News

Much of what we know of leisure and gender can be traced to Sue Shaw. She pioneered research on time use and stress; intersections of work, leisure and family; changing ideologies of motherhood and fatherhood; and the role of leisure in reproducing and resisting dominant ideologies. Sue was president of the Academy of Leisure Sciences.

Canada has become a world leader in measuring wellbeing with the launch of a new comprehensive composite index set to challenge the gross domestic product (GDP) as the sole measure of our country's progress

Waterloo students from the department of kinesiology were recognized earlier this month for their contributions to the field of ergonomics at the 42nd annual conference of the Association of Canadian Ergonomists (ACE).

Waterloo Regional Housing with the help of the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact at the University of Waterloo has implemented a 100% no smoking policy on all new leases as of April 1^st, 2011 after many senior residents and individuals state they “are bothered” by the smoke and fear for health concerns.

Ryan Kennedy, a Propel scientist who evaluated the project, has created a video to encourage other communities to enact similar smoke-free policies in multi-unit dwellings.

Read Media Release

(University of Waterloo News Release)

WATERLOO, Ont. (Monday, Aug. 29, 2011) - An ambitious partnership involving the Ontario government, postsecondary sector and Schlegel Villages will develop a centre of excellence for research, training and innovation in senior health care and wellness at the University of Waterloo. The goal is to help Canada better prepare for an aging population.

A recent study by Laura Middleton of the department of kinesiology shows that daily physical activity including keeping active with everyday chores may reduce the chance of developing dementia later on in life.

Read article in The Record

Study by Richard Wells, director of the Centre of Research Expertise for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders based in the faculty of applied health sciences, examines the link between use of hand-held devices and pain and suggests the consequences often extend well beyond the thumb alone.

“If we’re creating a lot of 17-year-olds, 19-year-olds who have more chronic shoulder, neck and arm problems, then they got a lifetime of problems ahead of them.”

Read more in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Ontario is helping leading-edge researchers in Waterloo make discoveries that will improve the lives of people around the world and continue to create jobs here at home.

The latest round of research investments via the Ontario Research Fund and Early Researcher Awards includes support for:

“There is a reason that most elite marathon runners are of moderate height and very thin,” says Waterloo’s Richard Hughson. Although marathon runners typically share physical traits, it’s not the decisive factor. Dave McGinn discusses different body styles and things to consider.

Read article in Globe and Mail

With 14 percent of drivers being over the age of 65 and rapidly increasing with the baby-boomers, how old is too old to be behind the wheel?

A new national study on licensing policies for older drivers co-led by Waterloo professor Anita Myers found that Canada is a regulatory patchwork of requirements for license renewal, reporting practices, and appeals processes.

Read article in Globe and Mail