Big bucks, brand-new building
Construction on the new Centre for Trades Education and Innovation at Camosun’s Interurban campus has been approved by the Saanich Municipal Council. Funded by provincial and federal governments, the $30-million facility will help fill BC’s need for skilled trades workers in diverse fields, such as ship building, metal trades, and mechanics. Existing buildings on the campus will be repurposed to expand areas for research and existing programs. The fun is expected to begin by the beginning of March.
Camosun president re-appointed
Camosun’s board of governors recently appointed college president Kathryn Laurin to a second five-year term, starting July 1. Laurin became Camosun’s fifth president on October 1, 2009, taking over for longtime president Liz Ashton. The decision to appoint Laurin to a second term as president came after a presidential review by the board. “In just four short years, Kathryn and her team have raised Camosun’s profile through strategic advocacy, solid stewardship, and a determined focus on the learner experience,” said board chair Marilyn Pattison in a press release. “It’s a tremendous honour,” said Laurin in the press release. “I continue to be inspired by the passion and commitment of faculty and staff, and the remarkable accomplishments of our students.”
New Camosun athletic therapy clinic opens
This month Camosun’s new Athletic and Exercise Therapy Clinic opens to the public, offering services related to injuries, chronic illness, obesity, and exercise plans. The clinic gives students in the related bachelor program a chance to practice their skills alongside certified care professionals and gain valuable real-life training.
Chargers playing to win
Despite both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams losing their first games this month, a nice group of wins followed for all the teams in the first half of January. Meanwhile, women’s basketball has kept up the momentum since their success in the Christmas Classic over the holidays, and men’s basketball started positively as well, with a couple of close wins. Make sure to cheer the teams on at the upcoming home games!
Apology for racism
The BC government is holding public consultations to prepare for a public apology this spring to the Chinese Canadian community, which has historically faced racism and discrimination. An official apology was made by the federal government in 2006, along with reparation money for the “head tax” that Canada imposed on Chinese immigrants. BC had also passed additional prohibitive laws against Asian immigrants, records of which have been collected and posted online by the provincial NDP party in advance of the upcoming action. In 2012, the province issued an apology to the Japanese-Canadian community for similar laws, including the Japanese internment in World War II.
Government turns out the lights
This month marks the beginning of the end for incandescent light bulbs. Federal legislation has banned the production and supply of 75- and 100-watt bulbs, because of energy inefficiency. The market now has enough alternatives, such as compact fluorescent and LED bulbs, that finding replacements won’t be a problem. The alternatives, however, are far more expensive, although they last significantly longer. 40- and 60-watt bulbs will be on the shelves until the end of this year.
Not an ice cream flavor
The Royal Canadian Mint is looking to the future by developing a system for digital money. Called MintChip, the virtual currency is intended to replace cash for small purchases (less than $10). The Canadian Mint has partnered with retail company Ingenico, developing a system where the customer would use a smartphone to transfer money to the retailer at the till. The design concept was premiered this month and pilot testing is projected for later this year.
Does coffee count as a school supply?
A recent study at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore shows that caffeine can help with memory retention. Subjects shown images and then given a dose of the drug were better able to differentiate them from a lineup of images 24 hours later. Unfortunately, the effect is focused around “pattern separation,” recognizing small differences, and doesn’t necessarily extend to other kinds of memory.