News briefs: History help, bus fare hikes, bad news bears
Learn your history.
Sending out an SOS
There’s light at the end of the tunnel for Camosun students struggling with their history courses—and don’t worry, that light is not coming from an approaching train! “History Help” is the nomenclature of a sparkling new mentoring program being offered by second-year history students. These grizzled scholastic veterans will give advice and offer guidance with assignments, Camosun resources, history papers, planning, time management, you name it! These helpful historians can be found at camosunhistoryhelp@gmail.com or on Facebook under “Camosun College History Help.” Gosh, that’s nice of them, eh?
Movin’ right along…
The Victoria Regional Transit Commission will be upping their fares and doing some expanding while they’re at it. On Feb. 8, the VRTC approved a tariff strategy (not nearly as cool as it sounds) that boils down to a 25-cent increase for adult, senior, and youth fares, and an increase in monthly passes (to the tune of nine percent). The commission will be expanding service hours over the next three years and a property tax lift of $7 per household was also approved. “The incremental fare increases, along with a moderated expansion plan, will help meet the funding requirements of the system,” says Oak Bay mayor Christopher Causton, chair of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, sounding vaguely like Lando Calrissian. Bus riders can go to bctransit.com for more info.
Bad news for bears
The brainiacs in the BC government are planning on opening the trophy hunting of bears in the Great Bear Rainforest. I says pardon!? This news is much to the chagrin of a burgeoning international network comprised of First Nations, animal protection, tourism, and conservation groups from over 40 countries—representing some 15 million members—all eager to have the hunt halted. The groups cite obvious conservation, cultural, economic, and ethical reasons to protect vulnerable black bears and grizzlies from being gunned down needlessly. “The trophy hunt goes against every moral teaching that we carry and is disrespectful to our culture and values,” says Art Sterrit, executive director of Coastal First Nations. A perusal of pacificwild.org will provide more information and hopefully help to bring bears the bare necessities.
Waffles up the wazoo
Everyone likes waffles, right? Well, some forward-thinking UVic Commerce students, deeply devoted to “Activism 2.0” and entwined in an international green consumerist movement have planned a “reverse boycott” or “carrotmob” that will help fill your gob! UVic’s Commerce Sustainability Club has selected the local business, Wannawafel—a family-run affair in Market Square—to be the recipients of, well, lots of customers. On March 12, loads and loads of consumers will be heading down to Wannawafel to buy, buy, buy and spend, spend, spend! The owners of Wannawafel will pledge 100 percent of the entire day’s revenue towards making their business eco-friendly, under the guidance of Smallfeet Inc. (an über-green group, FYI). “There will be prizes, music, entertainment, and some very tasty, eco-friendly waffles,” says John Bayley, UVic Commerce student and event organizer. Go to smallfeet.ca for more info and get ready to waffle it up!
Yeah, I’m the taxman
It’s that time of year, when George Harrison’s Beatles lyrics carry added weight, and number-crunching skills come to the fore, as income-tax preparation rears its ugly mug. But, thanks to the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and the Montreal-based company Marketwire, there’s free tax software available to post-secondary students across Canada. Dr. Tax Software Inc., the maker of UFile.ca, is the mastermind behind this mathematical mash-up. To utilize this service, bust on over to www.cfs-fcee.ca and click on the UFile logo. It’s pretty simple and online tax filing is fast becoming all the rage. Also becoming all the rage is my guacamole, which I plan on bringing to the party I’ll be throwing to celebrate my tax return. Huzzah!
RBCM in the sweet by and by
The future is bright for the Royal BC Museum (RBCM), which recently revealed their long-term vision to Victoria. The plan is for the RBCM to be rezoned with environmental sensitivity and sustainability as pique points of concern, enabling some major changes that will ultimately expand all aspects of the museum and make room for more. More of what, exactly? Well, the RBCM has a big vision of a sweet-scented future that involves developing and expanding all they’ve got, including business offices, festivals, multiple residential, parks, parking, retail, restaurants, and theatre space. For more info on the RBCM vision, visit royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/zoning or stop in at the museum for their open house on March 6 and 7 from 12-3 pm.
Arthritis fracas
Almost 4.5 million Canadians live with arthritis and autoimmune diseases, and that’s so not cool. For four years, the Power of Movement fundraiser has been kicking ass and taking names to benefit the Canadian Arthritis Society (CAS) and the Canadian Arthritis Network (CAN). On March 7, thousands of Canucks from coast to coast will participate in a large-scale yoga mega-session, raising awareness, charkas, funds, and flexibility. In Mile Zero, Moksha Yoga Victoria will be hosting sessions at 10 am and 12 pm; a quick visit to powerofmovement.ca can give you more details, including info on reserving a spot and soliciting pledges if you want to participate. Let’s try kicking arthritis to the curb for good, and let’s do it while wearing stretchy pants.
CCSS Nexus promo