In brief
JENELLE PETRINCHUK STAFF
$750,000 for Ag lab at Smartpark
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is supporting bio-materials research to the tune of $750,000. The money will also contribute to the commercialization of research at the Composites Innovation Centre (CIC), located on University of Manitoba campus at Smartpark.
The announcement was made on Oct. 13 at the CIC laboratory by Rod Bruinooge, MP for Winnipeg South, and Jim Rondeau, the provincial minister of science, technology, energy and mines.
Bruinooge was representing Chuck Strahl, minister of Agriculture and Agri-food, and the Canadian Wheat Board, and Rondeau represented Rosann Wowchuck, Manitoba minister of agriculture, food and rural initiatives.
In an AAFC press release it is stated by Bruinooge, “By investing in biofibre research and by combing our science expertise with out research partners, Canada’s New Government is helping to bring new economic opportunities to our farmers while supporting a vibrant and leading-edge agriculture industry for Canada.”
It is possible that materials such as glass and carbon fibres,used in things such as airplanes and vehicles, may one day be replaced with natural fibres from plants like hemp and flax. This is what the agri-innovation program at the CIC are currently developing.
UBC unveils robot to be entered in NASA competition
University of British Columbia students recently showcased their latest prototype of the space elevator robot they are entering in the 2006 NASA Beam Power Challenge.
Engineering and science students have been collaborating on the project and in last year’s inaugural competition, UBC’s space elevator Snowstar was voted most likely to win in 2006.
The competition is to be held at the X-Prize cup in Las Cruces, N.M. on Oct. 20 and 21. It is held by Elevator 2010, a project of the Spaceward Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the ongoing construction and efforts for the development of the space elevator.
According to Elevator 2010, the space elevator was first proposed in the 1960s by a Russian engineer named Yuri Artsutanov. The current design of the space elevator includes a thin ribbon extending from a ship-borne anchor, electric vehicles that ascend the ribbon (generated by solar panels) and a baseline system weighing about 1,500 tons.
In a UBC media advisory, UBC Snowstar team captain Steve Jones said that launching a space shuttle is so expensive because of the amount of fuel it must carry. “Using beam or solar power to remotely fuel space elevators could be the key to eventually allow scientists to transport equipment into orbit, some 36,000 kilometres from earth, at a much lower cost.”
More than 10 international teams will be competing for the grand prize of $150,000 US.
Truck sales at a record high
Despite various environmental issues and alternative transportation movements (such as the Bike to the Future event that recently took place in Winnipeg), Statistics Canada says truck sales were at an all-time high this past August.
In total, 144,394 new vehicles, including trucks were purchased in August 2006, continuing the upward trend that has been occurring since May 2006. According to Statistics Canada, aside from the record sales in July of 2005, truck sales have never been higher.
Manitoba and Saskatchewan were the only two provinces in the country that recorded lower sales in August than in previous months. Sales in Manitoba fell two per cent while Saskatchewan sales only decreased by 0.1 per cent.
These numbers can be compared to the 3.6 per cent increase in Prince Edward Island, the 2.8 per cent increase in British Columbia and the one per cent increase in Ontario.
Nova Scotia and Quebec had the highest increases in vehicle sales with an 8.2 per cent increase in Nova Scotia and a 6.1 per cent increase in Quebec.
Over half of the national increases in August can be attributed to Quebec, 35,762 vehicle sales in August.
Alberta also saw the highest sales ever recorded for the province at 22,204 vehicles sold, a 2.4 per cent increase.
Downtown Winnipeg wins international award
“Saved by the Blue Loonie,” a Downtown Winnipeg BIZ program, won a Merit Award from the International Downtown Association in the category of Transportation and Parking.
The program consisted of Downtown Watch ambassadors who watched for expired parking meters and then fed the machines with special blue loonies, leaving a “Saved by the Blue Loonie” brochure on the vehicle that could have gotten a parking ticket.
This fall and winter, a total of 3,500 blue loonies will be distributed throughout “would-be expired” parking meters; 4,500 more will be given to citizens to encourage them to visit downtown through either transit or vehicle parking.
Stefano Grande, Downtown BIZ executive director, stated the program has so far received rave reviews from Winnipeggers. “Parkers love getting a second chance, our business members love it and now we have been recognized internationally. Downtown Winnipeg really stands up next to other city centres in North America on finding creative ways to tackle the challenges in our downtown.”
Participating businesses also offer blue loonies if a customer spends $20 or more. The loonies can then be used for $1 off street meters and most downtown lots. The blue loonie also counts as a full bus fare.
