New approach to Earth Week at Dawson
April 10th, 2024
Earth Week celebrations will look a little different this year. That鈥檚 because the Office of Sustainability would like to offer the Dawson community opportunities to celebrate Earth Week throughout the academic year. In the past few weeks, the team organized a variety of activities for employees and students, including a bike prep workshop and salsa dance breaks.
From April 16-25, there are many opportunities for you to learn and reconnect with people, community and Nature!
There will be garden dig-in workshops, Living Campus Tours and much more.听To see the full offering and to sign up, please use this .
Other events include:
- Eco-friendly Vendors Market Monday-Friday, April 15-19 (Lower Atrium)
- Pop-up Eco-Cafe Monday-Friday, April 22-26, will sell fair trade coffee, tea and other treats to raise funds for our Living Campus student-driven initiatives and projects (Conrod's)
- Foodie Fest Tuesday and Wednesday, April 23 & 24 (Conrod's)
Take part in the worldwide BioBlitz at Dawson April 29
April 10th, 2024
People around the world will be participating in a four-day BioBlitz April 26-29, including students, staff, alumni, retirees, friends and neighbours of Dawson on Monday, April 29. Take a break and drop by the Peace Garden at Dawson anytime between 3 PM and 6 PM on April 29. This global BioBlitz is part of the .
Photo by Doug Smyth
Visit the link for the homepage news story and invite your friends and family to join you at Dawson on April 29!
Tom of Dawson is species #826 identified on campus
April 10th, 2024
On April 9, 1,000 Species project coordinator and Biology faculty member Brian Mader鈥檚 phone started lighting up with messages from the Dawson community.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a turkey at Dawson!鈥� was the gist of his 30+ messages.
The turkey was seen by many staff and students and was entered into the 1,000 Species in 1,000 Days official count on t.
Brian is not surprised that a turkey showed up on campus since many have been spotted in Westmount. 鈥淢aybe he was looking for more turkeys,鈥� he speculated. 鈥淭hey nest around this time of year but in groups.鈥�
The lone Dawson turkey was thought to be a male, also known as a tom or a gobbler. He was spotted near the theatre garden, on the roof and in one of the rooftop gardens.
鈥淚f you see the turkey, like all wildlife, give it space and respect,鈥� Brian advised. 鈥淎nd please do not feed the turkey!鈥�
Last month, the City of Westmount issued an advisory to residents saying that 鈥渨ild turkeys are being spotted more regularly in Westmount,鈥� and said that residents should not approach them or feed them.
Insect Show a Huge Success!
April 9th, 2024
On March 9, Dawson was host to the Montreal Insect Show. We had 3,000 visitors from the public visit Dawson during the day, including over 50 vendors. Families were overjoyed to be able to hold live insects and arachnids, take a walk with moths, taste test different insect-based food items and browse the various vendors. In fact, I personally have pet shrimp in my home thanks to the curiosity of my daughter. The organizers are currently in talks with the Office of Sustainability to plan for 2025.听
A very special thank you to the entire Office of Sustainability, Natalie Trepanier and FAMA as well as Dawson Security for making this happen. Also, all our student volunteers were amazing with the crowds and represented Dawson well. Student volunteers were mainly first-year, second-year and alumni Environmental Science students; Jared Brace, Jacob Davies, Flora Finch, Imane Louni, Sabina Riga, Cassiana Silva Young, Amelia Valencia Frias, Ruisi Yang, Narcisse Hassan, Tom Brunet, Alyson Meadows, Alice Liang and Chemistry teacher Adamo Petosa.
Some of our treasured trees must be cut
March 4th, 2024
After an extensive review of all trees on the Dawson grounds by forestry consultants, the College is presently securing permits from the City of Westmount to cut some of them.
鈥淢any of our trees have suffered injuries and disease that have weakened them to the point where they are at a high risk of breaking. Others, like our large silver maples are reaching their age limit,鈥� explained Luc St-Germain of Facilities Management.
About a dozen trees will have to be cut immediately, with another 30-35 being monitored during the next 12-24 months.
All trees have been thinned in the past to allow severe wind to pass through them. Chris Adam, of the Office of Sustainability, says that wind and ice related storms are more common now and causing damage.
The Facilities Management Team and the Office of Sustainability are cooperating to establish Dawson鈥檚 first tree management program. Every tree will have a health card that identifies their species, age and diseases as well as any maintenance procedures taken. Each tree will be followed by forest management consultants.
Stay tuned for more news about the trees of our Living Campus.
25 participants at first monthly wellness activity
March 1st, 2024
On Feb. 28, 25 members of the Dawson community, mostly students, responded to the invitation of the Office of Sustainability to take part in the first monthly wellness event.
It was beautiful weather, so they went outdoors for part of the Biophilic Tour of Dawson. 鈥淛enn de Vera gave a tour of some of the many wonderful student driven projects that are a part of our Living Campus,鈥� Sophie La Font reported.
The indoor portion showcased the many ways we have incorporated the theory of Biophilia* at 星空传媒视频. The activity concluded with planting a baby spider plant that participants could take with them as a gift.
The March wellness activity took place on March 7 and was a panel discussion with Elder and Knowledge Keeper, Niioie:ren Patton听&听Concordia's Sustainability Living Lab Coordinator,听Sandra Mouafo Nouadje.
*The biophilia hypothesis is the belief that humans are genetically predisposed to be attracted to Nature. It states that all humans inherently love the natural world. This idea that we are drawn to and need Nature was first put forth by a man named听Edward O. Wilson听in his book, Biophilia, published in 1984.
February 21st, 2024
Physical education teacher and photographer Doug Smyth spotted an Eastern Screech Owl at Dawson on Monday, Feb. 19. 鈥淭his is the second time a screech owl has been seen on campus,鈥� said Brian Mader, project lead for the 1,000 Species in 1,000 Days initiative and a biology teacher. 鈥淥ne was spotted mid-April last year by…
Free meals three days a week
February 7th, 2024
The Office of Sustainability, the听Peace Centre, and the Dawson Student Union are thrilled to announce a new food justice initiative听to expand access to food security for students and employees during the Winter 2024 semester.
Beginning on Tuesday, Feb. 13, Dawson Dining will be offered two days every week, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, as a collaboration between the Office of Sustainability and the Dawson Student Union. This service will end on May 22. Students and employees can drop off their labelled containers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays by 11 AM at Conrod鈥檚 (2F). All meals are vegan and zero-waste (90 per cent of waste will be diverted from a landfill).
As of Thursday, Feb. 15, the Peace Centre, under the auspices of the Office of Sustainability, will offer free Early Bird Breakfast to the Dawson community on a first come, first served basis. This will continue every Thursday at 10 AM in Conrod's (2F) for the winter 2024 semester. All meals will be clearly indicated vegetarian or vegan and will also be zero-waste. The service will end May 23.
(also available in the cafeteria to reduce our waste) will be provided to students that can be returned to the Cano dispensers near the cafeteria.
If you would like to help out with the meal services, please email Diana Rice, who says: 鈥淭his is a wonderful way to meet new colleagues, get to know the students we work so hard for every day, and just feel good about being of service."
Winter Wellness Series launches Feb. 27
February 7th, 2024
The Peace and Sustainability Winter Wellness Series will launch on Tuesday, Feb. 27 with a Living Campus biophilic tour and a hands-on indoor gardening workshop. All participants will receive a house plant!
The plan is to offer a wellness workshop/event each month of the semester.
To participate in the Feb. 27 workshop, which will take place from 12 PM to 1 PM, you must register.
1,000 Species, a year in review
November 29th, 2023
Birds, beetles and fungi, oh my! Our 1,000 Species in 1,000 Days project has been running for a full year now.
Over that last year, students, faculty and staff have all contributed their talents and curiosity to get as many species identified on campus as possible. Our count after one year is 820 species, with 3,916 total observations and 279 people contributing to the project.
We have made amazing strides over the past year. However, as we approach 1,000 species, we will have to work harder than ever. If you would like to get involved, or get your classes involved in the spring, email bmader@dawsoncollege.qc.ca.
Happy identifying听 everyone!
Photo: Red Milkweed Beetle on milkweed.
Submitted by Brian Mader, Faculty, Biology
« Previous
1
2
3
4
5
…
11
Next »
Last Modified: April 10, 2024
