Deadline extended to Oct. 14 at 12 p.m. to complete survey about Policy on Sexual Violence
October 13th, 2021
A record number of students have participated in the survey about Dawson's Policy on Sexual Violence: over 6,000! It is clearly a topic that is important to them.
The deadline has now been extended for employees to Thursday, Oct. 14 at 12 p.m. The hope is that more employees will complete the survey so the Policy Review Subcommittee can have good data to make recommendations to improve the Policy. To date, 509 employees have participated from the following categories:
Faculty: 310
Support Staff: 117
Professionals: 59
Managers: 23
The survey is live in Omnivox and can be found under what's new or click on Surveys and Votes under the My Omnivox Services menu.
Click Read More to go to the Omnivox sign-in page.
Learning at the Living Campus
October 13th, 2021
Last Thursday, first-year Environmental Science students in Brian Mader's General Biology I class were given the task of comparing the biodiversity of bacteria on two different surfaces. Students decided to head to the rooftop to compare the potential bacteria found in our two rooftop ponds. They compared soil samples with others on campus as well as sampled the surface of leaves. Results will be analyzed in a few weeks.
This is an example of learning outside the classroom on our Living Campus. If you would like to share your own experiences or those of your students, please write to cparsons@dawsoncollege.qc.ca
Photo credit: Brian Mader (Coordinator, Environmental Science)
Please don’t feed Dawson’s wildlife
October 13th, 2021
During the tele-teaching and tele-working period, little human activity at the College meant wildlife reclaimed our landscape.
Foxes, groundhogs, raccoons and a host of birds have been visiting. Now that we have returned, it is great to see staff and students enjoying Nature. Several well-intentioned people, both staff and Dawson neighbours, have been asked to stop feeding the birds because of unintentional consequences we would like to share with you:
- Feeding bread, muffins or other baked goods fills birds’ stomachs, but has little nutritional value and can lead to health problems for the bird. Young birds especially are affected.
- Gulls and squirrels eat most foods given by humans and then boldly take food from people sitting at tables outside when they can’t find any elsewhere. Squirrels enter backpacks for food and gulls swoop down and take open food from the tables.
- Feeding animals diminishes their foraging skills and can lead to larger litters of babies
- Wild animals can lose their natural fear of humans and become a nuisance or dangerous to humans
- Rats and mice come to eat leftover food at night. We do not want to attract these animals to the landscape. The squirrel population on campus is also high and they do significant damage to the gardens and they even chew on rubber or plastic on cars in the parking areas! We do not want to attract more!
- Peanut shells that are left throughout the landscape are a serious hazard to the members of the Dawson Community who live with severe allergies and would like to benefit from our outdoor spaces.
- Feeding wild animals is illegal in Westmount and offenders can receive a first fine of $50 and subsequent fines of $100
September 29th, 2021
As the 21st century unfolds, Dawson students and teachers have a new opportunity to continue channelling their knowledge and abilities into positive action that counters the daunting environmental, economic and social challenges of today. Dawson has been addressing sustainability challenges for years, a fact foregrounded in the 2016-2021 Strategic Plan. Notably, we recognize the significant…
September 29th, 2021
Pat Romano (Faculty, Humanities) and Kim Simard (Faculty, Cinema | Communications) are beginning to implement the next phase of their Resist Violence project, which has been shared with administrators and educators across Canada and with faculty and professionals at Dawson’s Ped Days. The Creative Collective for Change is the name of a two-year project that…
Repotting your plants and plant help
September 29th, 2021
The Sustainability Office has ordered a big delivery of four-by-five inch pots in a variety of colours so employees can repot the baby plants distributed by College managers in August as a welcome back gesture for all employees. It would be good to repot the plants so they have more space to grow. When the pots arrive, Sustainabili-team volunteers can repot your plant for you or show you how to do it yourself in the Sustainability Office in 4B.
Those of you who have plants that are struggling (brown leaves, etc), please don't throw them out before checking if our resident plant doctors can help revive them.
Contact sustainability@dawsoncollege.qc.ca for plant help or for repotting.
600 spring bulbs go home with employees
September 29th, 2021
About 1,200 spring bulbs were ordered by the Sustainability Office to boost everyone's mood by encouraging employees to dream about spring gardening. A rainbow of bulbs were offered for sale to employees on Sept. 20-21: hyacinths, daffodils (which the squirrels don't like) and tulips.
About half were sold at cost to employees and will be brightening up home gardens. The remaining bulbs will be planted on campus: some pink bulbs around Anastasia's tree in the Peace Garden, some in the island garden of the first parking lot and some in the garden of the 3C courtyard.
Sandra Gravel (Student Services), pictured, bought her bulbs from the student Sustainabili-team volunteers. Jennifer de Vera (Sustainability Office) recommends planting the bulbs over the next week before the ground gets too hard.
First National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is Thursday, Sept. 30
September 29th, 2021
Dawson students and employees will experience the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation at Dawson College on Thursday, Sept. 30.
Click Read More for the homepage news story, which contains a link to all the programming and resources.
CRLT taking classes outside and learning from Nature
September 15th, 2021
The students are back and enjoying many elements of college life that were not possible last year. Students in the Community, Recreation and Leadership Training Program have had regular opportunities to enjoy our Living Campus and to do learning activities both on campus at Dawson and off-campus at the Centre de Plein Air Notre Dame de Fatima on Île-Perrot.
Faculty member Myka Taylor said that CRLT faculty “worked hard to still provide the whole program experience to all students.” Their goal was to provide a positive outdoor social experience for all years of the program.
CRLT students have been often spotted outdoors in recent weeks as the teachers make full use of the College’s natural outdoor setting. “CRLT teachers have used our urban Nature as a catalyst in promoting personal and group growth,” Myka said.
Photo: Debbie Resurreccion
Students discover Sustainable Happiness on Living Campus tour
September 15th, 2021
Students in Melanie Doyle's Peace and Sustainable Happiness Advanced Studies in Psychology class were the first people to take a Living Campus Tour with a Sustainable Happiness theme on Sept. 13.
Led by Jennifer De Vera of the Sustainability Office and Azra Khan of Human Resources, both trained Sustainable Happiness facilitators, the tour began at the vegetable garden near the Upper Atrium, known as the Theatre Garden. It was offered as part of Dawson's Peace Week 2021 Program.
The students were taken on an outdoor tour that included about 10 stops, including the Peace Garden, the White Pine tree and the rooftop gardens.
In this photo, students Cassandra (left) and Thitrinh participate in an activity on the steps just outside the Upper Atrium. Jennifer and Azra distributed colourful chalks and invited the students to write a few words that make them happy on the steps. At the end of the exercise, the steps were full of colourful happy words. Cassandra's and Thitrinh's words were: coffee, music, animals and family, books, painting.
Employees and students who would like a tour are invited to contact the Sustainability Office to register: sustainability@dawsoncollege.qc.ca
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Last Modified: October 13, 2021
