Aubudon Guide to the Birds of North America

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

What could be better than a fully digitized, completely free, web-based Audubon Field Guide? The resources available on this site are as useful as they are beautiful. In addition to the Song and Calls section and the individual profiles of hundreds of birds (both listed below), environmentally conscious readers will likely find the coverage of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill extremely informative. 

The navigation of the site is both functional and fun, and components such as the 2015 Photography Awards, with its heart-stopping images of birds from around the world, will delight and amaze. 

The Audubon field guides have sold over 18 million copies since Alfred A. Knopf published the first illustrated and descriptive books in 1934. 

This informative website, which features beautiful drawings and photographs as well as extensive descriptions of birds from around North America, is intuitive and pleasing to the eye. 

Readers can start by selecting the Featured Bird, by typing the name of a specific species into the search function, or by sorting the guide into taxonomic family or region. Each record then opens to provide detailed information, including facts about Habitat, Migration, and Feeding Behavior. 

Perhaps best of all, the Songs and Calls section (stocked from over 2,500 sound files created by Lang Elliott) lets readers experience the song of the Acadian Flycatcher or the rhythms of the Acorn Woodpecker among others. 


Audubon Field GuideWebsite ·-  https://www.audubon.org/field-guide

From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 2014. http://scout.wisc.edu/

Government of Canada announces two calls for proposals for projects helping seniors across Canada stay active, engaged and informed

TORONTO, Ontario May 29, 2015 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today, the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors), announced two New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) calls for proposals for projects that will keep Canadian seniors active, engaged and informed. For both calls for proposals, the application period begins on May 29, 2015 and will close on July 10, 2015. Today's event took place at the Mon Sheong Foundation's Mon Sheong Home for the Aged in Toronto.

The 2015–2016 NHSP Call for Proposals for Pan-Canadian Projects is inviting organizations to apply for funding for projects that will help to reduce social isolation among seniors by using collaborative approaches that place an emphasis on measurable results. The Government of Canada is partnering with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and its Innoweave initiative to support the development, implementation and scaling of these collaborative approaches to reduce social isolation among seniors. Applicants can contact Innoweave through its Seniors SI program to obtain support and to learn more about how organizations can work together to address social isolation. More information on how to apply for funding is available at Canada.ca/Seniors.

The annual NHSP Call for Proposals for Community-Based Projects is inviting organizations to apply for funding of up to $25,000 for projects that help empower seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences with others and support communities by increasing their capacity to address local issues. More information on how to apply is available at Canada.ca/Seniors.

To help families prosper, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB), introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children's Fitness Tax Credit. The UCCB would increase to up to $1,920 per year for children under the age of 6, and parents would receive a benefit of up to $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17. The proposed enhancements to the UCCB would provide $160 per month for each child under the age of 6 and $60 per month for each child aged 6 through 17.

The Mon Sheong Foundation is a Canadian registered charitable organization, dedicated to the promotion of Chinese culture, heritage, language and philosophy through caring for the elderly, encouraging the young and providing programs and services in response to the needs of our communities. The Foundation is a former recipient of NHSP funding.

Quick Facts

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting and promoting seniors' health, well-being and contributions by encouraging them to stay active, engaged and informed.

Since 2006, the NHSP has funded nearly 15,000 projects in hundreds of communities across Canada, representing a total Government of Canada investment of $350 million.
Since 2006, $2.8 billion in annual tax relief has been provided to seniors and pensioners.
In 2006, over 30 percent of Canada's seniors were at risk of social isolation.

The National Seniors Council (NSC), in its Report on the Social Isolation of Seniors, 2013–2014, highlighted the importance of working with a wide array of organizations that deliver services and programs in an efficient and effective manner to alleviate isolation among older Canadians. The report can be found on Canada.ca/Seniors.

The Government of Canada released the Government of Canada – Action for Seniors report in September 2014. The report is a new information resource highlighting federal programs and services that can be accessed by seniors, their families and caregivers. It was created in collaboration with more than 22 federal departments and agencies. The report can be found on Canada.ca/Seniors.

For a wide range of information for seniors, including details on the NHSP, please visit Canada.ca/Seniors.

Quotes

"Our Government is proud to invest in New Horizons for Seniors Program projects that aim to reduce social isolation of seniors in communities across Canada. We welcome the opportunity to team up with innovative partners whose diverse knowledge, resources and collective experience will help us explore new and meaningful ways we can keep seniors active, engaged and informed."  – The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

"As the first Chinese Home for the Aged in Ontario, Mon Sheong has always been a visionary in elderly care within communities. We believe by providing a well-rounded scope of services, we are able to further delay the need of extended care for seniors. The New Horizons for Seniors Program is a very encouraging program for organizations like ours, as it echoes the philosophy of the Foundation by supporting programs led or inspired by seniors." – Tim Kwan, Chairman, the Mon Sheong Foundation

Associated Links

• Canada.ca/Seniors
• Funding: New Horizons for Seniors Program
• Economic Action Plan 2015
• Innoweave Seniors SI initiative
• National Seniors Council
• Canada.ca/taxsavings
• Backgrounder on new measures: Helping Families Prosper

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Backgrounder

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New Horizons for Seniors Program

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is a federal grants and contributions program that supports projects led or inspired by seniors who make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Through the NHSP, the Government of Canada encourages seniors to share their knowledge, skills and experiences to the benefit of others.

The objectives of the NHSP are:

• promoting volunteerism among seniors;
• engaging seniors in the community through mentoring of others;
• expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
• supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors; and
• providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors.

NHSP funding supports pan-Canadian and community-based projects.

Pan-Canadian projectsPan-Canadian projects funded through the 2015–2016 call for proposals will help to prevent and measurably reduce the rate of social isolation among seniors. Successful projects will be part of collaborative efforts to create this measurable change and will likely be geographically clustered. Each project will be up to three years in duration and funded between $150,000 and $750,000.

Community-based projectsCommunity-based project funding supports activities that engage seniors and address one or more of the program's five objectives: volunteering, mentoring, expanding awareness of elder abuse, social participation and capital assistance. These projects are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in grant funding per year, per organization. More than 1,850 projects were approved through the NHSP 2014–2015 Call for Proposals for Community-Based Projects.

For more information on the NHSP, visit Canada.ca/Seniors.

The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and its Innoweave initiative Established in 1937, the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation has a mandate to enhance Canada's ability to address complex social, environmental and economic challenges. It does this by developing, testing and applying innovative approaches and solutions; by strengthening the community sector; and by collaborating with partners from various sectors—community, private, and public.

The Government of Canada is partnering with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation and its Innoweave initiative to support NHSP pan-Canadian projects in the development, implementation and scaling of collaborative approaches that measurably reduce the rate of social isolation among seniors in a target population. For more information on the support available through Innoweave's Seniors SI program for NHSP pan-Canadian projects, please visit theInnoweave website.

Government of Canada Launches New Phase of Nutrition Facts Education Campaign

Consumers encouraged to better use the Nutrition Facts table

TORONTO, Ontario May 29, 2015 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, today launched the second phase of the Nutrition Facts Education Campaign (NFEC) to help Canadians make more informed food choices for themselves and their families.  The announcement was made together with campaign partners Derek Nighbor, Senior Vice-President of Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC), and David Wilkes, Senior Vice-President of the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) as well as with the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG).

Minister Clement unveiled the campaign's theme, "Focus on the Facts". The campaign  encourages Canadians – especially parents of children aged 2 to 12 – to use the "Serving Size" in the Nutrition Facts table (NFt) on packaged foods to compare similar foods.  By using the "Serving Size" and "Percent Daily Value", consumers can choose foods that have more of the nutrients they want to consume, such as fibre and calcium, and less of those they don't want, such as saturated and trans fats and sodium.

"I am proud of our Government's ongoing efforts to promote healthy eating. We know that healthy eating is integral to preventing nutrition-related chronic diseases, including obesity. We also know that there are real and significant health benefits associated with the use of food labels."                            - Rona Ambrose Minister of Health

The campaign is part of a broader government effort to help Canadians choose healthier foods by learning how to read and use the nutrition information on food labels. The NFEC Focus on the Facts messages and tips will still apply for future changes to the NFt.  Serving size and %DV are the core concepts behind the present Nutrition Facts table and are the focus of this campaign.  These will continue to be important concepts for consumers to use when comparing foods.

"The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadians better understand and use the information on the Nutrition Facts table so they can make informed food choices for themselves and their families." -Tony Clement President of the Treasury Board

"Research shows that the Nutrition Facts table (NFt) on food and beverage packages is the best way for busy Canadians to learn about the products they choose. Health Canada and industry have partnered to help Canadians better understand how to read the table and how to use it, as an essential and helpful nutrition informational tool. Food & Consumer Products of Canada is pleased to carry on the campaign's strong partnership with Health Canada and grocery retailers across the country."                                                 - Nancy Croitoru President and CEO, FCPC

"Retail Council of Canada is proud to support the Nutrition Facts Education Campaign which encourages Canadians to use and understand the Nutrition Facts table when shopping for themselves and their families. Helping Canadians make informed food choices is a top priority for grocery retailers" said Wilkes.  Providing this information to Canadians is shared responsibility and RCC and its members are pleased to be working with our supplier and retail partners and Health Canada to achieve this important goal."- David Wilkes Senior Vice-President, RCC

"As CFIG's retailer members are often on the frontlines when it comes to answering consumers' questions on food choices, we look forward to working with the Government of Canada on the Nutrition Facts Education Campaign to support consumers in making informed decisions in the grocery aisles." - Thomas A. Barlow President and CEO, CFIG

"Canadians need support to make informed choices that influence their health and quality of life, and understanding how to use available nutritional information is an important aspect of the decision-making process." - Dr. Arya M. Sharma Scientific Director, Canadian Obesity Network

Quick Facts

• The campaign encourages people to look at the NFt and start with Serving Size, found under the header 'Nutrition Facts'; then look at Percent Daily Value (% DV) on the right side of the NFt. You can use the % DV to see if the Serving Size has a little or a lot of a nutrient – 5% DV or less is a little and 15% DV or more is a lot.
• New NFEC campaign messages will be displayed on food packaging sold by 21 leading food companies, and will be promoted on in-store material and at retail events (through 10 retail chains and independent grocers).
• Since 2010, more than 1 billion food products featuring on-package NFEC messaging were distributed across Canada.

Linda Hasenfratz of Linamar competing for prestigious EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award

15^th annual EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award to be held 3-7 June in Monaco

Linda Hasenfratz is one of 65 entrepreneurs from 53 countries to be inducted in EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Hall of Fame 

Three-day forum features prominent keynote speakers, including Howard Schultz, Sir Martin Sorrell and others

TORONTO, Ontario May 27, 2015 /Canada NewsWire/ - Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Linamar Corporation (TSE:LNR), winner of Canada's2014 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award, will head to Monaco in June for the 15^th EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards. Linda will be among the 65 country winners, representing 53 countries to compete for the world title and cement their legacy by entering the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Hall of Fame. The winner will be announced at a ceremony on the evening of Saturday, 6 June in Monaco.

Linda was recognized in Canada for her inspiring work transforming and accelerating the growth of Linamar, a major global automotive manufacturing business headquartered in Guelph, Ontario. She learned the business from the inside out, building a dynamic growth strategy that she used to propel Linamar to new heights after taking the helm as CEO in 2002. She's cultivated a culture of investing in the company's people and the future of the broader community.

A full list of the 65 winners competing this year is available at www.ey.com/weoy. For broadcast quality, downloadable video content, visit our broadcast newsroom https://broadcast.ey.com. The videos include non-branded B-roll, web videos and sound bites.

Follow @EYCanada and @EY_EOY on Twitter for the latest updates. Join the conversation by using #WEOY

"The 15^th World Entrepreneur Of The Year event will celebrate the legacy that entrepreneurs leave through the innovations, jobs and economic growth they create, all of which help to build a better working world. Linda Hasenfratz is an outstanding entrepreneur, who is establishing her legacy as a job creator, an innovator, a community builder and a strong leader. We couldn't be more thrilled to have such a game-changer represent Canada at the world competition." -- Colleen McMorrow, EY partner and National Entrepreneur Of The Year Program Director

"It's a tremendous honour to represent Canada at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award event in Monaco. I'm excited to compete against the other 64 entrepreneurs from around the world, because this competition goes beyond recognizing financial success. There is a focus on innovation, community building and creating a legacy you are proud of." -- Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Linamar

World Entrepreneur Of The Year forum

As well as the awards, this year's program includes a series of keynote speakers, panel discussions and events of special interest to entrepreneurs and influential business leaders in attendance, including EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni.

Under the theme "How are you reshaping our world?", the sessions will look at the impact entrepreneurs can make and the legacy they can leave, and in particular around the global issue of youth unemployment.

The forum provides global business leaders and entrepreneurs with the opportunity to tackle topical issues like business growth; the rising urban middle class; youth employment; IPO and strategic transactions; sustaining entrepreneurship in a family business; technology's role in shaping the future; and using digital disruption as a competitive edge.  

How winners are selected

The overall winner is chosen by an independent judging panel of distinguished former EY Entrepreneur Of The Year winners and other leading entrepreneurs. The award is given on the basis of six criteria, giving all country winners an equal opportunity to compete: entrepreneurial spirit; financial performance; strategic direction; global (or community) impact; innovation; and personal integrity/influence.

The independent judging panel will be chaired by Rebecca MacDonald, founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Just Energy Group (Canada), and 2003 Ontario EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. Joining her will be:

• Fadi Ghandour of Aramex and Wamda Capital (UAE)
• Nobuyuki Idei of Quantum Leaps Corporation (Japan)
• Dr. Ruth Oltjer of Chemi-Pharm AS (Estonia)
• Ewald Raben of Raben Group (Poland)
• Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin of EcoWorld Development Group Berhad (Malaysia)
• Michael Wu of Maxim's Caterers Limited (China)

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

About EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year^TM 

EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential, and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, World Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in 60 countries.

About Linamar

Linamar Corporation (TSX:LNR) is a diversified global manufacturing Company of highly engineered products powering vehicles, motion, work and lives. The Company is made up of 2 operating segments – the Powertrain/Driveline segment and the Industrial segment, which are further divided into 3 operating groups – Machining & Assembly, Forging, and Skyjack, all world leaders in the design, development and production of highly engineered products.  The Company's Machining and Assembly and Forging operating groups focus on precision metallic components, modules and systems for engine, transmission and driveline systems designed for global vehicle and industrial markets.  The Company's Skyjack operating group is noted for its innovative, high quality mobile industrial equipment, notably its class-leading aerial work platforms and telehandlers.  With more than 19,500 employees in 48 manufacturing locations, 5 R&D centers and 15 sales offices in 14 countries in North and South America, Europe and Asia, Linamar generated sales of $4.2 billion in 2014. For more information about Linamar Corporation and its industry leading products and services, visit www.linamar.com.

SOURCE EY (Ernst & Young)

Great Places in Canada 2015 Kicks Off Today!

OTTAWA, Ontario  May 26, 2015 /Canada NewsWire/ - Today marks the start of the 2015 edition of Great Places in Canada and all features on the greatplacesincanada.ca website have now been activated!  Nominations from people across the country will be posted online as they compete for the title of Great Street, Great Neighbourhood and Great Public Space for 2015.

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP), created this contest to engage Canadians in sharing their favourite places and to recognize the work accomplished by Professional Planners to make these places possible. 

If there's a place you're proud of, share it.  Nominate it and anything can happen.  The exposure that the nominations get is invaluable, and participation in the contest is free.  Winning the designation of Great Place or the title of People's Choice through online votes is the ultimate goal, of course, but there is so much more about this contest than the prizes.  Seeing neighbourhoods and communities rallying support for their nominee and showing their local flare is a reward in itself.  Increased local business or an addition to someone's travel itinerary may also result.

How it worksAs soon as a nomination has been reviewed it will be posted on the website and will be immediately eligible to start receiving votes.  The place in each category with the most votes wins the title of People's Choice plus a prize for the nominator. 

The Grand Prize Winner in each category is determined by a jury of Professional planners, based on a variety of planning merits.  The winning nominator not only earns the designation for his/her place, they also receive a great prize.

Nominations can be submitted through until September 3, but the earlier nominations are posted, the sooner they can start collecting votes.  Voting closes September 24.  After the finalists are announced in October, the Grand Prize winners and People's Choice winners will be announced November 4, 2015.

Visit greatplacesincanada.ca to nominate and vote!

2014 Winners

Great Street	La rue du Petit-Champlain	Québec, QC
Great Neighbourhood	Inglewood	Calgary, AB
Great Public Space	Antigonish Town and County Library (The People's Place)	Antigonish, NS
People's Choice - Street	La rue du Petit-Champlain	Québec, QC
People's Choice - Neighbourhood	Old East Village	London, ON
People's Choice - Public Space	McAdam Lake Campground on Waulklehegan Lake	McAdam, NB

For winners from past years, visit www.greatplacesincanada.ca. 

• Follow @GreatPlacesCA on Twitter
• Like our Great Places in Canada page on Facebook

CIP is delighted to have VIA Rail Canada, a loyal sponsor of the contest, on board again this year and to have Roots Canada joining as a sponsor for the second time.  They will both be providing prizes to the contest winners.  We are thrilled to have the support of Communities in Bloom and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for the 5^thedition of Great Places in Canada. 

Great Places in Canada is an annual contest hosted by CIP and it is now in its fifth year. The contest seeks to increase Canadians' awareness about the planning profession and the work of Professional Planners in Canada.  Please visit www.greatplacesincanada.ca.

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is the national voice of Canada's planning profession. Since 1919, CIP has been dedicated to the advancement of responsible planning throughout Canada. CIP has a membership of over 7,800 professional planners, and collaborates with provincial planning institutes and associations to promote professional standards, training and certification as well as best practices in planning across Canada. Visit www.cip-icu.ca.

VIA Rail Canada, as the national rail passenger service, provides efficient, environmentally sustainable and cost-effective passenger transportation to Canadian travellers, and service in both official languages. Every week VIA operates 503 intercity, transcontinental and regional trains linking 450 communities across its 12,500 kilometers route network. VIA transports over four million passengers annually. Please visit www.viarail.ca.                                                                  

Roots Canada - Founded in 1973, Roots is Canada's leading lifestyle brand known for its quality leather goods, athletic apparel, accessories, and natural fiber clothing. In addition to its state-of-the-art factory and design centre inToronto, Roots has 125 stores in Canada and the United States along with 100 retail locations in Asia. The core values that have always governed Roots are based on a commitment to active, healthy living, respect for the environment, community support and a passion for Canada.

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the enhancement of green spaces. The pride, sense of community and feeling of accomplishment generated through participation are visible in communities across Canada.  For more information about Communities in Bloom, visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. With over 2,000 members, FCM represents the interests of municipalities on policy and program matters that fall within federal jurisdiction. Members include Canada's largest cities, small urban and rural communities, and 19 provincial and territorial municipal associations.  Visit www.fcm.ca.

SOURCE Canadian Institute of Planners