News

They'll be a part of London's shadow army

WATERLOO REGION — You won’t see them climbing the podium, marching in the Opening Ceremonies or competing on TV.

But a handful of locals are part of a shadow army of Olympic support staff who have behind-the-scenes roles at the 2012 Summer Games in London. They’ll stay out of the limelight, doing everything from soothing aching muscles to overseeing doping tests, and their work will help athletes perform their best.

WATERLOO — As a student of nutritional health, Lana Vanderlee falls off the wagon sometimes and eats junk food like the rest of us.

But the PhD student at the University of Waterloo says she would never eat a plate of loaded nachos in a pub.

“That’s your whole calorie intake for the entire day,” said Vanderlee, whose research in nutritional labelling on menus has made her more aware of what she eats and how active she is.

John Lohuis, the former director of recreation and parks for the city of Mississauga, has been named general manager of the Niagara Parks Commission.

Lohuis has been in the parks and recreation field for 35 years. Prior to his role in Mississauga he worked in Delhi, Aurora, Windsor and London. He held his role in Mississauga for 12 years. He is also an alumnus of, and lecturer in, the University of Waterloo’s department of recreation and leisure studies.

The University of Waterloo's 104th Convocation took place Wednesday, June 13, conferring degrees for a total of 847 graduates in the faculties of applied health sciences and environment.

Researchers honoured with Statistical Society of Canada's Lise Manchester Award

Geoffrey Fong and David Hammond of the School of Public Health and Health Systems and Mary Thompson, Distinguished Professor Emerita in Statistics and Actuarial Science, are the 2012 recipients of the Lise Manchester Award.

A team of University of Waterloo students returned home from Halifax this week as national champions of the Canadian Evaluation Society’s Student Case Competition. This year’s competition, hosted by the Nova Scotia Chapter as part of the 33rd annual national Canadian Evaluation Society conference entitled “valuing difference,” had students develop a mock evaluation proposal for the Community-based Water Monitor program, and pitch it to a panel representing the senior management of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada.

The Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), housed within the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, has received the 2012 Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) President’s Award of Distinction.

From aquatics to archery, basketball to boating, equestrian pursuits to environmental education, languages to leadership, rappelling to rock climbing, summer camps offer a huge variety of choices for kids interested in pursuing a favourite interest or discovering a new one.

Some camps offer a specific focus while others offer a variety of options. Deciding which is right for your son or daughter depends on their personalities and wishes.

See full article Choosing a camp right for your child, London Free Press.

WATERLOO, Ont. (Thursday, April 26, 2012) - With today’s official launch of the mobile app, “Crush the Crave,” University of Waterloo researchers fuse scientific evidence with innovative technology to help young Canadians quit smoking.