Overdose prevention comes to Camosun
Camosun College has begun implementing provincial harm-reduction strategies on campus. Outlined by BC’s Post-Secondary Overdose Prevention and Response Steering Committee, four harm-reduction actions will be adopted by post-secondary institutions. The actions are: contacting emergency services; providing access to naloxone; creating overdose prevention awareness; and expanding awareness of toxic drug alerts. Nasal naloxone kits will be found in six locations on both campuses later in the semester. At Lansdowne, kits will be in the library lobby; near offices on the second floor of Ewing; in the main lobby of Fisher; near the second-floor washrooms in Wilna Thomas; near the Fitness Centre in Young; and near the Student Affairs office in Dawson. At the Interurban campus, kits can be found near the third floor washrooms in the Alex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness; near the area that divides the Technologies and Centre for Business and Access buildings on the second floor; the Centre for Trades Education and Innovation atrium; in the Jack White building; in the second floor atrium of the Liz Ashton Campus Centre; and near the washrooms in Helmut Huber. Call 911 if you witness or suspect a medical emergency.
Camosun seeking student input
Camosun’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team is holding a series of consultation sessions, and students are invited to participate. The college has outlined its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in its latest Strategic Plan, and to help formulate what that will look like on campus, Camosun is looking for perspectives on barriers to inclusion at the college, strengthening and celebrating the diversity of the college community, and more. The sessions, being held at Lansdowne and Interurban, run until Wednesday, October 16; see camosun.ca/about/edi/plan-consultations for more information and to sign up.
Victoria Conservatory of Music announces record bursary funding
The Victoria Conservatory of Music (VCM) recently announced that $168,000 in bursary funding has been made available to students—a record amount for the VCM. The funding comes thanks to a legacy gift by Thomas Underwood, who passed away in 2022. The Thomas & Betty Underwood Bursary Fund will support qualifying students who are in need of financial support, relieving 30 to 60 percent off of registration costs. Last year, the VCM—which offers music programs for Camosun College students—experienced an increased demand for bursaries with the cost of living rising, outpacing what the conservatory had available. For information on how to access the bursary visit vcm.bc.ca/learn/scholarships-bursaries-awards.
Camosun Trades and Tech students get food bank
A food bank is now open for Trades and Technology students. The service is in room 169 of the Technologies Building at Camosun College’s Interurban campus.
Solar energy project in works at Lansdowne
Construction of a solar energy project at Camosun’s Lansdowne campus is scheduled for completion this semester. The Array of Hope solar project plans to power about 50 percent of the college library’s electricity; the project is estimated to produce 46 MWh per year. The project includes around 90 photovoltaic panels funded by a EBSCO Information Services $97,000 USD grant along with additional funding from Camosun. Construction reparation work began back in February 2024, now covering the library’s lower southwest walls and roof, with the goal of reducing the college’s carbon footprint. Additionally, the library will have an interactive information kiosk on solar energy. Look for our full story soon.