News Briefs: Camosun and Royal Roads agree to understand, Camosun business students raise bread, tap water better than bottled water after all

News May 14, 2014

Camosun students help health clinics

The Island Sexual Health Society received some assistance from the Camosun College Student Society after announcing a significant funding shortage earlier this year. The student society, which represents over 9,000 Camosun students, provided a donation of $1 per member with a challenge to the UVic Student Society to match or beat the pledge. The Island Sexual Health Society provides essential reproductive health services to the public for little to no cost under the provincial health care plan.

ESL programs receive one-time funding

Camosun is one of nine BC schools that recently received one-time transitional funds as part of a new language initiative for immigrants after funding cuts earlier this year. Citizenship and Immigration Canada has decided this year to help facilitate English as a Second Language programming for newcomers to Canada. The federal department will continue to work with provincial ESL course providers to ensure demand and costs are not a burden on schools.

Collaborative planning for postsecondary schools

Camosun College and Royal Roads University have signed a memorandum of understanding, committing for the next five years to mutual educational support. The document highlights the schools’ focus on the current job and economic climate, as well as opportunities for further collaboration. Some examples of the strategy include joint admission, combined programs, and co-conferral of credentials.

Camosun business students raise big bucks

Some recent service learning projects spearheaded by Camosun business students raised over $39,000 for local charities. Hospitality Integrated Events Management students raised $19,700; Marketing Project Management students brought $13,000 of donations in to their cause of choice; Golf Management raised $6,300. The money went to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Global Solidarity Challenge, and others.

Chargers athletes awarded

The 20th annual Chargers awards ceremony, held in April, honored the hard work of the Camosun athletes this past season. Elyse Matthews (women’s basketball) and Lucas Dellabough (men’s volleyball) shared the honor of winning the President’s Cup award for both athletic and academic achievements. PACWEST presented academic awards to 10 Camosun athletes, including Jarred Callbeck (men’s golf) and Alex Sadowski (men’s volleyball) who also received the provincial CCAA Academic All-Canadian award. Commitment and passion won Vitor Macedo (men’s volleyball) the Derek Twomey Scholarship for Sport; skill and leadership garnered Sadowski the Linda Henderson Award for Excellence. CCAA All-Canadian awards went to Callbeck and Alja Salvador (women’s basketball). Team MVP awards went to Callbeck, Trevor Scheurmann (men’s basketball), Hilary Graham (women’s volleyball), Salvador, and Sadowski.

Tap water better than bottles

The Capital Regional District (CRD) is launching a campaign this spring called Tap into Trails, which promotes the use of refillable water bottles when enjoying the regional trail systems. Ten new fountains were recently installed along the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails; users can enter a photo of themselves by one of the fountains in an online contest until June 9 to win prizes. Campaign details can be found on the CRD website at crd.bc.ca/education/ways-to-get-involved.

Waste treatment plans move ahead

Despite the vote in Esquimalt to disallow zoning changes at McLoughlin Point for a wastewater treatment facility, the Capital Regional District hasn’t slowed down planning; the contract for designing and building the plant has been granted. Details of the plan will be released once the proposal is finalized, likely in June or July.

Beach bathers to cough up cash

Those who enjoy spending summer at Thetis Lake or the Sooke Potholes will now have to pay for parking. The fee is $2.25 per day, or a $20 season pass can be used for both destinations. Parking fees at provincial parks were removed in 2011. This charge, like the previous provincial fees, is mainly intended to help fund park services.

Attention songwriters

The 2014 Islands Songwriting Contest is looking for submissions; the winners will have the chance to play at the Islands Folk Festival in July. This year’s contest theme is “history.” The entry deadline is May 30. Contest details are at islandsfolkfestival.ca.

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