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NSAC E-Bulletin
Please forward your submissions to the NSAC E-Bulletin to
the newsdesk (news@nsac.ca)
by Friday at 2:00 p.m. for inclusion in the next week's edition.
Healthy Workplace Week
We hope that your Healthy Workplace Week (October 23 to 29) was healthy, safe, and fun!
Employees in the Nova Scotia Government should be proud of the work that is happening make a difference in their workplaces. The Healthy Workplace Advisory Committee, with representatives from across government, as well as the corporate Healthy Workplace coordination office at the Public Service Commission (PSC), are continue to work hard to create a healthy, safe and supportive workplace for all of us.
If you have not already, take a minute to visit the new Healthy Workplace website where you will find helpful information about healthy workplace initiatives: www.gov.ns.ca/psc/healthyworkplace .
Here are some examples of Healthy Workplace programs underway:
- Most departments have established wellness/healthy workplace committees and are developing action plans and activities for their employee groups;
- A quarterly newsletter, "@ the window" focuses on Healthy Workplace and OHS initiatives and success stories. It is distributed to all employees and posted on the website.
- An eight-week Caregivers in the Workplace support program was successfully piloted in the Winter 2006, and is now available through the corporate training calendar at http://LearnNet.gov.ns.ca ; and
- More than 500 Department of Justice employees continue to participate in the four-year Healthy LifeWorks research project on workplace health.
- Last spring, the PSC launched the ‘Take Back the Lunch Break’ awareness campaign
- This week, the PSC launched the ‘Put Health on the Agenda’ table-top tool with tips on making your next meeting or conference as healthy as possible.
I am also pleased to report that the PSC has consulted on and drafted a corporate Healthy Workplace Policy for all of government, and is currently in the process of gaining approvals.
Many thanks to everyone who have been making a difference in the workplace!
Sincerely,
Ernest L. Fage
Minister of Human Resources
Healthy Workplace Deputy's Challenge
Miriam Kaiser (IT CSU, Truro) is Friday's winner of the Deputy's Challenge. Miriam wins a wonderful Healthy Workplace Week thermal travel mug with some healthy treats tucked inside!
UPDATE! We have 1 additional participant signed up for the challenge! That makes a grand total of 48 challengers! Let's see if we can hit 50!!!! It's not too late to sign up. All it takes is a commitment from you and an email to the Wellness Committee ( DAFWELL@gov.ns.ca ) saying that you want to join the challenge.
We hope you take this challenge...and incorporate healthy activities and food choices into your workday!
Everyone - keep up the good work!
Fridays at 3:00 Seminar
Dr. David Percival, Associate Professor, Nova Scotia Agricultural College
"Integration of Research and Development and Continued Prosperity of the Wild Blueberry Industry"
Friday, November 3rd, 2006 3:00-4:00pm Cox Institute, Room 257
All are welcome to attend!
This seminar is sponsored by NSAC Seminar Committee and the Graduate Communications Class of AGRI 5700.
Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists 2006 Fall Tour
The Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists (NSIA) recently held their annual Fall tour in the Annapolis Valley at the Applied Geomatics Research Center (AGRG). It was a very informative tour regarding the use of GPS, GIS and LIDAR technologies as they relate to the field of precision agriculture. The morning period of the tour consisted of presentations from Dr. Tim Webster, Kevin Garroway, Heather Stewart and David Colville of the AGRG. Some of the topics covered included the development of LIDAR Equipment and its potential uses, and combination spectrometers with GPS Software to determine weeded vs. yield areas in blueberry crops. The afternoon session of the tour consisted of site visit of Sawler Gardens Farm including a discussion on their use of GPS with an auto-steer system on their tractor during carrot planting. The final stop of the day was at the Thomas Brook watershed where Dale Hebb discussed the developments and research being conducted at the site by the Nova Scotia Water Quality Research Group being led by Dr. Rob Gordon and others at NSAC.
This is a picture of Peter Sawler explaining the GPS System they use on their farm. In attendance from NSAC were: Dr. Philip Hicks, Jim Goit, Kevin Sibley, and Scott Read.
Update from Recruitment
Thanks are extended to prof. Kevin Sibley and Daryl Hayes from the Department of Engineering for their promotion of the B.Tech in Applied Science program at the Nova Scotia Technology Education Teachers Association Conference on Friday. They presented a one hour workshop on the program which was very well received. Prof. Sibley also spoke about the program at their noonhour general assembly. Some excellent feedback was received from the teachers on this program.
Craig and Nick were active at the provincial Guidance Counsellors In Service that was hosted at CEC also on Friday. NSAC had a display set up. Craig conducted an information session and Nick provided campus tours to two groups of teachers, counsellors and principals who were attending the in service.
This week Craig is visiting schools through New Brunswick. Nick is in the office catching up on the mail outs in response to the many inquiries and expressions of interest the team has received through the fall.
On Wednesday the Recruitment team will host grade nine students on campus with their parents/sponsors as part of Take Your Kids to Work Day, and on Thursday we will be promoting study options at NSAC to students at the Kingstec campus of the Nova Scotia Community College. Monica is continuing on in her Asia/Pacific trip with visits through Japan this week. She will be visiting schools in Osaka today and Okinawa tomorrow. She reports that she has made lots of great contacts during the past two weeks. She was particularly impressed with the interest students had in Taiwan with our Environmental Sciences programs. She will be returning home this week with 50 solid student contacts!!
Autumn Assembly Held Last Week
Two hundred and eighty-four students received scholarships and academic awards valued at $1.2 million. 116 first year students were on the winners list, as were 46 2nd year students, 49 3rd year students, 38 4th year students and 35 graduate students. There were 190 NS students on the winners list, 22 from NB, 22 from PE, 13 from NL, 4 other Canadian (2 from Quebec and one each from Ontario and Manitoba), and 33 International students (21 from China, 5 from India, 3 from Jamaica, and one each from England, Japan, Ethiopia, Ghana and Iran.
Six NSAC students were recipients of renewable $8,875 Atlantic Scholars Awards at last week's Autumn Assembly ceremonies at NSAC. Dr. Bernie MacDonald, Vice-President Administration, NSAC, is shown congratulating students –
Donald Buchanan, Glace Bay, NS, a 1st year Pre Vet student; Robyn Taylor, Miramichi, NB, a 1st year Pre Vet student; Colette Wyllie, Debert, NS, a 1st year B.Sc.(Agr.) Environmental Sciences student; Amanda Greaves, Albert Bridge, NS, a 1st year Pre Vet student; Jessica Roberts, Reidville, NL, a 1st year B.Sc.(Agr.) student; and Shawn Loo, Kensington, PE, a 1st year B.Sc.(Agr.) Environmental Sciences student.
Engineering Welcoms New Technician
 Scott Read has joined the NSAC Engineering Department as a Machinery Systems Technician. Scott is a 2003 graduate of the NSAC B.Sc. (Agricultural Mechanization) program. Since graduation, he has been employed at Knol Farms Ltd. in Collingwood (frozen strawberries and rhubarb grower and processor) working in various capacities including production equipment maintenance, production equipment modifications and improvement, and research & development of innovative rhubarb harvesting technologies. He has also worked in the maintenance department of Oxford Frozen Foods Ltd. His role in the Engineering Department is technical assistance with various machinery and metal construction courses delivery, and supporting the research mission of the department. Welcome aboard Scott!
Kevin J.Sibley, M.Sc., P.Eng., P.Ag.
Assoc. Professor and Head
Engineering Department
Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association
(ACAA) Soccer Awards 2006
Major Awards
Women
Gerry LeBlanc Award: Mandy Vandenberg, NSAC
Rookie of the Year: Trina Bennett, NSAC
Goalkeeper of the Year: Allison Richard, UNBSJ
MVP: Allie Akers, UKC
Coach of the Year: Barry Cooper, UNBSJ
Men
Bob Coe Award: Marcus Fiddes, NSAC
Rookie of the Year: Billy Connolly, MSVU
Goalkeeper of the Year: Daniel Van der Linden, STU
MVP: Diego Ponce, STU
Coach of the Year: Jamie Sawler, MSVU
All-Conference Teams 2006
Men 1st All-Conference Team
Mark Harnish MSVU
Billy Connolly MSVU
Alex Lorente Viardell MSVU
Diego Ponce STU
Brenden Lochhead STU
Sam March UKC
Mike Smith UKC
BJ Young UNBSJ
Saygun Aktas UNBSJ
Joe Mitchell HC
Marcus Fiddes NSAC
Women’s 1st All-Conference Team
Kathleen Johnston UNBSJ
Jenna Bowen UNBSJ
Brandy Jones UNBSJ
Allie Akers UKC
Whitney Van Blarcom UKC
Megan MacLellan NSAC
Nikia Stewart NSAC
Deirdre Gormley MSVU
Amy Fischer MSVU
Emily Coady HC
Ashley Ferguson STU
Sam Perry ABU
Men 2nd All-Conference Team
Joe Frangie MSVU
Patrick Johnston MSVU
Stephan Sears MSVU
Chris Delong STU
Nick Haddock STU
Greg Bathe UKC
Chris Etmanskie UKC
Andy Allain UNBSJ
Billy Alty UNBSJ
Ivan Paynter HC
Pat Mitchell NSAC
Women’s 2nd All-Conference Team
Erin Holtz UNBSJ
Cassandra O’Neil UNBSJ
Melinda Seldon UNBSJ
Kati-Gleason Mercier UKC
Marnie Chown UKC
Trina Bennett NSAC
Kaili Van Vulpen NSAC
Nicole Baxter MSVU
Kristina Van Eden MSVU
Carly MacKinnon HC
Jenna Cross STU
Alisha O’Reilly ABU
Marcus Fiddes
Pat Mitchell
Nikia Stewart AC battles with Lisa Evong #12 of the
Mystics in the Championship Game
ACAA Champions
Winning Goal
Leah MacNeill - championship game MVP with Boston Pizza Reps and Dave Munro ACAA Soccer Convenor
Presentation of Banner and Trophy to NSAC Captains
l-r Ron O'Flaherty ACAA Chair, Nikia Stewart, Megan MacLellan, Dave Munro ACAA Soccer Convenor
Trina Bennett receives the ACAA Rookie of the Year from
Ron O'Flaherty (left) and Dave Munro left
Mandy Vandenberg - winner of the Jerry LeBlanc Award
( skill, sportmanship and great team player)
Ron O'Flaherty with NSAC Women's ALl Conference Players
Kaili Van Vulpen, Trina Bennett, Megan MacLellan, Nikia Stewart
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