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.

Recruitment Update

Over the past few weeks, Craig and Nick have been reporting an increase of interest in NSAC from students all over the Maritimes. With our new student tracking system, we will be able to follow all of our prospects through their academic, athletic and leisure pursuits. Again, NSAC is a leader in this recruitment effort. As Nick and Craig travel, I have the pleasure of entering the data, and it is interesting to see how many new prospects we have this year compared to previous years. It is very gratifying to see these prospective students come to NSAC and proudly wear their beanie during Frosh Week. Way to go guys!

Craig’s trip to Bermuda has been highlighted by arranging for 21 students and two teachers from the island to come to NSAC. As we will all be on the road, Brian will host the group later this month – watch for details. This is an amazing opportunity to showcase NSAC to a new group of international students. On that note as well, CEC has a new Agriculture program in grade 11 and Dr. Hicks and Brian have been invited to talk to the class. We are also arranging for these 24 students to come to NSAC on an interactive tour. In addition, a grade 11 Agriculture class from PEI is also coming to check us out! I think we are off to a strong recruiting year.

Also in the works are a few projects I’ve been working on. Some have already been contacted about the Maritime Fall Fair next week and I’m happy to report that I think we will have a great display! Thanks in advance to Lauranne, Dara and crew! Nick and I will be representing NSAC as part of AgCot and are excited to show off our new recruitment materials while the Diploma in Enterprise Management team will represent their specific program. There is still room at the booth for more programs for anyone interested. I will need a list of people who will be representing their program to make sure they an exhibitor pass. Please let me know ASAP.

I’ve been working on preparations for my trip to Asia. I’d like to thank Dr. Ju, Mrs. Hicks and Dr. Wang Pruski for translating some material for me into Korean, Japanese and Chinese.

HSIP is well on its way and the registrations are coming in steadily. Thank you to all who have responded to my emails regarding the scheduling and planning of events.

Finally, all of the Guidance Counselor packages have been delivered, as well as packages to international high school students and all of the on-line inquiries. I’ve also sent a shipment of materials to education centres in 25 different countries. I’d like to thank our Student Services assistant Patti for all her hard work – in all we sent out over 1000 pieces! Also, Lynn, Brenda and Elizabeth – thanks for helping out with the paper-jams, paper-cuts and copying.

See you around campus!
Monica

Jenkins Hall Grand Re-Opening

You are invited to the grand opening of Jenkins Hall and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Jenkins Hall.

In addition we would like to have your presence to honour our Chartwells team at NSAC for winning Regional Account of the Year, Donnie Adams for winning Regional ABC Hourly Associate of the Year and Julie Andrews for Regional and National ABC Salaried Associate of the Year

A reception will follow the ribbon cutting and presentation of awards. We hope you can attend and celebrate with us.

When: October 11 2006 at 2:30 p.m
Where: Jenkins Hall
RSVP: by October 5th to Julie Andrews at (902) 897-1952 or by e-mail at 72802@compass-canada.com

Fridays at 3:00 Seminar

Dr. Philip Hicks, President, Nova Scotia Agricultural College

"Strategic Planning and 21st Century Thinking at NSAC"

Friday, October 13, 2006 3:00 - 4:00 pm Cox Institute, Room 257

All are welcome to attend!

This seminar is sponsored by the NSAC Seminar Committee and the Graduate Communications Class of AGRI 5700.

Filling the Gaps: Engaging NS in Creating a Healthy Eating
Research Agenda

The Goal: To inspire Nova Scotia's research and health promotion communities to become further engaged in strategic research efforts that will address healthy eating knowledge gaps.

Who is invited? Those engaged in research, policy development or health
promotion practice with an interest in the area of healthy eating.

What is happening? A day of guided dialogue that will inform the development of a healthy eating research agenda . That agenda will support Healthy Eating Nova Scotia ... the provincial healthy eating strategy. This will also be the first step in creating an integrated community of practice engaged in research for the promotion of healthy eating.

When? November 3, 2006 9am - 5pm

Where? Banook Canoe Club, Dartmouth NS

Why? Nova Scotia has a healthy eating strategy that has identified gaps in research knowledge. It has been said that practice is ahead of the current healthy eating knowledge base because of pressure to take action. In other cases, there are research findings that don't seem to have affected policy or practice. The sponsoring organizations would like to encourage a strategic response to address these issues.

Avian Influenza, Biosecurity and Organic Poultry Production

By Jane Morrigan, M.Sc.

Bird flu, otherwise known as avian influenza or A.I., has become a topic of concern for poultry farmers and human health officials around the world in recent months and years. Canada has not experienced the deadly H5N1 strain that has spread from Asia to Europe, however in 2004 British Columbia had a taste of it when it was faced with a highly pathogenic North American strain known as H7N3, which forced the slaughter of 17 million birds.

Due to the spread of H5N1 in Europe, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recently formed a new branch called the Office of Animal Biosecurity, and is currently increasing its efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of H5N1 in Canada. New biosecurity standards will ultimately be developed which will affect all poultry producers large and small, conventional and organic. Click here for the complete article.