Camosun a solar leader
You’ve heard of Camosun, but have you heard of CamoSun? Um, it’s the capitalized “s” thereÉ anyway, Camosun’s plumbing/pipe trades department, working with Pacific Solar Smart Homes, is developing a solar thermal heating system for residential housing, called CamoSun. The system was developed by Camosun solar thermal heating instructor James Smyth and Camosun plumbing/pipe trades instructor Darren Vaux, with help from mechanical engineering technology chair Ross Lyle. Because this sort of thermal heating is only starting to gain popularity in Canada, Camosun looks set to help lead the way.
New part-time courses at Camosun
Camosun has recently updated its online calendar with new courses for part-time students. They got weekends, they got evenings, they can make it work if you’re busy doing whatever it is you do all day. About 40 courses are starting up in July and August, but you may have missed the boat on that. Not to worry: hundreds more are coming in fall ’13 and winter ’14. Head over to camosun.ca/ce for the full scoop.
Cyclists wanted for rally
Register by July 23 for the Tour de Disaster Rally, which is part cycling rally and part emergency exercise. Learn how to search for lost people, move supplies, and conduct damage assessments while going through a simulated damaged and congested transportation system. I must admit: this sounds awesome. The event itself goes down on July 27 from 9 am to noon, starting at the Topaz Park parking lot. Did we mention obstacle courses that simulate disaster areas? And you get to ride them on your bike? Could this sound any more fun? I doubt it. See preparevictoria.ca for registration info.
New report says First Nations schools in BC underfunded by 50%
A new report from the Parliament Budget Officer claims that on-reserve schools are being underfunded by 50 percent, and there is a $13 million gap annually in capital infrastructure development, according to a press release sent out by the NDP. The report also says that on-reserve schools in BC are on average five years older than schools funded by the province, and that an additional $4.5 million each year would be needed to bring First Nation schools up to the same standards as off-reserve schools.
Cool Aid Society releases annual numbers
The Victoria Cool Aid Society has released their annual report and financial statement, and it shows they’ve been up to tons of great things lately. For the year ending March 31, 2013, they had 36,400 health and dental visits, welcomed 1,123 new patients to the Access Health Centre, opened 23 new supportive apartments, provided 119,000 hot meals and 53,200 shelter bed nights across three shelters, connected 327 workers with jobs, and laid down groundwork for their next supportive housing projectŃ45 apartments in Saanich for seniors. The Victoria Cool Aid Society aims to make opportunities for people who are homeless or living in poverty; the society was founded in 1968.
New venue opens in old room
I’ve lived in Victoria for a long time, so I’ve actually witnessed a bizarre cultural transformation when it comes to Paul’s Motor Inn. I used to go there for coffee sometimes as a young man, when it was just me and the truckers. Then hipsters started going there for irony’s sake. Then, as with all irony, it stopped being ironic and became real. Which is how young people stop being cool and end up being old men hanging out in trucker joints. No prob; you owe me one. Anyway, none of that is too relevant here, except we thought we’d give a shout-out to those involved for keeping a space for live music going under a new name; what was at various points the Copper Top, the Q Club, and the Castle Video Bar is now the Copper Owl. And it’s not just live music: they also have film nights, art events, and more.