenous voices and concerns to the screen, Elle-Máijá has been included in CBC’s list of Indigenous Youth Leaders: 5 Under 30 to Watch in 2015.

The Department of History, the Waterloo Aboriginal Education Centre, and WPIRG, are thrilled to sponsor Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers’ presentation. Don’t miss this exciting afternoon of film and discussion. All are welcome.

#AskAPharmacist: Heart health and blood thinners

This is the latest in a series of posts from the School of Pharmacy celebrating Pharmacist Awareness month.

In less than a minute, Associate Clinical Professor Jeff Nagge gives some tips to prevent heart attacks:

Are you taking blood thinners? Dr. Nagge also addresses a common concern for women on blood thinners: check out the #AskAPharmacist playlist for his explanation.

More pharmacy questions and answers are coming next Thursday.

Staff proposals wanted for Healthy Workplace and Leadership Initiatives

A message from Human Resources.

The Provost’s Advisory Committee on Staff Compensation (PACSC) has allocated funding under the Staff Excellence Fund to support Healthy Workplace Initiatives and Engagement & Leadership Development.  Projects supported through this funding would have as the focus enhancing the work environment, benefitting many people, and encouraging cooperation and collaboration across departments.

Proposals will be reviewed and selections will be made by the UWSA, and then approved by PACSC. The committee reviewing the project proposals will consider how the projects might be implemented in a timely manner and that the project has a duration of no more than 2 years. In addition, proposals must not include activities and programs that are currently funded or organized by the University. Successful proposals will be funded for the next fiscal year and successful applicants will be notified in April.

If you have a great idea for enhancing the workplace through healthy initiatives or leadership development, the guidelines can be found on the UW Staff Association website.

Science Fiction writer visits and other notes

Students, faculty, staff and the public are invited to join the Bookstore and University of Waterloo instructor Professor J. Andrew Deman in welcoming author Robert J. Sawyer to campus as he discusses his latest book, Quantum Night, a science-fiction thriller that explores the thin line between good and evil that every human being is capable of crossing.

Much of Quantum Night features Canada’s national synchrotron in Saskatoon, where Sawyer was able to extensively research the nature of human consciousness for his book. Copies of Quantum Night will be available on-site for purchase. 

The event takes place on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. in QNC 0101

Space is limited, please RSVP to reserve a seat at this free event.

Here's the latest Nutrition Month "Myth vs. Fact" supplied by Health Services Nutritionist Sandra Ace:

Myth: “Natural” cold cuts are better for you.

Fact:  Cold cuts and other cured meats like hot dogs, sausage and bacon typically contain nitrates or nitrites. These food additives add flavour and colour, but more importantly extend shelf life and prevent the growth of illness-causing microorganisms such as botulism and listeria. However, nitrates and nitrites are also known to raise the risk of colorectal and possibly other cancers when they are converted to cancer-causing compounds in our bodies. In October 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published a review of more than 800 studies and concluded that processed meat is a carcinogen. Researchers found that eating 50 grams (about 2 ounces) of processed meat every day increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 per cent.

So should you swap deli meats for “natural” meats that have “no nitrites or nitrates added”? These alternatives typically contain celery juice or another vegetable extracts that are rich in naturally occurring nitrates which are converted to nitrites either in the food or during digestion. The amount of nitrates/nitrites contained in “natural” or “organic” cured meats is difficult to evaluate, however meats with added celery juice or extract are not nitrate- or nitrite-free. Cold cuts and other cured meats are also high in sodium and some are high in saturated fat which are other good reasons to limit them.

While it’s okay to enjoy the occasional hot dog or ham sandwich, there is no current recommendation for safe consumption of deli or cured meats. If you use them regularly, look for healthier alternatives. Try canned tuna or salmon, hummus, egg salad or fresh cooked poultry in your sandwiches or wraps or add chick peas, beans or nuts and seeds to salads for protein. You’ll find tasty and easy to prepare lunch recipes on the Dietitians of Canada free Cookspiration app.