OPP Golden Helmets celebrate 50 years of excellence!

CONCORD, Ontario, May 31, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Golden Helmets Precision Motorcycle Riding Team gave a special performance today to mark the team's 50th anniversary with the OPP and to kick-off their 2013 season.

The anniversary event was hosted by Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, which has been sponsoring the Golden Helmets since 1997.

OPP Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey attended the event where he thanked Mr. Buzz Green, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Deeley-Harley Davidson Canada for Deeley's ongoing support of the Golden Helmets over the past 15 years.

Deeley provides the team with Harley-Davidson Police Specials, the signature black and white motorcycles the team uses to carry out their performances and operational duties as full-time police officers.

Since their very first performance at the Barrie Fall Fair in 1963, the 21-member team has been showcasing its talents, touring Ontario and giving exhibits of superb riding skills to the delight of many Ontario residents and visitors.

University of Guelph Professor creates App to help control soybean aphids

A smart phone application that helps farmers decide quickly and easily whether to spray to control soybean aphids

GUELPH, Ontario - May 09, 2013 - University of Guelph - In the News - Environmental Sciences professor Rebecca Hallett is featured today on CBC’s online news page. A smart phone application she helped developed is part of a story on new technology helping the farming industry.

Farmers can use the app - Aphid Advisor - to decide whether or not to use insecticide to control aphids on soybeans, based on numbers of aphids and their natural enemies.

Hallett developed the app with Tracey Baute, a field crop entomologist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and a U of G graduate, and Christie Bahlai, a U of G grad student in environmental biology. It’s based on research conducted in the School of Environmental Sciences and the Department of Plant Agriculture.

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The Co-operators recognized among Canada's Green 30

GUELPH, Ontario, May 9, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Co-operators has once again been recognized for its commitment to protecting the environment as several of its member companies were listed among Canada's Green 30 by Aon Hewitt for the fourth consecutive year. The list, which is based on Canadian employees' impressions of their employers' environmental performance, was published in the May 20 issue of Maclean's magazine, on newsstands today.

This year, Co-operators Life Insurance Company of Regina, The Sovereign General Insurance Company, based in Calgary, and The Co-operators, including The Co-operators Group Limited, Co-operators General Insurance Company, and Montreal-based Addenda Capital, took three of the 30 spots.

"People want to work for companies that act responsibly, and they really get behind initiatives and policies that align with their personal values," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "Across the country and throughout our group of companies, our employees' support for the organization's efforts to advance environmental and social sustainability has been incredible."

As a co-operative insurer, The Co-operators strives to be a good citizen and a catalyst for sustainability. This involves balancing economic, environmental, and social priorities in order to conduct business in a way that minimizes negative impact and strengthens communities. . For example, The Co-operators is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated through their operations by 50 per cent by 2014 and collaborating with organizations such as Ceres to support the development of more resilient cities. . Detailed information on the organization's performance is available in its sustainability report, which was released today on www.cooperators.ca.

Aon Hewitt is a global consulting company that compiles the Best Small and Medium Employers, and Best Employers in Canada lists. Companies on those lists are automatically considered for the Green 30, as green initiatives go hand in hand with attracting, and retaining employees. The Green 30 is compiled based on staff perceptions of environmental initiatives, and their employers' efforts to consider long-term social, environmental, and economic factors when making decisions.

About The Co-operators:

The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $35 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada and Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.

University of Guelph Hosts 89th College Royal Weekend

GUELPH, Ontario - February 28, 2013 - University of Guelph News Release - More than 30,000 people are expected to visit the University of Guelph March 16 and 17 for the 89th annual College Royal weekend.

The free two-day event is North America's largest student-run university open house.

“We are excited to have an incredible variety of events and fun activities for the whole family, future students and those graduates looking to return,” said volunteer Mike Whiteside.

The theme of this year’s event is “Welcome to Royal Country.” Whiteside, who is heading College Royal’s public relations efforts this year, said the theme was chosen to allow people to enjoy traditional events and to showcase new offerings and celebrate Guelph’s diversity.

Activities will include livestock shows, square dancing, campus tours, a lecture series, logging competitions, dog and cat shows, photography and art, synchronized swimming demonstrations, a flower-arranging competition and a pancake flipping contest.

For kids, there will be Old MacDonald’s New Farm, a junior tractor rodeo, face painting, teddy bear surgery, a chemistry magic show and food science milkshakes.

U of G student clubs and classes have designed displays and exhibits.

For a complete schedule of events, visit the College Royal website.

Community groups demand changes to Green Energy Act for environment, health

TORONTO, January 31, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - Community groups in Prince Edward County are demanding in an Open Letter to Premier-Designate Kathleen Wynne that she act immediately to amend Ontario's Green Energy and Green Economy Act. The County Coalition for Safe and Appropriate Green Energy (CCSAGE) says the Act's minimum setback of turbines from residences, of about 550-metres, is too close for safe human habitation. CCSAGE says current legislation also endangers wildlife, including migratory birds.

CCSAGE demands that large-scale wind turbines be prohibited within 2km of existing or future home sites and that they should be at least 10km from internationally-recognized Important Bird Areas.

"It is abundantly clear that existing setback limits are unsafe for protected and unprotected wildlife species in Prince Edward County, and for rural residents in Ontario," said Garth Manning, QC, Chair for CCSAGE. "Government is not protecting either birds or people from the profit-driven invasion of wind power projects. We need amended legislation now," he said.

Manning says the proposed interim "Safe Setback" amendments would remain in effect until scientifically-determined safe setback distances are decided by independent organizations such as Nature Canada and Health Canada.

Jane Wilson, President of Wind Concerns Ontario agrees:

"We're seeing dead birds by the thousand already, and hundreds of people exposed to the environmental noise from wind turbines in this province are now ill. It's time for the government to step up, admit mistakes have been made, and act to protect the health and safety of people, and the future of the environment."

The Open Letter is at http://tinyurl.com/adc8n9x

University of Guelph Bioproducts Centre Receives $2 Million

GUELPH Ontario - November 16, 2012 - U of G News Release - The University of Guelph’s Bioproducts Discovery and Development Centre (BDDC) received $2 million today from the federal government.

The funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) will be used to purchase equipment and to expand the centre. BDDC scientists turn plant materials into resins, polymers and tough fibres to make biobased plastics and bioproducts.

The funding was announced in Guelph today by Diane Finley, minister of human resources and skills development and regional minister for southwestern Ontario, on behalf of Gary Goodyear, minister of state.

Finley said the money will help “ensure that researchers have the tools they need to develop and assess new bio-based products that have tremendous commercial applications” and will help provide new jobs.

U of G president Alastair Summerlee added:

“This is an investment in the future. It will allow us to expand and enhance the BDDC, where scientists from across the disciplines are working together on viable solutions to some of today’s most pressing problems. They are finding new uses for agricultural products, creating green alternatives and making Canada a world leader in the field.”

The centre opened in October 2008. Researchers study ways to use soy, wheat, corn and other crops to make everything from car parts and furniture to fuel. They also investigate new crops for use in composite materials. They hope planted-based materials will help reduce our dependency on petroleum-based products.

Rob Gordon, dean of Guelph’s Ontario Agricultural College, said the BDDC supports and important and evolving role for agriculture.

“It’s a catalyst for innovative green products that will ultimately enhance the value of Ontario’s agriculture sector. It also provides a training environment that will help to further position Ontario as a global leader in bioproducts.”

The BDDC is directed by Amar Mohanty, a professor in U of G’s Department of Plant Agriculture and School of Engineering and holder of the Premier’s Research Chair in Biomaterials and Transportation.

“Bioproducts are the wave of the future,” Mohanty said. “We sincerely thank FedDev Ontario for this timely contribution that will accelerate the creation of innovative green biomaterials-based solutions to create a sustainable competitive advantage for businesses in our province and beyond in the fast-growing bioeconomy.”

Created in 2009 under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, FedDev Ontario is intended to help businesses and communities in southern Ontario to compete globally.

Its Harvest Season!

Be sure to buy local this holiday season and get out to Strom's Farm for some outdoor family fun!

Strom's Farm is a second generation farm started in 1978 with Jay's love for sweet corn. Jay and Marg started with one acre of sweet corn then added pumpkins in 1996. Channing, their oldest son, returned to the farm in 2000 with his wife Amy. In 2002, they added a corn maze and in 2006 Channing and Amy bought the farm and added a bakery. Channing and Amy, along with their two sons, invite you to visit our farm for quality produce and an exceptional fall experience.

Our season begins around August 1st and continues until October 31st. In August, we pride ourselves in the freshest produce and quality baking. Mid-September our farm is transformed with the beauty of autumn. Our farm is filled with thousands of pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks, hay bales, and many items for your fall decorating. Join us on the weekends, starting September 22, for our 6 acre corn maze, tile, rope, cedar and straw maze, wagon rides, pedal carts, corn trail, sand pile, pumpkin chuckin', and homegrown popcorn!

Strom's Farm
5089 Wellington Rd 32, Guelph, Ontario
ph (519) 822-1070
fx (519) 821-3583
info@strom.ca

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