1,000 species in 1,000 days update
May 17th, 2023
Dawson is more than halfway toward our objective of identifying 1,000 species in 1,000 days!
Since the last D News issue on May 3, there were 369 new observations, 40 new observers and 56 new species identified in the iNaturalist community called Dawson College-Campus Biodiversity Network.
Ink Cap mushrooms (pictured) were observed and posted by second-year Environmental Science student Ruisi Yang on May 4. They are expected to be added officially to the species count shortly.
As of May 15, Dawson’s species count was at 532.
Everyone is invited to participate, download the free iNaturalist app, create an account, join the project Dawson College-Campus Biodiversity Network and log your observations on Dawson’s campus. You can also donate to this Living Campus project here.
May 17th, 2023
In late April, Sustainable Dawson hosted the International Youth Camp, which was in conjunction with the World Congress, organized by Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) and the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP). Twenty-two students from around the world, including Dawson students, came to Dawson’s Living Campus to learn more about Sustainable Happiness and…
BYO Bike and learn how to maintain it May 23
May 17th, 2023
Adam Kingsland (Faculty, Mechanical Engineering) will be giving a bike repair and tune-up workshop on Tuesday, May 23 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Spots are limited so reserve your spot by emailing sustainability@dawsoncollege.qc.ca. Bring your bike to the Gazebo in Parking Lot 1 (Wood Avenue side of campus) and learn how to:
- Change a tube & pump up your tires
- Adjust your brakes
- Adjust your gears / shifters
Exclusive Dawson signature tulip sale to benefit Living Campus projects
May 17th, 2023
A bulk order of spring bulbs- direct from the Netherlands- has been put in. Buy them at a discount for your own garden or a friend’s garden or donate them to Dawson's Peace Garden. All proceeds will benefit Dawson's Living Campus.
To get on the pre-order list, email sustainability@dawsoncollege.qc.ca
An online store is being developed and more info about our special Dawson bulb selection to come soon. Pick up on campus end of September/early October for planting time.
A student community built on sustainability is definitely a Forces Avenir
May 17th, 2023
The student-run Dawson Sustainability Community is committed to supporting Dawson College’s award-winning, globally recognized commitment to sustainability.
Led by Environmental Science students Narcisse Hassan and Kaligua Rochon, the students have worked on a variety of projects that support Dawson’s goal of promoting sustainability through reconnecting people, communities, and Nature.
On May 4, Narcisse and Kaligua received a Forces Avenir award in the Environment category for their Dawson Sustainability Community project.
Visit the link below for the homepage news story.
Mahsa Amini’s legacy is alive at Dawson
May 17th, 2023
In September 2022, Mahsa Amini was arrested in Iran for not wearing a hijab correctly. Eyewitnesses say she was severely beaten. Hours later, she died at the age of 22. Mahsa had just been admitted to university and intended to pursue law. Her death sparked protests in Iran and around the world.
At Dawson, the Mahsa Amini Initiative was created by students Kiana Lalavi, Shaneli Yaghoubi, Kiera Robak and Lina Adda. Their work was recognized on May 4 with the Forces Avenir Award in the category of Mutual Aid, Peace and Justice. Their project has also advanced for consideration at the provincial level.
Visit the link below for the homepage story.
About 1,000 meals served up by Dawson Dining
May 3rd, 2023
The Peace Centre and the Dawson Student Union (DSU) ran Dawson Dining for the full two weeks of Earth Week, from April 17-28.
Each day in Conrod's, about 100 students and staff dropped off their reusable containers so they could be filled with a satisfying and hot vegan lunch, prepared by student and employee volunteers who were supervised by chef Jamal Spence. Meals varied from pelau, a Trinidadian staple, to banana pancakes, cinnamon rice Pudding & homemade warm berry jam. Over the two weeks, diners were provided with pamphlets, prepared by the Environment and Sustainability Certificate, highlighting the connection between food security, climate change, and sustainability.
Students and employees who participated in the program generously thanked the volunteers and chef Jamal Spence, noting how delicious the meals were and the wonderful sense of community building resulting from the initiative. Many community members, students and employees, expressed their desire to see Dawson Dining all week throughout the academic year.
Diana Rice of the Peace Centre reported that for $800 in food, about 500 people ($1.60 per person) were fed during the second week of the initiative. An estimated 1,000 meals were served over the two weeks. Rice hopes to bring back Dawson Dining with the DSU for a similar run next fall during Peace Week 2023, an established tradition of Peace Week for several years.
Dawson in the news for Earth Week
May 3rd, 2023
Dawson was in the news during Earth Week!
Watch the CTV news story on the 1,000 Species in 1,000 Days initiative, which aims to document a thousand species of plants and animals in the Montreal area within a thousand days.
Watch the CTV news story on a field trip with the International Youth Camp, which took place at Dawson in conjunction with the CI Can conference.
Six employees complete Sustainable Happiness course
May 3rd, 2023
Six employees at Dawson and seven employees at John Abbott College successfully completed this semester's Employee Sustainable Happiness 24-hour certificate. Jennifer de Vera (Sustainability Office) and Azra Khan (Human Resources) facilitated the course and Dawson lent Jenn to lead the John Abbott course with Shannon Coulter-Low.
The non-credit course developed at Dawson, now being taught around the world, aims to help people live their best lives by taking care of themselves so they can in turn take care of others and Nature.
Sustainable Happiness is a major benefit to Dawson employees who are given work time with the approval of a manager to take the course. Each participant must complete a final project.
Jenn reports that this year's projects included:
- Benefits of talking to strangers
- Mapping where ingredients from meals come from and how to improve
- "Reel it in" upcycling VHS tapes from the library through creative projects
- Laminating all English Exit Exam signs for annual reuse and adding the biophilic design of live plants to the gym during the exam
- Creating a zen area in the Campus Life and Leadership (CLL) office, and doing daily actions for happiness with CLL staff and student volunteers
Toward 1,000 species update
May 3rd, 2023
More people are joining Dawson's 1,000 Species in 1,000 Days initiative every week.
The total number of species identified on Dawson's one-block campus is now at 479! For the week of April 17, Dawson's iNaturalist community, Dawson College-Campus Biodiversity Network, there were 31 new species counted, 24 new observers joining the community and 361 new observations. The week of April 24, there were 12 new species, 4 new observers, and 97 new observations.
One of the species added last week to Dawson's count is the Eastern Screech Owl. Photo by Doug Smyth (Physical Education).
Everyone is invited to join this initiative by using the free iNaturalist app.
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Last Modified: May 17, 2023
