Camosun students win awards
The 2014 College Co-op Student of the Year award, presented by the Association for Co-operative Education-BC/Yukon, was awarded to Kyle Nelson, a Camosun Environmental Technology student. Camosun BBA-Accounting student Jasmine Giesbrecht was awarded the Honourable Mention. The students were recognized for their community involvement, academic achievement, and letters of support.
New Camosun Digital Marketing program to start in fall
A new program is set to begin in Camosun in the fall for those interested in digital marketing. The Digital Marketing Certificate is a 10-month program designed with the working student in mind, with evening classes offering training in marketing brands and using social media. The program is 210 hours and will be two evenings a week. Call 250-370-4565 for more information.
Business students’ fundraiser
Graduating students of the Bachelor of Business Administration-Marketing degree are being given a chance to apply their freshly learned skills with one of their final assignments, a fundraiser project for Victoria International Development Education Association. Money raised will go towards Zambian youth.
Camosun Women in Trades classes donate benches
Camosun Women in Trades classes recently donated hand-crafted wooden benches they made as a part of their Fine Furniture unit to the International Women’s Day fundraiser luncheon silent auction. All funds were donated to the Bridges for Women Society, which hosted the event.
Nimbus awards $100,000 in scholarships
The annual Nimbus Mix Contest is back this year and is offering musical students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win a $25,000 scholarship to go towards tuition at Nimbus School of Recording Arts in Vancouver. Competitors are expected to remix sounds from Mother Mother, Wes Mack, and SonReal and upload the mixes by May 1. The winners will be announced on June 1. Visit nimbusmixcontest.ca for more information.
Bursaries for those in government care
Students under the age of 24 who were in the care of Ministry of Children and Family Development are being offered a chance at receiving bursaries. Students must be enrolled in a full-time certificate program. One male and one female student will be awarded $5,000 each. Students can apply until December 31.
University of Victoria students petition for grants
UVic students had over 3,000 signatures on a petition demanding the provincial government create a needs-based grants program to help offset the Finance Minister’s proposal to revoke driver’s licenses of former students who are unable to pay off debt. The UVic students presented the petition to the NDP’s advanced education critic, MLA Kathy Corrigan, on March 24.
Students from across Canada discuss rape culture
Students from across Canada were sent to Ottawa on March 19 and 20 to help eradicate and develop strategies to fight against rape culture at colleges and university. According to the Canadian Federation of Students, one in five female students in North America is sexually assaulted.
Project grants available for artists
The CRD is continuing their plans to invest in the art community by offering project grants to 20 organizations, with funds totalling $90,000. The organizations must have developmental projects being produced on a one-time, recurring, or project-to-project basis. Visit crd.bc.ca/service/arts-funding for more information.
Children’s author speaks to grownups
The Victoria Writers’ Society presents children’s author Troy Wilson, who be presenting a talk for grownups on April 1. Wilson will be speaking about his new book, The Duck Says, and about his life as a children’s author. The talk takes place at Greater Victoria Public Library Central Branch and starts at 7 pm.
New grants for in-demand careers
Two new student grants have been implemented to encourage students to pursue an in-demand career and receive access to the financial help. The new grants include an expansion of the BC Loan Forgiveness Program, and the addition of the BC Completion Grant for Graduates program. The completion grant allots $500 to graduates of in-demand occupations to reduce the cost of student loans.
Meatless Monday initiative
Meatless Monday is an international initiative for schools, businesses, hospitals, and families to eat humane and vegetarian-friendly options once a week. According to the Vancouver Humane Society, 725 million animals were slaughtered for food in Canada in 2014; the purpose of Meatless Monday is to reduce these numbers. Langara College became the first post-secondary school in Western Canada to take on Meatless Monday when they started the initiative on March 30.
Online auction supports anti-bullying
An online auction is being held with high-quality auction items including gift certificates, fine art, and home and garden products. The auction, the Suddenly Dance Spring Auction, is held online until April 6 at 11:59 pm, and is in support of the Suddenly Dance Theatre’s anti-bullying dance videos being made for the WITS program. Visit suddenlydance.ca for more information.
Victoria authors short-listed for prizes
Victoria authors are one step closer to winning the BC Book Prizes. Congratulations on short-list nominations for Barry Gough for the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize, Patrick Lane for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, Alicia Priest and Robert “Lucky” Budd for the Bill Duthie Booksellers’ Choice Award.
DJ Funked Up Brother wins
The winner of the DJ Remix Competition launched by Victoria group Isobel Trigger was announced in March. DJ Funked Up Brother was named champion of the contest. The winning track can be heard at soundcloud.com/thefunkedupbrother.
Deer cull successful, district says
In March, a total of 11 black-tailed deer were killed over a 16-day period due to overpopulation and “deer/human conflict.” According to the District of Oak Bay, the deer were culled, versus using other methods like translocation, because obstacles made it difficult for biologists to vouch for other methods. The District of Oak Bay says there is a need to be more consistent with support for deer management.
Artist wins award
Sandra Meigs, an artist whose work has been attracting critical acclaim for over three decades, has won the 2015 Governor General’s Award for Visual and Visual Arts. Meigs’ art touches on themes of popular culture, poetry, and philosophical texts.