Couple donates $1 million to aquatic centreNew Laurier Brantford YMCA recreation facility slated for construction this summer

InsideWILFRID LAURIER UNIVERSITY Waterloo | Brantford | Kitchener | TorontoAPRIL 2014

6Meet Stephen Preece, faculty member, avid cyclist, singer and jazz aficionado.

5Laurier chef Sherry Gallinger feels the heat as a competitor on Chopped Canada.

8Jessica Kun teaches how to communicate music through conducting.

Music students and members of the WLU Junk-Line perform for visitors during the spring open house on Laurier’s Waterloo campus. For more open house photos, turn to page 8.

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A Brant County couple with a long history of generously supporting their community has donated $1 million to the new Laurier Brantford YMCA Athletics & Recreation Centre. Donors Roger and Edith Davis attended the gift announcement March 18 at the Brantford Family YMCA on Wellington Street along with family members, representatives from the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford and Wilfrid Laurier University, local digni-taries and community members.

Roger and Edith Davis are the founders of Davis Fuels, a family-owned and operated fuel distributor serving Brantford, Brant County, Simcoe, Hagers-ville, Tillsonburg, Woodstock and London for almost 60 years.

“The support of the Davis family for the project shows incredible leadership for our community,” said Brian Rosborough, senior executive officer of Laurier’s Brantford campus. “Their gift today will have a positive lasting impact on the student experience at Laurier for years to come.”

The facility’s aquatic centre —

to be named in honour of the Davis Family — will consist of two pools for teaching, fitness, competitions, therapy and leisure. The six-lane, 25-metre lap pool will accommodate up to 180 swimmers, while a second, 60-person pool will have a movable floor so that it can transform from very shallow to 2.1-metres deep, making it ideal for everyone from young children to adults. The aquatic centre will also feature a 12-person therapy

pool and all will be wheelchair accessible.

The YMCA has a long history in Brantford that included swimming at its former Queen Street location. In 2005 the YMCA relocated to its current Wellington Street location that has a gym and fitness centre, but no pool. The Wellington Street location was considered temporary, until a new larger YMCA with a pool could be built. Laurier’s current facility, Wilkes

House, is insufficient for the expanding campus enrolment, which this new centre will accom-modate and allow for expanded athletics and recreational programming.

“The partnership between Laurier and the YMCA allows the two organizations to bring a much-needed athletics and recreation facility to downtown Brantford, with a state-of-the-art aquatic centre,” said Jim Commerford, president and CEO of the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford.

The Davis’ five children all learned to swim at the old YMCA on Queen Street, which has since been converted into apartments and a Laurier student residence.

“Edith doesn’t swim and I’m not a strong swimmer so as parents we were determined that our children learn this vital and potentially life-saving skill,” said Roger. “We look forward to bringing this aquatic centre to the community, so that children for years to come will have the oppor-tunity to learn this essential skill.”

The new Laurier Brantford

YMCA Athletics & Recreation Centre, to be located in Brant-ford’s downtown core, is a joint venture between Laurier and the YMCA of Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford. The complex will also include multi-purpose spaces for group fitness classes, social, educational and cultural programming, a health and wellness centre with treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes, weights and more, and a large gymnasium with retractable seating for 1,200 spectators for sport and recreation training, competitions and functions.

“The Laurier Brantford YMCA highlights what is possible when we work together in true partnership,” said Rob Donelson, Laurier’s vice-president: Devel-opment and Alumni Relations.

“Through their gift, the Davis family is entering into this partnership. Their actions demon-strate the vital role philanthropy plays in bringing communities together.”

Construction on the $58.4-million facility is scheduled to begin this summer.

A rendering of the aquatic facility in the future Laurier Brantford YMCA Athletics & Recreation Centre. Construction is scheduled to start this summer.

APRIL 2014Inside

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The Ontario government has issued a call for proposals that invites universities across the province to submit plans for new or expanded campuses in under-served areas.

This is an exciting development for Laurier.

We have been working with the Town of Milton since 2007 to develop plans for a new university campus in this fast-growing community. The province’s call for proposals allows us to take a significant step forward with our Milton plans.

The call itself signals the government’s support for addressing a number of key post-secondary issues, including the

need for more post-secondary spaces in underserved areas. It also underscores the province’s recog-nition that higher education plays a key role in spurring innovation, competitiveness and economic development.

The province’s call for proposals requires universities to submit their plans by Sept. 26, 2014. A multi-ministry panel will review the applications and make recom-mendations to the cabinet, which will make final decisions about successful projects and provincial funding. The government has advised that the number of projects selected for support, as well as the amount and timing of funding, will reflect a range of considerations,

including the fiscal environment.The Laurier Milton proposal

envisions a 150-acre university campus situated at the heart of a larger development known as the Milton Education Village (MEV). The MEV would include a research park, a technology commercial-ization centre, a variety of housing options, entertainment and athletic amenities, and retail services.

There are many reasons why a Laurier campus in Milton would benefit our university, the community of Milton, and the people of Ontario. Here are a few:• Milton is the fastest-

growing community in Canada and is experiencing a growing demand for post-secondary education. As well, demand for higher education in the Greater Toronto Area is also growing and the province is seeking cost-effective ways to add more post-secondary spaces in this region.

• Laurier has provided high-quality education for more than 100 years. Our smaller-campus approach has been a big reason for our success, and our multi-campus structure

allows us to replicate the Laurier experience in new communities.

• Laurier has been a multi-campus university since the Brantford campus opened in 1999. As our Brantford experience has shown, the multi-campus model enables Laurier to increase enrolment and add new programs while preserving the smaller-campus sense of community that has been a key part of our identity for more than a century.

• Our Brantford experience has also shown that opening a campus in another community attracts new sources of funding and new partnerships. These benefit the whole university in the form of new programs, expanded research capabilities and related synergies.

• As a multi-campus university, Laurier has prepared carefully for the addition of new campuses. The Presidential Task Force on Multi-Campus Gover-nance recommended 14 consensus points, which

were endorsed by Senate and the Board of Governors in 2012 and are now being implemented.

• A campus in Milton will not divert funding away from other Laurier campuses. Any provincial money for a Milton campus would be targeted to address the access issue in the GTA, and would therefore not be available to other Laurier campuses.

We will be busy over the next few months working with our partners in Milton to ensure that our submission addresses all of the expectations set out in the province’s call for proposals. I am confident that with support from the provincial government and our community partners in Milton, Laurier can create a successful new campus that will benefit the university, the Milton community, and Ontario students.

Max BlouwPresident and Vice-Chancellor

Send us your news, events & stories

All submissions are appreciated, however not all submissions will be published. We reserve the right to edit all copy for accuracy, content and length.

Deadline for submissions: May 16, 2014

InsideLaurier

Volume 8, Number 7, April 2014

Editor: Stacey Morrison

Contributors: Christian Aagaard, Lori Chalmers Morrison, Kevin Crowley, Elin Edwards, Justin Fauteux,

Kevin Klein, Sandra Muir, Mallory O’Brien

Available online at www.wlu.ca/publicaffairs.

InsideLaurier is published by Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing (CPAM)

Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3C5

InsideLaurier welcomes your comments and suggestions for stories.

Tel: (519) 884-0710 ext. 3341 | Fax: (519) 884-8848 Email: stmorrison@wlu.ca

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Opinions expressed in InsideLaurier do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the university’s administration.

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June 2014

Laurier will move forward with Milton planpRESIDENT’S MESSAgE

Email: insidelaurier@wlu.ca

InsideJune

By Mallory O’Brien

Laurier’s web team continues to work with web strategy and design firm mStoner, as well as team members from ITS and CPAM, to develop the university’s new website. The website, which will use Hannon Hill’s Cascade Server as the content management system (CMS), will be rolled out in stages beginning in mid-to-late fall 2014.

Prototypes of web pages, similar to blueprints, have been developed. Prospective under-graduate, international and graduate students, as well as internal users tested a prototype home page for four days in early March. User testing results and recommendations were presented by mStoner in a formal report, and the web team continues to

test and modify the prototype based on these recommendations.

The design phase of the website has also begun. “Style tiles” have been created that explore options for the visual elements of the web pages, such as fonts, colours and display concepts. The web steering committee reviewed various style tile concepts and selected a visual direction on March 17. mStoner is now using the chosen concepts to create a comprehensive design framework.

The web team is working with web steering committee members to define the website’s information architecture or how all the pages on the website are organized. Beginning in April, with help from the core web team, each department will be asked to create an inventory and

evaluate existing content within their section of the current website, as well as determine additional content to generate during the implementation phase of the website development. The website development timeline:

1. Strategy Phase (Winter-Spring 2014): Planning the site’s navigation, marketing and communi-cations strategy, and gover-nance structure.

2. Creative Phase (Winter-Summer 2014): Designing web page concepts and prototypes, creating a suite of web page templates, auditing the current website’s content and developing new content.

3. Implementation Phase (Summer-Fall 2014):

Building and imple-menting the design of the new CMS using Cascade Server, creating and uploading content, and usability testing. The implementation phase will

occur in stages to accom-modate the immense amount of data that will need to be created and added to the new CMS.

Visit www.wlu.ca/webreview for further information.

Development of Laurier’s new website continues

Laurier President Max Blouw, centre, with humanitarians Stephen Lewis, left, and Dr. James Orbinski, right, at the university’s recent Conversation with Leaders Event in Toronto.

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APRIL 2014

History student wins Three Minute Thesis competitionCory Scurr, a doctoral student in History, won Laurier’s second-annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in March.

The 3MT competition gives graduate students just three minutes and a single, static PowerPoint slide to present their research to a panel of non-specialist judges, who evaluate how effectively the students communicate their research. The panel selected Scurr’s presentation “Cold War Warrior? Diefenbaker and Canadian-Soviet Relations” as the winner from a field of 26 Laurier doctoral and masters students, who presented research from a wide range of disciplines.

“It was a challenging but really fun experience,” said Scurr, who received a $1,000 prize. “An opportunity like this allows you to show that you can take complex and seemingly unrelated issues

and information and make them accessible. Not to mention the public-speaking skills, which are always good to refine.”

Runner up Scott Mitchell’s (MSc, Biology) presentation,

“Zombies in Bacterial Genomes,” earned him a $500 prize. Both Scurr and Mitchell will represent Laurier at the Ontario 3MT competition at McMaster University April 24.

For more information on the Three Minute Thesis compe-tition at Laurier, visit wlu.ca/gradstudies/3MT.

TD Bank group donates $750,000 to entrepreneurship at LaurierTD Bank Group has donated $750,000 to expand Laurier’s LaunchPad program. LaunchPad, a popular course in entrepre-neurship at the university, guides students and alumni through the process of creating a successful new business.

The donation will seed the establishment of LaunchPad at Laurier’s Brantford campus and support the existing program in Waterloo. The Waterloo campus, which officially opened LaunchPad in 2011, now has 58 students and alumni working in teams on 40 new ventures. With TD’s funding, Laurier hopes to double the number of partici-pants over next two years.

Students in the LaunchPad course have a strategic pathway

into their local entrepreneurship community, in addition to numerous connections with government and business. They also have access to new capital, research, technology, commer-cialization expertise and support services.

The latest contribution brings the bank’s total support for Laurier to nearly $2 million since 1997.

Nominations open for Employee Achievement AwardsNominations are now being accepted for the 2014 Employee Achievement Awards.

The awards are founded on the Employee Success Factors, and recognize and reward significant contributions by faculty and staff in the following categories:• President’s Award

(Individual and Team)• Individual Employee

Success Factor Awards• Multi-Campus Champion

AwardStaff, faculty and students

are welcome and encouraged to submit nominations. The submission deadline is May 2, 2014.

For more information and to download nomination forms, visit www.wlu.ca/achievementawards.

Edna Staebler Laurier Writer-in-Residence: call for applicantsLaurier’s Faculty of Arts is seeking submissions from Canadian writers for the Edna Staebler Laurier Writer-in-Residence position for Winter 2015. The writer-in-residence will receive $25,000 for a three-month residency from Jan. 19 to April 10, 2015 on Laurier’s Waterloo campus.

The Edna Staebler Laurier Writer-in-Residence was inaugu-rated in 2013, when Andrew Westoll, author of The River-bones and The Chimps of Fauna Sanctuary, served as Laurier’s first

writer-in-residence. Playwright, filmmaker and librettist Colleen Murphy will complete her term as writer-in-residence this month.

All Canadian writers of estab-lished literary reputation are encouraged to apply. Applicants should be in the midst of a new writing project intended for book-length publication, and be active participants in the writing community. Applications must be received by 4 p.m., May 31, 2014.

To see a full list of require-ments or to apply for the Edna Staebler Laurier Writer-in-Residence position, visit http://bit.ly/1ru4MU7.

NEWS What’s new and notable at Laurier

Volunteering can facilitate ‘a shift in pride’Online portal makes it easy to find flexible volunteer opportunities

Artists Carole Condé and Karl Beveridge visited the Robert Langen Art Gallery on the Waterloo campus in March for a public reception, artists’ talk and panel discussion about their featured exhibit Percarious.

Artists visit Robert Langen Art Gallery

Photo: Mallory O’BrienLaurier 3MT winner Cory Scurr with Joan Norris, dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

By Justin Fauteux

Before he started volunteering, Scott Murie took pride in the things he owned. But eight years of teaching English and outfitting children with school supplies in El Salvador changed that.

“I think it’s a shift in pride. Now, I’m far more proud of the things that I’ve done,” said Murie, an online learning assistant at Laurier who founded his charity Can-Teach International in 2005. “It’s not so much about what I’ve got anymore, because I’ve already got everything I need. I’m a really lucky guy. But I know what these kids need is a stronger education.”

According to Volunteer Canada, in addition to the skill development, networking opportunities and overall rewarding feelings that come along with volunteering, studies have shown that adults who volunteer have reduced stress levels, higher self esteem and are less likely to feel isolated.

Several Canadians are taking advantage of all that volun-teering has to offer. The most recent Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating conducted in 2010, revealed that 13.3-million Canadians over 15 years old contributed a total of 2.1-billion volunteer hours that year. According to the report,

some individuals had volunteered thousands of hours.

At Laurier, there is a strong culture of volunteering, particu-larly for students who have many opportunities to volunteer; whether it’s with a campus club or organi-zation, an off-campus nonprofit or international volunteer trip, or through a classroom component. However, there is no shortage of opportunities for staff and faculty to get involved as well.

“It’s all about figuring out what gets you most excited or most passionate and then trying to find those opportunities,” said Gail Roth, manager of Community Service-Learning (CSL). “If you want to make change in your community around policy, then going on a board is probably a better route for you. If you want to make a difference in an individual’s life or a small group of people, you want to find something more hands on.”

A good place to start looking for volunteer opportunities is Laurier’s online volunteer portal. Available online at wlu.ca/volunteer, Laurier staff, students and faculty can log in with their Novell username and password and get connected with a range of opportunities to volunteer across Waterloo Region and Brantford.

Run through a partnership between the Laurier Centre for

Community Service-Learning, the Laurier Career Centre and the Volunteer Action Centre of Kitchener-Waterloo, the portal has a volunteer opportunity for just about any interest; from teaching computer classes, to coaching sports, or working with kids as a Big Brother or Sister, reading buddy or classroom volunteer.

“There are a lot of different ways to volunteer, it’s not hard to get excited once you see all the oppor-tunities,” said Shannon Pennington, a CSL coordinator who helps run the volunteer portal. “It could be a one-shot deal with something like a yearly event, or it could be once a month or once a week. There are so many ways to get over that barrier of time, which I know is a very real barrier for everybody.”

While there are many oppor-tunities to volunteer in the Kitchener-Waterloo and Brantford communities, Roth and Pennington encourage Laurier faculty, staff and students to get involved in whatever community they are in.

For Murie, giving back to the community started locally through organizations like Meals on Wheels and Out of the Cold, and eventually went international through volunteer work in Honduras.

In 2005, Murie took things to the next level and formed Can-Teach International, which sends volun-

teers to El Salvador and Columbia to help teach English in schools and provide school supplies to thousands of children.

“When I was in Honduras in 2005, we were doing agricultural work. The farmers thanked us, but they were always saying, ‘We really need to learn English,’” said Murie, who worked in distance education at the University of Waterloo for 24 years before coming to Laurier in 2009. “I thought, ‘I work in distance education, there must be something I can drum up.’”

Can-Teach had its first board meeting in November 2005 and sent its first group of volunteers to El Salvador in January 2006. Since then, the organization has organized several English-teaching trips to El Salvador,

and has expanded to sending school supplies and assisting in construction projects — Can-Teach volunteers are currently helping a school in rural El Salvador become wheelchair-accessible. The organi-zation also started working with a Canadian program called ESL for Peace to assist with a “teachers-teaching-teachers” program in Columbia.

“There are so many reasons why we can volunteer locally and internationally,” said Murie. “If you don’t volunteer, you’re missing out on a very important element of life. You’re robbing yourself of something that’s very human.”

Do you know a staff or faculty member who gives back to their community? Email insidelaurier@wlu.ca.

Scott Murie with children in an El Salvador school his charity supports.

APRIL 2014Inside

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Name: Sandra Muir Job Title: Social Media Strategist, CPAM Volunteer Organization: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region (www.bbbswr.org)

I have been volunteering at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region (BBBSWR) for more than six years in a variety of capacities. Some of my roles have included in-school mentor, member of the Bowl for Kids Sake committee, member of the Board of Directors, and currently, I’m a member of the Resource Development committee. Growing up, I was fortunate to have three older brothers looking out for me, paying attention to me, and being great role models. Knowing what an impact they had, I wanted to make sure I could do the same for someone else.

Name: Kris Gerhardt Job Title: Assistant Professor, Leadership and Psy-chology, Brantford campus Book Title: An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth Author: Chris Hadfield

I am currently re-reading An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield. The first time was for pure enjoyment. This time I’m spending time going through the chapters and pulling out examples and passages that I can use in my courses. I truly believe this should be required reading for anyone who currently holds or hopes to hold a leadership position. As one of the truly great contemporary leaders in Canada, Hadfield’s insights are invaluable.

For a complete list of appointments visit www.wlu.ca/hrpEOpLE AT LAURIER

Student Melissa Jarosz in the KPMG Atrium on Laurier’s Waterloo campus, one of the many places and objects tagged for Tag Day in March. Each tag — placed on places and objects on the Waterloo and Brantford campuses — highlights the many ways donations and philanthropy positively impact the university and experience.

Laurier celebrates donor generosity with Tag Day

Where are you volunteering?

New appointments:

Susan Casserly, legal counsel, Secretariat’s Office (Waterloo campus).

Matt Farrell, educational developer, Education Services (Brantford campus).

Brendon Irwin, CMS administrator, ICT (Waterloo campus).

Melanie Lafrance, transcript and document specialist, Office of the Registrar (Waterloo campus).

Dallas Moester, jr. technical support specialist, ICT (Brantford campus).

Crystal Raymond, development officer, annual giving, Development (Waterloo campus).

Ash Riad, senior project lead, ITS (Waterloo campus).

Darryl Sanders, 3rd-class

operating engineer, Physical Resources (Waterloo campus).

Erin Smith, Cognos 10 project coordinator, Institutional Research (Waterloo campus).

Cheryl Stornelli, development officer, Development & Alumni Relations (Waterloo campus).

Staff changes:

Melody Barfoot, cross reg/communications assistant, Office of the Registrar (Waterloo campus).

Siobhan Bhagwat, coordinator, educational development program and events, Teaching Support Services (Waterloo campus).

Jessica Buckle, academic advisor, Central Academic Unit (Brantford campus).

Elaine Francome, project analyst, Central Academic Unit (Brantford campus).

Scott Harris, program manager, enrolment services review, Office of the Registrar (Waterloo campus).

Martin Illingworth, coordinator, Techshop purchasing and sales, Bookstore (Waterloo campus).

Tania John, director, Alumni Relations, Annual Giving, Stewardship, Development (Waterloo campus).

Ruth MacNeil, acting registrar, Office of the Registrar (Waterloo campus).

Necia Martins, manager, Service Laurier (Waterloo campus).

Beth Noble, associate director, Annual Giving, Development (Waterloo campus).

Karen Ostrander, director, Student Wellness Centre, Student Services Management (Waterloo campus).

By Mallory O’Brien

It was a full week of exciting events with award-winning Canadian author Elizabeth Hay, who was Laurier’s Visiting Writer for 2014.

Hay visited Laurier’s Waterloo and Brantford campuses March 17-21 and held lectures and readings, led creative writing sessions and reading groups, participated in panel discussions and visited classrooms.

During a discussion with the Laurier Reads Elizabeth Hay reading group, Hay discussed her writing process and how she developed Late Nights on Air, the book chosen for the reading group.

“‘What really matters to me?’ is a question I ask myself. What comes are pressures on my mind. Usually this also comes with a place,” said Hay.

Late Nights on Air is set in and around a small radio station in Yellowknife in the Canadian north of the 1970s, and is based on Hay’s own experiences working at

the CBC in Yellowknife. “I go back and live that time

imaginatively,” she said. “More fully than I actually lived it.”

The group also discussed the themes and characters in Hay’s work, and Hay divulged the various titles the book had — changes brought on by doubting friends and critical editors — before she finally settled on Late Nights on Air.Hay has won multiple awards for her work. Late Nights on Air won the 2007 Scotiabank Giller Prize, among other awards. Hay also won Laurier’s 1993 Edna Staebler Award for Creative Non-Fiction, for The Only Snow in Havana. In 2002 the Writers’ Trust of Canada presented her with the Marian Engel Award for her body of work, which includes novels, short stories and creative non-fiction.

Laurier’s Visiting Writer program is sponsored by Laurier’s Office of the Vice-President: Academic and Provost. Past writers have included Alissa York, Joseph Boyden and Lawrence Hill.

By Lori Chalmers Morrison

Throughout the winter and early spring, academic and administrative programs across the university have focused on completing their Integrated Planning and Resource Management (IPRM) program templates.

On the other side of the template submission process, the IPRM academic and administrative priorities teams have been working diligently to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation process, from establishing operational protocols to undergoing norming processes to ensure the consistent interpre-tation and application of evaluation rubrics.

“The effort, both on the part of the programs completing their templates and the teams evalu-ating them, is profound,” said Kim Morouney, co-chair of the Planning Task Force (PTF). “The teams are to be commended for the integrity and dedication that they have brought to this process.”

The administrative and academic priorities teams are currently evalu-ating the first groups of program templates. Templates from the final group of administrative programs were submitted at the end of March, and the final group of academic program templates will be submitted in early May.

“The purpose of IPRM has always been to make Laurier a better institution,” said Mary-Louise Byrne, co-chair of the PTF. “The amount of thought, effort and data that programs have included in their templates will provide us with a wealth of information to move Laurier forward strategically and successfully.”

Following the program template evaluation, the academic and administrative teams will make priority recommendations to the PTF. The PTF will then submit its recommendations to Senate and the Board of Governors, which is anticipated to take place in fall 2014.

The resource management team’s (RMT) process — which

will ultimately identify potential resource management models and recommend the most appropriate model for the university — is continuing in tandem with IPRM’s prioritization process.

After reviewing the budgeting model process of six other universities from across Canada and the United States, the RMT conducted individual consultations with Laurier stakeholders, and is delivering presentations to internal groups to inform them of the process and invite feedback.

Whether the university faces an increase or a decrease in future resources, prioritization will allow Laurier to be strategic in how resources are allocated using the recommended budget model.

IPRM Town Halls are tentatively planned for mid-May in Waterloo and Brantford to provide further updates about the process and to answer questions from the Laurier community.

For more IPRM information, please visit www.wlu.ca/IPRM or email IPRM@wlu.ca

IpRM teams busy evaluating templatesAuthor Elizabeth Hay inspires during weeklong visit

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APRIL 2014

Sudoku

See solution on page 6.

By Justin Fauteux

Sherry Gallinger has faced many challenges in her culinary career. But making an entrée in 30 minutes that must include eel and cattail? That was a new one.

Gallinger, the executive chef at the Terrace Food Court on Laurier’s Waterloo campus, was featured in the March 20 episode of the Food Network’s Chopped Canada. The show features four chefs who compete for a $10,000 prize by preparing three courses with mandatory — and unconventional — ingredients. A panel of judges critiques each course and then decides which competitor will be eliminated or

“chopped.” Gallinger made it through the

appetizer round, combining the mandatory ingredients of kaffir lime, shredded-wheat squares, red cabbage and smelts to make a dish of kaffir-braised cabbage with shredded wheat-crusted smelts. However, she was elimi-nated after the entrée round, in which she used the required celery hearts, kumato tomatoes, eel and pickled cattail (a wheat-like plant) to make chowder.

“You just think, ‘What in the world am I going to do with

this?’” said Gallinger of seeing the required ingredients for the first time. “I mean, I never even fathomed cattail would be a product. But you have to use the ingredients, and above all, the dish has to taste good.”

The offbeat ingredients and three other chefs weren’t the only things Gallinger was competing against. Chopped gives the contestants just 20 minutes to prepare an appetizer and 30 minutes to prepare an entrée; and the clock starts right after the chefs see the ingredients for the first time.

“It seems like seconds. There’s definitely a moment where you just have no idea what you’re going to do.” said Gallinger.

“You’re running around, you’re in a panicked state, and you’re just thinking, ‘How can I make this taste good?’”

While cooking with cameras in her face was something new to Gallinger, she’s certainly no stranger to working in a high-stress environment.

Gallinger’s cooking career has taken her to kitchens in Australia, New Zealand and Italy, and to major hotel chains across Canada. Since arriving at Laurier five years ago, her job has run the

gambit from ensuring kitchen standards are being followed, to managing the Terrace’s product and budget, and incorporating healthier, more local food options at outlets on campus such as the Union Market kiosk.

However, Gallinger doesn’t always get the same credit as some of her peers.

“There’s a perception that someone who works in a food court isn’t really a chef, but I would beg to differ completely,” she said. “I’ve worked on lines with chefs who wouldn’t be able to keep up with the pace here. It’s all the same work as any other chef, but not the same glory as working in a high-end restaurant.”

And while dispelling that misconception of food-court chefs wasn’t the only reason Gallinger applied to be on Chopped Canada, she did use her appearance on the show to prove a thing or two.

“The most challenging part is just overcoming that initial fear that you’re not going to make it,” she said. “But I think I showed Canada I’m a decent chef and I’ve got decent skills. Plus I’ve been told I’m pretty entertaining to watch.”

Laurier chef competes on Chopped Canada

The fourth annual Staff Development Day will take place June 25 on Laurier’s Waterloo campus from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Transportation will be available for Brantford participants.

This year’s theme is “Inspiring You: Wellness@Work.” Plans for the day include an engaging and informative keynote presentation from David Posen, a best-selling author and expert on stress mastery, barbeque lunch and break-out sessions. Registration will be launched in May.

If you have a creative idea or expertise that you would like to share as a break-out session, proposals can be submitted until April 17 at 4:30 p.m. More information is available at www.wlu.ca/staffdevday or contact Samantha Cook at ext. 4265 or scook@wlu.ca.

Mark your calendar for Staff Development Day

Sherry Gallinger battles the clock while cooking her entrée on Chopped Canada.

Humanitarians inspire crowd at Laurier’s Conversations with Leaders event

Stephen Lewis, left, and Dr. James Orbinski, centre, two of Canada’s leading humanitarians, shared their unique views on leadership at Laurier’s Conversations with Leaders event in Toronto last month. The conversation between Lewis and Orbinski was moderated by Avis Favaro, CTV’s long-serving medical correspondent, right.

Bree Chaput, a co-captain with the women’s varsity basketball team, was named the 2014 Outstanding Woman of Laurier during a luncheon at the Waterloo Inn Conference Hotel in March.

Chaput was one of four nominees for this year’s award which also included teammate Doreen Bonsu and women’s soccer players Emily Brown and Kelsey Tikka.

Chaput, a fourth year Kinesi-ology and Physical Education major, is a three-time CIS Academic All-Canadian, and has been a versatile player for the

women’s basketball team, playing four different positions over her career. She has twice helped the Golden Hawks advance to the CIS Championship.

This year, Chaput was the recipient of the prestigious McGraw-Hill Ryerson Student Scholarship, an award presented to just 20 post-secondary students across the country.

Away from the court, Chaput has volun-teered with Special Olympic track and field

athletes, Big Brother Big Sister Waterloo Region, and has served as a mentor for Laurier’s Athlete Academic Success Program.

Basketball co-captain wins OWL award

Bree Chaput, left, with alumna Kelly Murumets, Tennis Canada President and OWL keynote speaker.

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APRIL 2014Inside

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COFFEE WITH A CO-WORkER

How long have you been at Laurier? I joined SBE in 1993. Initially, I taught Strategic Management but have since gravitated to the entrepreneurship area with courses in New Venture Creation, Arts Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship. I have recently been appointed the new academic director of the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship.

What is your typical workday like? In the morning I like to do my mind-crunch stuff like research and writing, and in the afternoon it’s grading, adminis-tration and checking emails. Lately I’ve had night classes, which have their own kind of energy, though I am much more of a morning person. Noon hour usually finds

me at the gym, yoga or playing soccer with a pickup group we call “profball” (students, faculty and staff from Laurier).

What do you like to do in your spare time? Musical pursuits are a big focus for my hobbies. I sing with the 24-voice DaCapo Chamber choir and enjoy the challenge of singing more avant-garde, newer music with them. I also spend a lot of time at The Jazz Room (at the Huether Hotel) — I’m the founder and current president of the Grand River Jazz Society (started during a sabbatical in 2011). As someone who has been studying and teaching arts management for the past 20 years, I thought it was a good opportunity to explore. Today, there are more than 40 volunteers, eight to 10 board members and

a couple of paid positions that run this organization — and much to my surprise, it really works. We showcase both local and international artists, every Friday and Saturday evening. And lastly, I am also an amateur pianist.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?I love to ride my bike, anytime, every-where — even in the winter. Although I will admit, this past winter certainly had its challenges! I do my best and try and take paths that will help me avoid vehicles. I’m even going to get rid of my car this spring.

What do you like most about working at Laurier? Laurier’s School of Business and Economics

truly is a leader in business schools in Canada with an innovative culture and outstanding entrepreneurial thrust. The Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship has made great strides since its inception.

What are your plans for the future?I’m just thrilled to be appointed the new academic director for the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship. I really think that Steve Farlow has created this jewel and I can’t wait to become more involved. In my new role, I will be responsible for working with all faculties across the entire university in the design and delivery of academic courses in entrepreneurship.

By Erin Almeida

A look at staff and faculty across campus

Name: Stephen Preece

Title: Associate Professor (Policy)and Academic Director of the Schlegel Centre for Entrepreneurship

Where you can find him: School of Business and Economics

Drink of choice: Rooibus tea

COMINg EVENTS For a complete list of events visit www.wlu.ca/events

Check out what the Laurier community has been tweeting about at twitter.com/lauri-ernews. Laurier also has official sites on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Lauri-erNow and YouTube at www.youtube.com/LaurierVideo.

@MercerRecord – March 29Brantford’s downtown was bleak when Laurier gambled on a ‘ghost town’ and won. http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4437345-laurier-gambled-on-a-ghost-town-and-won/ …

@CTV_AvisFavaro – March 25Honoured to have met Stephen Lewis and Dr. James Orbinski #Laurier leadership pic.twitter.com/ehhWT0Z1qc”

@WLUAthletics – March 26Murumets: “Coming to Laurier was one of the best deci-sions of my life. I love Laurier.” #OWL #WeAreHAWKS @LaurierNews @LaurierAlumni

@OntUniv – March 25$750,000 donation from TD Bank Group invests in future entrepreneurs, #start-ups at #WLU campuses @LaurierNews bit.ly/1fewtYC #cdnpse

@WLUFoodServices – March 20Fantastic job Chef @Sher-ryGallinger! Made us proud! #WLU #Laurier #Chopped-Canada @FoodNetworkCA

Soup and Frybread LunchesWhen: Every Tuesday until April 29Noon – 2 p.m.Where: Aboriginal Student Centre (Waterloo and Brantford campuses).Cost: Free

Stop in and enjoy a tasty lunch of homemade soup and frybread.

MBA Information SessionWhen: April 155:45 p.m. – 7 p.m.Where: Ernst & Young Boardroom, Waterloo campusCost: Free

Are you considering furthering your education with an MBA? Meet a Laurier alumnus and learn about the university’s MBA program options at this information session.

Integrated and Engaged Learning Conference (IELC) 2014When: May 7 – 9Where: Waterloo campusCost: $50/staff, faculty, senior administrators; $10/students; $100 external registrants

IELC 2014 brings together the various partners, both within the institution and external, involved in providing an educational experience that engages students deeply in their learning. IELC features keynote speakers, panels and concurrent sessions. Regis-tration deadline is April 30. For more information contact ielc@wlu.ca.

Laurier Milton Lecture SeriesExtraordinary Progress and Glaring Gaps: Women’s International Human Rights Since 1970 When: May 147 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.Where: Milton Centre for the Arts, MiltonCost: Free

Rhoda Howard-Hassmann from Laurier’s Department of Global Studies will discuss progress and problems in universal women’s rights since 1970, focusing both on the international law of women’s rights and on developments in Canada. For more information, visit www.mpl.on.ca/lectures.

Empty BowlsWhen: May 1511:20 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Where: Senate and Board Chamber, Waterloo campusCost: $40

This event is designed to raise awareness of hunger, with proceeds going to The Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Each ticket entitles a guest to select one bowl to keep and enjoy a modest meal of gourmet soups and bread. For more information, visit the Robert Langen Gallery web page.

Friends of the Seminary Golf TournamentWhen: May 2911 a.m. – 8 p.m.Where: Ariss Valley Golf and Country ClubCost: $135

Heard on Twitter

Faculty member Stephen Preece enjoys music and is the president of the Grand River Jazz Society.

Your entry fee includes 18 holes of golf, a box lunch, and buffet steak dinner. Funds raised support many Seminary programs and initiatives. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/1nXay1j.

Spring Convocation, WaterlooWhen: June 9 – 13Where: Athletic Complex, WaterlooCost: Free

Support graduating students and celebrate convocation! For a

full schedule of ceremonies, visit www.wlu.ca/convocation.

Spring Convocation, BrantfordWhen: June 18, 19Where: Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts, BrantfordCost: Free

Support graduating students and celebrate convocation! For a full schedule of ceremonies, visit For a full schedule of ceremonies, visit www.wlu.ca/convocation.

Sudoku solution from page 6.

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APRIL 2014

By Christian Aagaard

Credit default swaps probably rank pretty low among the things weighing on the minds of people lined up for coffee in the morning.

Fortunately, drowsy citizens can leave the heavy lifting to two researchers at the Laurier School of Business and Economics.

Associate professors Madhu Kalimipalli and Subhankar Nayak made credit default swaps — known by the acronym CDS in the world of high finance — a special focus of a recent study. Their findings, authored with Sanjiv Das of Santa Clara University in California, appeared in the February 2014 issue of The Journal of Financial Economics (JFE). The JFE is a top-tier finance periodical ranked in the Financial Times 45 index.

“Like any financial product, it can be used efficiently, or it can be misused,’’ Nayak said. “So, there is a good and bad side to it, and we are trying to explore that.”

Credit default swaps are a form of insurance on debt, particularly the debt corporations take on when they issue bonds.

Buying and selling corporate bonds gets cash moving in the economy. Debt helps build factories, produce new products and create jobs. It generates wealth.

To protect themselves in the event a corporation falters finan-cially, and drags down the value of its bonds, bond buyers shop around for protection in the form of CDS. CDS form a market, with

risk being bought and sold among those willing to it take on — and those wanting to shed it.

All of this happens in a realm of finance where most household savers never venture. It’s a place where transactions total trillions of dollars, and the environment can get frenzied and careless.

When risk stretches too far, covering some rather bad debts, the snap brings down huge insurers and investment banks, as it did in the financial collapse of 2008.

“What happens on Wall Street eventually is transmitted to Main Street,” Kalimipalli said.

“Eventually it trickles down to our average Tim Hortons guy, through what it does to inflation and interest rates and so on. All the banks are linked in some sense.”

Kalimipalli and Nayak didn’t dwell on the financial crash of

several years ago. They choose to go back to the early 2000s, when CDS markets gained popularity and bond markets gained more transparency thanks to the electronic Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE). Introduced as an experiment by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, TRACE was developed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Just as shoppers compare car prices over the Internet instead of roaming from dealer to dealer,

TRACE gives buyers a faster and more accurate assessment of the corporate bond market.

CDS, introduced in the early 1990s, began to gain traction in 2000 as bond buyers sought to protect themselves.

But did that opportunity for protection remarkably improve the bond market? Pouring over hundreds of companies, and

thousands of trades between 2000-2010, Kalimipalli, Nayak and Das looked at three key components: efficiency — how quickly information was assimi-lated; quality — where bond buyers got the correct pricing; and liquidity — how easy it was to buy or sell bonds.

They argue CDS had unexpected — and negative — consequences on the underlying bond market.

“We found that after the CDS introduction, the bond market

efficiency went down, the bond quality went down and the bond market liquidity shows evidence of going down,” said Kalimipalli.

Nayak uses car insurance as an analogy: There is evidence that having it doesn’t necessarily put better, safer drivers on the road.

Regulation is always a touchy subject in financial circles. Too much of it squeezes the flow of cash that lubricates the economy; too little leaves the economy prone to predation, even collapse.

Their research, Kalimipalli said, adds to the body of resources policymakers can use to gauge whether they should intervene in the financial system, and to what extent.

“The taxpayers are bailing out companies for the reckless mistakes that bankers are doing at the top. You and I may be OK, but how about our children, and their children? They’ll still be paying debt . . .”

“The point is that the (CDS) is a great financial innovation. It has a lot of promise. But you have to be careful. It may have some unintended impact on the under-lying market.”

RESEARCH FILE

Research in the Northwest Territories looks at how climate change is affecting the Far North

Do credit default swaps improve the bond market?Findings of Laurier researchers could be of interest to policymakers

grad students spend three months at remote research site

“ What happens on Wall Street eventually is transmitted to Main street. ”

“ The noticeable increase in streamflow and permafrost thaw have resulted in rapid changes in land types.”

By Elin Edwards

While southern Ontario residents were longing for the end of a very long and cold winter in March, a group of Laurier graduate students were busy packing the gear and scientific equipment they will need for a three-month stay in a remote area of the Northwest Territories.

They are working with Bill Quinton, Canada Research Chair in Cold Regions Hydrology and associate professor in Laurier’s Geography and Environmental Studies Department. The group travelled to the Scotty Creek research site, a 30-kilometre snowmobile ride from the nearest settlement. Quinton has been studying the arctic permafrost here for many years.

Lindsay Stone, a master of science student, is interested in fens, and will be serving as camp

coordinator and instrument technician. Emily Haughton, also a master of science student, is studying the effect of tree and shrub canopies on the snowmelt. Ryan Connon, a doctoral student, is returning to the north to study

the water balance of peat plateaus and bogs. They will all stay at the Scotty Creek site until June.

Michael Braverman, a part-time master of science student, will join them at the site for 10 days to check on instrumentats he is using to investigate how seismic lines affect the hydrology of the peatlands. Quinton will also accompany the students to the site and stay for 10 days, as will project volunteer Nick Lillie.

In preparation for the trip, students assembled the equipment they will be installing and using in the Northwest Territories, some of which is quite large. They also packed all the supplies they will need both for research and daily living over the next three months in the Arctic into a multitude of rubber bins.

The journey wasn’t your ordinary March Break road trip.

After flying from Ontario to Yellowknife, the group travelled eight hours by truck, followed by a transfer to snowmachines with sleds to carry their gear for two more hours.

They are looking forward to the

adventure but also to the work they will be doing.

“I get paid to play in the snow, but the science is useful, so that part is great, too,” said Stone.

Reflecting on the opportunities available to Laurier graduate students, Haughton said, “Not everyone in a master of science program gets the chance to do this type of field work; it’s a valuable experience.” Returning to Scotty Creek this spring after an earlier research trip, she added, “I love doing it and I keep coming back.”

Connon, who has made several research trips to the field site, described the appeal of the Arctic wilderness. “We clear an area of lake and play hockey under the northern lights,” he said of the experience.

They all believe their work is not only interesting, but important.

“What we’ve noticed is the discharge in rivers flowing out from the peat plateau to the bogs has doubled in the last 10 to 15 years,” said Connon. “The noticeable increase in streamflow and permafrost thaw have resulted in rapid changes in land types.”

With Connon working on the peat plateau and bog water balance, Stone on the fens, Haughton on the snow energy balance, and Braverman on seismic lines, all are contributing to the goal of trying to predict what may happen in the future.

Focusing on their own research

will take up a good part of their time, but they also helped with the annual March snow measurement that Quinton has been performing for many years to provide basic snow and water estimates for the region.

Adding to the “snow archive” is a “good thing — it tells you how the different land cover types store different water melt equiva-lents, which can help determine the streamflow changes,” said Quinton.

The Northern Lights at the base camp at Scotty Creek, top. Clockwise from above left: Ryan Connon, Emily Haughton, Bill Quinton, Nick Lillie, Michael Braverman and Lindsay Stone.

APRIL 2014Inside

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IN THE CLASSROOM

Assistant professor Jessica Kun leads students through a conducting class in the Faculty of Music.

Communicating musicallyInstructor: Jessica Kun

Class: MU394 – Conducting I

Description: Introduces and develops the basic principals of conducting, including the physical elements (baton and physical communication techniques and aural skills) and theory.

Through a combination of practical study, experiential application and philosophy, students in Conducting I are engaged in the process it takes to become an effective conductor.

Assistant Professor and Conductor Jessica Kun says the course can help future music teachers communicate musically from the podium to give their own students valuable musical experi-ences, or help future composers conduct their own works. Conducting I also prepares students who wish to continue studying conducting at a more advanced level in Conducting II, which continues their development toward pursuing a profession or graduate studies in conducting.

“By the end of the course, I hope that each student has deepened their own musicianship and learned ways to effectively communicate music through conducting or performing on their instrument,” said Kun.

~By Mallory O’Brien

Campuses open doors for annual March Break open houses

The Brantford campus experienced snowy weather (top left) for its open house, but that didn’t stop the Hawk and prospective students from visiting (top middle and right). On the Waterloo campus, science demonstrations and tours (bottom left), information booths (bottom centre), and music and opera performances (bottom right) kept visitors busy.

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