fq09

Travel ReportGay Thompson, MP

Member for Reynell

Vancouver, Calgary & Toronto, Canadaand

New Orleans, USA

Friday 15 May 2009to

Friday 29 May 2009

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Gay Thompson MPSTUDY TOUR REPORT

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The aims of my study tour were:1. To compare stocks and presentations of South Australian wines ingovernment and private liquor stores, promote the sale of SouthAustralian wines and identify steps to assist in the development ofproduct knowledge in specialist outlets.2. To observe and gain an understanding of Canadian and US systemsof public transport and to examine in particular the design and buildingof transport oriented developments (TODs) so as to develop ideas formaking TODs acceptable to the South Australian community.3. Visit Canadian Child Development Centres and Parent Link Centres.4. Meet Dr Fraser Mustard and other staff at The Founders' Network.5. Attend the Retention 2009 Conference in New Orleans.

The tour took place from 15 May to 29 May 2009.

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Vancouver

Saturday 16th - Monday 18th May 2009

High density living

I spent the day looking round developments around the False Creek area ofVancouver and the suburb of Kitsilano, a suburb that has been redevelopedwhile retaining much of its early character. In the 1970s it was seen as a'hippy' suburb and the area has now been 'gentrified' at the same time aspreserving a distinctive character and feeling of community. I noted how thenew medium to high density housing fitted comfortably with the oldercharacter. One such new development is photographed. This was anapartment block of medium density housing of between 5 and 8 stories high.The building had a 'stepped back' design that gave each apartment a smallbalcony, most of which contained considerable greenery. These balconieswere clearly in use, providing extra living and storage space operating as anextension to the apartment. The building design also included a roof gardenwhich covered the whole roof.

Cypress Community GardenWest 6th Avenue, Kitsilano, Vancouverwww.cypresscommunitygarden.ca/cypress©vcn.bc.ca

I next visited Cypress Community Garden in Kitsilano and spent time talkingto gardeners who were all very enthusiastic about the garden project. CypressCommunity Garden is an award-winning grassroots initiative that operatesunder a garden permit issued by the City of Vancouver and it is open toVancouver residents only. The garden was awarded the Most BeautifulCommunity Garden in Vancouver Award in 1999.

The garden was developed with the following aims:• To promote organic gardening methods• To foster inter-generational cooperation and community initiatives• To enhance the beauty of the neighbourhood through the creation of a

vibrant urban green space• To contribute to sustainability through urban food production

The garden is important as part of Vancouver's green space. Green spacessuch as Cypress Community Garden and the Arbutus Corridor on 6 th Avenueunify Vancouver and provide much-needed pedestrian-oriented connectionswithin the City. As well as car parking there are two bicycle routes and manybus routes that service the garden.

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Plots are assigned to new members as they become available, usually afterJanuary 1st of each year and there is generally a waiting list for plots thoughthere are plans in place to develop more plots to meet community need.Each plot is approximately lm x 4 m and the annual membership fee of $30pays for metered water, maintenance of fences and the water system, tools,association membership(s) and other related expenses. Members tendorganic vegetable and flower plots, initiate garbage clean-up, grass cuttingand beautification of the neighbourhood through the creation of a walkablegreen space and surrounding public gardens. All work in the garden is doneby members and volunteers.

The gardeners I spoke to were residents of the area who no longer havegardens and they find that the community garden makes high density livingmore acceptable. I saw both flowers and vegetables being grown.

This area is particularly important in the ways in which it actively supports amulti-generational community, including children and seniors, who canparticipate in and benefit from Cypress Community Garden's effort to cultivateand beautify the area.

Vancouver Wine Store

On the same day I also visited a private wine store. This store advertisesitself as a speciality wine store that sells both imported and domestic wines. Iwas interested to see if, and to what extent, South Australian wines wererepresented. I was pleased to find that there was a good selection of SouthAustralian wine in both the overall and the Australian collections.

The sales assistant, who only worked weekends, explained that while he hadsome expertise in French wines he felt that he did not have enoughknowledge to promote South Australian wines to customers. He also thoughtthat a large proportion of BC wine sellers still feel that they do not have agood understanding of South Australian wine regions and history. Thismirrored findings from the work of PIRSA on which I based this aspect of myvisit. I gave the assistant a map of South Australian wine regions andidentified the location of some of the wines they had on sale. He acceptedthe resource enthusiastically and indicated there is indeed plenty of room toimprove the knowledge of South Australian wines among managers and staffof wine stores.

Whistler

On Sunday I visited the town of Whistler, a visit that was recommended byMember for Mount Gambier Rory McEwan. Whistler is approximately125 kilometres north of Vancouver in the Coast Mountains of Western BritishColumbia. The resort town of Whistler (known as the village) is located

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between the two peaks of Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain. Thearea offers a range of leisure activities throughout the year including, skiing,hiking, golf, swimming, and cycling and there are gondolas and chair lifts totake visitors up the mountains for the views. Whistler has a permanentpopulation of just under 10,000 people plus a larger but rotating transientpopulation of workers, typically younger people from beyond BC, notably fromAustralia and Europe. Vancouver-Whistler has been chosen to host theWinter Olympic Games in February 2010.

Although it is primarily a snow resort, Whistler is also interesting due to itsbuilding design and its pedestrian 'village' has won numerous design awards.There are many liveable design features. The village is planned with mediumdensity living around a town square. The main area is very walkable and hasa lovely village atmosphere and I noticed that there are many residences overshops. The town square is not in fact a square shape at all but was designedwith angles that create areas for social interaction. The whole effect is tocreate attractive community public spaces which can incorporate flower bedsand plenty of sitting space.

Whistler Wine store

I took the opportunity to visit a public wine store in Whistler and had muchthe same reaction as in Vancouver. Staff members again showed a lot ofinterested in my visit and were happy to learn more about South Australianwine. However, as weekend only staff, they felt they were not best placed toreceive and use my information and thought any material was best directedat store mangers.

Skytrain, Expo and Millennium Lineswww.translink.bc.ca/Transportation_Services/SkyTrain/

Monday was a public holiday and once again casual or weekend staff wereworking in the wine stores so I was unable to target managers though I didvisit a public wine store at the Central City Shopping Centre in Surrey. Mymain aim on Monday was to explore the public transport system and TODs.I travelled on Vancouver's SkyTrain, the longest automated driverless lightrapid transit system in the world. Originally built for the Expo 86 World Fair,the SkyTrain is an advanced light rapid transit system operating fullyautomated trains on two lines with trains running every 2 to 8 minutes. Thesystem uses the same family of linear induction motor-driven trains as theScarborough RT line in Toronto, the Putra LRT in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,and the JFK AirTrain in New York.

The Expo and Millennium SkyTrain Lines connect downtown Vancouver withthe cities of Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey. There are 49.5kilometres of line on the Expo and Millennium lines through 33 stations. The

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Canada Line connects downtown Vancouver to the Vancouver InternationalAirport (YVR) and the city of Richmond. The trains were designed toaccommodate large numbers of standing travellers with seats confined to thesides of the train only. The passengers that I observed about 3pm weremainly young single people, there were few families using the Skytrain at thistime of the day.

Building design

While travelling on Skytrain, I observed the high-rise buildings around thestations and noted that outdoor living was often included in the design. Forexample, many buildings featured substantial balconies and these were verymuch living balconies, again providing an extension of living space to theapartments. I also noted that the use of opening (though small) windows inmany high-rise designs meant plenty of fresh air in the building. (photos )

Central City Shopping Centre10153 King George Highway, Surreywww.shopcentralcity.com/main/

I stopped at the end of the line at King George Station. The station sits onthe edge of a large empty lot intended for use by commuters with 150 plusparking spaces available. There are a series of mixed-use condominiumsnearby. The station is an interchange for buses as well as Metro Central.

I then explored the huge Central City Shopping Centre development. Thiscentre combines shops, offices and the Surrey campus of Simon FraserUniversity. The Central City Office Tower has 1 million square feet of officespace, including the 25 storey Tower itself, a 3 storey Galleria, 130 retailstores and services, and adjacent amenities. Central City was chosen as theworld's best overall new development at the 2004 MIPIM awards in CannesFrance for its remarkable combination of stunning architecture and highperformance building innovation.

In the Centre the crowd that I observed was multiracial and obesity was notmanifest. In the shops the clothes I saw on sale were in the low price range,similar to 'Colonnades' in the south of Adelaide. A Soup and Sandwich lunchwas $9.95. I found a good collection of Australian wines in the BC LiquorStore. The Centre opens at 10am every day except Sunday which is an hourlater and closing times are 9pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with6pm on all other days and holidays. Shops were mainly open but were not atall busy on this public holiday.

The Centre is also served by Surrey Central Station. In an effort to combatthe station's rundown image, and to show off experimental urban design, theCity of Surrey and TransLink agreed to have Surrey Central Station participate

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in the GVTA's Urban Transit Village programme. The Transit Villages aredefined by TransLink as 'a new approach to station design and access'.Transit villages are aimed at increasing development, improving the design ofpublic spaces, and improving multimodal access to transit stations andservices.

Measures in the Transit Village plans include:• Short-term objectives of traffic calming, lighting, pedestrian crossings,

transit shelters and bike lockers• Mid-term objectives of new bike routes, transit services and bylaw

changes• Long-term objectives of land use plan amendments and the planning of

major capital expenses

I noted the message on train ceilings – Vehicles are Metro Vancouver's mainsource of Greenhouse Gas emissions. Let's travel smarter.

Transportation is an important issue in Metro Vancouver and there are manyways the public can communicate their views such as the 'Buzzer Blog' or byjoining 'TransLink Listens'. www.bepartoftheplan.ca

I chatted with a table attendant who told me:– used to be a slum around here, not now– a better class' of people coming to area– now highly desirable, still some welfare but mixed– all happened in last 5 years with the development of the Central Cityextension of the train line and associated high density housing– and especially with the university coming

I returned on the Millennium Line via Colombia and Sapperton. This routetook me along the waterfront where I observed nice condos – medium to lowheight (low generally, 2 story timber), there was a gentle slope. Thischanged around Braid where the housing was not so classy and I sawhousing mixed with industry and wasteland. The train car on this journey hadmore seating but still big standing areas and there were also bikes with riderstravelling on the train.

I noted there were newspaper recycle bins at stations and signs in trainsabout etiquette while travelling. This included safety issues such as keepingtrain doorways clear and the proper use of escalators as well as the use ofmobile phones, eating and drinking, and personal hygiene.

At Lougheed Town Centre there was a large multiracial exodus. Again Iobserved many nice condos close to the station with shops on one side.There were also cheaper looking condos and I wondered what happens withthe social mix in this area. Could this style of development exacerbate classconsciousness on a micro scale? It would be very easy for students in schools

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to be typecast both by fellow students and teachers according to the condo inwhich they lived.

By this stage of my journey there was only a small crowd now on the train –passengers were mainly white. Coming into Holdom I saw many old houseswith small windows. This appeared to be public housing from the1950/1960s. There was a nice new tower opposite a stadium.

Simon Fraser University

The Surrey Campus was established in 2002. The Surrey Central SkyTrainstation and transit bus loop transport system provide easy access to studentsfrom the Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley communities. SFU Surreyoffers programmes and courses in applied sciences, arts and social sciences,business administration, communication, art, and technology, education,mathematics, and science, as well as credit and non-credit continuingeducation courses and programmes. Surrey students are also just minutesaway from the resources available at SFU's Burnaby and Vancouvercampuses.

The presence of Simon Fraser University in an area of learned disadvantagewas particularly interesting. The presence of the university has made apositive impact in the short term. I spoke to cleaners and staff at the Centralcity Pub and was interested to hear them talk about how the presence of theuniversity had benefited both disadvantaged students and the area.

The type of courses and structures are intended to attract non-traditionalstudents, including community education classes (tafe) as well as uni-levelclasses. Some courses are only located at SFU so attract traditional students,especially for the courses in various arts/multi-media technologies. Thismight sit well in the South Australian community. The SFU Bachelor of Arts isstyled 'explorations' to indicate the exploration of both self and world. I metseveral people at the Retention 2009 Conference with knowledge of theprogrammes at SFU and gained more information. I also established contactwith Joanne Curry who helped set up the new campus.

CalgaryWednesday 20*" - Thursday 21st May 2009

Child Development Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital1820 Richmond Road SW, Calgary

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I visited the Child Development Centre in Calgary to learn more aboutprogrammes at the Centre. The Centre has six key areas of focus:

• Developing a policy-relevant research agenda• Funding unique research driven by and meeting the needs of policy

makers, while providing current knowledge to fill in gaps• Gathering, analyzing and disseminating relevant and emerging national

and international research that is of relevance to Alberta's child well-being agenda

• Mobilizing evidence into policy and practice• Building transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research capacity• Analyzing government administrative data to inform policy

I met the following people at the Centre:

Dr Ben Gibbard – Clinic PhysicianDr Shirley Wormsbecker – FASD Clinic Coordinator (Calgary)Dr Mary-Ann Baldwin – Child PsychologistRiana Downs – Research Assistant

The FASD Diagnostic Clinic provides a multidisciplinary team assessment anddiagnosis for children, infancy to 18 years, who have confirmed prenatalalcohol exposure. The clinic makes recommendations and facilitates thechild's access to appropriate community-based intervention programmes.

Ben told me that there is a fundamental deficit in literature from other fields.He said that there are multiple factors at work, poverty, maternal mentalhealth, DV and maladjustment etc. Systematic screening and surveillance arethe most validated tool for early screening (work done by Dr Glascoux). TheUS has mandated infant screening but Canada hasn't. Dr Glascoux has alsoexplored the relationship between natural depression and child development.

Shirley talked about a programme to try to stabilise foster homes. By workingclosely with families the Centre hopes to help stop continuing placements. Anew programme has been set up whereby every child that is arrested orcomes into child protection is assessed by a paediatrician. These are all partof FASD networks and for the first time child protection and health servicesare coming together. The programme has only been operating for 6 monthsbut seems to be getting somewhere. Roxanne Goldade who is running thisexciting project hopes to look at different system interactions.

The Child Development Centre is linked to the Calgary Foetal AlcoholNetwork. (www.calgaryfasd.com/) The Calgary Foetal Alcohol Network is acommittee comprised of a group of key stakeholders. The committee wasdeveloped after a need arose to address the social issue of Foetal AlcoholSpectrum Disorders (FASD) in the Calgary Region. Discussion included that:

– 30 agencies have a social researcher

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– university and high school students have been canvassed about what is themost effective way to prevent women drinking during pregnancy– the importance of finding and offering support to your friend who ispregnant by offering alternatives– Inter-partner Domestic Violence has been identified as a key factor in FASD– work is highly policy linked

There are many myths about FASD, especially beliefs that:- those affected don't change- there is nothing you can do- they are all the same

Soroptomist International provides support in some countries

There has been extensive work in western Canada to identify ways to improveoutcomes for children, parents/careers and the community. An example ofthese resources can be found on the website of the Alberta Department ofEducation (http://education.alberta.ca/).

Parent Link Centres

I met Sherry Thompson to learn more about Parent Link Centres. The VirtualParent Link Centre is a website that provides information and support forparents and caregivers on how to assist with your child's learning,development and health from birth to age 5 and beyond. The Virtual Centrehas information about becoming a parent, promoting a healthy pregnancy,locating and choosing child care, various health issues, communication,discipline, and a special section entitled Ages and Stages.(http://www.parentlinkalberta.ca/)

Bow Valley Parent Link Centre902 - 7th Avenue, CanmoreEllen Thuringer, Supervisorethuringercanmore.ca

I visited Bow Valley Parent Link Centre and met the following people:

Christine deMontigny – BVPLC Child & Family WorkerLaura Gnali – Fraser Mustard Chair, University of CalgaryEllen Thuringer – Supervisor, Bow Valley Parent LinkBrenda Caston – Manager of Community EnrichmentMonique – Parent Worker

The Bow Valley Parent Link Centres offer comprehensivedevelopmental and social-emotional screening tools for families withchildren 0-6 years old. The Bow Valley Parent Link Centre is a

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partnership between the Town of Banff FCSS and Town of CanmoreFCSS. It offers services for families with children 0-6 years of age:parent education, early childhood development and care, familysupport, and information and referral. Parent Link programmingincludes a drop-in play program, parent workshops, access to acomprehensive resource library, and structured learning activities.All Parent Link programs and services are free of charge. ParentLink News is published every two months, with information aboutupcoming events and activities, helpful articles for parents, and aprogram calendar.

Health programmes on site are very good with many requests to use space –the centre works with pregnant mums and partners Monday evenings. Thereis a clinical consultant group in Bow Valley; any case worker can bring a caseto the group, it doesn't matter what the point of entry is. Success dependson the school system being made more flexible than traditional education, theimportance of a shared vision and common understanding, the EarlyDevelopment Instrument. How can we work more closely together?Integrating services within school is the way of the future. Main fundingcomes from the province – different buckets of money for differentgovernment programmes. The programme grew out of community linkcentres – community support for snacks and toys – a municipal facility –various support from municipality. Sometimes have more dads than mums.Local economy is 24:7 so parents are often on different shifts so dads bringkids in when mum is on a day shift.

This centre is due to be integrated into a school as part of a programme ofproviding both year 7 services at schools and bringing parent programmesalso within the school. There was much anxiety about this move. Peoplewere asking how do various service models maintain own integrity whenunder leadership of school and, worse, Education Department? They nowhave a lot of reporting models but people feel they are cooperating andgetting somewhere. There is deep concern that other services will besubsumed in a school and their professional integrity compromised. Therewas also a concern that some families who currently use the stand-alonecentre will not feel comfortable walking into school in the same way. SherryThompson is consulting on the integration of the centre and is interested tolearn how we address this situation in our new Parent Children Centres.

TorontoFriday 227d - Sunday 24th May 2009

The Founders' Network

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401 Richmond Street West, Suite 281, Spadina, TorontoPhone: (416) 593-5999Fax: (416) 593-9093Email: webinfo@founders.net

My inability to visit Mexico at the time of the outbreak of swine flu resulted ina last minute change to the arrangement and purpose of some of my trip.The original plan for the first part of my study tour was to visit a series ofChildren's Centres in Monterrey, Mexico. These centres had beenrecommended by Dr Fraser Mustard as model centres and the Minister forEarly Childhood Development wished to obtain a report on the characteristicsthat would translate effectively to South Australia. My interest was two-fold: achildren's centre is to be established at O'Sullivan Beach to serve much of myelectorate and as I have spent time in Latin America in the past I have someunderstanding of cultural and economic issues and speak sufficient Spanish toallow for general interactions with children and parents. Fortunately, DrMustard was available to meet me in Toronto to tell me about the work ofThe Founders' Network.

The Founders' Network links a diverse group of individuals from academic,private and public sectors across Canada and in other countries who havehelped create a virtual research institute bringing together talented peoplefrom different disciplines to tackle some of the complex problems faced bymodern communities.

Network researchers are interested in promoting science and technology,economic issues, determinants of health and human development, and earlychildhood. The Network helps transfer new understandings from the work ofthese individuals to society as a whole. The Network aims to break downbarriers between specialists and disciplines, and between thinking and thereal world. By pooling knowledge the Network seeks to produce innovativethinking that can offer timely, practical, and relevant solutions for modernsocial problems.

Of particular interest to the Network is how new concepts of economic growthand social change affect determinants of health and human development,particularly as they relate to early childhood and the life cycle.

Fraser Mustard heads the Founders' Network, involving more than 1000individuals with whom he made connections as he developed and arrangedfunding for the CIAR programmes. Currently, his primary mission isemphasizing the crucial importance of a child's experiences in the first sixyears of life.

South Australia Thinkers' Report on Early Child DevelopmentThe theme that Dr Mustard worked with as Adelaide Thinker in Residence wasclosing the gap between what we know and what we do in respect to EarlyHuman Development. The government of South Australia has now set out

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Early Child Development Centres as part of the primary schools.Dr Mustard's Thinker in Residence reports can be accessed at:http ://www.thin kers.sa.gov.au/fm ustard . htm I

About the Fraser Mustard ChairThe Fraser Mustard Chair in Childhood Development has been established asa result of a gift from the Norlien Foundation and an anonymous donor.Under the direction of Dr. Margaret Clarke and the Advisory Council, the Chairteam plays a leading role in the development of interdisciplinary programmesto further research and practice in child development. The Chair is workingcollaboratively with other child development initiatives across Alberta, as wellas nationally and internationally. The Chair has a strong focus on thedevelopment of interdisciplinary programmes in the area of childdevelopment.

The Chair works closely with key partners including, the University of Calgary,the Child Development Centre and related faculties, the Calgary HealthRegion, the University of Alberta, the University of Lethbridge, Mount RoyalCollege, The Calgary Children's Initiative (CCI), Southern Alberta Children'sYouth Health Network (SACYHN), The Alberta Centre, The Founders Network,and the Council of Early Child Development.

Dr Mustard questioned me extensively on the implementation of his report asThinker in Residence and we discussed themes and challenges that arecommon to Canada and Australia in re-orienting the education system toplace the highest level of resources into the birth to 3 years services ratherthan high schools. He argues that the Cuban model shows the value of thisin terms of outcomes in literacy and numeracy as well as both child andmaternal health.

Dr Alfredo Tinajero was also part of these discussions. I have continueddialogue with Dr Tinajero and provided information he gave me to membersof the enabling group for the O'Sullivan Beach Children's Centre.

Public Transport

While in Toronto I continued my exploration of public transport systems andTODs. In Queen's Park behind Parliament House I observed the use ofpublic space. Saturday was a public music practice day with soloists andgroups of instrumentalists practising. I noted that trams and cars share theroadway.I travelled to Yorkdale by underground rail; nearby was a huge shoppingcomplex with space for many cars and there were apartment blocks (8-12stories) within a 5 minute walk. Downsview – end of line – Bus interchange– shops and connection to York University – Railway yards on approach. Map

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shows much of suburbia afterwards served by buses and parking lot. I gotoff at Yorkdale on my way back, saw large shopping centre with cinema– didn't see food court or grocery section – all speciality shops. There werecondos 5-10 minutes walk on the other side of rail tracks – lower, and not asattractive as condos I saw in Vancouver.

I travelled through Eglinton West – another bus interchange and transferredto the E-W line at St George. I observed signs on a new train 'Know what todo to fight the flu, wash hands; knowledge is your best defence'.(www.fightflu.ca ) On the streets I noted that many cars drive with lights onduring day – I didn't notice this in Vancouver or Calgary. Travelling throughthe Scarborough Centre I felt that it was a case of 'spot the white person', aswe were only whites in the area – most people I saw were young and singlelooking, but this was perhaps to be expected at 7.30pm on Saturday night.I couldn't see either views or significant industry nearby, there were whatlooked like reasonable quality shops, eg Crabtree & Evelyn, GAP.

I took Scarborough Rapid Transit from Kennedy and went through low SESlooking areas with a combination of single dwelling and old HousingCommission style blocks. This was a big contrast with the smart condos thatwere in the majority at the end of the line.

At the times I travelled passengers were mainly non-European, young withsome families – only few older people – no headscarves but I saw people ofArabic appearance. Headscarfs and full burkhas were evident in downtown,although principally around a college close to a Muslim Centre. There waslittle carrying of coffee and passengers were not at all wired for soundalthough this did seem to be groups heading out for Saturday night.

On door in train I again saw signs about travel etiquette, 'Be safe andconsiderate – do not charge or hold doors'. Considerate service seems to beof prime value in Canada – it typifies many interactions in Canada.

I changed trains at Bloor station and the crowd also changed, this timepassengers were more white and of more diverse ages. There were trainsevery 5 minutes or so, with signs on train saying that 85% of TorontoTransport Commission transport now goes until approximately 1.00am.

New OrleansMonday 25th– Friday 201.1 May 2009

In New Orleans I visited areas of cyclone devastation and I saw homesdeveloped with environmental sustainability in mind. These homes were very

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different from the more traditional New Orleans designs. It was tragic to seethe class segmentation and incredible delays in re-construction in the poorerareas.

Retention 2009 Conference

Introduction by Scott Swail, President, Educational Policy Institute: Scott leda discussion on the impact of GFC. The themes he reported from OECDcountries were more people, less money and expecting same outcomes — howto achieve this? Student services are getting more students with more needs.More money but much work doesn't start till 2011. Enrolments are up but notsure how it will work. The Bradley Review in Australia was mentioned as apositive direction for equity and effectiveness in higher education.

The theme of the sessions I attended was re-training and support forteachers dealing with disadvantaged students. I heard many examples ofhow teacher re-training, especially when supported by some sort of individualsupport, can turn futures around for disadvantaged students.

Liz McCartney: Director of the St. Bernard Project co-founded in 2006 afterKatrina hit the Gulf Coast. With leadership and thousands of volunteers, SBPhave re-built over 190 homes in St. Bernard Parish, the hardest hit area ofLouisiana. Liz used to be a middle-school trade teacher — 'one of my trickswas to talk low'. Liz told how there were 15,000 people living in FEMA trailersor subsidised rentals. People were not in trailers by choice, 60-80% ownedhomes before the storm. Some people didn't get any money at all, somewere ripped off by contractors who shifted town [Liz emphasised these aregood people, not lazy]. Some people have been affected by polluted waterthat corroded copper pipes. Some issues are totally solvable.

Dominic Orr — British academic working in Germany doing a study of 23 EUnation's higher education. German students very homogenous group andwell prepared — retention not an issue, but now starting to get students frommore diverse backgrounds.

Ian Dobson (Australia) — interested more in access in Australia — lessemphasis on whether disadvantaged students actually graduate. Low SESmost disadvantaged group — gender group got most attention — especiallywomen in non-traditional courses — but how much is gender an issue as fromany disadvantaged group overall female students exceed male, but there arefew people from the "first generation" group.

Still issues about women in engineering but nothing got it above 14-15%.Poor student financial support — impacts on marginalised students. Theyhave to do more paid work — how is that good for student? It slows themdown going through course. Subject failure is about 11 %. About 1/4 ofoverseas students pay full fees.

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Scott Swail – HECS seen as a leading system but no one else has made itwork.

Camilla Elander (Finland) – free higher education – whole school systemstate funded with good student support. Everyone who wants to go to highereducation can. Students don't leave – no limit on student support soperpetual students becoming a problem. Only 5% fail.

Dominic Orr – Scandinavia very good at life long learning. When peoplefind need to update their skills they go back to university and get thequalification they need. Germany is not doing this – students get aqualification, get a job and that's it. Now problem with need to update skills.Trying system now of focusing on 'credits'. When person gets a 'credit' itstays with them and accumulates until get qualification.

Scott Swail – European systems generally more efficient as they have beenmuch more closed. British had 5% of population going to university – easyfor taxpayers to support. But Blair came along and wanted 40% ofpopulation to go – much greater burden for taxpayers.

Ian Dobson – Complexity of school system – highest performing studentscame out of 'other independent' schools. A study of sevens year's intake toMonash showed that students from government schools catch up atuniversity, about 7% better – ie independent and government students withsame TER – government school gets 7% higher in university. Tension havingpeople with adequate support who become perpetual students – Australiansystem of a 7 year entitlement theoretically limits but, in fact, HECS debtensures students only enrol for what they need.

Dominic Orr – Germany – few alternative ways into higher education –therefore right student is best school student, but also believe that not allstudents are best graduates so deliberate weeding-out. Now recognise needfor more skilled young people so looking at broadening entry qualifications.But qualified interests groups are arguing against this as believe value ofqualifications will fall if others get it. Germany has 33% university entry – lowfor Europe.

Scott Swail – 21% of US jobs will need bachelors' degree. By 2016 this willgo up to 22%. Is there a potential of glut? What is situation in Finland?

Camilla Elander – Minister of Education decides how many students areneeded through a contract with universities for places – limited by test scores.

Ian Dobson – Limitation of places – medicine, veterinary science – an issue.Government targets expressed in various ways to limit how universities work.Funding assumes a 25% drop out – not what happens.

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Dominic Orr – Germany – study of students' backgrounds, found educationof parents is the number one factor for determining participation. Alwaysquestion of whether it is financially worth it for students with no highereducation in parental background or, if not from community, with highconcentration of higher education. First generation is major issue. Returneesfrom East Germany and Russia often want to get into higher education soquestion of how to make them succeed?

Scott Swail – What are true barriers to success for those that do get intouniversity?

Ian Dobson – Economic support – cultural capital – students from familieswith low levels of cultural capital don't go – those from families with highlevels of cultural capital do without direct correlation to income.

Dominic Orr – In Germany he asked how central are studies to current life?Focus – equal, subordinate? Full-time students with low workforceattachment – 37% say equal importance to other things in life. Important forfaculty to realise that studies not central to students' lives these days. This akey question for thinking about retention? Figures will soon be available forother countries.

Nilka Aviles, Early College High School Director, University of Texas at SanAntonio. Research shows there is a gap between the number of minority andnon-minority students who enrol in and complete a degree in highereducation. This research examined the components of the Early College HighSchool (ECHS) model to show how it has impacted on the educationaldevelopment and college preparation of the participants as perceived by coreprogramme teachers and administrators. The study also examined closely theeffects and impact of the programme on the participants with respect toachievement, motivation, post-secondary aspirations, college readiness, andpreparation. The study assessed the impact the ECHS programme has instudent preparation, enrolment, and future graduation in post-secondaryeducation as a means to closing the achievement gap of under-served andunder-represented populations.

Study looked at the potential of students to navigate the education system.Where there is need for change, who will challenge existing system in schoolsand colleges?

School programmes to break down gaps – break down big schools to smallerlearning communities – break down unfamiliarity – work with universities todevelop college-going community at school. Teaching potential students tonavigate system – institutionalise programmes.

Need leaders who will challenge existing ethos in schools and colleges.School system must expect that under-represented students in community

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can and will do well if properly prepared – preparation assists students tofocus on their outcomes [going to use students' voices to write a book].

Need strong advocates to keep encouraging and help continue to workthrough college system.

Need teachers to see value of programme and to be committed to students'success. This needed to overcome their own doubts and those of otherteachers.

Make sure that parents know that things cost but at same time try to getcheapest deal.

Make a big ceremony of high school graduation for students in programme,much pomp and circumstance – parents come and very proud and grateful.Nilka greets them each day individually, shakes them by hand and tells themthey are the best. She also notes when they are not there and encouragescontinuing.

Capturing student's hearts – have to capture heart before can capture brain.First couple of minutes in class is celebration – 5 students tell how they feeland why. Also get students engaged in debate to develop critical thinkingskills. The training of teachers is absolutely critical. Schools put money intopot for universities to provide services to ex-graduates. Community Collegesgive money to schools to find students suitable for their courses.

The first generation is the most influential factor. Need a lot of support tofamilies to understand value of university. Studies in German show influenceof teachers. These make recommendations to students about future choices.Find teachers more affirming of children whose parents they like. Thesestudents are likely to be told they can aspire to university based preferences.Unfortunately nothing published yet in English. Influence of view ofcommunity in which they live is high.

Steve Fishman (Program Leader, Seneca College) and Lisa Decandia,(Program Coordinator, Seneca College). Emotional intelligence is the uniquerepertoire of emotional skills that a person uses to navigate the everydaychallenges of life. EI skills can assist students in adapting to the demandsand pressures of the college environment, promoting effective studentlearning, and contributing to college success. EI significantly contributes tostudent success and college retention. Seneca has about 20,000 students –polytechnic. About 30% of programmes are degrees – other programmes forcertificates, diplomas etc. Over 70 countries represented on campus.Received award during conference.

Robert Morris University – based in downtown Chicago (2 nd award winner).1. Get them enrolled – commuters, school recruiting from diverse communitysurrounding them.

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2. Get them educated.3. Get them graduated in 2 or 4 years – 2 for associates, 3 for bachelors, 4for Masters. Have school for 50/52 weeks – focuses students.4. Get them enrolled in graduate school or jobs in less than 6 weeks.Robert Morris University ranked nationally for granting bachelor degrees toAfro-Americans – but not large university.

Keynote Presentation by Vince Papale: The importance of perseverance instudent retention. Invincible. Papale was a full-time teacher working onMaster's degree in counselling when he got a chance with the PhiladelphiaEagles. Came out Labor Day 2006 – DVD at Thanksgiving and Xmas. Gave alittle promo for 'Hold fast to your dreams' – over a lifetime a College graduateearns $1 million more than a non-College graduate. Ways of winning atCollege. Once we have achieved our dream all this hard work is worthwhile.Coach – Dick Vermeill. Don't let others use you to validate their failures.Analyse – Adapt – Achieve.

Camilla Elander, Manager, Financial Planning Branch, University of Helsinki:The effect of government support policies on student progression in Finland.The Scandinavian tradition is that there should be no tuition fees for highereducation. There is a concurrent tradition that students should be eligible forvarious types of government-sourced support in the form of grants and loansduring the period of their studies. Drop out rates tend to be fairly low inFinland, but students tend to take much longer than the prescribed studyperiod before graduating. Part of the reason for this is that governmentstudent support grants have not kept pace with the cost of living and it is nolonger possible for a student to support her or himself using only governmentgrants and loans. This is particularly the case in Helsinki, the national capital.As a consequence, students need to find work, usually in the private sector,meaning that many delay their academic progress.

Elizabeth Stanley, (Director, University of the Incarnate Word) – using astrategic enrolment management approach to foster student success. Withexisting and emerging challenges to enrolment management, maintaining orgrowing enrolment is unlikely without campus-wide systems. How to helpinstitutions support the academic and financial success of their students whileencouraging campus-wide participation? The University of the IncarnateWord serves as a case study as to how the model has been implemented.Has been expanded upon and enabled Hispanic-Serving Institution with largepopulation of low SES students to succeed.

The University of the Incarnate Word is a private Catholic university offive campuses. (http://www.uiw.edu/) The main campus is in north centralSan Antonio, there is a second at the South Texas Medical Center and othersin Arizona, Mexico City, and China. Faculty and programmes include the FeikSchool of Pharmacy, the AT&T Math, Science, & Engineering Centre, theDreeben School of Education, the H.E.B. School of Business, the ChristusSanta Rosa Nursing School, and the School of Interactive Media & Design. An

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Optometry school was started in 2009. The university also works with the USArmy's online portal for e-learning.

Antonio Flores (President, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities)– discussion of policy priorities to increase college student retention andgraduation rates, especially among under-represented populations. Flores'extensive advocacy and public policy experience was combined with a reviewof basic factors that contribute to student attrition, and institutional efforts tocounter them, and then linked to policy priorities.

Gap of participation of Hispanics in higher education is rising. Hispanics are1:3 of new workers, by 2020 will be 1:2. Impacts on ability to participate inglobal economy.

Need to develop teacher education – centres for excellence. Have to focus onreadiness of high school students. Colleges need to do their part in betterpreparing students – In amending legislation relating to k-12, have to includepost-secondary institutions to allow college students to succeed. Lack ofacademic readiness a major reason for lack of success – remedialprogrammes expensive. Have to be enhancements of teacher education andimprovements in collaboration between colleges and schools.

Obama 3 priorities: Education, Health, Renewable energy – policies. Morefunding needs to be available to make university courses more relevant to theworkforce. This could make college courses more relevant to youth. Alsohave to encourage community college students to go onto 4-year collegedegrees. 'Workforce Investment Legislation' currently under consideration forHispanics – lobbying on how their needs should be reflected.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform – not passed so some talented youthcan't go to college because not documented. US currently 7th in collegeparticipation and 15th in graduations. Obama wants to take to top but neitherCongressional party has this as a priority. Have to do a better job ofeducating whole community as to benefit of a better educated population foreconomic prosperity and reduction of community problems.

Ian Dobson, Director, EPI Australasia: The Cost of Student Retention inAustralia. This presentation focussed on calculating the 'cost' of studentattrition in Australia, using a model based on the Educational Policy Institute'sretention model. The Australian university system is highly centraliseddespite the introduction of legislation to permit private higher educationproviders in the 1990s. Australian universities were tuition fee-free fordomestic students from 1974 until 1989, at which time HECS (HigherEducation Contribution Scheme) was introduced.

Some Australian students are eligible for government welfare paymentsthrough Youth Allowance. However the means testing for eligibility are sostringent that relatively few students qualify. Youth Allowance payment rates

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are so low that even students on the maximum grant are unable to supportthemselves without income from other sources.

Overall the conference was very relevant despite the differences in thesystems represented. It was clear that getting students from disadvantagedcommunities and where parents do not have qualifications to post-schoolstudy is the major challenge facing universities and colleges.

Steps recommended to assist were:

• Better information to students and parents about the realbenefits and costs of higher education

• Working with teachers in lower SES schools to identify studentswith the potential to succeed at university and to then ensurethose students are well prepared

• Establishing a stream of potential university students was seenas a helpful. These students and their parents need to besocially as well as academically prepared for university life andstudies

• Recognising that disruptive students can have great potential foracademic achievement. They should not automatically be sentto 'vocational' subjects. Challenging them to take the mostacademically rigorous subjects was shown in severalprogrammes to have outstanding results.

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Photographs

Kitsilano, Vancouver. This building typified the new medium-risedevelopments in the area. The buildings are of irregular dimensions, creatinginteresting outdoor spaces which appeared to be well used. Note also thegardens on the various roof levels.

The Cypress Community Garden is in the foreground.

A community gardener working in Cypress community Garden. The glassartefacts were donated by a neighbouring glass-blower. There was a littlevandalism at first but hundreds of these artefacts are now scattered throughthe garden without harm.

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A closer view of typical beds in the community garden.

Another perspective of the Cypress Community Garden shows a decorativesection of the garden and illustrates the well-used informal walking track.

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Another example of the use of building design allowing for well-used outdoorspaces. Note the windows that open.

Condominiums were frequently set in their own grounds. In this example, aplayground and seating area make the grounds an attractive gathering place.

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This view of the Downtown Vancouver skyline shows the variety of buildingshapes and space between buildings which advances both privacy and viewsin all directions. Approximately 600,000 people live in Downtown Vancouverwith residential apartments often being the upper floors of office buildingseven in the centre of the CBD and the main shopping street.

This view of central downtown demonstrates the use of roof gardens. Whilethe buildings in some of this area are dense, nevertheless a walk aroundmuch of the area indicated that views of the surrounding mountains areprotected.

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Most Vancouver rubbish bins are of this design which makes easy provisionfor re-cycling bottles and cans.

Australian wines were well represented in the wines shops I visited to provideinformation on South Australian wine regions. Close examination clearlyshows the strong presence of South Australian wines.

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This intersection in Vancouver has stop signs on all four roads.

There was little evidence of water saving in either Canada or the US. This isthe only example of a dual-flush toilet that I came across in two weeks. It isa public toilet in Vancouver.

Water wasting mechanisms was the rule rather than the exception in bothCanada and the US. Automatic flushing and taps seemed to me to waste somuch water I became quite uncomfortable and frustrated that I could not finda way to over-ride the systems.

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I presented several Australian books to a children and parent's centre inCanmore, Alberta.

While I observed many public health and safety messages in public spaces inCanada, this was not the case in the US. I was thus especially pleased to seethis message in the toilets of a New Orleans restaurant.

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