Latest news with #CentennialCollege
Hamilton Spectator
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Car fires are more common than you think. What are the common causes?
'There's a car fire somewhere in Toronto every day, but it rarely makes the news,' says Michael Wood, a Toronto Fire Services captain. Despite high-profile incidents involving electric vehicles (EVs), North American fire services are preoccupied with a far more common menace: fires involving conventional gasoline-powered cars and trucks. Here's a little-known fact: internal combustion engines grow more hazardous with age, especially as our vehicles become neglected and begin to leak flammable fluids. Transport Canada estimates there are about 10,000 vehicle fires nationally per year. In the U.S., more than 170,000 vehicle fires occur annually on average, accounting for one in every eight calls to fire departments there. EVs make up a tiny fraction of vehicle fires. The civil authority in Sweden reported 23 fires in 611,000 EVs in 2022, or 0.00004 per cent. It's true the fires involving electric vehicles can be dramatic, serious and hard to control. An electric Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 sedan parked in an underground apartment garage in South Korea spontaneously caught fire and damaged some 140 other vehicles and left 200 families homeless for weeks. In Toronto, a Tesla Model 3 driven at high speed crashed into a bridge abutment, killing four occupants and starting a battery fire that smouldered for days. They're just two incidents in a growing litany of events that have drawn attention to the challenges of an EV fire that sees its lithium-ion battery overheat or short-circuit, triggering a chemical reaction and fire that can last for days — even submerged under water. 'We're still learning to deal with EV fires,' explained Wood, who is co-ordinator of Centennial College's pre-service firefighter program. 'In the case of the Tesla crash, we put the car's battery into a dumpster, moved it to a secure location and poured sand over it to suppress the fire.' There's little information conveyed about car fires on how they start and why. Proper automobile maintenance goes a long way in keeping your daily ride from going up in smoke. Wood outlined many of the causes of vehicle fires and what he's seen on the job: Leaky fuel system: Fuel leaks are among the most common causes. Gasoline fires typically arise from old, worn fuel lines or faulty fuel line connectors, and leaky fuel-injection systems. Because gasoline vaporizes across a wide air temperature range, the fuel/oxygen mix present under the hood is ideal for ignition. All that's needed is an errant spark. Today's fuel pumps aggravate the problem by working harder to compensate for the drop in line pressure, inadvertently feeding a potential fire. Wood watched a Ford F-150 pickup burn to the ground after it had been serviced (poorly) for a fuel leak. The aluminum hood and body panels melted away, but not before producing some lovely colours as the magnesium burned. Electrical system faults: Electrical system failures are another common cause of vehicle fires. Engines move on their mounts and virtually everything under the hood shakes to some degree, allowing cables to rub off their insulation or fray, and a short-circuit to develop, over time. Battery and starter cables carry enough current to ignite combustibles in the event of a fault. A vehicle's 12-volt battery may produce hydrogen gas when charging, creating an explosion hazard. Fuses, fusible links and circuit breakers provide an element of safety in case of overloaded wiring, but component faults or careless repairs can defeat these safeguards. Overheating engines: An overheating engine is not an uncommon occurrence as a neglected vehicle ages. A malfunctioning radiator or cooling fan is all it takes to send the engine temperature into the red zone and potentially crack the engine's head. Combine an overheated engine with combustible liquids, such as motor oil, transmission fluid and brake fluid, and you have a recipe for disaster. The exhaust manifold on a hot-running engine can exceed 500C — that's high enough to ignite any liquids oozing from a leaking seal. Aftermarket accessories: Sloppy accessory installations can introduce an electrical fault and cause a fire down the road, according to Wood. Something as simple as a mounting screw contacting high-output stereo wiring can short circuit the system and light a fire. Many custom installations have two batteries to operate all of the sound equipment, which makes things doubly complicated. Always get your aftermarket accessories installed by an authorized technician. Backyard mechanics can often overlook complex issues involving the vehicle's computers and wiring. Shortcuts can introduce unwelcome hazards. Catalytic converters: Catalytic converters in your car's exhaust system are tiny incinerators that operate at 700C-800C to convert the harmful exhaust gases into inert ones. A clogged catalytic converter can easily overheat, rising to more than 1,000C, hot enough to heat up the carpet and other combustibles under your feet. Catalytic converters can be a magnet for road debris that catches on the heat shield protecting the converter and this can ignite. A flimsy heat shield may fall off after several years, leaving the catalytic converter exposed to debris, such as plastic or paper bags. (Wood noted that vehicles, especially farm machinery, parked on long dry grass, can set the field ablaze if the heat shield is missing.) Mechanics often throw away loose shields, but they really need to be reaffixed to keep combustibles away from the heat. Pesky animals: Auto technicians often remove nests and stashes of nuts that rodents love to store within the warm confines of an engine. Dried leaves, twigs and other nesting materials rodents bring into the engine compartment act as kindling that can create a fire under the hood, explained Wood. The auto industry's zeal to adopt recyclable, organic materials has introduced a new problem: soy-based electrical wire insulation. This has become a rat treat. Toothy rodents can expose hot wires that may eventually cause a fire. You can buy wire wrap, infused with rodent-repellent, to address the problem. Dangerous cargo: Some people store spare fuel and combustible products in their car or truck. Unauthorized containers left in a hot car will allow fuel to expand, then leak and saturate the trunk liner or carpeting. A motorist who kept pool chlorine in his trunk, along with a cardboard box saturated by a leaky container of brake fluid, saw smoke seeping from his trunk lid — right before watching his vehicle burst into flames, said Wood. In the event of a collision, propane tanks and gas cans can fuel a big fire and endanger lives, he added. Smoking and driving: While just 11 per cent of Canadians are regular smokers, that's still enough of them to make driving and smoking a common hazard. Wood recited stories of motorists who have flicked their cigarette out the window, only to have the burning butt re-enter through the back window and land on the upholstery or carpeting, igniting the synthetic materials. A variation of that, said Wood, involves pickup truck drivers who throw their cigarette out and it lands in the bed of the pickup. The smouldering butt can set fire to cargo, such as cardboard boxes, sawdust and spilled oil, on the bed floor. Some cargo doesn't even need an ignition source, Wood noted. 'Somebody was hauling old manure in their pickup truck on a hot day, and the stuff generated enough heat on its own to spontaneously combust.' No bull!
Malaysian Reserve
20-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Centennial College and LCBO toast the opening of new Beverage Tasting Lab
TORONTO, May 20, 2025 /CNW/ – Centennial College and LCBO recently celebrated the opening of a newly renovated beverage tasting lab at the college's School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, made possible by a $50,000 donation from LCBO Spirit of Sustainability. The investment has revamped the more than 1,000-square-foot facility into a premier experiential learning space. This new space replicates current trends in the restaurant industry, and gives students opportunities to sharpen their skills in a realistic work environment, with defining features such as its horseshoe-shaped bar. The Beverage Tasting Lab in partnership with LCBO Spirit of Sustainability will host student and corporate learners, as well as community and industry events. 'We are incredibly grateful to LCBO Spirit of Sustainability, whose generous investment in revitalizing our lab facility has enabled us to fully capitalize on our ability to teach students, industry professionals and amateur enthusiasts in the beverage tasting field,' said Dr. Craig Stephenson, President and CEO, Centennial College. 'This project exemplifies the power of collaboration between education and industry, ultimately strengthening our already high bar for innovation and experiential learning in beverage management and hospitality education.' The partnership between the college and LCBO Spirit of Sustainability is a natural pairing, with these latest lab upgrades providing an opportunity to strengthen existing ties. The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts offers a Fundamentals of Alcoholic Beverages course on wine, beer and spirits that covers LCBO product knowledge. 'Through LCBO's Spirit of Sustainability platform, we are pleased to support and celebrate the opening of a newly renovated beverage tasting lab at Centennial College,' said George Soleas, President & CEO, LCBO. 'The collaboration reflects LCBO's commitment to creating opportunities and investing in the future of our incredible beverage alcohol industry.' Officials from the college and LCBO formally welcomed students, faculty, alumni and industry partners into the new space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 12. The beverage tasting lab is just one more way that the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts is leading on innovation and sustainability in hospitality education. The investment comes at a critical time for the food and beverage industry, which faces labour shortages that graduates of the school's programs have the skills to help fill. About Centennial CollegeCentennial College, founded in 1966, is Ontario's first public college. Anchored primarily in the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area, the College is renowned for its outstanding teaching, creative curriculum, and robust network of partnerships. Centennial annually welcomes thousands of full-time and part-time students from across the GTA, Canada, and the world. These students pursue their education in diploma, certificate, and degree programs across various fields, including business, media, arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care, and transportation.
Cision Canada
20-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Centennial College and LCBO toast the opening of new Beverage Tasting Lab
The investment has revamped the more than 1,000-square-foot facility into a premier experiential learning space. This new space replicates current trends in the restaurant industry, and gives students opportunities to sharpen their skills in a realistic work environment, with defining features such as its horseshoe-shaped bar. The Beverage Tasting Lab in partnership with LCBO Spirit of Sustainability will host student and corporate learners, as well as community and industry events. "We are incredibly grateful to LCBO Spirit of Sustainability, whose generous investment in revitalizing our lab facility has enabled us to fully capitalize on our ability to teach students, industry professionals and amateur enthusiasts in the beverage tasting field," said Dr. Craig Stephenson, President and CEO, Centennial College. "This project exemplifies the power of collaboration between education and industry, ultimately strengthening our already high bar for innovation and experiential learning in beverage management and hospitality education." The partnership between the college and LCBO Spirit of Sustainability is a natural pairing, with these latest lab upgrades providing an opportunity to strengthen existing ties. The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts offers a Fundamentals of Alcoholic Beverages course on wine, beer and spirits that covers LCBO product knowledge. "Through LCBO's Spirit of Sustainability platform, we are pleased to support and celebrate the opening of a newly renovated beverage tasting lab at Centennial College," said George Soleas, President & CEO, LCBO. "The collaboration reflects LCBO's commitment to creating opportunities and investing in the future of our incredible beverage alcohol industry." Officials from the college and LCBO formally welcomed students, faculty, alumni and industry partners into the new space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 12. The beverage tasting lab is just one more way that the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts is leading on innovation and sustainability in hospitality education. The investment comes at a critical time for the food and beverage industry, which faces labour shortages that graduates of the school's programs have the skills to help fill. About Centennial College Centennial College, founded in 1966, is Ontario's first public college. Anchored primarily in the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area, the College is renowned for its outstanding teaching, creative curriculum, and robust network of partnerships. Centennial annually welcomes thousands of full-time and part-time students from across the GTA, Canada, and the world. These students pursue their education in diploma, certificate, and degree programs across various fields, including business, media, arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care, and transportation.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Centennial College and LCBO toast the opening of new Beverage Tasting Lab
TORONTO, May 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Centennial College and LCBO recently celebrated the opening of a newly renovated beverage tasting lab at the college's School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, made possible by a $50,000 donation from LCBO Spirit of Sustainability. The investment has revamped the more than 1,000-square-foot facility into a premier experiential learning space. This new space replicates current trends in the restaurant industry, and gives students opportunities to sharpen their skills in a realistic work environment, with defining features such as its horseshoe-shaped bar. The Beverage Tasting Lab in partnership with LCBO Spirit of Sustainability will host student and corporate learners, as well as community and industry events. "We are incredibly grateful to LCBO Spirit of Sustainability, whose generous investment in revitalizing our lab facility has enabled us to fully capitalize on our ability to teach students, industry professionals and amateur enthusiasts in the beverage tasting field," said Dr. Craig Stephenson, President and CEO, Centennial College. "This project exemplifies the power of collaboration between education and industry, ultimately strengthening our already high bar for innovation and experiential learning in beverage management and hospitality education." The partnership between the college and LCBO Spirit of Sustainability is a natural pairing, with these latest lab upgrades providing an opportunity to strengthen existing ties. The School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts offers a Fundamentals of Alcoholic Beverages course on wine, beer and spirits that covers LCBO product knowledge. "Through LCBO's Spirit of Sustainability platform, we are pleased to support and celebrate the opening of a newly renovated beverage tasting lab at Centennial College," said George Soleas, President & CEO, LCBO. "The collaboration reflects LCBO's commitment to creating opportunities and investing in the future of our incredible beverage alcohol industry." Officials from the college and LCBO formally welcomed students, faculty, alumni and industry partners into the new space with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 12. The beverage tasting lab is just one more way that the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts is leading on innovation and sustainability in hospitality education. The investment comes at a critical time for the food and beverage industry, which faces labour shortages that graduates of the school's programs have the skills to help fill. About Centennial CollegeCentennial College, founded in 1966, is Ontario's first public college. Anchored primarily in the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area, the College is renowned for its outstanding teaching, creative curriculum, and robust network of partnerships. Centennial annually welcomes thousands of full-time and part-time students from across the GTA, Canada, and the world. These students pursue their education in diploma, certificate, and degree programs across various fields, including business, media, arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care, and transportation. SOURCE Centennial College View original content to download multimedia:
CBC
02-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Centennial College cutting more programs, staff after suspending 49 programs earlier this year
Centennial College is cutting additional programs this fall after announcing previous program suspensions early this year. The school would say what programs were being affected by the cuts, but confirmed to CBC Toronto it was making a "handful of additional adjustments" to programs for Fall 2025. Centennial would also not say how many jobs would be eliminated, but Centennial College president Craig Stephenson said in the statement that all affected employees have been personally informed and provided with access to the school's Employee Assistance Program. In January, the college said it was suspending 49 programs as it dealt with financial challenges related to the federal government's cap on international study permits. Student Evelyn MacLeod-Dutt's program, art design fundamentals, was among those affected early this year. She applied for two other programs, product design and development and fine arts studio, to continue her education, but found out on Friday that they were also suspended. "To hear that, it was both shocking and very upsetting. I had spent most of Friday just kind of in a state of shock and upset about it," she said. Last month, the college said it planned to merge two of its five campuses due to declining international student enrolment and "stagnant government funding." In a statement at the time, Stephenson said the college will relocate all programs from its Story Arts Centre in East York to its Progress campus in Scarborough by the summer of 2026. In a statement Wednesday, Stephenson said Centennial "has made the difficult but necessary decision to calibrate our workforce."
