Food prices are making national headlines. In these articles from the National Post and Globe and Mail Professor Sylvain Charlebois, co-author of the 2014 Food Price Index, discusses the lack of change in food prices over the last twelve months. Last year, food prices were predicted to rise between 1.5% to 3.5%, but they rose only 1.2%. Charlebois attributes this lack of change to intense competition among food retailers.
Four CME students recently competed in and won the RISE Conference hosted by the Schulich School of Business. Competing against business students from more than 10 universities across Canada, our delegates showcased their skills in front of distinguished corporate professionals and took home the top prize.
The University of Guelph team included:
Who or what is really responsible for Canada’s skills gap?
This past September, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) announced 16 Knowledge Synthesis Grants to research this question and others concerning Canadian labour market issues. Economics Professor Miana Plesca was selected to be part of this group of researchers. In partnership with PhD candidate Fraser Summerfield, she is researching the gaps between labour demand and supply and how these apply to the Canadian economy.
In addition to being an Economics professor at U of G, Ross McKitrick is also a musician and part of the band The Wild Oats. Their new release, The Dog-Eared Hymnal, was released last month and proceeds from sales will go towards clinical medical supplies in Tanzania through World Vision Canada. Read this article from at Guelph for more information on The Wild Oats
In this article from the Guelph Mercury, Marketing and Consumer Studies Professor Jane Londerville is quoted on the much anticipated opening of Costco in Guelph. In her comments, Professor Londerville talks about a possible opening date announcement and what the warehouse-style chain is focusing on now as it prepares its Guelph location. Read "New Costco keeping its shoppers guessing"
Great food for a great cause. On November 11, chefs from Canada, the United States and England gathered at Toronto's Buca Osteria & Enoteca to raise money in support of Honey Bee Research at the University of Guelph. Our own Food Laureate, Anita Stewart, was there and describes the experience in her latest post on the Food Day Canada website. Read the article "10 Great Chefs, 1000 Dishes, One Great Cause"
What makes you happy? In this article from the Huffington Post, Professor Jamie Gruman writes about the secrets of happy people, in connection to his own experiences as a new graduate student. Read "The Secrets of Happy People"
Creating more segregated sleeping arrangements might be a key factor in controlling the spread of malaria. This is a finding of a new study co-authored by Economics Professor Ross McKitrick and two Finnish professors, Larry and Lena Huldén. According to the study, malaria-spreading mosquitoes are likely to return to places where more people are sleeping. Read full news release on this study
In this article from the National Post, Professor Sunghwan Yi comments on how people can avoid overspending when tempted by special offers from different companies. Dr. Yi emphasizes the importance of a clear mind when considering marketing emails. Read "Beware, your inbox wants you to spend more than you probably should"
In this interview from CBC’s Ontario Morning, Professor Sylvain Charlebois discusses the closure of the Heinz tomato processing plant in Leamington, Ontario. He talks about what led to the plant’s closure, and what the future might hold for those most affected by it. Listen to the interview