News Briefs: September 25, 2019 issue

News September 25, 2019

Camosun participates in Orange Shirt Day 

Monday, September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, a day devoted to awareness about the impacts of the residential school system. Camosun students, staff, and faculty are invited to wear an orange shirt during the event, which starts at 9:45 am at Interurban and 1 pm at Lansdowne. See camosun.ca for more details on Orange Shirt Day events. 

Camosun gets 32 new ECE spots

The BC government announced on Thursday, September 5 that 314 new spaces in Early Childhood Education (ECE) will span post-secondary institutions across the province as a result of a three-year, $7.4 million investment. Camosun was given 32 additional ECE spaces and $261,737 in funding. According to the government’s 10-year Childcare BC plan, up to 620 more ECE students will graduate between 2018 and 2020; according to minister of advanced education, skills, and training Melanie Mark, BC will need 90,000 new childhood educators over the next ten years. 

This story originally appeared in our September 25, 2019 issue.

Camosun receives over $800,000 for women in trades 

On Monday, September 9, Western Economic Diversification Canada, a federal government department, announced a $5.9 million investment in education. Of the $5.9 million, $836,750 went to Camosun for developing a pre-apprentice program aimed at increasing the number of women in paid trades positions. Of the five investments making up the total, four of them went toward Canadian post-secondary education. 

Camosun gets $1 million donation

Victoria businessperson Knud Boelt, who passed away in 2017, has donated $1 million to Camosun; the money was left in his estate to the college. A portion of the money will be used to establish the Pearl and Knud Boelt Early Learning and Care Hub in the Alex & Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness. Child Care Services students will use the Hub.

Camosun Chargers student athletes get national awards

Five Camosun Chargers student athletes recently received National Scholar Awards from the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. The awards recognize academic accomplishments of student athletes; to get the award, a student has to achieve honours standing at their school in the current academic year. The Camosun award recipients are basketball player Lauren Janzen, golfers Michael Flegel and Cole Yungen, and volleyball players Graham Basi and Katie Wayling.

Charity launches student entrepreneur competition

Enactus Canada, a national charity that encourages students to address social issues through business, has launched its annual student entrepreneur competition. Students must run their own business to enter; 12 finalists will win flights to and accommodations in Toronto to pitch their business in a competition for the $10,000 grand prize. The runner-up will receive $4,000 and the second runner-up will receive $2,000. Nominations are open until Friday, November 22 at enactus.ca/student-entrepreneurs.

Indigenous Artist in Residence applications open

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis professional artists working in all mediums can now apply for the Indigenous Artist in Residence in the City of Victoria. For submission guidelines, go to victoria.ca/publicart. An information session about the residency will be held on Thursday, September 26 from 5:30 pm until 6:30 pm at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.