Creative Writing instructor's book short listed for literary prize

 

Bull Head, the first collection of short stories by John Vigna, Douglas College Creative Writing and Print Futures instructor, has made the short list for the 2012 Danuta Gleed Literary Award.

The award recognizes the best first English-language collection of short fiction by a Canadian author published in 2012. The award consists of cash prizes for the three best first collections, with a first prize of $10,000 and two additional prizes of $500.

The winners will be announced June 11.

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Zambia interns step into the unknown with Global Leadership Program

Off to Zambia: from left: Mia Rushton, Iloradanon Efimoff, Jessie Visser, Amy Bunnage, Sarah Khan, Ann Wilson, Bruce Biro, Ferron Shea, Rachel Halldorson, Katherine Yu. 

By Eliot Dix James

Ilorandanon Efimoff has wanted to “go somewhere and build a school” for a long time. Now, the ESL tutor, who studies Psychology and Gender Relations, will teach at a community school in Zambia.

She is one of 10 students participating in Douglife’s Global Leadership Program. The students headed to Africa last week after finishing their pre-departure training.

They were primed with cultural information and coping skills. And yet they didn’t know exactly what they would be doing, or how they would do it, until after they got there.

“If I was tutoring someone in Canada, I’d feel prepared, but it’s going to be a completely different cultural experience,” said Ilorandanon before the trip. “You need to listen to the students and understand where they’re coming from before you can go in and teach.”

Stepping into the unknown is part of what makes the program so powerful for students.

“The goal is that the students get immersed in a very different world that challenges their values and beliefs,” says Scott Fraser-Dauphinee, Campus Life Coordinator. “It’s not meant to be easy. We throw them into these internships where it’s not all clear.”

The interns have to navigate a whole new set of cultural values in order to get things done, says Fraser-Dauphinee.

Bruce Biro also felt like he was jumping in at the deep end. He just graduated from the Sport Science program and is interning with the Ministry of Youth and Sport Development in Zambia. He’s working with kids and coaches, which he’s used to. But he’s also taking an administrative role — which is way out of his comfort zone.

“I want to be challenged and I want to be given responsibility,” Bruce said. “I feel by doing this I might gain some perspective on what I want to do and who I am on a very personal level.”

The students, who are placed with local organizations according to their skills and interests, have support. Upon arriving, they have an orientation, and then work with supervisors and the program coordinators during their internships. They also have in-service training after one month.

The students contribute to grassroots organizations with few resources. Their goal is to develop something — for example, a tutoring program — that will have a lasting impact after they leave.

Bruce, who plans on becoming a phys ed teacher, says he thinks his internship will open up career opportunities in program development. Ilorandanon hopes to decide if she will pursue gender issues on an international level.

Students who take the program sometimes come away with a completely new idea about what they want to do with their lives, Fraser-Dauphinee says. But he feels the most significant changes happen on a personal level.

“When they come back they’ve experienced the world in another person’s shoes,” says Fraser-Dauphinee. “Inevitably that causes a lot of changes in how these people see the world — in the development of patience, tolerance and empathy.”

Follow the students as they blog about their experiences in Zambia.

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Douglas College students create new community group for writers in Richmond

By Jerrie Lynn Morrison

Sometimes you just have to do things yourself, and that’s not such a bad thing.

Faced with a social media project for our Public Relations Writing course, a few Print Futures: Professional Writing classmates and I chose to promote a grassroots writers' group in Richmond. The problem we faced was that the writers' groups listed on the city’s community Arts, Culture and Heritage webpage were inactive. It’s hard to promote a group that doesn’t exist.

So we created our own and formed Richmond Writes Out Loud! an open mic for creative writers.

We created a plan to promote the new group using social media and traditional media, setting up a website, as well as a Twitter account and a Facebook page.

We distributed a press release to announce the launch of the new group, and a media alert to remind the press a few days prior to the first event.

Our public relations campaign was a success, and we generated coverage in the Richmond Review and the Richmond News.

We had a nice turnout for the launch of our inaugural open mic event at the Richmond Public Library in March. The open mic featured a diverse group of speakers, representing all generations, a variety of cultural backgrounds and an assortment of literary genres.

Some highlights from our first event:

• our youngest speaker was only 15 years old! 
• topics included relationships, local history, language, pop culture, politics and more 
• at least three types of poetry were presented: traditional, slam and mash-up 

We also heard short stories, as well as excerpts from longer works of fiction and non-fiction.

Our second open mic in April attracted even more creative writers who live in Richmond, and community enthusiasm for continuing the group is strong.

Richmond Writes Out Loud! is for novice, emerging and experienced creative writers, with an emphasis on sharing creative works via the spoken word. The group was founded by part-time Print Futures students Eric Wilkins (president), Jill Neumann (event coordinator), Jerrie Lynn Morrison (membership coordinator), and by recent Print Futures: Professional Writing graduate Avalon Doyle (media relations coordinator), who completed the Douglas College program as a full-time student.

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BBA grad one of top Chartered Accountant students in Canada

Kent Kallberg Photography

She passed her chartered accountancy UFE exam with flying colours, earning her a place among the top 50 CA students in Canada, and on B.C.’s UFE honour roll. What’s more, the Douglas College alum is the only student on the honour roll who did not graduate from a research university. But there’s more to Erin Reimer than just numbers.

Education
Chartered Accounting designation, CA School of Business, 2013
Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting, Douglas College, 2010

Currently
Senior Accountant, Assurance & Advisory, Deloitte

The secret to my success
“I worked my butt off! It actually wasn’t even on my radar to finish that well on the UFE. But I had a good study partner and we worked really hard. Also, my family has been really supportive. Last summer while I was studying it was really important for me to take weekends off so that I didn’t burn out. So my husband sat down and planned stuff for us to do pretty much every weekend so that I wouldn’t be tempted to study.”

My job is more than digits
“It’s not just sitting there and punching numbers. I deal with a wide range of clients and industries. I’m not in the office that often. I’m usually out at a client site working there for a couple of weeks at a time and then moving onto the next one. So I get to meet a lot of different people.”

Creative outlet
“I have a food blog. I enjoy cooking and baking, and it’s kind of been a stress relief thing for me. Going through as much school as I have, I needed an outlet. So that was something I found that I really enjoyed doing and seemed to have a knack for.”

Taking it on the road
“I wouldn’t mind doing a secondment in another country. I know that Deloitte offers that opportunity to their employees. That would involve transitioning to another office for a period of maybe six weeks to two years. A lot of people from Deloitte end up going to Australia. I have a co-worker who is actually in the Cayman Islands right now.”

The Douglas advantage
“The small class sizes were really beneficial because you could build one-on-one relationships with your instructors. The work experience component of the program – I had to work while I was in school – also really helped, because once you start the CA School Business you are working full time and taking really demanding courses. So having that experience of balancing work and school and life at Douglas really helped me successfully transition to working at Deloitte and studying to get my CA designation.”

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'Stinks and Bangs' brings game show science to Douglas May 17

If you've ever wondered what it looks like to see the brightest scientific minds at Douglas College on stage for one show, you'd better not miss Stinks and Bangs: Game Show Science. 

See, hear and feel the wonders of science with the instructors from our Faculty of Science and Technology executing magical colour changes, firing off exploding balloons, having fun with food and more. 

This is a chance for you to experience the lighter side of science and learn a thing or two about what can happen when you mix intelligence and fun into a beaker of showmanship. 

"Many young students aren’t aware of some of the potential career paths that are available to them in science & technology," said Brian Chapell, Associate Dean of the Science and Technology faculty at the College. "Stinks and Bangs gives them a chance to discover the lighter side of science while getting a great introduction to what Douglas College can offer them."

The free show gets going at 1:30 on May 17 in the New Westminster Campus theatre. For more information, contact Brian Chapell at chapellb@douglascollege.ca. 

We also offer information sessions to help you get to know the programs in our Science and Technology faculty. Register today! Read more...

New West Campus holds lockdown drill mid-May

What if there were a violent intruder on campus? Would you know what to do?

In mid-May we’re holding a lockdown drill at the New West Campus to show you how to stay safe in such a situation.

What will the lockdown drill look like?

On the day of the drill there will be signs at campus entry points and extra security guards on site. Prior to the drill there will be an announcement over the PA system to let you know the drill process is about to begin.

Then:

• About one minute later, a lockdown alert will be announced over the PA system and sent via DC Alerts, the College’s emergency communication system. 
• Upon hearing the lockdown alert, you will be instructed to go to the nearest room and lock the door. There will be personnel in open spaces, such as the cafeteria and concourse, to direct you. 
• When the drill is over, you will receive an-all clear message. 

We’ll advise you of the specific date of the drill closer to the event.

What can I do to prepare?

Watch our Lockdown Instructional Video on the Douglas College website.

Check out the Lockdown Procedures posted in all classrooms and meeting rooms.

Sign up for DC Alerts.

If you have any questions, contact Nancy Constable, Director, Safety, Security & Risk Management, at 604 527 5828.

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Opinion: CIDA should not be merged with Foreign Affairs

By Kristopher Schmitz

The upcoming federal budget is proposing a seismic shift of combining the Canadian International Development Agency with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. For many Canadians this may seem like a small change. Both agencies deal with Canada’s interests abroad, so why not combine them to increase efficiency and streamline objectives? 

Part of the objective of combining these agencies is to continue towards a model of Canadian development assistance that is more closely aligned to the private sector. This is part of a trend in many development circles that argue older styles of aid are broken, and that the efficiency of the private sector could help aid initiatives be better implemented.

Waste is something that plagues some larger aid organizations. Therefore, a new approach revolving around the efficient mechanisms often applied in business would be most welcome. However, a worrisome development is the equating of these mechanisms and closer private sector partnerships. They are not necessarily the same. An important question that must be asked is what happens when the shine of investment wears off? For me, working in South Sudan, the answer is a matter of life and death.

I am currently living and working in Jonglei, South Sudan, with a small NGO that operates a health facility. It is a challenging environment. The area of the country where we work is flooded from May to December, meaning the only movement is by air. Currently we are in the dry season and face small bouts of insecurity and cattle rustling as we continue to do our work. As South Sudan has the highest rate of infant mortality in the world, a major focus of our clinic is maternal health. Usually deaths of infants and mothers are due to complications during birth combined with the inaccessibility of surgical services to perform Caesarian sections.

Not far from our health facility, there used to be another hospital that assisted us immensely. It was run as part of a corporate social responsibility project of the oil company ASCOM, based in Moldovia. It had all the relevant maternal health services available, including a fully functional surgical ward. Being only 30 minutes away by vehicle, it served as our referral hospital when we had a mother who was facing complications.

However, a year and a half ago it shut down. It was abandoned during insecurity in the region and now sits as a ghost hospital. Eerily, the surgical instruments still sit on tables, boxes of ripped open drugs lay in the store rooms and equipment such as microscopes and sterilizers sit unused. The company had decided that it was not worth the investment to keep the clinic operating.

What this means for us, and all mothers living within 200 square kilometres of our clinic, is that the closest referral hospital is now a six-hour drive away over some of the most undesirable roads in the world. During the rainy season these roads are impassable, meaning that even if we can determine that a birth is going to have complications, we have to rely on expensive airlifts or hope we will be able to handle the birth with the facilities and personnel on hand.

Whenever I visit this abandoned ASCOM hospital it makes me rethink the private sector debate. While the approach that CIDA has taken over the years in alleviating poverty may have been flawed, we need to proceed with caution when embracing a strategy based around private sector investments. Although some companies may include poverty alleviation as a caveat to their overall strategy in a country, we must ask what happens when investment situations change. How long are their commitments for? What happens when there is insecurity, political unrest, clashes with the local community or the mine is no longer producing? No one would fault a company for leaving in most of these cases. If the investment environment is no longer friendly, it is not the company’s responsibility to stay. However, the problem is children still need to learn, people still get sick and mothers still have complications.

Alleviating poverty is not something that shifts with emerging markets. It is something that needs to be addressed with long-term plans, sustainable goals and strong partnerships with committed local partners. While many companies enjoy including the word "sustainable" in the social responsibility sections of their websites, if they are not forced to implement lasting solutions, in the end, the bottom line will always win.

• Kristopher Schmitz first went to Africa through a joint program between Douglas College and CIDA. He received his MA from Simon Fraser University’s School for International Studies. He lives and works in South Sudan with the John Dau Foundation. Visit his website and blog at kristopherschmitz.com.

Opinions expressed in this story are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Douglas College. Want to write a piece for doug? See our writer's guidelines.

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Students honoured for leadership, volunteerism and more at Student Engagement Awards

James Bytelaar, winner of the 2013 Campus Engagement Award. Pictured with Blaine Jensen, VP Educational Services

By Naomi Ambrose

“It is great to see that my involvement on campus is making such a recognizable difference in the Douglas community,” said James Bytelaar, a second-year student in the Environmental Science program and the recipient of the 2013 Douglas College Campus Engagement Award.

James, along with several other students, were honoured at the second annual Douglas College Student Engagement Awards banquet April 9 at the Executive Plaza Hotel in Coquitlam. Students were recognized for their contributions and achievements in co-curricular volunteerism, campus engagement and leadership that shaped a year full of meaningful change for the College and its community.

James played a key role in the 2012 New Student Orientation and the inaugural Mature Student Orientation. He was also a Frosh Leader for Douglife’s new student event in September. In addition, James led the creation of the Haunted House event last Halloween, where over 200 students participated. Finally, he was one of the coordinators for the inaugural talent show Dougie’s Got Talent, where Douglas College students showcased their talent to the College community.

Jenelle Davies, a second-year History student and the winner of the Leader of the Year Award, had some inspirational words to share with other students. 

Jenelle Davies, winner of the Leader of the Year Award. Pictured with Scott McAlpine, President of Douglas College

“Students should be strong in their convictions and never stop moving forward. They should surround themselves with the best, and always be willing to learn and teach others.”

Jenelle illustrated her willingness to teach during her role as the Women’s Liaison with the Douglas Students’ Union. During her stint, Jenelle co-facilitated a series of large events on campus, including the Sisters in Spirit candle vigil, the National Day of Action Against Violence Against Women and International Women’s Day. Jenelle was also an inspirational and supportive leader for her peers during her Wales Field School experience.

The Dalai Lama said that “with realization of one’s potential and self-confidence in one’s
ability, one can build a better world” – a better world filled with positive, innovative and vibrant changes.

James, Jenelle and all of the outstanding students who contribute endless hours of work to create a better Douglas College community are the catalysts of change. They are the change that help make Douglas College what it is today; a progressive, more vibrant  and innovative college.

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BBA grad reveals secret to her success

David Denofreo photo

Ruby Lu is what you might call an accounting superstar. Of the 5,000 students pursuing their Certified General Accounting designation in 2011-12, Ruby was one of 104 that made CGA-BC’s honour list. If that weren’t enough, she also finished first in B.C. on her FN2 (Advanced Corporate Finance) exam in 2012. What makes her tick? Read on to meet Ruby and find out.

Currently
Senior Accountant, Webtech Wireless

Education
Certified General Accounting designation, ongoing
Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting, Douglas College, 2012
Accounting Management Diploma, Douglas College, 2008

Career goals
“In the short term, to become a Certified General Accountant. For the long term, to work as a well-rounded controller in the high-tech sector.”

My dance card is full
“A typical day for me involves eight hours of work, two hours of commuting, two hours of chatting, playing and reading with my son, and four hours of studying.”

Juggling act
“To balance work and the rest of my life I make a detailed plan. I do a self-check each week to see where I’m at. It’s become habit for me. Even when I plan a social outing, I say, ‘OK, I need to do this and this and this.’ My friends say, ‘Ruby, come on. Stop. It’s just lunch.’”

Best thing about Douglas
“My great professors. They were knowledgeable, resourceful, helpful, supportive, sympathetic and approachable. They made me fully understand the old saying: ‘no pain, no gain.’

Most memorable time at college
“I received my acceptance letter from Douglas and found out I was pregnant at the same time. I thought, ‘Should I not go to school?’ But my husband was very supportive and pointed out I could do both. I completed my Accounting II final exam 12 hours before welcoming my son into the world. Now he is seven years old.”

Advice for success
“Get your family’s support. You have to make a lot of sacrifices, so make sure they understand the situation and how to help you. Be proactive: start your day early, manage your time wisely and revise your schedule accordingly to changes. Interview CGA students who have passed the course. Work hard, use all the resources available to you and practise, practise and practise.”

Interested in studying accounting or getting your Bachelor of Business Administration at Douglas? See our website for details or come to an info session May 14 or 16.

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This week at Douglas: Final exams, a new art show and more!

Here's what's happening at Douglas College April 15-21:

Monday, April 15-Tuesday, April 23

Winter final exams
See the schedule here.

Wednesday, April 17

Audio Engineering info session
New West Campus, room 3220
5:30-6pm
Free information session about the Audio Engineering Program at the Douglas College Community Music School. More info: call 604 527 5469,email or visit our website.

Friday, April 19

Opening night - Struggle: works by Bert Monterona
New West Campus, Amelia Douglas Gallery
3:30pm
Bert Monterona - artist, educator, cultural worker and peace builder - explores societies' struggles for peace, justice, human rights and gender equality through murals, paintings and tapestries. Live music by Biology instructor Rob McGregor's Little Mountain Trio bluegrass band. Refreshments provided. Everyone is welcome. Show runs till June 7. More info: gallery website

Got an event you want listed? See douglascollege.ca/events.

See more upcoming Douglas College events in the Douglas College Events Calendar.

Want more timely updates? Join Douglas College on Facebook!

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