Category Archives: Article

Oct 26 2011
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Relaxing of childcare rules sought

Two unlicensed daycares have been shut down since June 2010 in Grand Forks, displacing several children and upsetting parents.

“Recently, another letter was sent to another childcare provider, Sarah Unruh, who my daughter was going to,” said Lisa McPhee, a single parent who is concerned about the closures of home daycare providers. “This person wrote an anonymous letter to licensing and said a few things.”

McPhee stated that parents chose to put their children into daycare homes is out of necessity.

“I work and I’m in my last year of nursing,” McPhee said. “Sarah worked completely around my schedule. If I need to drop my daughter off early, I can I drop her in her pajamas and wrapped in a blanket without having (eaten) breakfast. She doesn’t have rigid operating times.”

Unruh stated, “I provided childcare to people I knew personally and felt comfortable with. In rural areas you know your neighbours and the people who are looking over your children.”

Regulations vary from province to province. Louise Heck from Boundary Childcare Resource and Referral (CCRR) stated Alberta, for instance, allows unlicensed homes to care for six children, where as B.C. only permits two, not including their own children.

Licensed daycare facilities operate on set times, including regulations that require notice if a child is unable to come in at a certain day.

“For a family, especially in these economic times, work can be unreliable and sporadic,” McPhee explained. “This being said, it doesn’t work too well with the early notice if your schedule changes day-to-day.”

Executive Director Fatima Faria at Sunshine Valley Childcare Facility mentioned the facility was quite full last year but the introduction of full-day kindergarten has altered numbers.

Sunshine Valley’s operating schedule is from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

“We can negotiate extended hours if someone needs to come in earlier or later,” explained Faria. “We try and arrange it if possible, but for changing of a schedule, we’d like to have 48 hours notice.

“I don’t have an issue with private daycare as long as they follow the laws of B.C.” clarified Faria. “With the case with Unruh, she’s exceptional and very good at what she does. Unfortunately, Unruh wasn’t considered legal. As far as I’ve heard and seen, they’re perfectly able to meet the minimum requirements for a license.”

Heck explained that getting a license could be short work depending on the home.

“Some homes don’t need a lot of work on; some homes need a lot of work. This also refers to baby gates in the proper places and safety items. If all the ducks are in a row, it can take a month,” Heck said.

Unruh disagreed, “I’ve looked into getting a license time after time but there are so many hoops that you have to jump through… and there just isn’t the flexibility with licensing.”

McPhee, several parents and the closed daycare providers met with several councillors before they left for the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM).

At the UBCM, Coun. Christine Thompson spoke at a workshop exploring current issues of education, health and social development.

“I brought this issue forward saying that in small rural communities, there aren’t enough licensed daycare providers to meet the demand,” said Thompson. “The ones that are licensed don’t accommodate people on shift work or on-call, that unlicensed could provide.”

“After, Minister (of Children and Family Development) Mary McNeil asked for me to provide her with a package of information.”

At this point, Thompson is meeting with concerned parents, the two homecare providers who were shut down and CCRR to discuss information for the package.

“The hope is to see if there is a way that the rules and regulations can be relaxed in a small rural community where everybody knows everybody,” explained Thompson. “It’s not a large urban centre where you don’t know who will be caring for your child.

“It’s basically their issue, I just want to be their conduit to get it to the proper person. Grand Forks is by no means that only community facing this issue,” concluded Thompson.

The Interior Health Authority was contacted but unable to respond before print.

Faria is happy that the issue is now open.

“It’s a tricky situation but it’s not a battle. Rather, it’s about coming together and educating each other and the community about this issue.”

The City of Grand Forks currently has one group centre, three licensed families and two active licensed not-required providers.

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Oct 25 2011
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Grand Forks community introduced to haskap berries

The topic of haskap berries was discussed at a seminar on Oct. 15.

Organized by the Grand Forks Economic Development Task Force, agricultural co-ordinator  Bob Kendel and Gary Smith called in expertise from Saskatchewan to educate the community on the berries.

“I think there’s great potential for something to happen,” said Smith. “This may be it, or it may be something else, who knows but we have to start somewhere.”

Kendel agreed, “Hopefully this initiative has taken root here, even if we don’t know where it will take us.”

President of Haskap Central Sales Ltd. Curtis Braaten worked along side Dr. Bob Bors, who started cultivating the plants at the University of Saskatchewan six years ago, and provided a look at the potential haskap berries could have in Grand Forks.

“I think that in terms of a community initiative, for the plant to grow successfully, the community has to embrace it. One person alone will have a difficult time,” stated Braaten. “The prairies are currently working under a co-operative initiative and Nova Scotia is doing the same thing.”

Coun. Joy Davies felt optimistic. “I think haskap berries are the up-and-coming agricultural product and we’re not telling anybody about it. This is a Grand Forks and community-based initiative because without our people here, this wouldn’t be happening.”

A surprise visit by Parliamentary Secretary and MLA for Chilliwack John Les provided another level of government to discuss Grand Forks future.

“It’s very interesting and something I hadn’t heard about until a few months ago,” Les said.

“I think a lot of credit goes to the people in Grand Forks for putting this seminar together and learning more about it and the opportunities. When I was here a few weeks ago it was clear that there was a lot of opportunity for growing agriculture produce and a variety of different kinds. This could be one of them. ”

Braaten stated that studies on haskap berries have revealed that it contains more antioxidants than blueberries, and more vitamin C than oranges.

“There are many health benefits with the haskap berry, especially since blue is a favoured colour for fruits right now,” explained Braaten.

Les felt that the health benefits and the hardiness of the crop is a plus for the plant.

“I haven’t heard of a place where it won’t grow and you never know where you’re going to find the next great idea,” said Les.

Baked goods from Chantel Olsen, Debbie Kendel, Natalie Paterson and Evelyn Kimmel put haskap berries on the spot, allowing guests a chance to sample the berry in various forms.

Braaten thinks there is a lot of potential for the haskap berry in Grand Forks, especially with the central location of the main highway cutting through the downtown core.

“You can draw visitor’s off the highway with a market involving both farmers and artisans. It’s a community effort to get your products for the right price,” he citing, comparing it to the market in Nova Scotia.

Smith, who is running for council, explained the haskap berries would be a project integrating the community and city council.

“This will make Grand Forks a place to be reckoned with,” concluded Smith.

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Oct 25 2011
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Summer cop to return to Christina Lake

Christina Lake has seen the presence of a full-time police constable for a second year this past summer.

The community has benefited largely from the Reserve Officer program, which places a retired, but fully-operational officer at the Lake for July and August.

Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Area C Director Grace McGregor and the Grand Forks RCMP’s Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison met in the fall of 2009 to discuss possible methods to address concerns about security and safety at Christina Lake.

McGregor previously attempted to address the situation at Christina Lake by hiring commissionaires for security checks through the Parks and Rec Commission, though it didn’t work as well as planned.

“The reason commissionaires didn’t work as well for us was because although there was a presence they really can’t do anything at the time due to distance,” McGregor explained. “If they did make a call, it would take a while for anybody to get here. It’s an on-going issue out here during July and August that that presence needs to be able to handle the issue right then and there in order to diffuse it.”

Harrison mentioned the idea of the Reserve Constable Program and McGregor passed the idea to the regional district who approved it for a trial run.

Const. Chris Cottrill was positioned at Christina Lake from July to August 2010, and again this past summer. When the summer-end report was completed, it revealed a decrease in mischief, including those related to alcohol-induction.

The Staff Sgt. explained the appeal of the job.

“For a lot of retired members it’s a really attractive thing because they get to keep their toes in policing, but they still have to pass their medical and pass all their qualifications as far as firearms and that type of thing,” he said. “They come back as full-fledged police officers who still have all the authority.”

“Last year we had significant results in reduction of crime.” said Harrison. “We know youth are going to party anyway but let’s encourage them to do it safely and not to disturbed other people. You can have your fun without causing damage in the community or disturbing the other residents. That was our goal.”

McGregor agreed, “Groups of youth partying on the lake won’t change, but what has change is the level of respect they have for the RCMP. The youth get along with Cottrill and he has managed to get through to quite a few.”

Statistics reveal a substantial drop from 2009 to 2010 in crime rates and has remained steady through 2010 to 2011.

Willful damage dropped to six incidences from 18 in 2009, and the consumption of alcohol in a public space dropped to four from 12.

However, Harrison pointed to a large increase in the Canada Shipping and Small Vessels Regulations.

“There’s almost 50 per cent more, but part of that is that some of my police officers from Grand Forks got involved in the seasonal policing, so it wasn’t just Chris this year.”

As the first regional district to engage in the Reserve Constable Program, McGregor was asked several times about the program while at the recent UBCM convention in Vancouver.

She said, “There is a great deal of interest in the program, from places with lakes that have the same issue.”

A budget of $20,000 is slotted to cover the two months, including a place for the constable to stay.

Harrison explains that the other provision for the constable deployed to a location is that he or she remains there.

“It turns out really great because he’s not just working here, he’s living here. He’s gotten to know a lot of the people and he’s basically become their small town cop, like the old village constable thing andit’s working,” said Harrison.

An unexpected benefit includes constable’s assistance on patrols and working along side Dave Webster, the conservation officer, and forestry patrol.

McGregor stated there are other advantages with the program.

“We also get help in a number of other areas that we wouldn’t get immediate help otherwise,” she said.

“When you’re doing something that works, then you need to keep doing it. If it doesn’t work, then that’s a different issue. This is working and people are feeling a lot safer.”

Harrison concurred, “It’s a great partnership. Smaller resort and tourist areas like Christina Lake don’t get extra funding from the province, so this is an extremely viable option.”

Since the program has started, there has been no fatalities.

“The extra visibility of the police on the water has made everyone a little more careful and compliant with the rules and regulations,” Harrison pointed out. “Ultimately, that saves lives.”

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Oct 25 2011
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Grand Forks Royal Canadian Legion Facing Bankruptcy

The Grand Forks Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59 turns 85 this year and it may be its last.

In a fiscal year where everyone is feeling the tightening budget, the legion is also suffering from the threat of bankruptcy and could close its doors.

“We need people in the area to know what the legion does. All the money that we raise, over 80 per cent of that has to be given away,” stated Director Ken Gresley- Jones.

“If we can’t survive as a branch, then we won’t be able to help all these people that we have been helping over the years,” he continued. “The purpose of the legion is not just supporting veterans and their families, but all the support that we give to the community.”

Youth groups, sports clubs and medical research within the community have seen donations from the legion for the past 19 years, totaling $385,207.

Typically, the legion has raised funds in the past by renting out its lounge and hall for wedding receptions and parties, and fundraising events, such as bingo.

“We’re in trouble because the lounge has traditionally kept the branch going and people aren’t using the lounge anymore,” said Gresley-Jones.

Secretary Elsie Fredericks explained that all money that enters the gaming accounts is put directly into the donations account to be given to local groups.

“We can’t keep any of the money from the gaming account to ourselves. Other than the expenses for organizing bingo or other items, all the rest goes towards our donation account. That’s why we’re able to give out that money and we have to; none of that money comes to us,” she said.

Fredericks indicated that many people have remarked about the amount of money they are donating and that the legion should keep some for their own costs.

“They don’t understand that we’re not allowed to keep any of that money. Eighty per cent of our funds have to be donated and only 20 per cent is kept for administrative needs,” Fredericks stated.

Treasurer Georgina Ortis agreed, “Every time we get our picture taken handing out a cheque, it looks like we’re rolling in dough. But it’s a two-sided picture because we’re not. The other side is we’re just not getting operating costs.

“I know we’re not alone in this, a lot of other legions are also effected. The changes to the drinking and driving laws have affected everybody and when you’re in a small rural community with little services, it’s hard.”

The legion currently has 259 members, but the treasurer pointed out that membership is low.

“Each year we fi nd that we lose 20 to 25 members, through different reasons; some move away, some die, and some just lose interest.” Gresley-Jones added, “The requirements aren’t as rigid as they were at one time to join the Royal Canadian Legion.”

Some fundraising events that the legion has been discussing include a Robbie Burns night and a dance and roast dinner on Oct. 14 for $10 per person.

“Someone has volunteered live music, so we’re hoping to set up something regular, maybe a Friday or Saturday night dance; throughout the winter particularly,” said Ortis. “Because of our lounge, gaming and liquor license, you have to either be a legion member or a guest of the legion member to participate in the activities. If you are interested in dropping in, guests are encouraged to phone a member who will sign them in. Each member can sign up to four guests.”

Ortis mentioned that selling the parking lots outside could be considered but would be a last resort.

“The community can help by attending our fundraising events, join us, rent our hall – if they do that, we can continue to help out all these people,” Gresley-Jones remarked. “It would be a damn shame if all the groups we help are affected. It would be the domino effect; groups we help would fold as well.”

As for the fate of the Grand Forks branch, President Jerome MacDonald said, “It’s tough to say what’s going to happen in the next little while; it’s going to be six months, or it could be a year.”

After the First World War, veterans started to create small groups together across Canada in support of other soldiers and their families. By 1925, it was known as the Canadian Legion of the British Empire Services League (BESL). Yet it wasn’t until 1960 that the Queen gave consent to add the term ‘royal’ and it was added to the legion’s name, hence The Royal Canadian Legion. The Royal Canadian Legion branches across Canada have raised and donated money to various youth groups, sports clubs and other foundations since their inception.

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Apr 04 2011
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Ruck, Maul, Scrum…Namaste

Upright Rugby learns yoga

It’s a rough and tumble sport, with consistent tackling, engaging rucks and scrums, and relentless exposure to physical interaction.

Rugby, like other full-contact sports, can be hard on the body. Players undergo rigorous training regimes that include strength and core training, along with skills development. Often times, however, stretching and taking care of one’s body is neglected over performance.

As much as athletes and fans adore the sport, one must also be aware of taking care of the players — this is where yoga comes in.

A former rugby player and captain of the University of Western Ontario, Angela Jackson, began playing rugby in her teens. One of the founding members of South Western Ontario’s first girl high school rugby teams, Jackson represented her rugby union and played for Ontario and the club level, winning several championships as well as Rookie of the Year and MVP awards.

An impressive rugby career was halted by a persistent knee injury. Not too long after, Jackson moved to Costa Rica for work where she discovered yoga.

“It gave me a good workout and I found that it helped fix my injuries.”

Upon returning to Oakville, she continued to practice and became certified in Hatha yoga, where she began using this training as her base to specialize in customized yoga training for athletes. Jackson’s involvement with sports and yoga helped her establish and direct Warrior Yoga Conditioning.

“It seemed natural to want to train within the rugby community. I’ve also worked with hockey players and runner,” said Jackson. “Sports that have a high impact on the body can change how an athlete functions. The body can easily get out of balance, which is a key factor to many players.”

There are many benefits that yoga can bring, as it focuses in on areas that the body can’t stretch or that are particularly tight. It’s used to help athletes focus on their breathing, flexibility and core strength.

“Generally, the perception with athletes is that you need strength and power in order to perform well, but it should also be able to compliment the strength and power of training,” she said.

Jackson has most recently worked with the U18 Elite Athletes Development Program (EADP) of Upright Rugby Canada, whose focus is on developing rugby players who are very keen to develop their skills and their game during the off-season.

“We have one session a week, since they train quite seriously. Yoga is mainly just core strength,” said Jackson. “It helps with their flexibility in their shoulders, arms and hips.”

Tyler Leggatt, the lead director of Upright Rugby agreed. “The range of motion that yoga brings is especially important. It reduces injuries, improves core strength and balance so that when athletes, in any sport, spend time on one leg or one foot and change direction — and I think the core strength and energy that comes from yoga is really advantageous.”

Usually seen as an activity geared towards women, yoga has a certain stigma attached to it where the emphasis is less on strengthening. Jackson found that a lot of young men and women who play rugby play into their 30s and 40s.

She said that “with rugby being such a high impact sport, it may require them retire early or take longer for an injury to heal.”

Yoga’s incorporation into Upright’s program last year has encouraged young athletes to focus on their body and game differently, especially amongst the young men.

“They’re teenage boys so it’s a bit of challenge for them at first with being still and calm and focused. And of course the perception of yoga is slowly changing, but most of them came in with a skewed perspective of what it really was,” said Leggatt. “Once they started to go through it they realized it was harder than they thought. Then once you’re in it for three weeks, you start to notice the benefits of it.

“I think a lot of them really enjoyed it, so much so that they really wanted to keep doing it throughout summer, which is a testament of what Angela is doing and to the benefits to the program,” concludes Leggatt.

He recommends other rugby teams and clubs to add yoga into their routine, stating that it is incredibly beneficial for the players.

Ultimately, Jackson would like to encourage the rugby community to try yoga and incorporate it into their training.

“It’s a great way to strengthen rugby teams in Canada,” Jackson hoped. “I’d also love to teach yoga to more clubs and teams.”

Jackson advises anyone who would like to try yoga to shop around. “There are different styles for everyone. Shop around and find an instructor that speaks to you. It’s not just the style but the instructor.”

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Apr 04 2011
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Chinese cuisine fishy, but healthy

It is sweet and salty; a perfect mixture of delicious texture and alluring aroma. The meat slides easily down your throat, as the sauce lingers on your tongue. It’s one of my favourite dishes, and let me assure you I’ve tried a great many.

The dish is a traditional fish meal, where the entire fish is steamed to perfection, generously lathered with a sweet soy sauce, sliced green onions and garlic, and served whole with a side of rice. Each part of the fish has a tale and role in Chinese culture, from the spine to the head.

What makes fish so admired in Chinese culture is the health benefits that come with it. Every part of the fish is sought after, from the belly of the fish, where all the vitamins are, to the head, where as you lift the scales of the cheek, the little pocket of muscles is a sliver of both delight and nutrition.

Despite the recent concerns regarding mercury and dioxin contamination within these scaly creatures, the healthy benefits gained from eating fish greatly outweigh the risks. High in protein and full of omega-3 fatty acids, the natural fish oils within the fish help improve the heart.

The comprehensive study was tackled by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) who looked at evidence of the major health effects from the vitamins and contaminants of fish.

Published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in 2006, the comparison revealed eating a modest amount of fish reduced the risk of death by heart disease by 36 percent.

Authors of the study also found that for the growing children, consumption of omega-3 fatty acids are likely to improve early brain development. Pregnant or nursing mothers who consumed fish can also benefit the child. The researchers, however, warn expectant mothers to watch for the type of fish they eat, ignoring the golden bass, king mackerel, shark and swordfish for their higher levels of possible contaminants.

While there’s no proof as of yet that devouring the eyes and brain of a fish will help eyesight or stimulate brain functions any faster, recent studies do prove that there are many advantages of consuming these finned creatures. Health Canada, however, warns that the organs of fish can be dangerously high in both heavy metals and pesticides, and under no circumstances should fish organs be consumed.

I love fish and I love trying new items that I’ve never tasted before. My philosophy is, “If you’ve never tasted it before, you’ve never tried it. If you’ve never tried it, you have no idea what you’re missing.”

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Feb 01 2011
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Study shows student slackers cheapen degrees

After paying thousands of dollars each year for tuition, post-secondary students expect to get the best out their education.

According to a recently published book called Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses, however, students aren’t really getting a good value for their money.

The results of the study, conducted by New York University’s Richard Arum and University of Virginia’s Jospia Roksa, revealed that many students do not gain much knowledge, and that those that do retain less than average, according to USA Today.

The study explains that out of a sample of 3,000 full-time students, 51 percent spent most of their time on campus socializing, and only 16 percent attending classes and studying.

Authors evaluated American students and the core thinking skills they gained over the first two years of university. Scores were then compared two years later when the students graduated.

Arum and Raksa claim that many of the results in the report point to students who choose “easy” courses, yet disregard studying and end up doing poorly.

“I have taken bird courses, but I didn’t know that they were. They just sounded like courses I liked, so I took them. I’ve never intentionally taken a course because it was easy,” said Jacob Wylde, a third- year kinesiology student at York.

“It’s hard to actually learn stuff and still remember it later on in university. You take so many courses, and once you finish learning the material in one course, you move on to the next and forget about what you learned previously.”

The research also showed that modern day students are spending 50 percent less time studying in comparison to students a couple of decades ago.

Arum and Roksa also pointed to colleges where researching is valued over teaching. The study noted that the students most likely to learn and succeed studied harder, read and wrote more and majored in “traditional” art and science fields.

The study also revealed 45 percent of students showed no significant improvement in critical thinking skills and complex reasoning by the end of their second year.

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Feb 01 2011
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Waste not, want not

Sustainability group aims to educate campus.

A York sustainability group focusing on how the university is handling its waste is taking student-friendly options to jump-start their initiatives.

The Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS) released an annual survey of campus sustainability and a report on campus waste Jan. 10.

A university-wide interdisciplinary research centre, IRIS was established by York University in 2004 to focus on sustainable development and activities campus-wide.

Last year’s report surveyed students, staff and faculty and focused on how York handles waste.

“The surveys are also used by student groups…as quantitative information to support their cases,” said fourth year environmental studies student Caitlin Gascon, who is also the Social Marketing and Communications Coordinator of IRIS.

To accompany the release of the survey, a screening of Garbage: The Revolution Starts at Home was shown, in which an average urban family collected all their garbage for three months.
Filmmaker and York Alum Andrew Nisker followed the garbage to see where it went once collected and what the garbage continued to do in the world.

“The film covers how much garbage we produce on a daily, weekly, monthly, basis,” said Gascon, “Many of us just aren’t aware of how much we waste or its impact.”

For more information about the film visit: http://www.garabagerevolution.com
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Nov 20 2010
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Weight gain caused by stress a myth?

Researchers have made us believe worry, anxiety and lack of sleep push us to gain extra fat; however, a new study suggests otherwise.

According to The Irish Times, a study looked at 36 previously published reports and found no clear link between stress levels and gaining weight.

Led by professor Jane Wardle at the University College London in the United Kingdom, the study compared and analyzed well-controlled studies and found that there was only a modest association.

The reviewed studies were performed during the 1990s and 2000s, with a majority of those following participants from one to seven years.

In an email to Reuters Health, doctor Andrew Steptoe, another researcher in the project said, “we assumed that there would be a substantial association between stress and obesity, since the popular view is that stress contributes to weight gain.”

“But when we looked carefully at well-controlled scientific studies, effects were surprisingly small.”

Sixty-nine percent had no clear link in weight gain and stress levels, 25 percent with higher stress levels gained more weight, and the remaining six percent found greater stress had to do with less weight gain.

The results also revealed that those with higher stress levels did gain more weight, but it was more prevalent among men than women.

Michael Riddell, an associate professor at York’s faculty of kinesiology and health sciences, found the research compelling. In an email to Excalibur he wrote “this is a meta-analysis done on all published studies in humans on perceived stress and obesity. A weak positive association was actually found.”

“This is not that surprising as several variables influence the development of obesity and not all people overeat when they are under stress. Some, in fact, undereat.”

While weight gain caused by stress is relatively small, there can be wide individual variations, says Steptoe.

The type of stress might also have an effect on weight gain, including work and life events.

Annaliese James, a fourth-year student studying at York’s Schulich School of Business, believes stress may not be the main reason, but that it can be a source.

“Personally, the stress I have encountered has been a major factor in weight loss; however, I acknowledge the fact that other people may be affected differently because of differences in personality, lifestyle, type of stress, experience with stress – and the list goes on,” said James.

In July 15, 2009, an article published in the American Journal of Epidemiology concluded that stress is linked to heart disease, increased risk for cancer and weight gain in the American population.

This study, “Psychosocial Stress and Change in Weight Among U.S. Adults,” is considered the first to look at weight gain and several stress types such as job demands, payment of bills, strained relationships, depression and anxiety.

The study also found that differing levels of stress affected women’s waistlines. For men, stress due to the lack of authority and skill discretion at work led to weight gain.

Those with higher body mass indexes (BMI) were more likely to be affected by psychological stress, than those with a lower BMI.

The researchers in the American study suggest that when coping with life situations, change in eating behaviours will happen and will eventually cause changes in weight.

To help stressed workers, stress reduction is vital, including access to weight-loss programs at work, exercise programs and a flexible schedule.

The relationship between stress and weight gain are still being studied. Steptoe said, “It could be that some people are more affected than others, but rather little is known about [stress and weight gain] at present.”

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Nov 20 2010
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Maclean’s ranks York 30th in national reputation

University gets an ‘A’ in student services

After failing to get an ‘A’ in the Globe and Mails’ 2011 University Report, York University once again scored some low ratings in Maclean’s 2010 University RAnkings.

Based on surveys from high school principles and guidance counselors, recruiters and CEOs from corporations, as well as university officials and heads of organizations, Maclean’s chart for overall best national reputation ranking places York at number 30.

York is, however, ranked first in student services, which prepares new and current students for the academic year. Among the 41 universities ranked, York has one of the largest class sizes and is among several universities with comparatively high tuition rates. The average entrance grade to enter York University remains a steady 81 percent.

York is listed as the second largest post-secondary institution in Canada, after the University of Toronto, and has not budged from last year’s ninth place ranking in comprehensive [undergraduate and graduate-focused universities] category. It is once again tied this year with the University of Regina for that spot.

For highest quality, most innovation and leaders of tomorrow categories, York ranked 32nd, 34th and 25th, respectively.

Two smaller institutions in British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria, grabbed the top spots in the comprehensive category once again.

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