June 2010
Laurier receives funding for development of Brantford campus Laurier and the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford are moving ahead with design and consultation plans for a community athletics and recreation centre in downtown Brantford, thanks to an investment of $253,750 from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The funding will support the development phase of a 115,000-square-foot athletics and recreational centre that would be used by students and the broader community. This unique community partnership involves the YMCA and Laurier Brantford, with support from Nipissing University and Mohawk College, and the anticipated involvement of Six Nations. The investment adds to an earlier donation of $1 million by SC Johnson Canada, which will support the development of a business program and the proposed athletics and recreation centre. The gift will be used to renovate the former CIBC building in Brantford and transform the building into a multi-use facility to house the anticipated business program and Laurier Brantford’s existing leadership program. The
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building will be called the SC Johnson Building in recognition of the company’s support. The facility will also include a new Centre for Co-operative Education, Career Development and Experiential Learning, administrative offices and alumni relations.
Laurier creates Diversity & Equity Office Laurier is strengthening its commitment to diversity and equity at all levels of the institution through the creation of a Diversity & Equity Office. The office is a joint initiative of the university’s Student Services and Human Resources departments. It combines the former Office of Student Diversity with the diversity and equity programs offered through Human Resources to staff and faculty. The Diversity & Equity Office will provide comprehensive diversity and equity services, and make them available to
students, staff and faculty at all Laurier campuses.
New honour to recognize contributions to the university Laurier has created a new honour to recognize members of the Laurier community who make outstanding contributions to the university. The Order of Wilfrid Laurier University will recognize worthy individuals who have a record of exemplary and distinguished service to the university. Eligible recipients include current or former faculty, staff, students, alumni, volunteers and friends of the university. Nominations for the Order of Wilfrid Laurier University are now being accepted, and the first recipients will be honoured at fall convocation. For information or to submit a nomination, visit www.wlu.ca/senate and click the link in the left-hand menu.
Special Constable Service wins international award The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has recognized the university’s Special Constable Service with an IACP-iXP Excellence in Technology Award. The award was presented at a ceremony in May in Atlanta, Georgia. Laurier’s Special Constable Service was identified as the best in the “Innovation in infor-
Laurier appoints new deans Faculties of Music, Arts and Science get new leaders Laurier has appointed new deans to the Faculties of Music, Arts and Science. Dr. Glen Carruthers, a renowned musicologist and former dean of music at Brandon University, begins his term as Laurier’s new dean of music on July 1. A pianist, teacher and administrator, Carruthers was dean of the School of Music at Brandon University from 1998 to 2008, and previously taught at Lakehead University, where he was chair of the Department of Music for seven years. Carruthers has served on the board of the Canadian Music Centre and was president of the Canadian University Music Society for three years. “The faculty members were a real draw for me — so many of them are well known in their fields and their commitment to Laurier is something on which I’m able to build as dean,” said Carruthers. Carruthers succeeds Dr. Charles Morrison, who became dean in 1999 after 12 years as a faculty member. Dr. Michael Carroll has been appointed the new dean of the Faculty of Arts. He was previously with the Department of Sociology at the University
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of Western Ontario, where he focused his research on the sociology of religion. He is well-known internationally for his historical studies of popular religion in Italy, Ireland and New Mexico. Carroll served as chair of sociology and has been vicepresident and president of the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association. He focused on first-year teaching and has also taught numerous upperlevel seminar courses. Carroll has authored seven books, 65 peer-reviewed articles and numerous reviews and solicited articles. New dean of science Dr. Paul Jessop comes to Laurier from the Department of Engineering Physics at McMaster University. His research expertise is in the area of optoelectronic materials and devices, specializing in silicon-based photonics.
Jessop, a Waterloo native, served as chair of engineering physics and associate dean of graduate studies at McMaster and taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has authored over 150 journal papers and conference presentations and holds leadership positions in the Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovations. Both Carroll and Jessop will also begin their terms July 1. Dr. Peter Tiidus, who served as acting dean of science, and Dr. Mary-Louise Byrne, who served as acting dean of arts, will both be taking sabbatical for the 2010-2011 academic year. Upon their return, Tiidus will continue in his role as a professor of kinesiology and physical education, and Byrne will continue her role as associate professor of geography and environmental studies.
From left: Glen Carruthers, Michael Carroll and Paul Jessop.
mation technology, small agency” category. In 2005, the university undertook a review of its security system, which at the time had 10 cameras on the main campus in Waterloo. Today there are more than 300 cameras, which accommodate 640 video feeds and cover 90 per cent of the Waterloo, Kitchener and Brantford campuses.
Laurier enters $2-million research project with NWT Laurier has entered a $2-million partnership agreement with the Government of the Northwest Territories to support environmental science research that will provide important data for effective freshwater-resource management and the sustainability of northern ecosystems. Under the agreement, the Government of the Northwest Territories will provide $2 million over five years to support the Canadian Aquatic Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Boreal Ecosystem Research (CALIBER) program, which is based at Laurier and involves researchers from the Laurier Institute for Water Science and Laurier’s Cold Regions Research Centre.
The agreement will expand CALIBER’s research activities and enable it to build on its past and current research in the NWT. It also enables the Government of the Northwest Territories to participate as a member of the program’s science committee as it sets research agendas and associated studies for the NWT, and to develop mentor and training opportunities for NWT residents. The partnership includes scientific and technical training and mentorship components, professional development for government, industry and other organizations, and outreach to promote interest in water science and the boreal ecosystem in schools and communities.
Faculty participate in Physicians Talent Night The Kitchener-Waterloo Academy of Medicine hosted its fourthannual Physicians Talent Night in April in support of Laurier’s Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre (MDRC). The charity event, which raised $5,000 for the MDRC, featured entertainment by local medical professionals and members of the community, including Laurier professors Dr. Mark Baetz and Dr. Detlev Nitsch who performed with their band Professional Misconduct.
$1-million gift supports music therapy research By Kevin Crowley
as Laurier researchers continue to better understand the therapeutic powers of music,” said Dr. Charles Morrison, dean of the Faculty of Music. The work conducted within the Manfred & Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research helps those suffering from Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, promotes healing for victims of trauma and abuse, assists those with developmental, behavioural, mental health and communication challenges, and helps patients requiring critical or palliative care. Sherry Bedirian, a student in Laurier’s Master of Music Therapy program, told the gathering that music therapy has been a “blessing” in her life that has rekindled her passion for music and helped her cope with paralysis in her right leg, arm and hand.
A $1-million donation from Manfred and Penny Conrad to support music therapy research at Laurier will help make a real difference in people’s lives. In recognition of the gift, the Laurier Centre for Music Therapy has been renamed the Manfred & Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research. “There is power in music and music can heal,” Dr. Heidi Ahonen, director of the institute, told a large group that gathered to celebrate the donation in April. “This donation allows us to launch research projects that we have only been able to dream of since (the centre opened in) 2003.” The Conrad gift is the largest individual donation ever given to Laurier’s Faculty of Music. It will support the important research and therapeutic work done within the faculty’s music therapy research centre. Additionally, the Conrads have created an annual scholarship to be awarded to a Laurier student who is studying music therapy at the graduate level. “This historic donation promises to Dr. Max Blouw, left, with Penny and Manfred Conrad, help so many people centre, and Dr. Charles Morrison.
Photo: Tomasz Adamski
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