Business students win competition
Four Camosun College business students were recently awarded the top prize in an accountants’ case competition at Simon Fraser University. The Camosun team of Eric Brabander, Annette Wagers, Natalia Simo, and John Turner won a $2,500 shared scholarship. Students were given one day to work on a case assignment before presenting a financial solution for a fictional company. “I’m so proud of the students. Their innovation, teamwork, and composure throughout the competition showcased their outstanding talents and abilities,” said Camosun accounting instructor Michelle Lysak in a press release. “The experience was invaluable and made for an incredible weekend,” added Brabander.
Employment skills funding for college
Camosun will be receiving almost a million dollars in provincial government funding to train students in job-readiness programs. Over $600,000 was directly awarded to the college, while the remainder will go towards partnerships with other institutions, such as Vancouver Island University. “This funding means Camosun can continue working with unemployed individuals to equip them with in-demand work skills and recognized certifications to find meaningful employment,” said Shelley Gilmour, Camosun Employment Skills Access program coordinator, in a press release. Over the past three years, Camosun has prepared almost 400 clients to be job-ready.
Ulterior motives?
BC Transit is spicing up the already diverse roadways with the introduction 15 new shuttle buses, five of which will end up in Victoria. These buses, which will carry a total maximum of 39 passengers, are aimed at offering an overall more comprehensive transit experience. However, in a statement by Ben Williams, president of Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Local 333, he says that members of CAW Local 333 aren’t pleased by this move; they say that BC Transit wants under-qualified and lower-paid drivers to drive the shuttle buses, which are a big part of the current tensions between the union and BC Transit. CAW says that this is an attempt to get the members to go on strike, while a press release by BC Transit says that the buses are simply to meet the “growing needs” of the community shuttle service. BC Transit announced an 11 am showcase of a prototype of the new bus only two hours before, at 9 am on November 22. Saanich mayor Frank Leonard and Victoria mayor Dean Fortin both spoke out against BC Transit for doing this during a labour dispute. At the time of publication, no further action has been taken.
Right to spread germs
Over 100,000 BC healthcare workers are being forced by the provincial government to either get a flu shot or wear a mask. The government says that it’s to reduce the spread of the flu. The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU), on the other hand, says that they should have the right to choose. The BCNU still remains in support of recommending that each of its members receive flu shots, but doesn’t believe it should be mandatory. The government remains firm and cites studies that show that institutions that have high rates of immunized healthcare workers have lower rates of influenza-like illnesses.
Pipeline tensions rise
In northern BC, members of the Unis’tot’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation have taken action. They’ve evicted pipeline surveyors from their territory, set up roadblocks, and have seized equipment, claiming that the surveyors from Apache Canada’s Pacific Trails Pipeline were trespassing. This serves a significant roadblock for the pipeline and its proponents, as many pipelines are set to go through First Nations’ territory, which includes many peoples that are strongly opposed to the development of such pipelines.
Sled dog killer to be sentenced
Shortly after the 2010 Winter Olympics the sled dog market took a nosedive in BC. This was a particularly hard blow for Robert Fawcett, a man who made a living off of raising these pups. The only answer to this problem is clearly to just kill them all. It was discovered that this is exactly what Fawcett did when sled-dog remains were found buried in a pit on his property about a year after the slaughter occurred. Fawcett, who pleaded guilty for one count of causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal, is facing a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of $75,000 for the slaughter of 56 sled dogs.
Wipeout whips up worry
A large freightliner recently ran ashore in northern BC near Prince Rupert. There were no reported injuries and the ship sustained no damage. However, this close call serves as a lesson, say opponents of tankers and pipelines on the west coast. Environmental groups cite the Prince Rupert harbour as being known as one of the world’s safest, and infer just how easily a catastrophic oil spill could occur.
Snow day cancelled
Police in BC are reporting the takedown of a cocaine trafficking ring located in southern Vancouver Island with connections to the Lower Mainland. The investigation took over a year, in which time police investigated the activities of their prime suspect, a 42-year-old male, and his accomplices, 23 and 27. The three men have been arrested.