♦

Cecil Community Centre is a not-for-profit, multi-service community neighbourhood centre that offers a broad range of recreational, educational, social, cultural and capacity-building programs to residents in the Kensington-Chinatown and College-Spadina neighbourhoods. For more than 40 years, the Centre has played a vital role in the lives of community members of all ages. The Centre provides programs and services for children, youth, adults and seniors.

As a Cecil Community Centre Board Member, you will assist the organization with policy creation, financial oversight, fundraising, and overall strategic direction. You will review and act upon committee recommendations brought to the board, and provide governance, financial oversight and support to the Centre’s Executive Director. If you are looking for a way to make a difference in the community, this could be the opportunity for you.

Desired Skills: We’re looking for people who are passionate about the community and having a positive social impact. Skills or experience in any of the following areas would be considered assets but are not required to apply: Board Experience, Human Resources. Racialized and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals are encouraged to apply.

Commitment: Successful candidates will be required to attend regular board meetings, as well as any additional committee meetings. Board meetings are typically held monthly on the last Thursday of every month (approximately of 9 meetings per year). Board Members are also expected to serve on one committee. Board members are asked to serve a two-year term, and the estimated monthly time commitment is 4-6 hours per month.

How to apply: If you are interested in this volunteer opportunity, or have any questions, please contact Shakira, Executive Assistant, at shakira@cecilcentre.ca.

The post Cecil Community Centre appeared first on Capacity Canada.

Does the lying ever stop? Are politicians so short sighted and so stupid that they think that everybody forgets their lies? One possible reason for the Township's decades old coverup of the seriousness of the methane gas is the fear of lowering property values in nearby homes on High St., George St. and others. I guess the Township feel that lying to everybody is better than having to buy homes nearest the landfill due to the Township's culpability in siting the Landfill next to this subdivision. 

I've recently noticed another issue regarding the Bolender Landfill As the trees have been thinned out one can more readily see the earthen berm along the back end (east side) of the former scrapyard. In the past I've seen the flooding Canagagigue Creek go over its' banks and totally submerge Bolender Park. Due to the berm behind the scrapyard I suspect that the flooding included significant parts of the landfill itself. If so this would explain the repeated failures of the methane gas monitoring and venting systems over the decades. When the tubes are filled with water the methane can not vent to the atmosphere. Even a high water table can cause this but when combined with surface water it's even more egregious. 

I thought that real estate agents were legally bound to disclose nearby hazards and issues to prospective buyers of homes. Apparently not as the realtor for 10-A  High St. has not been doing so. He claims that he has no knowledge of the nearby former landfill. Wow! This is Woolwich Township folks. "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".   

In a world where there is so much negative news, our next generation needs our help towards strong futures more than ever. That is what makes us so pleased about successfully running our 17th Annual Youth Symposium, after being forced to cancel since 2019.

In the media! Check out the coverage provided by Cambridge Today and Guelph Today.

The 2024 edition of this exciting and unique program was run over three days – from Tuesday, April 16 to Thursday, April 18. A cumulative total of over 3,000 grade 8 students and teachers from almost 50 schools in the area attended at Galaxy Cineplex Cinemas in Guelph (day one) and Waterloo (days two and three).

Students and teachers heard from some of the best speakers in the country for youth audiences. This amazing line-up delivered powerful messages on a variety of important life topics, all in the spirit of spurring these youth onto great success in high school and beyond!

Presentation themes included dreaming big, goal setting, anti-bullying, healthy dating, abstaining from drugs, resiliency, inclusion, accountability, and more. There was a significant focus on the physical, emotional, and mental health of students, as they prepare to begin high school. Students also learned how Child Witness Centre can support them through the criminal justice system if they are ever a victim or witness of abuse or crime.

The difference that Youth Symposium can make in the lives of young people is priceless – and will surely have a long-term ripple effect in our community. A lot of glowing feedback we've received from students and teachers speaks to how they’ve been equipped with confidence, inspiration, and empowerment to thrive – both now and well into the future.

One student shared what they learned is, “Don't let failures stop you from trying new things. Don't base your decisions on others' opinions. Do what you want even if it might not be cool.” Another student stated a few takeaways for them were, “Be careful online, believe in yourself, and stay positive about life.”

A teacher let us know, “This is so valuable for students – someone other than their parents or teachers, reaching them at their level, and inspiring them to think and/or act differently (and for the better)!” Another teacher said, “These presentations fuel and inspire kids to look beyond their phone or bedroom walls, get involved, and be an active member of your community!”

For our team at Child Witness Centre, it is very rewarding to know Youth Symposium also helps with the prevention of abuse and crime. Last year alone, we supported over 1,000 child and youth victims in Waterloo Region, Guelph, and Wellington County – and that number doesn’t include those added to our waitlist. Anything that can be done to avoid harmful incidents from happening in the first place holds tremendous value.

Our entire team would like to thank everyone who was part of making the 2024 Youth Symposium a major success! While many of our staff were heavily involved in making the program happen, we couldn’t do it alone – the help of our large crew of volunteers and partners was critical. This incredible three-day event is also made possible by the support of our generous event sponsors found below. Thank you!

We are already looking forward to the 2025 Youth Symposium!

The post 2024 Youth Symposium Impacts over 3,000 Local Grade 8 Students first appeared on Child Witness Centre.

In a world where there is so much negative news, our next generation needs our help towards strong futures more than ever. That is what makes Child Witness Centre (CWC) so pleased about successfully running its 17th Annual Youth Symposium, after being forced to cancel since 2019.

The 2024 edition of this exciting and unique program was run over three days – from Tuesday, April 16 to Thursday, April 18. A cumulative total of over 3,000 grade 8 students and teachers from almost 50 schools in the area attended at Galaxy Cineplex Cinemas in Guelph (day one) and Waterloo (days two and three).

Students and teachers heard from some of the best speakers in the country for youth audiences. This amazing line-up delivered powerful messages on a variety of important life topics, all in the spirit of spurring these youth onto great success in high school and beyond!

Presentation themes included dreaming big, goal setting, anti-bullying, healthy dating, abstaining from drugs, resiliency, inclusion, accountability, and more. There was a significant focus on the physical, emotional, and mental health of students, as they prepare to begin high school. Students also learned how CWC can support them through the criminal justice system if they are ever a victim or witness of abuse or crime.

The difference that Youth Symposium can make in the lives of young people is priceless – and will surely have a long-term ripple effect in our community. A lot of glowing feedback received from students and teachers speaks to how they’ve been equipped with confidence, inspiration, and empowerment to thrive – both now and well into the future.

One student shared what they learned is, “Don't let failures stop you from trying new things. Don't base your decisions on others' opinions. Do what you want even if it might not be cool.” Another student stated a few takeaways for them were, “Be careful online, believe in yourself, and stay positive about life.”

A teacher let CWC know, “This is so valuable for students – someone other than their parents or teachers, reaching them at their level, and inspiring them to think and/or act differently (and for the better)!” Another teacher said, “These presentations fuel and inspire kids to look beyond their phone or bedroom walls, get involved, and be an active member of your community!”

For CWC, it is very rewarding to know Youth Symposium also helps with the prevention of abuse and crime. Last year alone, this organization supported over 1,000 child and youth victims in Waterloo Region, Guelph, and Wellington County – and that number doesn’t include those added to their waitlist. Anything that can be done to avoid harmful incidents from taking place in the first place, and thereby the need for CWC’s services, holds tremendous value.

CWC would like to thank everyone who was part of making the 2024 Youth Symposium a major success! While many of their staff were key to making the program happen, they know they couldn’t do it alone – the help of a large crew of volunteers and partners was critical. This incredible three-day event is also made possible by the support of several generous event sponsors.

CWC is already looking forward to their 2025 Youth Symposium!

The team of professionals at Child Witness Centre walks closely with local young survivors of abuse and crime, and their families, from the time of investigation through to a court resolution. As a result, their clients’ trauma is reduced, and futures become brighter. In facing stretched resources to meet the demand for their services, CWC recently began a “Child Victims Can’t Wait” large fundraising campaign to overcome their first ever waitlist in over 40 years of service. Visit their website to learn more about their impact and how you can help: childwitness.com/

The post 2024 Youth Symposium has Major Impact on over 3,000 Local Grade 8 Students first appeared on Child Witness Centre.

When: Friday May 3,  4 – 5:30 pm

Where: Meet at the pathway into Sugarbush Park, beside 96 Blythwood Road, Waterloo

Walk Leaders: Alisa McClurg and Kae Elgie

This walk will reflect on the many transitions Sugarbush Park has already experienced —  e.g. the arrival of Pennsylvania German Mennonites into First Nations territory in the 1830s, the flood of young families into apartment buildings and single family homes built on Snider’s Highway Maples farm in the 1960s  — and look at proposed future developments, e.g. 3 or possibly 4 Additional Dwelling Units on individual lots throughout the neighbourhood, 13 towers housing 3183 people on the former Clemmer Industries property.

How does intensification affect people’s lives? Who benefits? Who suffers? Are there ways to maximize the benefits, minimize the downsides?   Is transition inevitable?

This walk will be mostly on sidewalks; paths in Sugarbush Park may be muddy, depending on the weather.

Book seven in the Peacekeepers of Sol series finds Henry Wong dealing with mysteries and Enigmas far beyond human space…

♦A critical ally faces annihilation. The United Planets Alliance must act. On his personal word and with billions of lives on the line, Rear Admiral Henry Wong leads his fleet in a race to save the Londu homeworld!

Even victory can provide no answers about their strange new enemy. Henry and Sylvia are left searching for old allies… but when those allies are just as secretive as the enemy, who will Henry trust?

Audiobook fans: The audio edition from Podium Audio comes out July 23, 2024. Preorder here or use the links below.

The post Wartorn Stars is available now! appeared first on Glynn Stewart.

Statistics is essential in data science, laying the groundwork for meaningful analysis. It goes beyond basic charts to offer a detailed examination of data, enabling us to draw solid conclusions instead of mere guesses. This article will discuss some key statistics concepts vital for data analysts.

A population is the entire group that is the subject of a statistical study. Think of this as a complete collection of data points.

A sample is a subset of the population selected for analysis. This distinction is significant because, in many cases, studying an entire population is impractical or impossible, necessitating the use of samples.

Population (N)>Sample (n)

These measures, like the mean (μ) or variance (σ²), describe the entire population. They are often unknown because examining every data point in a population is impractical. Through sample analysis, we can estimate these parameters.

These are estimates derived from the sample, such as the sample mean (x̅) and variance (s²), aimed at estimating their population counterparts.

Inferential statistics use sample statistics to make educated guesses about the population, relying on proper sampling methods to validate these guesses. Techniques like hypothesis testing and confidence intervals are crucial for ensuring the accuracy of our conclusions.

An estimator is a methodology for estimating a population parameter based on sample data, often denoted as p̂. For example: The sample mean is a commonly used estimator for the population mean. Effective estimators are both unbiased and precise.

The bias of an estimator refers to the difference between the estimator’s expected value and the actual value of the parameter it aims to estimate.

• If Bias = 0, the estimator is unbiased, meaning on average, it correctly estimates the parameter.
• If Bias ≠ 0, the estimator is biased, indicating a systematic deviation from the true parameter value.

Precision relates to the estimator’s variance and reflects how closely the estimated values cluster around the true value. Low variance means high precision, indicating consistent estimates across different samples.

• Simple Random Sampling: This method ensures that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected, thereby guaranteeing fair representation.
• Stratified Sampling: The population is segmented into subgroups, and samples are drawn from each to maintain proportional representation.
• Cluster Sampling: Dividing the population into clusters and randomly selecting entire clusters for a comprehensive study.
• Systematic Sampling: Involves selecting samples at regular intervals, providing a streamlined approach to random sampling.

Variables are classified as categorical (nominal, ordinal) and numerical (discrete, continuous).

Example: Nominal: Colors (red, blue); Ordinal: A variable having some order — Education levels (high school < bachelor’s < master’s);

Discrete: A discrete variable can only take integer values.

Continuous: A variable that can take any floating value.

The sample mean is used to estimate the true mean (μ) of a distribution of the whole population. The sample mean is often noted (x̅) and is defined as follows :

where X1,…, Xn​ is a sample of n independent measurements.

Acting as the dataset’s midpoint, the median ensures a fair representation by placing exactly half the data above and half below it. This is especially useful for skewed distributions, where it better captures a “central” value.

The mode is the value that appears most often in a set of data values. It is the value that is most likely to be sampled.

The range represents the difference between the largest and smallest values in a sample of data.

The IQR tells us about the middle chunk of our data, spanning from the first quartile (Q1) to the third quartile (Q3). Imagine lining up all your data points and picking out the middle section: Q1 marks the start (25% in from the lowest values) and Q3 marks the end (25% in from the highest values). This range, the IQR, covers the middle 50% of your data, helping you see where most of your data lies while ignoring the outliers.

The sample variance is used to estimate the true variance σ² of a distribution. It measures how far a sample of measurements is spread out from their average value. It is often noted s² and is defined as follows:

Variance is the square of the standard deviation. Standard deviation, denoted as s for the sample estimate is more interpretable because it is in the same units as the data.

For each individual in your sample, you can calculate his or her Z-score. This measure will allow you to determine how many standard deviations your individual is within from the mean.

A Z-score is positive for all values that are above average and negative for all values that are below average. For example, if you get a Z-score of 1.5 for an individual in your sample, this means that the individual is 1.5 standard deviations away from the mean.

Correlation measures the strength and direction of a linear relationship between two variables.

Example: In a study, we find a strong positive correlation (0.9) between study hours and exam scores, indicating that more study hours correlate with higher scores.

A normal curve, or bell curve, shows how common different values are. Imagine you line up everyone by height. Most people would be in the middle, being of average height. Very tall and very short people would be at the ends. This pattern, where most things are average and only a few are extreme, looks like a bell. That’s why we call it a bell curve. The bell curve, or normal distribution, is important because it helps us understand how data are spread around the average.

Skewness and kurtosis are two statistics that measure different aspects of a distribution’s shape, further detailing how it differs from a perfect bell curve or normal distribution.

measures the asymmetry of a distribution. If a distribution has a long tail to the right (more high values), it’s positively skewed. If the tail is to the left (more low values), it’s negatively skewed. This tells us if the distribution leans a certain way.

measures the “tailedness” of a distribution or how heavy or light the tails are compared to a normal distribution. High kurtosis means more of the data is in the tails and peaks, while low kurtosis means the data is more evenly spread out.

A range of values, derived from sample data, that’s likely to include the true unknown population parameter.

Example: Estimating a 95% confidence interval for the mean height of adult males.

If you want to know more about confidence intervals, check out my article here.

Remember, statistics is like a toolkit for a detective. It helps you uncover insights and solve mysteries hiding in data. These concepts are the keys to unlocking the magic of numbers and turning them into valuable insights.

Thank you for reading!

If you found this article informative and helpful, please don’t hesitate to 👏 and follow me on Medium | LinkedIn.

10 Basic Statistics Concepts For Data Analysts was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

This would be based upon the entire picture including the amount of pollution versus the amount of bullsh*t going along with it.  In other words a polluter with larger volumes being discharged might not rank quite as high as a modest polluter immersed however in massive bullsh*t. 

One such example of massive bullsh*t  are the polluters spending time and some money with elaborate CAPS or Citizen Public Advisory Committees. Now although we have horrific environmental bullsh*t throughout Woolwich Township and Elmira, that is not all. In fact we have massive horsesh*t as well, literally all over the roads. This is after all Elmira, Ontario home of a large Old Order Mennonite population whose transportation is primarily horses and buggies. I wonder why cattle (i.e. bulls) take such a bad rap (i.e. bullsh*t) when rarely if ever do I hear the term (horsesh*t) here. I think that that might be discriminatory.    

Regardless there is yet another point. Are all CAPS necessarily bad? Perhaps a Cap by any other name is. Examples abound locally including UPAC, sometimes past CPACs and most certainly RAC, TAG and the latest pig with lipstick namely TRAC.  But what about the Sulco Cap here in town? From everything I;ve heard it is actually the real deal. Sulco (i.e. CCC) ownership/management apparently do not lie or deceive their Cap members. They do not treat local citizens with contempt. They honestly attempt to answer all questions.

The Lanxess Cap claims to only deal with current events not past ones.  That is a lie as they to date refuse to discuss the ongoing Risk Assessment of the Canagagigue Creek. That alone is good reason why Dr. Holt should not be still on that Cap. It is also good reason why he should not be enticing other local citizens to join that Cap.

Similarly Sebastian should have resigned long ago from TAG as he claimed he would. He is now on the new TRAC which is simply a conglomeration of the old, failed RAC and TAG members. TRAC is simply a rebranding of one of the grossest examples of perverted public consultation possible (RAC & TAG) and honest, sincere individuals should not tarnish their name by being on it nor should they give TRAC credibility it does not deserve based upon who manufactured it (Woolwich, Lanxess, Sandy & David)  and who most of the members are (Lanxess fellow travellors). 

I believe that all this Lanxess public relations effort should be rewarded with a Master Polluter designation.

Cornelissen, T., Diekkrüger, B., & Bogena, H. (2016). Using High-Resolution Data to Test Parameter Sensitivity of the Distributed Hydrological Model HydroGeoSphere. In Water (Vol. 8, Issue 5, p. 202). MDPI AG. doi.org/10.3390/w8050202

“In this study we use the distributed hydrological 3D-model HydroGeoSphere in a nested simulation approach to conduct a sensitivity analysis across scales.”

Graphical Abstract showing simulated vs observed evapotranspiration (ET) rates (top) and sensitivity of the simulated ET rates to changes in land use, potential ET rates and precipitation (bottom)

Fig. 1. Location of the Erkensruhr catchment and climate stations (A); land use (B) and soil type distribution in the Erkensruhr catchment (C). The bottom map also illustrates the border between the slope of the hill and the riparian area (refer to Chapter 2.3).

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

In a recent study conducted by researchers Thomas Cornelissen, Bernd Diekkrüger, and Heye R. Bogena, the sensitivity of HydroGeoSphere (HGS) simulation results to high-resolution data is thoroughly examined to assess its sensitivity to high-resolution data.

The study focuses on parameterizing a mesoscale catchment for the HydroGeoSphere model by transferring evapotranspiration parameters from a well-equipped headwater catchment and incorporating literature data. By utilizing these parameters, the researchers aim to enhance the model's performance in simulating daily discharge dynamics and monthly evapotranspiration across different land use types within the mesoscale catchment.

The study successfully reproduces discharge dynamics and evapotranspiration patterns in Erkensruhr catchment is located in western Germany (~42 sqkm) using transferred parameters. Precipitation emerges as the most sensitive input data, significantly influencing total runoff and peak flow rates. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of spatially distributed land use parameterization in accurately simulating evapotranspiration components and patterns.

The study reveals that coarse soil data can lead to changes in runoff generation processes, affecting groundwater level rise and transpiration rates. These insights underscore the significance of utilizing high-resolution data and parameter transfer techniques to improve the accuracy of distributed hydrological models, particularly in mesoscale catchments where data scarcity poses a significant challenge.

By integrating HydroGeoSphere in this study, the researchers demonstrate its versatility in accommodating high-resolution data and conducting sensitivity analyses across different spatial scales. This research contributes to advancing our understanding of hydrological processes and improving the accuracy of distributed hydrological models in simulating complex catchment behaviors.

Abstract:

Parameterization of physically based and distributed hydrological models for mesoscale catchments remains challenging because the commonly available data base is insufficient for calibration. In this paper, we parameterize a mesoscale catchment for the distributed model HydroGeoSphere by transferring evapotranspiration parameters calibrated at a highly-equipped headwater catchment in addition to literature data. Based on this parameterization, the sensitivity of the mesoscale catchment to spatial variability in land use, potential evapotranspiration and precipitation and of the headwater catchment to mesoscale soil and land use data was conducted. Simulations of the mesoscale catchment with transferred parameters reproduced daily discharge dynamics and monthly evapotranspiration of grassland, deciduous and coniferous vegetation in a satisfactory manner. Precipitation was the most sensitive input data with respect to total runoff and peak flow rates, while simulated evapotranspiration components and patterns were most sensitive to spatially distributed land use parameterization. At the headwater catchment, coarse soil data resulted in a change in runoff generating processes based on the interplay between higher wetness prior to a rainfall event, enhanced groundwater level rise and accordingly, lower transpiration rates. Our results indicate that the direct transfer of parameters is a promising method to benefit highly equipped simulations of the headwater catchments.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

Click here to read review more watershed scale modelling projects

Founders and students are developing and selling products that are helping improve the health of our planet. Ranging from improving sustainable energy source efficiencies to reducing plastic waste and petroleum-based, synthetic textiles, the impact these startups can have could be felt globally — and are being developed in downtown Kitchener and the University of Waterloo campus.

With President Biden announcing $7 billion in federal grants for residential solar projects, it’s clear how important solar energy is to protect our planet. Swish, co-founded by Miswar Sayed and Amirhossein Boreiri, plans to make cleaning those panels easier than it is currently. The startup is making transparent screens that retrofit on an existing solar panel and can remove the dust using nanotechnology meaning that panels can be cleaned multiple times a day with just a flip of a switch. This cleaning method will replace robots that are commonly used and reduces reliance on water. The U.S. government funding is expected to serve 900,000-plus households in low- and middle-income communities.

Alt Tex is making polyester-like material out of food waste. That’s two-fold sustainability: reducing the production of polyester, a petroleum-based material, and putting food waste, one of the largest land fill contributors, to good use. Founders Myra Arshad and Avneet Ghotra are paving the way for fabric alternatives.

Evercloak’s nanomaterials will reduce the very energy-intensive process of traditional air-conditioning, which pumps greenhouse gases into the environment. Evercloak, co-founded by Evelyn Allen and Dr. Michael Pope, is scaling up production of its membranes to enable energy efficient building cooling. Their membranes’ unique properties allows water vapour to be removed from the air without having to condense it — unlike today’s refrigerant-based technology — making cooling more efficient and climate-friendly.

Nfinite Nanotech is making coatings that can make biodegradable packaging stronger and increase how much current products can be recycled. Co-founders Chee Hau Teoh and Jhi Yong Loke, both University of Waterloo engineering graduates, have built partnerships with major brands including PepsiCo and Mitsubishi and have almost tripled the staff of their new Waterloo location.

FractalEV, co-founded by Micah Gold-Utting, Chris Mendes and Spenser Emery, aims to boost the adoption of electric vehicles by making reliable EV charging available everywhere drivers want to charge, including for large fleets and multi-residential households.

Co-founded by engineering PhD candidate Rafat Jami, Innowind Energy Solutions is increasing the reliability and performance of wind turbines using novel blade attachment systems.

This is just a glimpse of the founders working with Velocity who are developing cleantech. On Earth Day we celebrate those whose vision and drive collided to make a positive impact on our planet. 

The post Business building for a better biosphere  appeared first on Velocity.

Sign up for the Spring 2024 Cornerstone waitlist | Applications will open in early May

Cornerstone is the culmination of the student entrepreneurial process. Validate your startup idea by finding and speaking directly with customers. Gain firsthand knowledge of your target market while joining a network of founders to share knowledge and resources. 

The post Cornerstone waitlist appeared first on Velocity.

Over fifty years ago, Earth Day was only recognized in the United States. Today it is celebrated annually by 190 different countries. Bringing awareness to environmental issues is the first step to keeping our planet safe. There are many new titles in our collection that can teach you and your children about the natural world around us.

Earth Squad by Alexandra Zissu

Everyday, all around the world, there are people fighting to protect the earth. Sea Captain Charles Moore campaigns against the production of single–use plastics after he discovered a floating garbage pile in the ocean so large it would fill the state of Texas – twice. Filmmaker Chai Jing created ‘Under a Dome,’ a documentary about the smog in China and how it impacts the health of children. Sustainable Agricultural Entrepreneur Sarah Toumi combats soil erosion in Tunisia by planting acacia trees which in turn can be used to make commercial products.

This book highlights 50 different people who are making a difference in the world we live in. These short biographies are simple to read and offer everyday tips that we can do to aid the environment.

World of Pollinators: A Guide for Explorers of All Ages

We cannot exist without plants. Plants cannot exist without pollinators. Plants and trees are responsible for the oxygen we breathe. In order for plants to produce seeds, pollen must be transferred between flowers. This is why pollinators are essential. Bees, hummingbirds and butterflies all help complete this process.

This guide is full of gorgeous illustrations that outline the importance of pollination and how we can ensure the process continues by planting food sources for pollinators.

Saving the Night: How Light Pollution is Harming Life on Earth by Stephen Aitken

We know that plastic waste in the ocean harms marine life. We know exposure to smog can harm birds and mammals. But I bet you’ve never watched a June bug crash into a streetlamp and thought it was a problem.

The increasing amount of artificial light we use can have devastating effects on nature. For example, the insect population uses sunlight and moonlight to guide their paths. Artificial light causes them to fly in circles, directionless, until they die. This removes a large food source for other animals, including birds and bats.

In the oceans, light from the coast illuminates the seabed disrupting entire ecosystems. The number of algae declines in the light and in turn impacts the life cycles of those who rely on it as a food source.

This book breaks down the impact of artificial light and how we can make simple adjustments to help decrease the effect it has on the world around us.

Are We Running Out of Water? By Isabel Thomas

In Canada, we can access fresh water by simply turning on a tap. But half of the world’s population experiences water scarcity at some point in the year. We use water to wash our cars, water our lawns and fill our pools. Yet others must walk for miles just to find clean water to drink. Clean water is not evenly distributed throughout the world. Pollution, weather events and the growing population can also impact how much water is available. This book breaks down large concepts by using illustrations and mind maps, rather than lines and paragraphs. Each chapter starts with a map displaying the key points that will be discussed in that section. It’s a great choice for readers who shy away from books with large chunks of text.

Why would they start now? The best case scenario is that Sebastian humbly requests the consideration of his fellow colleagues on TRAC and they as usual ignore him. He and Susan might also however advise that enough Woolwich citizens understand and are aware of the downstream "hotspots" (Agenda Item  8.2  ). Agenda Item 7. is very unlikely to receive much intelligent discussion although it should. I posted here about the last four months of utterly pathetic non-pumping both on and off site last week  (Tues. April 16/24). This Item  7. is allegedly going to seriously discuss just the last three months namely January, February and March. Item 6. is the 2023 Annual Monitoring Report which is just another cheerleading exercise in which Lanxess and friends brag about how much the plume has shrunk and how many kilograms of NDMA they have removed (or not).  They will studiously avoid how high above drinking water criteria concentrations continue to be throughout large areas of Elmira.

It's all for show folks. I have attended in the past in order to keep up to date on basically what they are not doing that they should be and to hear first hand any new lies or deceptions they are selling to the public. Woolwich Township are miles and decades past any semblance of honesty or transparency. All politicians at all levels are on board with the scam. 

In a country where owning a home seems like a distant dream for many young Canadians, the federal government is proposing legislation to protect renters’ rights and make housing more attainable for millennial and Gen Z renters. According to Statistics Canada, in 2021, there were 5 million renter households, a significant increase from 4.1 million a decade ago. An RBC Economics study revealed that young Canadians make up the largest share of renters.

According to our 2023 Joe Debtor study, higher house prices have resulted in a decline in homeowner insolvencies. As a result, insolvent debtors are currently predominantly renters (96% in 2023).

One proposed solution in the renter’s bill of rights is to mandate credit reporting for rent. While this sounds like a good idea, we fear it may have unintended consequences.

The government has proposed a Tenant Protection Fund that would put $15 million over five years toward legal services for tenants. They propose to crack down on rent increases and renovictions, introduce a country-wide standard lease agreement and require landlords to disclose the history of an apartment’s rent through the credit bureau. 

The theory is that for years, tenants have had to pay rent every month, but unlike other financial obligations that boost credit scores, rent payments haven’t counted toward credit history. This gap has caused issues for tenants who pay rent on time but have low credit scores, making it hard for them to find housing because landlords often rely on credit scores to judge trustworthiness. As a result, tenants haven’t had the chance to use their rent payments to improve their credit.

The Credit for Paying Rent Initiative will now allow tenants to build credit through their monthly rent payments. By including renters’ timely payment history in mortgage assessments, the government hopes to make it easier to qualify for mortgages, maybe even at lower rates. This move has support from industry groups like the Canadian Bankers Association and Credit Canada. 

However, we wonder if the implementation is feasible and whether it will make a difference in terms of the ability to buy a home.

In Canada, your credit information is reported to credit bureaus by lenders and creditors with whom you have financial relationships, such as banks, credit card companies, and mortgage lenders. They provide details about your credit accounts, payment history, credit inquiries, and public records like bankruptcies. This information is compiled by major credit bureaus like Equifax and TransUnion into your credit report, which lenders use to assess your creditworthiness when you apply for new credit. 

To file payment history with the credit bureaus, creditors must establish a service agreement with each credit bureau. Currently, credit bureaus require a minimum number of active accounts and consistent monthly reporting. Creditors must also provide data in a technical format that the credit bureaus, or an intermediary processor, will accept. These technical requirements are very specific; it’s not just about sending a note that John Smith didn’t pay this month. 

How long does it take to have your debt reported to the credit bureau? In a recent episode of Debt Free in 30, Blair DeMarco-Wettlaufer, the Chief of Operations Officer of Kingston Data & Credit, explained the process, “Ideally, we reach out to the person, and they pay. If they don’t pay, a collection agent’s biggest leverage is reporting debts to the credit bureau. We don’t want to do that on day one. That’s not legal. We don’t even want to do it on day seven. We want to give the person a chance to connect with us and work with us. And we tell them if you take care of this, we won’t report this to the bureau and then everybody wins.”

The idea of receiving good credit for paying rent on time could help renters, however we have concerns about how this would work.

As noted earlier, providing information to the credit bureaus requires both time and technical expertise. Who is going to enforce landlords’ reporting to the credit bureau? How are mom-and-pop landlords going to handle this extra task? Will they end up having to hire help, and if so, how much will that cost them? Will we see the entrance of a new, fee-for-service, intermediary. Who will pay that cost? Will tenants see a rent increase to offset the extra costs?

We also wonder if this could lead to unfair practices by landlords who may take advantage of the situation for their benefit. As Blair mentioned, reporting to the credit bureau is a useful collection tool. It’s a pretty forceful hammer. Coud unscrupulous landlords use this tactic to by offering to give you a good credit score on your credit report in response for a payment penalty or rental increase. How will The Landlord and Tenant Board handle disputes if this gets out of hand?

The question also remains: how this will work for student or shared housing?If five people live under one roof, who will receive the credit? How does it work for couples who pay rent but only one name is on the lease? 

Also, a credit score is a proprietary calculation made by each credit bureau.  It will be up to each credit bureau to determine how much value rent payments have on your credit score. For example, currently, major cell phone carriers report to the credit bureau. If you pay on time, that reporting doesn’t help your score that much, but if you don’t pay on time, it can hurt your score a lot! If this is the way they plan to handle rent reporting, it could do more harm than good for some Canadians who are struggling.

At the end of the day how many people is this going to help vs potentially harm? If the government’s goal is to help young Canadians purchase their first home, I don’t think having rent reported on a credit report will help very much. A bad or no credit score is not what is stopping people from getting a mortgage. The real issue that is being faced is high home prices due to inflation which makes it hard to save for a down payment.

Using rent to establish a credit history might help people borrow other debt. For example, insolvent debtors (who are primarily renters) might be able to use their rent to rebuild their credit rather than take on new debt. However, again, it will all depend on the weight credit bureaus and prospective lenders put on rental payments vs payment history on actual credit like credit cards and bank loans.

While the concept of incorporating rent payments into credit scores holds promise, its impact may be limited in addressing the broader challenge of housing affordability and credit building. The pressing issue of soaring home prices due to inflation remains a significant barrier for aspiring homeowners, overshadowing the potential benefits of rent reporting on credit scores.

It’s great that the government wants to help young Canadians buy homes but a more comprehensive approach addressing the root causes of housing unaffordability may be necessary for meaningful change.

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