Huang and Lau's smashing season

Royals badminton players Alvin Lau and RuiLin Huang and were recently named as the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) male and female badminton players of the year - for the second year in a row!



A fifth-year veteran, Alvin has had an impressive season thus far recording 31 wins and 2 losses and capturing five titles: three Mixed Doubles and two Men’s Doubles. Lau, in his fifth and final year for the Royals, looks to add another CCAA Gold medal to his collection (he previously earned National titles in Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles).

Captain for the Royals, Alvin’s leadership, skill and versatility has helped guide the Douglas Royals to another BCCAA title. In addition to his post‐secondary success, Lau is making his mark on the National and International scene. He was selected to the Canadian National Team and represented Canada at the Thomas Cup in Peru.

Alvin’s success on the court has garnered recognition as BCCAA Player of the Week and Month; CCAA Athlete of the Month; 2009 Premier Award Winner; 2009 Douglas Player of the Year; 2009 CCAA Male Badminton Player of the Year and now 2010 CCAA Male Badminton Player of the Year.



A second year player with the Douglas College Royals, RuiLin (Lynn), continues to totally dominate her field in the British Columbia Colleges Athletic Association (BCCAA). This season she has recorded 31 wins – 0 losses while capturing six titles: 2 women’s singles, 2 women’s doubles and 2 mixed doubles. Her career statistics within the BCCAA and CCAA (2008‐2010) are 67 wins and 0 losses!

RuiLin’s strong contribution this season helped guide the Douglas Royals to another BCCAA title. In addition, Huang’s skill and success has carried onto the National and International court. She captured the Women’s Singles title at the 2010 Seattle Open, the Women’s Doubles title at the 2009 US Open and was a Semi–Finalist in Women’s Singles and Women’s Doubles at the 2009 Montreal International.

RuiLin’s accomplishments have not gone unnoticed. She has been selected as a finalist for the Sport BC College Athlete of the Year award; BCCAA Player of the Month, CCAA Athlete of the Month; 2009 Female Badminton Player of the Year; 2009 Douglas Athlete of the Year and now 2010 CCAA Female Badminton Player of the Year.

For more information on the Douglas College Royals, check out www.douglascollegeroyals.com
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Doug's Got Talent - vote now!

After four months and nearly 100 entries, the top ten finalists have been selected for the Doug's Got Talent video contest. Now, it's up to you to decide who wins the grand prizes of $4,000 in tuition. Vote now! Read more...

Swap-o-rama-rama!

Why buy new when you can Swap-o-rama-rama? On Saturday, March 13, come to Swap-o-rama-rama at the David Lam Campus Main Atrium. Bring at least one bag of clothes you no longer want, collect a bag of clothes you do want from the swap pile, and decorate, sew and silkscreen your new-to-you finds at this free event.


Douglas College Psychology student Ashley Graham, student volunteer leader for Swap-o-rama-rama, shows off a silk-screened creation. Douglas College and ArtsConnect are hosting the event on March 13.

Not crafty? Not to worry. Local artists, including fibre artists, sewers, silk screeners and fabric painters, will lead Do-it-Yourself Workshops where you can learn how to do anything from making minor modifications to completely transforming your new clothes. All the materials you need will be supplied. There will even be a red carpet where you can show off your new creations.

There will also be entertainment, featuring live music from indie bands and local musicians, including Douglas students.

Swap-o-rama-rama – swaporamarama.org – is a non-profit organization that started in the U.S. A free silk-screening machine is being provided for the event through one of the organization’s sponsors, Yudu, and Jenome Canada is supplying 15 sewing machines for use by participants. Douglas College is co-sponsoring Swap-o-rama-rama with ArtsConnect.

"This is kind of a wild event and a great community builder. We're hoping to bring Douglas students, local artists and the whole community together to share our stuff, our talents and our collective desire to consume less and create more,” says Jillian Hull, a Douglas instructor and ArtsConnect board member.

“Everyone is welcome. In fact, since the event is really created by the people who participate in it, anyone who would like to volunteer for this event can connect with us,” Hull adds.

Swap-o-rama-rama is being held in the Main Atrium at the David Lam Campus of Douglas College, 1250 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, from 11am-4pm. To find out about volunteering or for more information on the event, contact Jillian Hull at hullj@douglas.bc.ca or Helen Daniels at info@artsconnect.ca Read more...

Find out about UT - and win $400 in tuition!

Thinking about transferring to UBC, SFU or another university? Douglas is hosting 2 university transfer information sessions next week where you can:

* Chat with representatives from SFU and UBC.
* Learn about Douglas' university transfer courses.
* Interact with Douglas professors.
* Talk to Douglas grads who have gone on to university.

Plus, you can enter for your chance to win $400 in tuition credits - there will be 3 prizes awarded at each session.

The David Lam Campus session takes place on Monday, March 8, 5 pm in Room A1470. The New Westminster Campus session takes place on Wednesday March 10, 5pm in Room 2203. See Campus Locations for driving, transit and parking information.

Questions? Contact the Office for New Students at 604-777-6095 or information@douglascollege.ca Read more...

Students wanted for Sun Run team

Runners always come in pairs, so grab a friend and come to the first Sun Run clinic next Wednesday at the New West Campus!

It’s a great opportunity for new runners and walkers to come have fun, keep fit and meet new people. The Douglas College Sun Run team meets on Wednesdays at 4pm starting on March 3 at the New West Campus Fitness Centre. Thursday sessions will be added, start date to be determined. If you're interested in a David Lam Campus running clinic, contact team captain Khalid Ahmed in the Centre for Campus Life at ahmedk@douglas.bc.ca Read more...

Intern gets her ‘Disney look’

By Bailey Chambers, Marketing Management

I’m now in Florida. I flew in Sunday (January 30) night and I’m totally split from everyone I was with in California. Some of them are in the same complex and others are in the other complexes 10 minutes away, but no one is the same building as me. I am now with five new girls, all from the States, but each is from a different state: Delaware (Hayley - my roommate) Texas and Oregon (Dani and Brandy - room next to us) Maryland and New York (Melissa and Anna - room on the other side of our apartment).

A new look
For the first few months, I’m working in the Animal Kingdom at Expedition Everest (a big rollercoaster) doing merchandise. Our third day here, we had something called traditions, which is just going over some general stuff about Disney and we got our name tags and our WDW cards (which gets us into the park for free and discounts everywhere else). Oh, and Disney has something called the Disney look - they could pick out too many colors in my hair so I am now a brunette for six months.

Earning my ears
We then started training and because I’m working in merchandise at Animal Kingdom I first have a class called DAKlimiation (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) and then Merchantainment (entertainment and merchandise - clever!). The costumes they give us suit the park and the themes...but not me. Thankfully, other people are wearing the same thing. My job consists of selling merchandise either in the Everest store or at one of the four outdoor carts either near Everest or in the “Asia” area.

I finished my training on Thursday, February 9, but I still have my “earning my ears” ribbon stuck to my name tag so people will continue to think that I don’t know absolutely everything about Disney.

Getting out and about
I have yet to explore the parks entirely. I’ve been to Magic Kingdom twice but only for a couple hours and I’ve been to Downtown Disney where I spent way too much. Over the next month I hope to visit the parks as much as possible and really get to know my way around there so I can act like an expert when my parents and aunt get here. In the next few months I hope to visit SeaWorld, a Cirque show and the water parks, as well as hopefully use my two days off (and request an extra one or two) for a visit to New York.

Bailey Chambers is one of the first Douglas students taking part in an internship at Disney. An information session for the next internship is being held on March 8 – see Work for the mouse for details.
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Follow the Douglas Badminton team online

Follow the Douglas Badminton team in their quest for the BCCAA championship and a spot in the CCAA national championship this Sunday.

The CCAA Live Game of the Week continues Sunday at 10am PST in CCAA Badminton. This week features the medal matches from the 2010 BCCAA Badminton Provincial Championships. Read more...

Work for the mouse

Attend info session on Disney internship

Find out more about how you can get hands-on experience at the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’: the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Info sessions
Disney and the University of California will be on both campuses on Monday, March 8.
David Lam Campus: 9:00am, room A2290
New West Campus: 2:00pm, room 1809

NOTE: Students from all faculties are encouraged to attend the info sessions on March 8. Currently, the internship is open to Commerce and Business Administration students only, but the college would like everyone to come along so it can gauge demand and adapt the program as needed.

Application process
Business students (except HORM) need to fill out a pre-screening application form - information and the form can be picked up at the Commerce and Business Field Base, room 4300 at the New West Campus or room A3030 at the David Lam Campus. Submit completed forms and documentation in hard copy by Tuesday, March 2 to the Commerce and Business Administration team at either campus.

Douglas College is offering this unique international experience in partnership with the University of California Riverside and Disney - click here to find out more. The Fall 2010 intake runs from July 4-December 31, 2010. Read more...

Douglas College torch bearer shares her experience

More than 500 Douglas students and employees lined the streets of New West to cheer on Bachelor of Business Administration student and Douglas College Olympic torch bearer Anna Solnickova.

An on-campus celebration followed, complete with trivia, Olympic dressing and jello-eating competitions. Anna returned the New West Campus, where she gave a speech, along with Sport Science instructor and former Olympian Brian Storey and Douglas President Scott McAlpine. Read on for Anna’s blog about the experience.

By Anna Solnickova
Douglas College torch bearer
Bachelor of Business Administration

February 9, 2010 – 11:24 pm

WOW - what an amazing day it has been! I can’t believe I carried the Olympic torch today! It’s all just starting to sink in as I look at the fingerprint-covered torch perched on my dining room table. I figure about 200 people touched the torch today and every single one of their faces is forever imprinted on my mind.

Finally having had the time to reflect back on it all, the whole experience was such a thrill. One of my absolutely favorite and most memorable moments from today is walking down 4th Street and seeing the huge sea of Douglas College people dressed in red, waving their flags. It meant so much to me that everyone took the time to come and cheer me on. Seeing all of the fans so excited made me even that much more emotional and grateful that I was chosen to represent Douglas College and the wonderful community we are so lucky to have. I was so proud to be a DC student and a Canadian in that moment.

As I was carrying the torch, hearing my name shouted by complete strangers, hundreds of people waving at me and cheering me on, I thought of Terry Fox and how he united Canada with his Marathon of Hope in 1980 and the power of the torch and the Olympics truly dawned on me. In that moment we were all united by the flame and Olympic spirit, strangers instantly became my friends and we all partook in an once-in-a-lifetime experience.



Coming back to the New Westminster campus was yet another surreal experience. I couldn’t even walk across the concourse without being immediately surrounded by students and staff who wanted to take photos with the torch. The energy of everyone there was absolutely phenomenal and made an already incredible day even that much more special.

Thank you so much for your support everyone! A tremendous thanks to Terry Fox for his selflessness and determination for it saved my leg and life. And special thanks to my family who have always been there for me and shaped me into the person I am today – I couldn’t have done any of this without your love and encouragement. Read more...

Douglas birders dominate Seattle Open

By Al Mawani,
Badminton Coach

The Douglas College badminton team and the Shuttlesport Junior team – both part of the Shuttlesport Douglas College Badminton Academy – played in the Seattle Open this past weekend. The Senior team put on quite a show, winning 4 of the 5 events.

In the most exciting match of the tournament, KaiLai Zhang defeated teammate Richard Liang in three hard-fought, intense games. This was KaiLai's first international win.

In the Women's Singles, RuiLin Huang showed her class by dominating and winning the event without dropping a game. She was in full control throughout the final, defeating USA's Renata Baker 21-8, 21-4.

Stephanie Ko led the team with 2 wins. She partnered with Alvin Lau to defeat teammates Darren Hong and Melody Liang in the Mixed Doubles final, then teamed up with Melody to win the Women's Doubles event.

The only loss was in the Men's Doubles event where Alvin and Darren lost to former World Champions Tony Gunawan and Howard Bach from the USA. Alvin and Darren put on quite a show for the large crowd against the two Americans but eventually lost 21-15 and 21-16.

The Shuttlesport Juniors also put in a fine effort with Jacky Chan (aged 15) and Alex Wong (aged 14) winning the consolation event in the Men's Doubles.

In all, 22 players traveled to Seattle from the Shuttlesport Douglas College Badminton Academy. Read more...