Physical education teacher and photographer Doug Smyth spotted an Eastern Screech Owl at Dawson on Monday, Feb. 19. “This is the second time a screech owl has been seen on campus,” said Brian Mader, project lead for the 1,000 Species in 1,000 Days initiative and a biology teacher. “One was spotted mid-April last year by…
The Office of Sustainability, the Peace Centre, and the Dawson Student Union are thrilled to announce a new food justice initiative to expand access to food security for students and employees during the Winter 2024 semester.
Beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 13, Dawson Dining will be offered two days every week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as a collaboration between the Office of Sustainability and the Dawson Student Union. This service will end on May 22. Students and employees can drop off their labelled containers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays by 11 AM at Conrod’s (2F). All meals are vegan and zero-waste (90 per cent of waste will be diverted from a landfill).
As of Thursday, Feb. 15, the Peace Centre, under the auspices of the Office of Sustainability, will offer free Early Bird Breakfast to the Dawson community on a first come, first served basis. This will continue every Thursday at 10 AM in Conrod's (2F) for the winter 2024 semester. All meals will be clearly indicated vegetarian or vegan and will also be zero-waste. The service will end May 23.
Cano reusable containers (also available in the cafeteria to reduce our waste) will be provided to students that can be returned to the Cano dispensers near the cafeteria.
If you would like to help out with the meal services, please email Diana Rice, who says: “This is a wonderful way to meet new colleagues, get to know the students we work so hard for every day, and just feel good about being of service."
The Peace and Sustainability Winter Wellness Series will launch on Tuesday, Feb. 27 with a Living Campus biophilic tour and a hands-on indoor gardening workshop. All participants will receive a house plant!
The plan is to offer a wellness workshop/event each month of the semester.
To participate in the Feb. 27 workshop, which will take place from 12 PM to 1 PM, you must register. Register here
Birds, beetles and fungi, oh my! Our 1,000 Species in 1,000 Days project has been running for a full year now.
Over that last year, students, faculty and staff have all contributed their talents and curiosity to get as many species identified on campus as possible. Our count after one year is 820 species, with 3,916 total observations and 279 people contributing to the project.
We have made amazing strides over the past year. However, as we approach 1,000 species, we will have to work harder than ever. If you would like to get involved, or get your classes involved in the spring, email bmader@dawsoncollege.qc.ca.
Happy identifying everyone!
Photo: Red Milkweed Beetle on milkweed.
Submitted by Brian Mader, Faculty, Biology
Support staff and professionals have the amazing opportunity to use work time to attend and actively participate in Dawson’s Sustainable Happiness non-credit course. The Sustainable Happiness course is free and will guide people to reflect on positive psychology and sustainability. It contributes to Dawson’s commitment of well-being for all, sustainably. What is Sustainable Happiness? “Happiness…
Canadore College in North Bay, Ontario, and Dawson College will be working together to improve the overall well-being of our respective campuses and communities. The two institutions recently signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on advancing a Sustainable Happiness Certificate.
Please visit the link for the joint news release.
Student volunteers worked with the Office of Sustainability on Nov. 14 to plant 2,700 bulbs in the Peace Garden in just two hours! Five hundred of those bulbs were planted around the big tree in the Chiefs’ Garden, Jenn de Vera said.
The volunteers planted more bulbs in other areas around the campus later that week. Pink bulbs were planted near Anastasia’s tree, which was planted in memory of Anastasia De Sousa. Around the Peace Pole, blue and red bulbs were planted to represent the new partnership with Canadore College. The North Bay college received some bulbs from Dawson and will be sending photos in the spring of their blooming campus.
A total of 4,000 bulbs were planted at Dawson in the Peace Garden and the Three Sisters Garden. Hundreds more have been gifted to partner institutions and organizations.
The tulips and spring bulbs were purchased from a Dutch wholesale supplier by the Dawson Foundation. It was Dawson’s biggest bulb order ever.
The First Peoples’ Centre hosted a traditional moose field dressing and cookout on the west grounds of the College on Oct. 24. Under the guidance of elders and knowledge holders, Cree, Inuit and Kanienʼkehá꞉ka students participated in the preparation, while welcoming other members of the Dawson community to participate as well. Over the course of the day, students from many communities were able to reconnect with customs not commonly practiced in our urban setting.
Tiawentí:non Canadian of the First Peoples’ Centre oversaw the planning of the successful event that will generate other learning opportunities over semesters to come. This winter, students will tan the moose hide during an outdoor activity, and Brian Mader of the Environmental Science program will use the moose skull for a biology course activity. The food prepared during this initiative will feed students at the First Peoples’ Centre well into the winter semester.
The First Peoples’ Centre thanks Living Campus and the Dawson Foundation for providing a chest freezer for food storage following the event.
CBC News was on campus to report on the activity. See their coverage of the story here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/moose-butchering-quebec-cree-college-montreal-1.7008894
Photo credit: Tristan Beauregard
Come help out the Office of Sustainability and their Sustainabili-team student volunteers plant tulips and other bulbs in the Peace Garden and other gardens on campus.
All are invited to drop by any time between 10 AM-12 PM on Tuesday, November 14 to get your hands dirty and help beautify our grounds. No gardening experience necessary; gloves and tools will be provided. We look forward to Spring when we will see all the bulbs in bloom!
On behalf of the Dawson foundation and Office of Sustainability, we would like to thank the Dawson Community and friends for purchasing bulbs benefitting our student-run Living Campus projects and initiatives.
Bulb planting blitz
Date: Tuesday, Nov 14
Time: Drop-in 10 AM-12 PM
Location: Peace Garden (Meet near Peace Pole)
“Happiness that contributes to individual, community or global well-being and does not exploit other people, the environment, or future generations,” is how Dr. Catherine O’Brien defines the concept of Sustainable Happiness. The Office of Sustainability is pleased to announce that a 20-hour Sustainable Happiness certificate will be offered to faculty during the winter 2024 semester. Many employees…
Last Modified: February 22, 2024
