Camosun VP gets tip of literary hat
John Boraas, vice president, education for Camosun, recently received the 2012 Peter Gzowski Award from Literacy Victoria. Boraas got the nod for his “life-long personal and professional commitment to adult literacy,” according to a press release. Then I go and spell “commitment” wrong when I’m first writing this! Sorry, John!
Interurban students show their goods
An Electronics and Computer Engineering Technology Capstone Symposium took place over at Interurban before the holidays. Students displayed what they’ve been hard at work at over the last five months, including an underwater remote camera system, an Android-operated blimp, a guitar effects module operated by an Android smart phone (hey, they like their Androids over there!), a renewable energy project controlling a micro hydro system and photovoltaic system over the internet, and the “webscope,” which is an internet-connected oscilloscope, spectrum and logic analyzer, controlled online. In other news, we at the Nexus office totally know what photovoltaic systems are. Really.
Blue Bridge contract approved
A proposal has been accepted and a subsequent contract has been awarded to PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. to replace the Johnson Street Bridge, known to locals as the Blue Bridge. The project is set to start this spring, and is expected to be finished before March 31, 2016, costing an estimated $92.8 million. The bridge will feature three automobile lanes, two bicycle lanes, and a wheelchair-accessible pedestrian walkway.
Downer up
Drake Downer must hate it when good things happen to him. With a last name like that, everyone must make jokes about how he’s “not feeling down.” It must get so old! Good grief. So when the Camosun Chargers men’s basketball second-year wing recently earned the PACWEST Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week Award, he must have thought, Man, here we go again with the jokes. We did it in the headline here! “Downer up,” we wrote. Man! Good grief. Anyway, congrats, Drake!
New location for sexual health society
The Island Sexual Health Society will be relocating on January 21. They will no longer be located on Fort Street, but instead will moving to their new location on Quadra Street (across from the recycling depot). This move will allow them to grow with their growing client base and continue to offer their confidential services while expanding to better serve Victorians. The new location is being funded by donations, and some of the improvements include better hours, more space, free parking, and space for training, which is hoped to be used for workshops.
Less assaults
BC Transit has released a report on about bus violence. The report shows that the number of incidents between drivers and riders has decreased in the past year. However, the number of violent attacks that led to injury has increased, with none being reported in 2011, and three being on the record for 2012. To deter future attacks, the bus driver’s union (Canadian Autoworkers Local 333) is pushing to have bus drivers recognized as peace officers. Doing so would lump them together with the likes of police officers, border officials, and parking enforcement officers, and would see heftier fines placed on those who assault them.
Immigration online
Canadian immigration reform is hitting the web, as a new program is planned to launch in 2014. This new program will allow potential immigrants to make a profile online where they can advertise their skills and qualifications. Businesses looking for more than just temporary workers will be able to browse through potential employees. Employers will also be able to post job openings when workers are unable to be found in Canada.
No food
First Nations chief Theresa Spence continues with her hunger strike in Northern Ontario. As chief of the Attawapiskat First Nations, she hopes to garner attention for her cause, which is focused on action from the Canadian government about treaty issues. Spence plans to continue her tea-and-broth diet, which started on December 11, until the issue is dealt with in a manner that she feels is appropriate.