[Uvic-sustainability] News and Events for week of Oct 20th

Details: Published on Monday, 20 October 2014 13:00; Written by editor

NEWS

The winners of UVic's first Sustainability Photo Contest have been announced! Students, staff and faculty were asked to submit campus photos under one of the following themes: Wonders, Challenges and Solutions. Photos were narrowed down to four finalists in each category by a group of judges. These photos were placed on the Martlet website for open voting by the campus community. Our winners are:

Wonders Category:

Winner – Don Fleming for “Morning Pause”

Runner Up – Amanda Bluck for “Leaf in Drainage Pond”

Challenges Category:

Winner – Megan Nell for “Share the Air Bench”

Runner Up – Dave Norwell for “Butts”

Solutions Category:

Winner – Asa Bluck for “Transportation”

Runner Up – Elizabeth Stevenson for “One Choice”

Photos can be viewed on our Facebook page.

And the winner of the new bike is first year student Elise Pullar! Elise... was one of over 40 people who attended the Cycling Safety Seminar on Bike to Campus Day, Oct 8th.

UVic's bi-annual traffic audit counts take place this week, Oct 20th to 24th. Be on the lookout for counters taking stock of the number of people arriving and leaving campus via various modes of transportation including bike, walking and single occupancy vehicles. HINT: It's a good week to ride your bike and be included in the bike counts! You can view the results of our previous traffic audits here.

UVic’s Ocean Networks Canada has been in the news a lot lately for a couple of its initiatives to study and protect our oceans. The federal government is pledging $20 million to fund the Smart Oceans Initiative to help create a “world-class tanker safety system” by providing real-time sea condition information from severe weather, earthquakes and tsunamis. See Times Colonist. Also, researcher Jay Cullen has been interviewed by various media outlets about his project to engage hundreds of volunteer “citizen scientists” to help collect data offshore to monitor low-level radiation from the Fukushima Daiiichi disaster. See CHEK.

The $8 billion controversial Site C mega-dam proposal was granted environmental assessment approval last week by the federal and provincial governments who stated the benefits to the “public interest” outweighed the significant environmental, social and heritage impacts posed by flooding 83 kilometers of the Peace River valley. See CBC. However, the decision will likely be challenged by First Nations in court. See Globe & Mail. At the same time, a group representing renewable power generation firms in BC says the province’s future power needs can be met with small scale renewable energy which will also save money in the long run. See The Province. The BC government is expected to give final approval, or not, next year.

EVENTS

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR BEHAVIOUR CHANGE
Oct 20th, 7 to 8:30 PM, First Metropolitan United Church, 932 Balmoral Road
The BCSEA hosts Heather Bauer, behaviour change specialist most recently with the BC Climate Action Secretariat. See BCSEA website for more info.

FUNDRAISER FOR GRACE ISLET RESISTANCE

Oct 21st, 6 to 10 PM, Lacy Lou's Tapas Lounge, 1320 Broad Street

Event that includes music, poetry and silent auction to raise money for legal expenses, research, public outreach and continuing First Nations presence and activities to protect Grace Islet from development. Contact Meg Tronson, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LAKES IN GARRY OAK ECOSYSTEMS
Oct 23rd, 7 to 8:30 PM, UVic Campus
Continuing Studies Restoration Program hosts a public talk about how two local Garry Oak ecosystems with introduced water bodies have created unique spaces for wildlife. See website for more info and to register.

ANOTHER POLITICS: TALKING ACROSS TODAY'S TRANSFORMATIVE MOVEMENTS
Oct 23rd, 4 PM, Clearihue C112
Learn how a new breed of activists are working together to build “another politics,” that combine anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist, anti-oppression politics with grassroots organizing among ordinary, non-activist people. Drawing on interviews with organizers across North America, this presentation will explore another politics and distill lessons for building effective, visionary movements. See Facebook for more info.

GREEN MINDS: A WORKSHOP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATORS
Oct 24th 9:30 AM to 4 PM, Cadboro Commons Building, UVic Campus

In this Pro-D workshop—offered jointly by UVic and the CRD—you’ll have an opportunity to meet and network with local environmental educators, and talk about the best ways to empower elementary-aged children to be environmentally responsible. $25 early bird and $35 regular, plus GST. See website for more info and to register.

ANDREW WEAVER TOWNHALL MEETING
Oct 28th, 7 to 8:30 PM, David Turpin (DTB), A120
Join MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head for an update on what's happening in the BC Legislature this fall and ask questions. See Facebook for more details.

Rita Fromholt

Sustainability Coordinator

Office of Campus Planning & Sustainability

University of Victoria

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