This week is designated as Research Week at Laurentian University.
To celebrate the importance of research and the partnerships between the university and its community partners, five Louise Picard research grants were awarded Friday morning.
“These grants, valued at $5,000 each, are awarded to researchers who are involved in projects that encourage research partnerships between the Sudbury and District Health Unit (SDHU) staff and Laurentian University faculty,” said Guylaine Tousignant, public affairs officer for Laurentian University.
One project funded is a year long feasibility study for a Good Food Box program proposed by Brigit King of the SDHU and Jorge Virchez chair of the geography department at Laurentian University.
• The Good Food Box (GFB) program is an innovative community based program that increases access to vegetables and fruit. The GFB program purchases fresh vegetables and fruit in bulk from local producers or a food terminal says the research proposal. Volunteers pack the food into boxes and then deliver them to sites in the community.
• Supporting the local food sector is the overall goal of the program if deemed feasible by the study. Other partners include Northern Life with its interest in promoting food businesses through its annual Food Pages Supplement each October prior to Thanksgiving and the Food Security Network which fostered the adoption of a Food Charter by the Sudbury and District Board of Health in June, 2004 and by Greater Sudbury city council in September of 2004.
Others projects funded include:
• A status report on smoking and pregnancy by Roberta Heale of Laurentian and Annie Berthiaume of SDHU
• A study entitled Homelessness and Health:Exploring Effective Public Health by Carol Kauppi of Laurentian and Vera Etches of SDHU
• A study entitled Approach to control of the population of West Nile Vector species type-Culex in Sudbury by Gerardo Ulibarri of Laurentian and Ed Gardener of SDHU
• A study entitled How Well Do Canadian Indicators of Child Health Reflect the health of Children In Rural And Northern Regions
The funding is created in 2003 in recognition of Ms Picard's work as former Director of the Sudbury and Health Unit Education and Development Program. To date $ 74,000 has been awarded to encourage research partnerships between the university and health unit.
