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Nonprofit Quarterly Magazine •

Study Highlights Links Between Health Costs, Unemployment, and Morbidity

Most people in the United States who have health insurance obtain it through their employers. But what happens when the cost of this insurance increases? A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has some answers.The study, Who Pays for Rising Health Care Prices? Evidence from Hospital Mergers, was authored by Zarek Brot-Goldberg, a public policy professor at the University of Chicago, along with five economists from the US Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Serv...
Today in BC •

First Nations climate organization joins COP29 Canadian delegation

The First Nations Climate Initiative (FNCI)  is going to its third straight United Nations climate conference (COP29) with the Canadian delegation.

At the conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, a country off the coast of the Caspian Sea, FNCI plans to call on the B.C. and federal governments to make policy and regulatory changes that enable large net-zero infrastructure projects, boost economic development for B.C and Canada through partnerships, and further reconciliation with First Nations. They h...

Sustainability Op-Ed for Aspen Germany's 50th Anniversary (p. 23)

When you think about climate innovation, what comes
to mind? Is it new technologies, techniques, or processes
that push the boundaries of what we think is possible?
Solar panels? Wind turbines?

What if I told you that in today’s changing climate, none
of those are innovative. They are repeating a pattern that
has led us to the human-caused climate crisis, which was
ignited by the engine of innovation and economic growth.
Street Roots •

Lead-sheathed phone lines contaminate some Portland neighborhoods

Lead is a long-time issue for Portlanders, as lead levels exceeded the federal action level in drinking water 11 times since the 1990s.

Historically, leaded gasoline, paint and galvanized pipes were the primary sources of the contaminated water and soil. Scientists recently identified another source of lead in the city in a first-of-its-kind study.

Portland’s older neighborhoods, including the city center and residential neighborhoods, contain higher levels of lead due to lead-sheathed phone...
Today in BC •

Indigenous protest blocks LNG pipeline worksite access in northwest B.C.

A group of Indigenous young people have blockaded access to a work camp site for a natural gas pipeline to feed a proposed liquefied natural gas project on B.C.'s north coast.

The blockade was set up on Aug. 22 at Cranberry Junction where the access road for the pipeline project site meets Highway 37, approximately 170 kilometres north of Terrace. It is the shortest route to transport the equipment and supplies necessary for the pipeline's Nass work camp. The Nass Forest Service Road was also...
The Japan Times •

How rain and snow play a role in Noto’s ‘seismic swarm’

Sitting on top of four major tectonic plates, Japan is one of the countries most at risk of earthquakes.

That fact was demonstrated in tragic and dramatic fashion on Jan. 1, when a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, directly and indirectly killing as many as 275 people, knocking out key infrastructure, displacing thousands and severely damaging or destroying tens of thousands of homes.

The Noto Peninsula has, in fact, been experiencing an ongoing “seismi
Georgia Straight •

Are private parking companies taking Vancouverites for a ride?

Between how much it costs—ranging anywhere from one dollar to $11 per hour—and how difficult it is to even find a spot, parking in Vancouver is a struggle.

When it comes to private parking lots, people are at risk of being wrongfully issued parking tickets by companies like EasyPark, Impark, and Diamond Parking. These companies have also made the process for paying and disputing tickets extremely convoluted.
The Japan Times •

How a Japanese scientist is turning the climate crisis into music

The climate is changing in the here and now, and consequences have already been severe. But for scientists, a major question persists: How do you make people care? Dire warnings and images of melting glaciers and burning forests — the list goes on — have become standard tools, but people are arguably becoming desensitized to these approaches.

So how else can you communicate the most pressing issue of our lifetimes? It turns out that music offers a way.

Imagine sitting down at one of the world’
CBC •

Montreal initiative connects people with Alzheimer's and their caregivers through dance | News

It's another cold and sombre afternoon in Montreal's Quartier des Spectacles, but the expressions of joy and serenity in this dance studio are anything but.

Here, people living with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers are reminded they are more than the diagnosis that seems to dictate their lives. They dance. They connect beyond the disease.

The National Centre for Dance Therapy at Les Gr
Georgia Straight •

For people with autism, ICBC’s testing system is inequitable

Caitlyn Peterson has taken the ICBC driving knowledge test eight times over the past four years, and has failed every time.

Peterson has autism, which means she requires enhanced and equitable support in order to operate and excel in stimulating situations. According to the 29-year-old, what ICBC currently offers autistic people hoping to get licensed is inadequate.

“The lights are so bright, people’s cell phones are going off, lights are flashing,” she says of the test-taking environment. “Pe
Grist •

Did plastic straw bans work? Yes, but not in the way you’d think.

It was the face that launched a thousand plastic straw bans.

The video begins with a close up of the turtle’s head, its dark green, pebbled skin out of place against the stark-white boat deck. Robinson’s hands approach, moving the pliers toward the turtle’s nostril. The tool clamps down on the edge of something — A barnacle? A worm? — barely visible within the dark tunnel. The creature squirms and dribbles blood as the pulling begins. A long, thin object begins to emerge, inch by excruciating inch.
Truthout •

Canada’s Predictive Policing Tech Is Poorly Regulated Under AI Policy

As surveillance has become a fact of life, digital privacy must become a human right.

In February 2019, Nijeer Parks was arrested in Woodbridge, New Jersey, based on a facial recognition match that linked him to several crimes. Parks faced charges of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of weapons, using a fake ID, possession of marijuana, shoplifting, leaving the scene of a crime and resisting arrest.

In November 2019, the case against him was dismissed — there was no evidence of him commi
The Peak •

BC NDP’s misleading policy regarding the protection of old-growth forests

One of the most significant ecological challenges in BC has been the conservation of old-growth forests — BC’s ancient forests. Their conservation is synonymous with protecting biodiversity, and the cultural practices and ways of life for many BC First Nations. However, just as important is how these forests act as reservoirs of carbon — carbon that increases global temperatures if released into the atmosphere.

The conservation of old-growth forests is essentially to protect humans from themsel
Nonprofit Quarterly Magazine •

Study Highlights Links Between Health Costs, Unemployment, and Morbidity

Most people in the United States who have health insurance obtain it through their employers. But what happens when the cost of this insurance increases? A study from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) has some answers.The study, Who Pays for Rising Health Care Prices? Evidence from Hospital Mergers, was authored by Zarek Brot-Goldberg, a public policy professor at the University of Chicago, along with five economists from the US Department of the Treasury, the Internal Revenue Serv...
Terrace Standard •

100-year-old model totem pole returns to B.C. carver's family

Kwakwaka’wakw artist Lou-ann Neel has been reunited with a rough cut of a model totem pole carved almost 100 years ago by her grandmother, Ellen Neel.

Ellen Neel was an accomplished carver, running Totem Arts Studio in White Rock, B.C. in the 1940s and 1950s. She carved iconic poles in Vancouver's Stanley Park and at the University of British Columbia, as well as numerous other totem pole commissions from around the world including Denmark, Korea, England, Australia and the United States....
Today in BC •

First Nations climate organization joins COP29 Canadian delegation

The First Nations Climate Initiative (FNCI)  is going to its third straight United Nations climate conference (COP29) with the Canadian delegation.

At the conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, a country off the coast of the Caspian Sea, FNCI plans to call on the B.C. and federal governments to make policy and regulatory changes that enable large net-zero infrastructure projects, boost economic development for B.C and Canada through partnerships, and further reconciliation with First Nations. They h...
Today in BC •

Northwest B.C. First Nations take renewable energy projects to COP29

The First Nations Climate Initiative plans to highlight progress it has made on the construction of renewable energy network in northwest B.C. at the United Nations Climate Conference Conference (COP29).

The organization, also referred to as FNCI, is going to their third straight UN climate conference as a part of Canada's delegation, this time in Baku, Azerbaijan, a country off the coast of the Caspian Sea.

FNCI plans to call on the B.C. and federal governments to make policy and regulato...

Sustainability Op-Ed for Aspen Germany's 50th Anniversary (p. 23)

When you think about climate innovation, what comes
to mind? Is it new technologies, techniques, or processes
that push the boundaries of what we think is possible?
Solar panels? Wind turbines?

What if I told you that in today’s changing climate, none
of those are innovative. They are repeating a pattern that
has led us to the human-caused climate crisis, which was
ignited by the engine of innovation and economic growth.
Terrace Standard •

Gitanyow nears completion of independent pipeline environmental assessment

The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline's environmental assessment is a point of contention between the Gitanyow First Nation and the Western LNG-Nisga'a First Nation partnership.

The project that was assessed and approved is not the project being currently constructed in the Nass Valley of Terrace, according to Gitanyow.

"As far as we're concerned, this pipeline needs a new environmental assessment," said Gamlakyeltxw (Wil Marsden), a chief of the Ganeda Clan.

Gamlakyeltxw i...
Terrace Standard •

Northern Health has highest whooping cough rate in province

Whooping cough is a serious bacterial infection that is currently on the rise in northern B.C.

While British Columbia is not considered to have an outbreak at this time, the Northern Health Region has been affected more than the rest of the province. 

Northern Health saw the highest rate of whooping cough in 2023 at 6.5 cases per 100,000 population, and this year has been worse so far.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control (CDC) reports that between Jan. 1 and June 27, Northern Health saw...
The Georgia Straight •

Eight Vancouver cafes that don’t charge extra for non-dairy milk

Cafes charging extra for non-dairy milk alternatives is a hot topic. How much is too much for a little frothy almond or oat beverage with your espresso? And is it actually fair to upcharge for this in the first place?A $5 million California-based class action lawsuit against Starbucks is alleging that it’s actually a form of discrimination against customers with lactose intolerance and dairy allergies (very curious to see how this plays out). Even for those who aren’t allergic, though, choosing...
Street Roots •

Lead-sheathed phone lines contaminate some Portland neighborhoods

Lead is a long-time issue for Portlanders, as lead levels exceeded the federal action level in drinking water 11 times since the 1990s.

Historically, leaded gasoline, paint and galvanized pipes were the primary sources of the contaminated water and soil. Scientists recently identified another source of lead in the city in a first-of-its-kind study.

Portland’s older neighborhoods, including the city center and residential neighborhoods, contain higher levels of lead due to lead-sheathed phone...
Terrace Standard •

Salmon, wildlife affected by hot, dry summer in Terrace

The summer was harsh on salmon in and around Terrace. 

Temperatures skyrocketed above 30 degrees Celsius in July and August, and the summer was drier than usual, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada. June only saw 76 per cent of the expected rainfall.

“When temperatures start to get above 18 degrees in these streams, the extra stress makes it harder for them to travel upstream,” said Kaitlin Yehle, fisheries biologist for the SkeenaWild Conservation Trust. “At above 20 degree...
Today in BC •

Indigenous protest blocks LNG pipeline worksite access in northwest B.C.

A group of Indigenous young people have blockaded access to a work camp site for a natural gas pipeline to feed a proposed liquefied natural gas project on B.C.'s north coast.

The blockade was set up on Aug. 22 at Cranberry Junction where the access road for the pipeline project site meets Highway 37, approximately 170 kilometres north of Terrace. It is the shortest route to transport the equipment and supplies necessary for the pipeline's Nass work camp. The Nass Forest Service Road was also...
Today in BC •

New B.C. post-secondary course explores how to talk about climate change

A new course at a B.C. post-secondary school is looking to tackle the urgency of climate change, with a focus on how society talks about the environmental emergency.

BCIT announced on August 19 that they have launched a new 12-week, flexible learning course for their fall semester called Environmental and Climate News Analysis to address how to better engage people, organizations and policymakers on the need to urgently mitigate the effects of climate change.

Kamyar Razavi, a climate chang...
The Japan Times •

How rain and snow play a role in Noto’s ‘seismic swarm’

Sitting on top of four major tectonic plates, Japan is one of the countries most at risk of earthquakes.

That fact was demonstrated in tragic and dramatic fashion on Jan. 1, when a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, directly and indirectly killing as many as 275 people, knocking out key infrastructure, displacing thousands and severely damaging or destroying tens of thousands of homes.

The Noto Peninsula has, in fact, been experiencing an ongoing “seismi
Mongabay India •

Algorithm identifies landslide movements making them easier to predict

In 2013, torrential rainfall in Uttarakhand caused devastating landslides and flash floods, leaving an unclear death toll in its wake. Last year, heavy rain and landslides killed at least 72 people in a single week in August in Himachal Pradesh. Deaths and monetary damages from landslides continue to occur around the world and in India as well. One statistic estimates that between 2010 and 2021, at least 3,710 people in India lost their lives to landslides, while tens of thousands of people were
Georgia Straight •

Are private parking companies taking Vancouverites for a ride?

Between how much it costs—ranging anywhere from one dollar to $11 per hour—and how difficult it is to even find a spot, parking in Vancouver is a struggle.

When it comes to private parking lots, people are at risk of being wrongfully issued parking tickets by companies like EasyPark, Impark, and Diamond Parking. These companies have also made the process for paying and disputing tickets extremely convoluted.
The Japan Times •

How a Japanese scientist is turning the climate crisis into music

The climate is changing in the here and now, and consequences have already been severe. But for scientists, a major question persists: How do you make people care? Dire warnings and images of melting glaciers and burning forests — the list goes on — have become standard tools, but people are arguably becoming desensitized to these approaches.

So how else can you communicate the most pressing issue of our lifetimes? It turns out that music offers a way.

Imagine sitting down at one of the world’
Georgia Straight •

For people with autism, ICBC’s testing system is inequitable

Caitlyn Peterson has taken the ICBC driving knowledge test eight times over the past four years, and has failed every time.

Peterson has autism, which means she requires enhanced and equitable support in order to operate and excel in stimulating situations. According to the 29-year-old, what ICBC currently offers autistic people hoping to get licensed is inadequate.

“The lights are so bright, people’s cell phones are going off, lights are flashing,” she says of the test-taking environment. “Pe
Grist •

Did plastic straw bans work? Yes, but not in the way you’d think.

It was the face that launched a thousand plastic straw bans.

The video begins with a close up of the turtle’s head, its dark green, pebbled skin out of place against the stark-white boat deck. Robinson’s hands approach, moving the pliers toward the turtle’s nostril. The tool clamps down on the edge of something — A barnacle? A worm? — barely visible within the dark tunnel. The creature squirms and dribbles blood as the pulling begins. A long, thin object begins to emerge, inch by excruciating inch.
Concordia University Magazine •

Concordia entrepreneurs are taking the startup world by storm - Concordia University

It takes a significant amount of skill, courage and determination to create a startup that pushes forward-thinking technologies. Concordia is at the heart of bringing this change to action, providing students and graduates with opportunities to explore new possibilities across sectors. For the first time ever, Concordia was named by PitchBook’s annual rankings among the top 100 universities in the world with the largest number of entrepreneurs with venture-capital backed startups among their alu
Concordia University Magazine •

Alumna Brigitte Laganière among first players to sign with Montreal Force - Concordia University

Heading in her first season, Laganière already has some clear objectives in mind.

“My personal goals are just to get to know new teammates and really bond with them and create new relationships.”

Laganière says she models her game on the ice after a few players, including former and current assistant coaches for the Stingers’ women’s hockey team, Lauriane Rougeau (2016-20) and Erin Ambrose (2018 – present), both former defenders who have competed for Canada’s national women’s team.

“My team g
Concordia University Magazine •

Meet the Executive MBA grad helping to connect people with products online - Concordia University

With computers and smart devices making it easier than ever to purchase a product, the demand for eCommerce is steadily increasing. And, to help bring mom-and-pop shops into the digital world, there’s a Concordia graduate on a mission.

"What we want to do is help out the brick-and-mortar stores that have a harder time competing online," says Dan Facciolo, EMBA 20, founder of Locoshop, a global product search engine with a "local-first" approach. Unlike Google or Amazon’s deliberately engineered
Concordia University Magazine •

For Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo, ‘dance is good medicine’ - Concordia University

Indigenous dancer, choreographer and educator Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo, BFA 91, says she can’t remember a time when she wasn’t dancing.

“In my culture, we often say that dance is good medicine, and to me, that’s a great way to describe it,” she says. “It is such an essential part of my daily life that it is so good for my health. It’s great for connecting with others — and for inspiring.”

In 2021, Diabo was awarded the Prix interprète de la danse at the annual Prix de la Danse de Montréal cer
Concordia University Magazine •

Concordians shine at 2022 Commonwealth Games - Concordia University

When Canadian athletes competed in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England from July 28 to August 8, a number of Concordians were among the teams that helped contribute to Canada’s 92-medal count. Learn about the outstanding students, alumni and coaching staff who participated in this year’s games.

An undergraduate student in Concordia’s Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Tammara Thibeault is currently majoring in urban planning and hopes to pursue a PhD. Her gold-med
Truthout •

Canada’s Predictive Policing Tech Is Poorly Regulated Under AI Policy

As surveillance has become a fact of life, digital privacy must become a human right.

In February 2019, Nijeer Parks was arrested in Woodbridge, New Jersey, based on a facial recognition match that linked him to several crimes. Parks faced charges of aggravated assault, unlawful possession of weapons, using a fake ID, possession of marijuana, shoplifting, leaving the scene of a crime and resisting arrest.

In November 2019, the case against him was dismissed — there was no evidence of him commi
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