In Brief

JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF

UBC combines classroom

and community service The University of British Columbia (UBC) and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation have collaborated funds to create a program that will aid about five per cent of UBC students in learning about their fields of study through community service projects.

The UBC Community Learning Initiative (UBC-CLI) was established due to $2.5 million that was committed to the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation — a private foundation based in Montreal that supports initiatives to build healthy communities. The Foundation is contributing $1 million to the program, while UBC is contributing $1.5 million.

“It reflects our desire to enhance students’ understanding of the connection between their education and their social responsibilities and will help us meet our Trek 2010 strategic plan commitment to serve communities in B.C. and beyond,” stated Stephen J. Toope, UBC president, in a UBC press release.

Trek 2010’s mission is to develop UBC’s graduates into responsible members of society and help them work with and for their communities, as well as to be agents for positive change.

The Trek 2010 website states, “[UBC graduates] will acknowledge their obligations as global citizens, and strive to secure a sustainable and equitable future for all.”

UBC-CLI builds on an already established trend at UBC called Community Service Learning (CSL) that combines learning in the classroom with community service that benefits the students and adds to their hands on experience.

RCMP Training Academy is gets a $200 million upgrade

It was announced that the Government of Canada will be expanding and refurbishing the RCMP Training Academy in Regina with an investment of nearly $200 million over the next two years.

Of the total investment, $37 millionis directed to upgrading the Training Academy to accommodate the 1,000 new recruits that will be hired. An allocation of $161 million will allow the RCMP to hire 600 more fulltime officers and another 400 civilian support staff.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper pointed out that the RCMP performs many difficult and dangerous tasks, so “Canada’s new government is sparing no expense to make sure the RCMP has the people — and the facilities — to do the job we ask them to do.”

The current Training Academy was built in 1882 and was originally designed to train 600 cadets every year. The RCMP have a long-term target of graduating 1,500 new officers each year.

The expansion on the Academy and officer recruitment will begin immediately.

Nurse practitioners should stay in Manitoba if they graduated here, says PC health critic

Myrna Driedger, Progressive Conservative health critic, said in a press release August 30 that a Tory government would work to ensure that qualified nurse practitioners will be given opportunities to work in Manitoba and not be forced to find work in other provinces.

Nurse practitioners can perform 80 per cent of what a family doctor can — they can prescribe medications, order and interpret diagnostic tests and perform various minor surgical procedures.

Driedger said that “Without creating new positions for nurse practitioners once they graduate, the NDP government is forcing these valuable health care professionals to leave in search or opportunities in other provinces,” said Driedger, “There are 29 nurse practitioners who have graduated from the University of Manitoba since 2000, seven of whom left the province and another five who are currently looking for work.”

Driedger said the provincial government is failing to recognize the benefits of employing nurse practitioners.

“A Progressive Conservative government would recognize those benefits by putting a strategy in place with the goal of having all nurse practitioners who graduate in Manitoba stay here to work in Manitoba,” said Driedger.

$110 million more in funding goes to 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gordon Campbell, premier of B. C. announced on August 30 that together the federal and provincial governments will be providing $110 million more in funding for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, to be held in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C..

Each government will be contributing $55 million to help the Vancouver organizing committee offset the construction and labour costs associated with building the new sports venues and for the renovation of existing facilities that will be required for the 2010 games.”

Premier Campbell stated in a press release from the Prime Minister’s office that, “The support of the Prime Minister and his government’s commitment to partner with us to make the 2010 Games the best ever highlights the fact that these truly are Canada’s Games.

In total, the government of Canada has committed $552 million to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

U of M orthodontic office welcomes new technology

The U of M graduate orthodontic clinic at the faculty of dentistry has upgraded their office with a new system that will eliminate patient lineups for appointments.

The new system uses a biometric scanner to read fingerprints. Arriving patients will touch a fingerprint keypad at the front desk instead of waiting to speak to a receptionist. A message that the patient has arrived is then sent via computer to an orthodontic resident’s work station, letting them know their next patient has arrived.

In addition, head of orthodontics Dr. Billy Wiltshire explained, “If a patient waits for more than 15 minutes, the computer will flag that the patient has been waiting a long time.”

The system also allows orthodontic residents to access “virtual” dentist records. Renee Barclay, a communications officer for the university, said that paper charts aren’t going to be eliminated, “The technology is there, but they aren’t doing that right now. They are sticking to paper charts for now.”

Residents will also be able to use their new chair-side computers to schedule follow-up appointments, further reducing time spent at the receptionist’s desk.

According to Barclay the total cost of the system was approximately $65,000, which includes the software and all of the equipment.





Volume 94 Issue 4	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	September 06, 2006

Home About Us Advertise Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Personals Volunteer	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly In Brief JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF UBC combines classroom and community service The University of British Columbia (UBC) and the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation have collaborated funds to create a program that will aid about five per cent of UBC students in learning about their fields of study through community service projects. The UBC Community Learning Initiative (UBC-CLI) was established due to $2.5 million that was committed to the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation — a private foundation based in Montreal that supports initiatives to build healthy communities. The Foundation is contributing $1 million to the program, while UBC is contributing $1.5 million. “It reflects our desire to enhance students’ understanding of the connection between their education and their social responsibilities and will help us meet our Trek 2010 strategic plan commitment to serve communities in B.C. and beyond,” stated Stephen J. Toope, UBC president, in a UBC press release. Trek 2010’s mission is to develop UBC’s graduates into responsible members of society and help them work with and for their communities, as well as to be agents for positive change. The Trek 2010 website states, “[UBC graduates] will acknowledge their obligations as global citizens, and strive to secure a sustainable and equitable future for all.” UBC-CLI builds on an already established trend at UBC called Community Service Learning (CSL) that combines learning in the classroom with community service that benefits the students and adds to their hands on experience. RCMP Training Academy is gets a $200 million upgrade It was announced that the Government of Canada will be expanding and refurbishing the RCMP Training Academy in Regina with an investment of nearly $200 million over the next two years. Of the total investment, $37 millionis directed to upgrading the Training Academy to accommodate the 1,000 new recruits that will be hired. An allocation of $161 million will allow the RCMP to hire 600 more fulltime officers and another 400 civilian support staff. Prime Minister Stephen Harper pointed out that the RCMP performs many difficult and dangerous tasks, so “Canada’s new government is sparing no expense to make sure the RCMP has the people — and the facilities — to do the job we ask them to do.” The current Training Academy was built in 1882 and was originally designed to train 600 cadets every year. The RCMP have a long-term target of graduating 1,500 new officers each year. The expansion on the Academy and officer recruitment will begin immediately. Nurse practitioners should stay in Manitoba if they graduated here, says PC health critic Myrna Driedger, Progressive Conservative health critic, said in a press release August 30 that a Tory government would work to ensure that qualified nurse practitioners will be given opportunities to work in Manitoba and not be forced to find work in other provinces. Nurse practitioners can perform 80 per cent of what a family doctor can — they can prescribe medications, order and interpret diagnostic tests and perform various minor surgical procedures. Driedger said that “Without creating new positions for nurse practitioners once they graduate, the NDP government is forcing these valuable health care professionals to leave in search or opportunities in other provinces,” said Driedger, “There are 29 nurse practitioners who have graduated from the University of Manitoba since 2000, seven of whom left the province and another five who are currently looking for work.” Driedger said the provincial government is failing to recognize the benefits of employing nurse practitioners. “A Progressive Conservative government would recognize those benefits by putting a strategy in place with the goal of having all nurse practitioners who graduate in Manitoba stay here to work in Manitoba,” said Driedger. $110 million more in funding goes to 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gordon Campbell, premier of B. C. announced on August 30 that together the federal and provincial governments will be providing $110 million more in funding for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, to be held in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C.. Each government will be contributing $55 million to help the Vancouver organizing committee offset the construction and labour costs associated with building the new sports venues and for the renovation of existing facilities that will be required for the 2010 games.” Premier Campbell stated in a press release from the Prime Minister’s office that, “The support of the Prime Minister and his government’s commitment to partner with us to make the 2010 Games the best ever highlights the fact that these truly are Canada’s Games. In total, the government of Canada has committed $552 million to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. U of M orthodontic office welcomes new technology The U of M graduate orthodontic clinic at the faculty of dentistry has upgraded their office with a new system that will eliminate patient lineups for appointments. The new system uses a biometric scanner to read fingerprints. Arriving patients will touch a fingerprint keypad at the front desk instead of waiting to speak to a receptionist. A message that the patient has arrived is then sent via computer to an orthodontic resident’s work station, letting them know their next patient has arrived. In addition, head of orthodontics Dr. Billy Wiltshire explained, “If a patient waits for more than 15 minutes, the computer will flag that the patient has been waiting a long time.” The system also allows orthodontic residents to access “virtual” dentist records. Renee Barclay, a communications officer for the university, said that paper charts aren’t going to be eliminated, “The technology is there, but they aren’t doing that right now. They are sticking to paper charts for now.” Residents will also be able to use their new chair-side computers to schedule follow-up appointments, further reducing time spent at the receptionist’s desk. According to Barclay the total cost of the system was approximately $65,000, which includes the software and all of the equipment.


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