CALA News

CALA Job Posting: Instructional Designer

The Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation is currently seeking an Instructional Designer to work in our training department developing both classroom and online training. This position will also include some training coordinator activities. This is a one-year term position with the possibility of renewal.

For more details, please view the Job Description (.pdf)

CALA Volunteers Training Offer

For a limited time only - now until December 31, 2011 – CALA is offering 50% off of all Training Service courses to CALA volunteers. Each volunteer may take one classroom course from the CALA schedule at 50% off. This reduction in tuition is being offered in lieu of a free on-line training course, as getting the courses back on-line is taking longer than expected. The reduced tuition, travel and expenses must be covered by the individual.

To see a list of courses being offered between now and December 31, 2011 please see http://www.cala.ca/t_intro.htm

Note: In the unlikely event that you are the only registrant in a course and are registering at 50% off, we regret that we will not be able to honor our “Guaranteed to run” policy. If you are the first person to register for a course, we will let you know so you have the option to wait to book your travel until we have at least one more registrant.

To register, please complete the registration form at http://www.cala.ca/t_intro.html. Mark on the form that you are a CALA volunteer. Contact Maria Koslowski at mkoslowski@cala.ca or 613-233-5300, x 221 if you have any questions.

This offer is non-transferable.

PHAC and University of Bradford collaborative course on applied dual-use biosecurity, biosafety and bioethics

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the University of Bradford are pleased to announce the delivery of a university-level accredited pilot course on applied dual-use biosecurity, biosafety and bioethics that will be given at the University of Carleton, in Ottawa from September 19-30, 2011. This collaborative course is the first step in the development of a joint curriculum on biosafety and biosecurity for life scientists in Canadian institutions. The intention of the course is to bring the issues of dual-use biosecurity to a broader community and to enhance overall biosafety and biosecurity practices on a national level.

The deadline for submitting applications is August 26th, 2011. Please take advantage of this unique opportunity by completing the attached application form as space is limited to a maximum of 50 participants. Applications will be considered and selected participants will be notified by September 2nd, 2011. Please note that the course will be offered in English only.

For more information, please download the information sheet and application form.

Information Sheet (.pdf)
Application Form (.doc)

Canada's Environment Minister Announces Integrated Plan for Oil Sands Monitoring

Canada's Environment Minister, the Honourable Peter Kent, released an integrated, world-class monitoring plan for the oil sands region today. The Government of Canada will be working with the Province of Alberta on implementing the plan. More information on the plan is available at the following address:

http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=714D9AAE-1&news=DA1E8CBC-D0A6-4304-A1DD-A9206D0818AB

2011 CALA AGM Notice

For information on the 2011 CALA AGM, please download the CALA AGM Notice.

2011 CALA AGM Notice(.pdf)

AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act )- Customer Service Standard Training

CALA is offering webinars to help laboratories meet the legislative requirements under the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act), Ontario Regulation 429/07.

Please see http://www.cala.ca/aoda.html for more information.

September 2011 Edition of the CALA Quarterly Newsletter

The September 2011 newsletter can be downloded at http://www.cala.ca/newsltr-sep11.pdf

CWWA call for papers - Due Jan 27, 2012

The Conference Program Technical Committee is seeking abstracts for the 15th Canadian National Conference on Drinking Water. As a presenter, you have an opportunity to showcase your research, discuss your ideas and influence how risk is assessed and managed by Canada's drinking water professionals.

Abstracts should be approximately 500 words in Word format, with no attachments or images. Abstracts must be received by January 27, 2012. Please provide your name, mailing address, e-mail, phone and fax numbers.

For more information on the conference or submitting an abstract, please visit: http://www.cwwa.ca/drinkingwaterconference_e.asp

October 2011 PT Challenge Samples

In October, 2011 CALA ran its first “challenge” PT sample. It was a poorly kept secret that we adopted a a previously run challenge study that was coordinated by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and expanded it to all Canadian laboratories. This involved adding a significant amount of bromide to the metals in water sample to see if laboratories that are using ICP-MS were adequately correcting for the interference of bromide on the determination of selenium. The summary report of the CALA challenge is available in the on-line reports section of our web site (http://www.cala.ca/pt_study/oct11_general_rep.zip).

The Ontario Ministry of Environment have kindly allowed us to post a poster that was produced from their own study (.pdf). We hope that this will be of interest to laboratories that are using an ICP-MS for the determination of selenium. Note: the source of the pdf is a large format poster. Please use the magnify feature your pdf viewer to view the poster.