In this edition:
- Benjamin Froese named 2022 Grape King
- FAO: Province underspent by $776m in fiscal Q1
- Brock Aboriginal Student Services centre receives new name
- Home sales down 25% year-over-year
Benjamin Froese named 2022 Grape King
Grape Growers of Ontario and Farm Credit Canada have announced that Benjamin (Ben) Froese of Willow Lake Ventures Inc. in Niagara-on-the-Lake has been chosen by his peers as the 2022 Grape King.
Ben Froese was officially installed as the 65th Grape King on Wednesday, September 14th in his vineyard located at 1093 Line 6 in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The selection of a Grape King is part of Ontario’s grape growing history and an annual tradition that dates back to 1956. While the regalia has changed from a crown and cape, the King wears a chain that carries the names of all of the Kings that came before.
FAO: Province underspent by $776m in fiscal Q1
The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) has released its Expenditure Monitor for 2022-23 Q1. The report provides information on spending by the Government of Ontario (the Province) through the first quarter of the 2022-23 fiscal year (April 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022).
Although the Province expected to spend $40.7 billion in the first quarter of 2022-23, actual unaudited spending was $39.9 billion. This was $776 million (1.9 per cent) less than planned.
- Most sectors spent less than planned, led by ‘other programs’ ($889 million or 14.3 per cent under plan), education ($195 million or 3.2 per cent under plan) and postsecondary education ($146 million or 9.0 per cent under plan).
- Three sectors spent more than planned: health ($319 million or 1.8 per cent above plan), interest on debt ($176 million or 5.6 per cent above plan) and justice ($35 million or 2.7 per cent above plan).
Brock Aboriginal Student Services centre receives new name
The unit formally known as Aboriginal Student Services has been renamed as Hadiyaˀdagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre.
Hadiyaˀdagénhahs (pronounced “Ha-dee-ya-da-gen-hahs”) is a Cayuga word that means “they are helpers.” It was selected in consultation with Indigenous knowledge carriers and Assistant Professor of Education Stanley ‘Bobby’ Henry, a Cayuga language pedagogy researcher.
“It’s truly a hard time being a learner, speaker and teacher of Cayuga language, for we either act now or do nothing,” Henry said. “I seek to try and do something to preserve the vitality of our ancient, land-based language. Fortunately, I’m witnessing our people persevere Cayuga language through their ongoing commitment.”
With the name change taking effect immediately, Interim Brock President Lynn Wells said it was reflective of the University’s strategic commitment to foster a culture of inclusivity, accessibility, reconciliation and decolonization.
Home sales down 25% year-over-year
Statistics released today by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) show national home sales slowed by approximately 1% in August 2022, month-over-month. However, compared to August 2021, actual (not seasonally adjusted) monthly activity came in 24.7% lower. While still a large decline, it was smaller than the 29.4% year-over-year drop recorded in July.
The actual (not seasonally adjusted) national average sale price posted a 3.9% year-over-year decline in August.
Focus on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Is There Enough Diversity in ‘Women in Tech’ Initiatives?
Rolling Stone
While women and girls in tech mean huge advancements for diversity in the tech industry, there’s still a significant challenge to tackle: including trans and nonbinary people in IT. Initiatives like Girls Who Code, Women Who Code and Women in Technology International are much more than well-meaning: They are necessary organizations for including more women in technical roles. It’s now well-known that education and inclusion of women in leadership roles mean better business. Women overall increase retention rates, are better at problem-solving and tend to be more loyal to the companies they work for.
Statistics by Deloitte show that progress is slow for women in the workforce but even slower for women in tech. While 32.9 percent of women are part of the overall workforce, only 25 percent are working in tech. The leading faces of Fortune 500 companies are also male (think Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk).
Through the Daily Updates, the GNCC aims to deliver important business news in a timely manner. We disseminate all news and information we feel will be important to businesses. Inclusion in the Daily Update is not an endorsement by the GNCC.
