Search

The article focuses on the challenges faced by Mennonite immigrants in the 1920s when trying to leave the Soviet Union and migrate to Canada legally. It highlights the complex bureaucratic processes, including obtaining the right paperwork, dealing with changing regulations, and undergoing rigorous medical examinations. Despite a brief period when the door was open for Mennonite immigration to Canada, it eventually closed due to changing political landscapes and economic factors.

According to a Solid Waste Stream Study in 2022, around 47 percent of trash being sent to the Hartland landfill in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada could have been diverted through other waste programs. Wood and wood products are responsible for the largest percentage of waste, nearly 20 percent, of what is sent to the landfill and construction activity is mostly responsible. [Extracted from the article]

A white paper from Canada and the United States focuses on collaboration between the two countries on their commitment to deal with the overdose crisis. "Substance Use and Harms During COVID‐19 and Approaches to Federal Surveillance and Response," issued Sept. 27, states that the increase in "substance use harms and deaths" during COVID‐19 is partly due to a decrease in access to services. The white paper itself focuses on the restrictions to methadone access in the United States and says little about the Canadian rules, but they are much more lenient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E‐commerce is increasingly popular in the fashion industry in Canada. Based on a case study, this research analysed the environmental sustainability of the returnable e‐commerce package format distributed in Canadian apparel retail channels. The case study compared the environmental impacts of a returnable polypropylene mailer to those of two different expendable packaging formats currently used by a brand owner, such as a corrugated paperboard package and a low‐density polypropylene mailer. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to examine the environmental impacts of the three packaging scenarios. The foreground data of the LCA were obtained from a brand owner and packaging suppliers in 2021. TRACI 2.1, including 10 life cycle impact categories, was used for the LCA. The comparative LCA results showed that the returnable mailer generated the lowest environmental impact for eight out of 10 impact categories when the final consumers' locations were relatively close to the brand owner or returnable packaging service provider. The expendable corrugated paperboard packaging format contributed the greatest environmental burden in all the impact categories primarily because it used a large amount of material and was relatively heavy. However, the comparative results were changed for some impact indicators depending on the final consumer's location and the number of reuse cycles for the returnable mailer. Specifically, the returnable mailer had a higher environmental impact than the expendable mailer for half of the 10 impact categories when the number of reuses for the returnable mailer was decreased to 10 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign investors are showing a strong interest in Canadian public debt, with the highest level of investment in over two years. In January, international investors purchased a net total of C$21.3 billion ($15.7 billion) in bonds and bills issued by Canada's federal and provincial governments and their business enterprises. The majority of this investment was in federal government debt, with an additional investment in securities of government corporations and business enterprises. However, non-residents reduced their private sector corporate paper by a record C$15.5 billion, largely due to retirements of instruments from the banking sector. Canadians, on the other hand, sold a net total of C$7.6 billion in foreign securities in January. Overall, net foreign investment in Canadian securities was C$8.9 billion, slightly lower than the previous month. [Extracted from the article]

To date, most postsecondary music teacher education courses in Canada have not held substantive space for Indigenous knowledge. In this paper, we first examine the broader efforts of Canadian universities to decolonize their institutions, then discuss issues that Indigenous scholars have raised that are relevant to embedding Indigenous knowledge in postsecondary music education classes. We describe one course at the University of Victoria dedicated to the process of decolonizing and Indigenizing music education and share our study’s findings regarding the course’s effect on the teaching practices of some of the educators who took the course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the lack of trash cans in women's toilet stalls, particularly in Canada's National Plumbing Code. Topics include the absence of trash cans leading to the improper disposal of menstrual products; the need for updated plumbing codes to include trash cans in toilet stalls; and the importance of public education to prevent the flushing of materials that can cause sewer blockages, such as fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and flushable wipes.

A report from researchers at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada explores the connection between the crises in seniors' care and processes of privatization and financialization. The researchers argue that rent theory is important for understanding the mechanisms underlying financialization in the sector, including accumulation by dispossession, devaluation of labor, and assetization. The paper employs a feminist political economy approach to examine the restructuring of eldercare in British Columbia, Canada over the past two decades. The research has been peer-reviewed and is available in the journal Environment and Planning A Economy and Space. [Extracted from the article]

This paper presents extensive new biographical information, assembled from newspaper articles, about Ogreta McNeill, Canada's first professional music librarian: pianist, singer, teacher, single mother, Toronto Public Library branch director, writer and bibliographer, impresario, founder and first chair of the Canadian Music Library Association. The early accomplishments and influences of her formative years in Victoria BC offer were fully realized in her later identity as a generous contributor to the wider musical community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of promoting school psychology in Canada to address the mental health needs of children and youth. It highlights the pressing concern of poor mental health among Canadian children, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and a shortage of mental health professionals. The article emphasizes the need to raise awareness about school psychology and its role in supporting children's mental health care. The Advocacy Committee of the Educational and School Psychology Section of the Canadian Psychological Association has published a Position Paper advocating for equitable and accessible psychological and mental health services in the public education system. The committee has also created outreach materials and organized webinars to improve the training and recruitment of school psychologists. The next steps involve sharing the Position Paper with relevant stakeholders and finding ways to improve diversity within school psychology training. [Extracted from the article]

A complex dynamical network (CDN) can be considered as the composition system with the nodes subsystem (NS) and the links subsystem (LS), and both subsystems are coupled with each other. Therefore, the dynamics of NS affects the dynamics of LS, and vice versa. In this paper, two vector differential equation (VDE)s are employed to describe the dynamics of NS and LS, respectively, in which the dynamics of NS is proposed as the VDE with the second derivative term (SDT) for more realistic engineering applications. Compared with the existing literature, the key advantage is that the dynamics of links is utilized to assist synthesizing the tracking controller of NS. The results show that when the state of LS tracks asymptotically the synthesized auxiliary tracking goal (ATG), the state of NS tracks asymptotically the given reference signal. Observing the eventual topology of CDN, all eventual links between nodes depend on the proposed ATG when NS achieving the tracking target, in which one special case is that if all target signals determined by ATG are not zero, all nodes are not isolated. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by a numerical simulation example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bibliometric techniques identify the productivity and influence on research. • Fuzzy systems are an area of study with potential for further research. • Zadeh is known as the most influential author in fuzzy research in North American. • The United States is the most productive and influential country in fuzzy research. The objective of this paper is to apply bibliometric techniques to analyze the evolution of fuzzy systems research (FSR) in the United States of America and Canada. The aim is to visualize the progression of FSR since Zadeh's first publication of fuzzy sets and the regional impact that these ideas have in the scientific community. This work obtains data retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) scientific database. Using a hybrid methodology designed to maximize the obtention of representative results, we analyze 20,317 documents published between 1965 and 2020. The main findings show that Zadeh is the most influential author and that Pedrycz is the most productive author at FSR. Journals such as Fuzzy Sets and Systems (FSS) and IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy Systems (TFS) publish most of the FSR articles. The results show a greater contribution by the United States of America compared to Canada in FSR. This analysis contributes to visualization and evolution in the field of study of FSR in diverse regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Petro-Points program, owned by Suncor's Petro-Canada, has been helping Canadians save money on fuel for almost 30 years. It is one of Canada's top loyalty programs, offering rewards and benefits to its members. Members can earn and redeem points on gas, car washes, and more, and can also access exclusive contests and partner benefits. The program has evolved over time, with the launch of a smartphone app and partnerships with RBC and Canadian Tire. The program aims to personalize rewards and create a seamless digital experience for its members. [Extracted from the article]

Canada's Commissioner of Competition filed papers to potentially block Rogers Communications' $16-billion purchase of Shaw Communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the challenges faced by Canada's reliance on carbon taxes for climate policy, highlighting political and cost-related issues, as well as potential electoral consequences and alternatives to the current approach.

Canada is projected to have a budget shortfall of approximately C$47 billion ($34.9 billion) for the fiscal year ending on March 31, which is higher than the target deficit of C$40 billion set by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. To meet the deficit target, Canada will need to make significant spending cuts or find new sources of revenue. Analysts and economists are warning that without tax increases or spending reductions, deficits are likely to increase due to slow economic growth. The government may unveil unexpected savings or sell assets to lower the deficit, but there are additional risks from new programs and potential increases in military spending. Despite these challenges, Canada's fiscal position is still considered relatively strong compared to other advanced economies. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Tensions boiled over at protests against vaccine mandates in two Canadian cities as demonstrations that began with frustrated truckers spread across the nation and are threatening to spill into the U.S. Demonstrators are planning a convoy to Washington, D.C. Overseas tourists will be allowed to visit Australia by the end of February, after a Covid-related hiatus of almost two years, the Herald Sun paper reported. The incidents come as protests against vaccine mandates and Covid restrictions expanded across Canada this weekend. [Extracted from the article]

The article delves into the challenges faced in managing smaller condominium properties amidst the rising popularity of condominium living across Quebec and Canada. It underscores the significant management flaws identified in smaller condominium associations, offering a critical analysis of governance structures and their implications on financial and personal risks, while also exploring potential solutions to these issues.

The article focuses on Western Canadian natural gas producers and how they find a better market in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry in the U.S. due to the high cost of building projects in Canada according to a report from Simon Fraser University's Clean Energy Research Group (CERG).

Over half, 65%, of retailers in the U.S. and Canada are committed to innovation, yet just 3% view themselves leaders when compared to cross-industry leaders such as tech firms and digital retailers. Those are top findings from Incisiv's "2024 State of the Industry: Innovation in Retail" report, in partnership with Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Victoria in Canada explored the experiences and perspectives of staff members at an injectable opiate assisted clinic. The study aimed to understand how the clinic staff provided care to clients, their perspectives on the clinic program's impact, and their experiences with the program. The research utilized interpretive description, underpinned by critical social theory, and employed thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and emerging themes. The study found that the relationship between critical social theory and interpretive description enhanced the research. For more information, the full article can be accessed through the Global Qualitative Nursing Research journal. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the recent donation of Louis Riel's private papers by his descendants, offering a poignant glimpse into the Métis leader's emotional and financial challenges during his exile. Topics include the acquisition of the manuscripts by the University of Calgary, and the digitization of the collection, providing a rare opportunity for the public to explore the personal and intimate life of Louis Riel and gain insight into the historic struggles of Métis people in Canada.

This paper aims to incorporate a high order diffusion term into a SIQR epidemic model with transient prophylaxis and lasting prophylaxis. The existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution is proven and we find a condition ensuring the extinction of an infectious disease. The existence of a stationary distribution for the stochastic epidemic model is investigated as well. Numerical simulations are conducted to support our theoretical results and an example of application with COVID-19 data from Canada is used to estimate the transmission rate and reproduction number associated with the stochastic model, while constructing a model fitting the data. • A stochastic SIQR epidemic model with higher-order perturbation is investigated. • The existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution are studied. • A stochastic threshold is established for extinction. • COVID-19 data from Canada are used to estimate the transmission rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the changes made to public washroom design in Canada due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics discussed include the increasing preference for cleanliness in public facilities according to HCMA managing partner Darryl Condon, significance of the guidelines on improving indoor air, ventilation and filtration issued by the Canadian government, and the trend toward universal washrooms ideal for all genders.

"The cap will focus on emissions and will not be a cap on oil and gas production", Guilbeault's department said in the document. (Bloomberg) -- The Canadian government released potential designs for an emissions cap on the oil and gas industry, the next step in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan to cut emissions in the sector by 42% by 2030. [Extracted from the article]

Mastermind Toys, a specialty Canadian independent retailer, has filed for creditor protection due to tough competition, a difficult economic climate, and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The company, which started in 1984 selling educational software before switching to toys in the 1990s, had expanded rapidly after 2010 with the help of Birch Hill Private Equity Partners. Despite implementing operational improvements and cost reductions, the challenges facing the company have become too significant to overcome. All 66 stores across Canada will remain open, and holiday promotions will continue online and in-store. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study conducted at St. Francis Xavier University in Canada explored the experiences of Mi'kmaw women living with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in two First Nations communities in Nova Scotia. The researchers used a combination of Indigenous and Western approaches to understand these experiences and build trust with the participants. The findings of the study revealed that the research helped the women gain new insights into their experiences and empowered them to take action to improve their health while maintaining their Mi'kmaw culture. The study emphasizes the importance of relational ethics and provides a framework for future research in this area. [Extracted from the article]

This article highlights Canada's prominent role in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Canadian computer scientists, such as Yoshua Bengio and Geoffrey Hinton, persisted with neural networks despite initial skepticism, leading to breakthroughs in deep learning. Unlike previous generations of Canadian AI companies that were often acquired or relocated to Silicon Valley, the current generation of startups and scale-ups are determined to stay in Canada and develop AI's next big application. Cohere, a Toronto-based startup founded by former Google Brain employees, is gaining attention for its large language models (LLMs) that improve text generation, document summarization, and search. The Canadian AI scene is thriving, with over 1,100 privately held generative AI companies raising $45 billion since the start of 2020. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential impact on the future. It highlights Canada's role in the advancement of AI, particularly through the work of British-Canadian computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton. The article also mentions the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT, a deep learning tool that has gained widespread popularity and versatility. Overall, the article emphasizes the significant progress made in AI technology and its potential to reshape various aspects of society. [Extracted from the article]

A researcher from the University of Waterloo in Canada has developed a new platform called Dynamic Consent for Public Health (DC4PH) that aims to improve the efficiency and efficacy of informed consent collection in public health research projects. The platform incorporates data governance and public health stakeholders' requirements into its design and is based on state-of-the-art standards and solutions. The researcher used Unified Modeling Language (UML) to create diagrams that reflect the mapped requirements and demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed data structure. The design has the potential to comply with data governance requirements, healthcare standards, and ledger technologies. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses Alanis Obomsawin, a groundbreaking Indigenous filmmaker, also known as the Oka Crisis, which inludes Obomsawin's activism, her approach to filmmaking, and the lasting impact of her documentaries on Indigenous rights and history in Canada.

Hong Kong Virus Support (10:03 a.m. HK) Hong Kong's government issued a paper to the Legislative Council to seek an injection of HK$27 billion ($3.5 billion) into its anti-epidemic fund, according to a statement. Hong Kong in "Crisis"; U.S.-Canada Bridge Reopens: Virus Update (Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong health officials warned of a "crisis" as a growing number of positive cases threatened to overwhelm hospitals and upend the government's Covid Zero strategy. [Extracted from the article]