Dawson students Kahenientha Cross and John Nathaniel Gertler and Dawson graduate Ella Noel were featured in a CBC news report in the lead up to The Nature of Things documentary, Rebellion. Scenes of students preparing for the climate march were filmed at Dawson last year.
Dawson’s 211-page sustainability report was submitted to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) review committee in September. Almost 90% of indicator reporting and supporting documents were accepted and the Sustainability Office has 60 days to respond to questions concerning the other 10%. This is Dawson’s first attempt at an international rating in sustainability and we are hoping to be recognized at a high level. The entire College community has worked hard to contribute data and processes and to modify practices that lead to well-being for all. Stay tuned for results soon!
The Federal Government has announced that the Jacques Cartier Bridge will be open for the first time to winter cyclists this year. This and an ongoing commitment from the City to plough the “route blanche” bicycle path network make this year an exceptional one to start winter biking. If this sounds like a possibility you…
Dawson participants, as well as many from outside the College, are experiencing the concept of Sustainable Happiness (SH) and exploring its implications, both personally and professionally.
During the next six months, SH facilitators will be offering programs for Dawson students, staff and managers. A program for another college will start next week.
A recent SH certificate was also just completed by Colleges and Institutes Canada staff in Ottawa, while a certificate offered in Spanish is on-going with an international group. Both external groups piloted the use of the SH Journal, also introduced to students within four Dawson psychology courses this semester.
Student Services will make 500 additional journals available to students, serving as a method that may help students distance from stress.
Sustainable Happiness programs review sustainability principles and actions that help us as individuals, help others, and/or help the planet. How these actions contribute to happiness, in turn, is identified as a component of well-being that involves positive emotions, satisfaction and fulfillment. Find more information about Dawson’s SH programs here.
Five new trees were planted on Monday at Dawson College in front of the Peace Garden along the paved area of the driveway.
The trees are native to Quebec forests in our region and include: two sugar maples, one black walnut, one bur oak and one beech.
"The black walnut and beech tree are two new species for the Dawson grounds," said Chris Adam of the Sustainability Office. "They will increase biodiversity, add shade over paved areas in the hot summer months and colour our grounds with red, orange and yellow colours in the fall."
The trees were dug out by a large "tree spade" machine at a tree nursery in Les Cèdres on Sept. 30 and delivered by a 45-foot flatbed truck. Each tree weighed approximately 5-6 tons!
The trees will be dormant for the winter and establish news roots in the spring. More trees will be added to our grounds next year.
Riding your bike in the Fall at best is sunny cool days and colourful leaves. It is gorgeous! Unfortunately Fall can also be wet, cold and dark. Dressing for wetness on a bike is difficult. Try to have a change of dry clothes wherever you are headed.
Waterproof breathables are great as are synthetic or merino wool base layers. The trick is to have just the right number of layers to your onion. Gloves and a light toque will help you stay warm more than a thick jacket as they won't cause you to get wet from the inside.
It's important to remember that the sun goes down earlier. 5 p.m. in rainy late October can be quite dark! Be visible: be sure to be equipped to ride at night and in darkness, have blinking lights in the front and the back of your bike. Fenders will also go a long way in helping to keep you dry.
Finally, if you are thinking of extending your season into the winter, join us for a Zoom workshop on Oct. 28 at 12 p.m. Click Read More for the link to the meeting.
Dawson College is featured in the Maclean's 2021 Canadian Colleges Guidebook, which came out across Canada in September. You can now access the two features digitally:
Dawson's extraordinary vernissage season for the graduating students in six programs in Creative and Applied Arts was featured: These Dawson College students missed out on a live gallery show. So they went virtual.
Dawson's environmental profiles in Science and Social Science as well as our Sustainability Office were featured: In a climate-anxious world, these colleges are training students to fight back
The Food Bank is open again for students who need help with groceries. Students may contact Yvonne Dudley by MIO or email to make an appointment. The Food Bank is open by appointment only on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In their appointment request, students need to include their student number and the time they would like to come.
Dawson College, our environmental profiles in Social Science and Science and our Sustainability Office are featured in Maclean's 2021 Canadian Colleges Guidebook, now available in print on news stands across Canada.
A two-page spread on pages 38-39 features a report by Jennifer Lewington entitled Where green is all there is to be that is accompanied by a large photo of our Sustainabili-Team volunteers working in the Theatre Garden this summer. Jennifer spoke to Chris Adam of the Sustainability Office, faculty members Anna-Liisa Aunio and Brian Mader and student John Nathaniel Gertler, who mentioned that he switched to Dawson for our environmental offerings.
Drop by the Sustainability Office or Communications Office to consult a copy.
Johanna Stosik (Student Services) snapped this beautiful photo of faculty member Melanie Doyle teaching outdoors last week.
"I got to meet some of my students for the first time during a gardening activity in the Peace Garden and taught my course on Zoom from the stump," Melanie said.
"I always love teaching from the Peace Garden, COVID or not! It's such a beautiful, calming and inspirational space; I'll forever be mindful of why we have the Peace Garden and whenever I'm in it, I feel a heightened awareness to be my best self and try to connect with my students on a deeper level."
Last Modified: November 19, 2020
