In the news …
January 31, 2008
Humber Receives Support from McGuinty Government for Campus Renewal
Humber will receive $5.6 million from the McGuinty government for campus renewal and to maintain its state-of-the-art labs and facilities. "Humber is strongly supported by the current government. The college recently opened a new 7,775 square metre building at its North Campus with seats for 1,000 additional students and is currently embarking on the final stages of its Lakeshore Campus renovation," said John Davies, president, Humber. "The province contributed $33 million to these two exciting projects. This, and the additional funding announced this morning, will allow us to move forward with our plans to develop more sustainable, energy-efficient facilities in order to enhance our already substantial commitment to safety and to upgrade classrooms and labs." Postsecondary education has become a necessity for economic growth in Canada. In fact, more than 90 per cent of the new jobs created from 1997 to 2006 went to those with postsecondary education. For many, that means college credentials that are in-line with industry standards and requirements. Canada's colleges and institutes are a sound investment from multiple perspectives. Students benefit from increased earnings and improved lifestyles. Taxpayers benefit from an enlarged economy and lower social costs. And society as a whole benefits from increased job and investment opportunities, higher business revenues, greater availability of public funds and an eased tax burden. Humber's commitment to its students is evident through continued expansion projects at its three campuses. At the North Campus, the new B Building will accommodate close to 1,000 new student spaces. The development of the University of Guelph-Humber will provide space for 3,000 more. At the Lakeshore Campus, Humber is preparing to accommodate an additional 1,500 in the next five years. The College has acquired a former Mercedes dealership to accommodate new classrooms. In addition, the remaining historic 19th century cottages are being renovated to meet the needs of future students. Humber is also reaching out to students in the growing GTA area with its Orangeville Campus. Programming is currently available with a full-service regional campus planned over the next 10 to 12 years. Humber's new programming initiatives shows its commitment to its students. The new Sustainable Energy and Building Technology (SEBT) program, which will begin in September 2008, is an example of how Humber responds to the needs of employers looking for skilled professionals who can provide truly integrated solutions to the greening and increasingly challenging building and energy sectors. "Ontario has never had a greater need for college graduates," said Davies. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the McGuinty government to ensure more of the province's citizens are able to fulfil their potential through a college education." A leader in polytechnic education, Humber offers innovative, career-focused learning opportunities. It provides over 350 full- and part-time programs including: bachelor's degree, diploma, certificate, apprenticeship and postgraduate programs. Humber serves 18,000 full-time and 55,000 part-time learners, as well as more than 15,000 employees in custom corporate training. Its strong partnerships with employers, as well as transfer agreements with 45 universities and colleges, help students to build a foundation for lifelong success. Over 90 per cent of Humber students find employment within six months of graduating.
Source: Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Ontario
January 31, 2008
Province Provides Funding to NAIT for Campus Modernization
Alberta government funding of $7.6 million will enable NAIT to modernize and expand its power plant facility resulting in an estimated savings on utility expenses of up to $120,000 annually. This allows NAIT to direct more money to learning in priority areas such as increasing student access and purchasing new equipment. "It's crucial that government continues to nurture student success by helping to provide the best advanced learning environment possible. This includes investing in both modernization and maintenance projects," said Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. "We appreciate the Minister's support in helping NAIT become more efficient and provide the best technical education for our students," says Dr. Sam Shaw, NAIT's President and CEO. "The money announced today will cover a portion of our deferred maintenance and we look forward to continuing to work with the Minister to determine our current and future needs." In addition to the power plant project, $1.8 million in government funding will facilitate roofing upgrades to a number of NAIT buildings. "We worked with many institutions throughout the fall discussing how this maintenance money could best be used. Now, we are at that rewarding stage where we are seeing the concrete results of how these allocations will benefit our students and enhance learning environments in our post-secondary system," added Horner.
Source: Ministry of Advanced Education and Technology, Alberta
January 25, 2008
York Grad's Lennon Film Nominated for Oscar
York alumnus Jerry Levitan (BA '76, LLB '79) is at the Sundance Film Festival today for a screening of his Oscar-nominated animated film about Beatle John Lennon, I Met the Walrus. Levitan was stuck in traffic driving his six-year-old daughter to school when the call came from his girlfriend telling him a five-minute animated film he produced had been nominated for an Oscar. Needless to say, he was excited, but hardly more so than when he met Lennon back in 1969. In a story told many times since, Levitan, a 14-year-old die-hard Beatles fan, snuck into Toronto's King Edward Hotel and got an invitation to come back and do a 40-minute interview with Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono during their famous "bed-in" for peace. During the conversation, Levitan told Lennon that a lot of young people in Canada thought then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau was "pretty cool". "I always felt that I had a role in John Lennon wanting to, and ultimately meeting, Trudeau," Levitan told AOL.ca this week. "You hear him on the tape saying: 'We've heard about him swinging in London with a leather coat, and if kids like you think he's cool, well, maybe we should see him.'" Levitan kept the recording of his interview, which he made on a borrowed reel-to-reel tape deck that he carried to the hotel at 7am, and a five-minute Super 8 movie of Lennon and Ono, for 39 years and, except for publishing a story and transcript in TO Magazine in 1988, didn't do anything with them until last year, when he commissioned filmmaker Josh Raskin to produce a short film. The original artefacts are now on loan to a museum in Liverpool for a planned Beatles exhibit. "Lots of people knew about the interview," Levitan said from his law office in Toronto, just before leaving for Park City, Utah, and the final screening of his project at the Sundance Film Festival. "I get calls from the media every year around the anniversary of John's death." Lennon was assassinated outside his New York apartment block on Dec. 8, 1980. When he decided to make the film, with the help of a $50,000 grant from the Bravo!/FACT Foundation, Levitan met Raskin (nephew of Paul Axelrod, York's dean of the Faculty of Education) and liked his work. "It was fantastic," Levitan recalls. "I said, 'this is the guy I want to work with'. He really got my story." I Met the Walrus, a five-minute animated short film with Levitan's interview as the sound track, has been the opening short for one of the featured films at the Sundance Festival. The next stop on the film's tour will be Hollywood on Feb. 24 for whatever Oscar awards event the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Science manages to mount, given the current strike by the Writers' Guild of America. I Met the Walrus is nominated for Best Animated Short Film with four others. The film's devotion to Lennon's anti-war message is in keeping with Levitan's studies at York: political science in the Faculty of Arts, and constitutional law, litigation and human resources law at Osgoode Hall Law School. Among Levitan's classmates at Osgoode was Patrick Monahan (LLB '80), now dean of the law school. Monahan has invited Levitan to show his film at York before the Oscars. As a lawyer, Levitan is an expert on Ontario's liquor licensing laws, representing restaurant and bar owners. But, he has another career that also keeps him busy: playing his alter ego, Sir Jerry, a magician, singer/songwriter and children's entertainer.
Source: York University, Ontario
January 24, 2008
University of Manitoba: Student Leadership Encouraged with Generous Gift from Successful Graduate
Thanks to a $500,000 gift from 1957 Electrical Engineering graduate, Donald K. Johnson, the University of Manitoba Engineering Society has new office space and a generous scholarship to motivate students to pursue leadership in student government. New offices for student council members, a conference area, and a new student lounge were all made possible with Mr. Johnson's gift. "It's wonderful to have a space to plan and work," says Phil Dompierre, Senior Stick with UMES. "We have many exciting plans to improve the student experience in the Faculty of Engineering, and these facilities are enabling us to do that with greater success." In addition to the new space, now called the Donald K. Johnson Student Centre, the students are even more excited about the Student Leadership Award in Engineering. "The student leadership embodied by the Senior Stick and Vice-Sticks is crucial to the continued success of all engineering students," says Dr. Doug Ruth, Dean of Engineering. "It can mean an enormous time commitment for a student who is often in their final year of study." The Donald K. Johnson Student Leadership Award in Engineering will provide significant financial support for the Senior Stick and Vice-Sticks. Mr. Johnson graduated from the Faculty of Engineering in 1957. While his initial career was in electrical engineering he began a career in the investment industry in 1963. Johnson has had a long and successful career which culminated in his appointment as Vice Chairman, Investment Banking at BMO Nesbitt Burns. In 2004 he retired as Vice Chairman, but continues as a Senior Advisor to BMO Capital Markets.
Source: University of Manitoba
January 21, 2008
McGill Welcomes all to Open House: Annual Event Showcases University Experience on January 27
McGill University will throw open its doors to welcome prospective students during its annual Open House on Sunday, Jan. 27. The day-long, campus-wide event will provide a unique opportunity to experience student life at McGill. In addition to campus tours, faculty information sessions and demonstrations, this year's Open House will feature an exciting range of exhibitions and activities for the students and their families. "Open House offers something for everyone," says Kathleen Massey, University Registrar & Executive Director Enrolment Services. "We're thrilled to roll out the red carpet for prospective students and their families and showcase what McGill has to offer." Highlights include an exhibit of recent archeological finds from Parc Safari (lobby, Peterson Hall, 3460 McTavish St.), special live performances by Drama and Theatre students (Moyse Hall, Arts Building, 853 Sherbrooke St. West), and a SMART S.T.A.R.T (Students Talking about Real Topics) discussion panel that will allow prospective students to ask questions about all things McGill.
What: McGill University Open House
When: Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Downtown campus, various buildings, 845 Sherbrooke St. W
In addition to these activities, professors and scholars from the University's 21 faculties and professional schools will be on hand to answer questions. As well, free shuttle bus service to and from Open House has been set up to serve areas beyond greater Montreal, from Ste. Foy to Thetford Mines.
Source: McGill University, Quebec
January 21, 2008
Garnet & Gold presents Cinderella - Jan. 24-26
It's time to go to the magical ball and search for the owner of the lost slipper! Mount Allison University's Garnet & Gold Musical Theatre Society is getting ready for its annual production. This year's lively show is Rodger and Hammerstein's classic Cinderella, first staged in 1957 as a television movie starring Julie Andrews. The show will be staged in Convocation Hall on January 24, 25, and 26 (Thursday through Saturday). Showtime is 8 p.m. each night and tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $12 for adults. Tickets are available at the door and at the SAC office in University Centre beginning January 15. They are also available at Tidewater Books and Rags of Time. For ticket reservations, please phone 961-0740 or e-mail scng@mta.ca. Production of the play has been informed by director Jenn Guare's summer research project on the historical context and modern value of traditional fairy tales. Both the design concept and the message of the production are intended to reflect its historical roots, which lie in the French court of Louis XIV. Rodger and Hammerstein's telling of Cinderella is based on a story from Charles Perrault's 1697 Tales of Mother Goose. As such, the play differs sharply from the Disney version's talking mice, ugly stepsisters, and helpless locked-up maiden, and will present a few surprises to the audience. This multifaceted production features the work of nearly 60 talented actors, musicians, designers, and technicians from Mount Allison and the surrounding community. For the first time in Garnet & Gold history, one of the leads is a local Tantamar High School student. The show also includes many other students from the local elementary and middle schools, making it a community-oriented production. Mount Allison's Garnet & Gold Musical Theatre Society was founded in 1932, making it one of the oldest and largest societies on campus. Every year the group presents a large-scale Broadway musical in Convocation Hall. After the success of last year's production, the stage version of The Wizard of Oz, Garnet & Gold wanted to produce another classic show that everyone would be familiar with and that would again be suitable for audiences of all ages. Cinderella, which has never been done before in the history of Garnet & Gold, has proven to be an ideal choice.
Source: Mount Allison University, New Brunswick
January 17, 2008
NAIT hires Linda Henderson as new Athletics Director
NAIT has created a new position of Athletics Director and the person filling the newly minted role is well-known in the post-secondary world of athletics. Linda Henderson comes to NAIT from the B.C. provincial government, where she was a Sport and Recreation Consultant and Policy Analyst with the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. Prior to her government role, she held a supervisory position in the Athletics and Recreation Department at the University of Victoria for 18 years. A Master Coach at the National Coaching Institute in Victoria for more than a decade, she has led numerous collegiate and Team B.C. volleyball squads to provincial and national championships and international competitions. Henderson was the Head Coach for the Camosun Men's Volleyball team for the past 15 years. During that time, she led her team to 12 consecutive appearances at the BCCAA Championships - winning three gold medals, two silver medals and one bronze medal. Henderson and her teams represented the province of B.C. at six CCAA National Championships, winning a bronze medal in 2003. Henderson has also coached a number of Team B.C. athletes both indoors and on the beach. In 2001, she coached the Men's Team B.C. Beach Doubles team to a gold medal performance at the Canada Games. Many of her former student-athletes have gone on to play with the Men's National Volleyball Program or to play professionally in Europe. Henderson has a strong leadership background as a coach and member of sport organizations. She was involved as a Master Learning Facilitator for the National Coaching Certification Program for over 14 years and was a board member with Volleyball B.C. for over 10 years. Over the years, she has received many accolades and awards for her impressive coaching skills. In 2000, she was recognized by the City of Victoria as Sportsperson of the Year; in 2003 and 2004 she was awarded the University/College Coach of the Year by Volleyball B.C.; in 2004 she was awarded the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association Coach of the Year for All Sports; and in 2006 she received the BCCAA Men's Coaching Excellence Award.
Source: NAIT, Alberta
January 15, 2008
University of Alberta Officially Opens Enterprise Square Downtown Campus
Enterprise Square, the University of Alberta's downtown centre of teaching, learning, research and innovation, officially opened today, breathing new life into a quiet block of downtown. A partnership between the university and all three orders of government, Enterprise Square is a vibrant hub that provides the opportunity for diverse collaboration and economic development. At the same time, it preserves the historic nature of the former Hudson's Bay Building on Jasper Avenue. "Enterprise Square is a visible symbol of the university's strong ties to the community and our commitment to community engagement and citizenship that underpins our vision," said U of A President Samarasekera. "Partnership, collaboration and innovation all lie at the heart of Enterprise Square, so this building is, in many ways, a symbol of the whole university as we celebrate our centenary and look toward our future. We envision a new period of partnership-building, and expect that Enterprise Square will be the site of many productive and inventive relationships with various community organizations." Enterprise Square plays a key role in the university's future as it serves the mission of teaching and learning, of research and creativity, of innovation, of community involvement and partnerships. This downtown presence strengthens the U of A's ties to downtown business, arts and cultural communities. And the lynch pin to all of this potential-which is now coming to fruition-was the collaboration and support provided by government: $15 million from the federal government through Western Diversification, $15 million from the Government of Alberta and $12.5 million from the City of Edmonton ($7.5 million to Enterprise Square and $5 million to TEC Edmonton). "Today's launch of Enterprise Square will help position Western Canada at the forefront of innovation. It is an important milestone in the region's growing capacity for science and technology commercialization," said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, president of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and minister of Western Economic Diversification. "The Government of Canada is proud to have invested $15 million toward the establishment of the TEC Centre at Enterprise Square to support local technology companies as they transform their ideas into marketable products and services."
"This new facility is a great example of the benefits achieved through collaboration," said Doug Horner, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. "Our combined effort creates a win-win for everyone and provides new academic and economic opportunities for Albertans." Enterprise Square is home to some 600 employees, about half from the university, including staff and faculty with several administrative units plus the Faculty of Extension, Executive Education and Lifelong Learning and the Alberta Business Family Institute of the U of A's School of Business. TEC Edmonton, a university partnership with Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, has the largest presence in Enterprise Square. Aimed to bring university research to the marketplace via spinoff and technology commercialization companies, TEC Edmonton and the companies in its TEC Centre occupy the new fourth floor. Their presence will facilitate economic growth and diversification opportunities for the province and beyond, especially given the strategic location in the heart of the business community in Alberta's capital city. Enterprise Square represents another big step in the revitalization of the downtown core and preserves an important historical landmark. Refurbishing a building of its size- now more than 400,000 square feet-proved significantly more cost effective at $86.5 million than developing a new building, ultimately passing cost savings to taxpayers. Given the nature of the business, teaching, learning and research happening in the building, many of the people visiting and working in the facility are drawn there after traditional business hours, further benefiting downtown revitalization. In addition, the block is now reconnected to the pedway system. "Enterprise Square contributes to our vibrant downtown community, builds on our diversity and makes a significant contribution to our value-added economy," said Mayor Stephen Mandel. "By teaming up with our partners we can make sure that the modern advances researched and developed right here at the University of Alberta result in a greater return on our investment and reap us tremendous rewards in years to come." The name Enterprise Square was selected in 2006 in recognition of the building's past as a centre of commerce and its future as Edmonton's home of creative and entrepreneurial spirit. The reference to Square captures the idea of a dynamic meeting place for those who work, study and visit there in addition to the shape of the building's floor plate. In yet another example of partnerships at the heart of Enterprise Square, the atrium currently features an exhibition of original artwork by students in various U of A programs. This includes "write/print," a collaboration between the WRITE program in English and Film Studies, Art and Design's printmaking group, and the Faculty of Extension's fine arts certificate program. There is also "Design Works," the first of a series of exhibitions featuring innovative and thought-provoking designs from undergraduate and graduate students in industrial design and visual communication design.
Source: University of Alberta
January 10, 2008
Thompson Rivers University Undergrad Conference Makes its Own History
The department of Philosophy, History and Politics (PHP) at Thompson Rivers University and the TRU History Club are offering a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to present their research at a conference Jan. 18 through 20 at TRU.
Exploring the Labyrinth is the theme of the conference that has attracted 65 undergraduates from 12 universities from throughout the Western provinces and Washington State. Their research topics range from Salem witch hunts, Doukhobors, Ancient Greeks, sexuality as power and the current state of Pakistan.
It's the first time that students from the History Club and faculty from PHP at TRU have undertaken such a project.
Organizer Jen Busch, a fourth year history major at TRU and president of the TRU History Club says the student volunteers were inspired by their experience as undergraduates at a graduate conference in Qualicum Beach last year.
"The response to the call for presenters has demonstrated just how much of a demand for this type of conference there is," Busch said, estimating that two thirds of the student presenters are from visiting universities. Many are being partially funded by their institutions.
"What we've discovered during our planning is that opportunities for undergrads to present their research at conferences like this are exceedingly rare," said Dr. Annie St. John-Stark, assistant professor history. "There are only two other undergrad conferences in the country that we know of and judging by the quality of the abstracts we've received it's clear many undergraduates are doing cutting edge work."
The conference highlights will include: student paper presentations, a keynote address, banquet and dance. The presentations will allow students at various western universities to share their academic interests with other students and give them the chance to practice presenting their research, a skill required for students going on to grad school.
Source: Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia
January 9, 2008
Thompson Rivers University: Special Advisor to Speak on Canada's Recent Developments in Afghanistan
Thompson Rivers University will be the venue for a public talk by Diana Youdell, special advisor to the Director General of the Afghanistan Task Force at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7pm in the Alumni Theatre.
Youdell has recently returned from Afghanistan where she served as Head of Development Programs for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) from Aug. 2006 to Sept. 2007. Under her guidance more than $100 million of CIDA funds were disbursed to support Government of Afghanistan national programs including micro-financing, sustainable livelihood, gender equality, and girls' education.
Currently on temporary assignment from CIDA, Youdell's talk in Kamloops is part of a Canadian-wide speaking tour organized by Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT).
Youdell will also be speaking to a number of TRU classes interested in international relations and development and meeting with several TRU departments to find out more about the programs and initiatives the university offers.
"It is great to have Ms. Youdell come to Kamloops," said Nancy Bepple, the TRU Co-op Coordinator who is organizing the visit on behalf of the TRU Faculty Association Human Rights Committee. "It will not only benefit students, but the entire community, to be able to hear her speak on Canada's work in Afghanistan."
Youdell joined CIDA in 1997 as a desk officer in the India/Sri Lanka/Nepal region, she later accepted a position as an education specialist for the South Asia region. Her ability to lead and manage multicultural teams in challenging areas of the world was evident in her supporting role in helping the Government of Pakistan establish technical training schools for unemployed women.
From 2001 to 2006 she worked in Pretoria, South Africa as a development counsellor implementing programs in response to the HIV pandemic, education, and new governance structures.
Source: Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia
January 7, 2008
Mount Allison Road Trip
What’s better than a road trip with a group of friends? If you’re heading to Mount Allison for a campus tour, the adventure gets a lot better with the University’s new Three Travel for Free program — offering travel rebates of up to $100 for visitors to Sackville.
Bring three friends with you for a campus visit and Mount Allison will pay up to $100 for your gas. The University will offer that credit to subsidize travel in a number of other ways such as a taxi ride from the airport, train or bus fare, or for the bridge or ferry toll from Prince Edward Island.
Manager of Admissions, Matt Sheridan-Jonah, says, “The Three Travel for Free program is a great way to help future students, and their friends and families visit campus and see what the Mount Allison Experience is all about first-hand. The program also emphasizes our commitment to being an environmentally-friendly campus, reducing the amount of traffic while making visits more economically-feasible for our guests.”
Many future students have taken advantage of the Three Travel for Free program so far this year and many more are making the trek to Sackville. In October, the University welcomed over 400 visitors to its annual Open House and personalized campus tours are available throughout the year. Some features in many campus tours include: meeting with a Mount Allison admissions counselor, professor, student, and sports coach; attending a class; eating lunch in the University’s award-winning dining hall; and, if you wish, spending a night in residence to truly engage in the Mount Allison Experience. Visit www.mta.ca/apply/tours or call 506-364-2257 (campusvisit@mta.ca) to plan your trip.
Sheridan-Jonah says, “Taking a campus tour at Mount Allison is one of the best things you can do in your university search and Mount A has developed a great campus visit program that will help you figure out where you’d like to spend the next four years of your life. Most students find that they know if this is the right place for them within the first hour of their visit. Come and see for yourself. We’d love to show off our students, our campus, and our excellent programs.”
The Three Travel for Free program is one of several innovative recruitment initiatives at Mount Allison University. The University has also introduced www.mymta.ca — a new student portal web site featuring student profiles, blogs, and videos, as well as a student ambassador program, letting future students chat directly with current students. Mount Allison has also started a unique promotional campaign, which, among other things, includes a poster campaign in downtown Toronto, visits to Ontario high schools by the University President himself, and retro, hand-held viewfinders at many academic fairs, to give students a first-hand look at the beautiful Mount Allison campus.
Ranked the #1 Undergraduate University by Maclean’s Magazine in 2007 and receiving several As in this year’s Globe and Mail University Report Card, Mount Allison University has always been highly regarded for its unique approach to learning and its commitment to the total development of its students. The University has also produced 47 Rhodes Scholars — the latest being Dara MacDonald ’08 of Halifax. Because of its small size, location within a small community, and residential nature, Mount Allison offers a broad range of social, cultural, athletic, and academic opportunities and areas for active involvement. These influences help shape our students as future leaders, many of whom have gone on to top positions, around the world, in a multitude of fields (www.mta.ca).
Source: Mount Allison University, New Brunswick
January 7, 2008
Toronto Dance Theatre in Residence at York University
Culminating in a One-Night-Only Performance of the Critically-Acclaimed Timecode Break Choreographed by Christopher House
Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT) will be in residence at York University’s Department of Dance January 14-17, culminating in a public performance on January 17 at 8pm of the multiple award-winning dance Timecode Break, choreographed by TDT artistic director and York alumnus Christopher House.
During their residency, House and TDT dancers will deliver daily technique classes to York dance students. They will also present four additional special events open to the public: studio performances of Chiasmata, House’s latest creation for the company, and his solo News, choreographed by Deborah Hay; a screening of the House biopic Ahead of the Curve; and an illustrated talk on The Making of Timecode Break (presentations daily Jan 14-17 at 12 noon).
Timecode Break is a quintessential dance for the 21st century. Choreographed simultaneously for stage and screen, it integrates razor-sharp dancing with gorgeous video images to create a brave new kinetic landscape. Dancing in partnership with their digital selves in a seamless choreography of control and abandon, the TDT dancers are pushed to their edge, performing in lightning-fast unison, fierce counterpoint and powerful solos. The limits of physical virtuosity are framed by the infinite potential of the digital body.
After its world premiere at the Canada Dance Festival in 2006, Paula Citron of The Globe and Mail hailed Timecode Break as: “… among the greatest dances ever created in Canada… a work of such brilliance that it is ahead of the curve.” The piece topped four critics’ Top Ten lists in 2006, including being named “best new contemporary dance” by The Toronto Star. It won three Dora Mavor Moore Awards in 2007, including Outstanding Production and Outstanding Choreography.
Timecode Break is a commission from the Canada Dance Festival and a co-production with Ottawa’s National Arts Centre and the Banff Centre for the Arts.
Chiasmata, House’s most recent choreography, ranges in tone from playful to percussive to sublimely vulnerable. The work uses a new creative process for House and his dancers, and explores new emotional and physical territory. This new methodology has created movement that is both idiosyncratic and very personal to the performers, while at the same time, is beautifully shaped and crafted. Chiasmata was nominated for a 2007 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Choreography.
News is a solo set on House by world-renowned experimental dance artist Deborah Hay. The piece was choreographed by Hay and adapted for House during his participation in Hay’s Solo Performance Commissioning Project, an international creation residency in Findhorn, Scotland. News premiered in December 2006 at Toronto’s Winchester Street Theatre.
Christopher House: Ahead of the Curve is a film about process and the dazzling energy and mystique of dance. Commissioned by Bravo! Television and directed by House’s sister Rosemary House, this intimate exploration of the art of choreography reveals the detailed processes House brings to his work and his enduring search for knowledge and inspiration. “If you’ve ever wondered about the point of modern dance, the answer is here,” said John Doyle of The Globe and Mail.
The Making of Timecode Break is a lecture-demonstration led by House and including DVD projection.
"We're delighted to welcome Christopher House back to York together with his company," said Dance Department Chair Mary Jane Warner. "This residency offers a wonderful opportunity for our students to work with the outstanding artists in TDT, and to observe them both in classes and rehearsal settings. We hope this will be the beginning of a long-term relationship between TDT and the Department of Dance at York."
Source: York University, Ontario
January 3, 2008
Thompson Rivers University: Making the Scene in Kamloops - Public Invited to Share their Stories
Members of the community are being invited to join five participating artists and share their stories and images of Kamloops next Wednesday, January 9 at 7:00 pm, as part of the Making the Scene Exhibition at the Kamloops Museum.
Originally defined as a covered place, a tent or stage, the word “scene” has, over time, accumulated meaning and significance. Technically, in terms of stagecraft, a scene is a part of an act, a division of a play, a poem, or a section of a film; but we also speak more generally of the scene as a setting or locale, a place where any event, real or imagined, might occur: the music scene, the bar scene, the gay scene, the youth scene, the arts scene, the drug scene, the scene of the crime, and so on. To “make a scene” is to call attention to oneself, often in an embarrassing or emotional manner; while “making the scene” means appearing at the cool events and in all the right places.
The Making the Scene Exhibition, currently on display at the Kamloops Museum and Archives, invites reflection upon those places, those scenes, that give small cities like Kamloops their character and identity.
On Wednesday, January 9, at 7pm, the Museum will be hosting a public panel discussion featuring the five participating artists. The artists will explore the spaces and the activities that define our “places” within the community. Understanding the local scene requires intimate knowledge derived from personal experience; and it is a characteristic of scenes that they are always changing, dependent upon membership, interest, and fashion.
Together with the artists, the public is invited to make the scene by sharing their stories and images of Kamloops. What are the key places-the gathering places, stores, markets, bars, clubs, coffee shops, restaurants, institutions, places of refuge, parks, hidden areas, secret spaces, natural settings, etc.-that make Kamloops special to you? What stories do you associate with these key places? Where do you feel most comfortable or uncomfortable? How has “the Kamloops scene” changed over time?
Come and tell your story. Contributions are being sought for a book project sponsored by the Small Cities Community-University Research Alliance at TRU.
Source: Thompson Rivers University, British Columbia
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