KW in brief: March 23, 2011

$50 million in federal budget to fund Perimeter Institute

The Waterloo Regional Record reported that $50 million would be included in the federal budget to help fund the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.
The minister of state for science and technology, Gary Goodyear, announced the funding during an interview on Mar. 20. Details regarding the distribution of the funds haven’t been released. His Conservative government provided the same amount of $50 million towards the Perimeter Institute in 2007 and Goodyear has no doubts that the money has been used well.

The federal government, in total, has contributed more than $140 million to the Institute since its inception over a decade ago.

The Stephen Hawking Centre, a $35 million expansion at 55,000 square feet, is expected to open in September. This will make the Institute the largest of its kind in the world.

Goodyear says that the government’s focus should involve the country’s financial future and not a potential federal election in the spring. Goodyear said that this latest injection will create jobs and reiterate the government’s commitment to basic research.

–Compiled by Sam Polzin

Teen attacked in Kitchener

On Mar. 21 at approximately 9 p.m., a 16 -year-old teenage male was punched in the face and robbed. He had been walking through a parking lot at King Street and Wellington Street.

Although the victim sustained minor injuries, his backpack and iPod were taken by the suspect.

According to the Waterloo Region Record, no description of the suspect is currently available.

–Compiled by Linda Givetash

Celebrating sustainability

Sustainable Waterloo hosted their second annual Evening of Recognition celebrating the achievements made by organizations across the Region.

These organizations have been seen making a strong effort to help create a future for the community that is environmentally sustainable.

The event took place on Mar. 22 in the Delta Hotel and included the launch of Sustainable Waterloo’s 2010 Report, celebrating progress made by Region Carbon Initiative members and environmental leadership demonstrated by a series of organizations in Waterloo Region.

The evening also included a special presentation by the executive director of Sustainable Waterloo, Mike Morrice, the president, editor and co-founder of Corporate Knights Magazine, Toby A.A Heaps and many others representing influential organizations in the Region.

–Compiled by Sam Polzin