Nikalas Kryzanowski, News Editor news @theotherpress.ca . Nikalas ee Staples, Kryzanowski president of the news editor Rideau Institute on International Affairs and founder of Ceasefire, an associated advocacy group, was in the Lower Mainland last week for a talk on the future of Canada after departure of George Bush from the office of president. He has been on an 18-city whirlwind tour of Canada, Visiting five provinces in the last five weeks with the intention of discussing the future of world affairs from a left- leaning Canadian perspective. Speaking to a few dozen faithful at the Unitarian church on 49" Ave. in Vancouver, Staples was hoping to motivate. “We're here to mark the political moment; people are concerned about the economy, about the environment and climate change. We’d like to figure out how to push the government to inspire change,” he said in an interview. He made it clear that part of his intention was to hold Stephen Harper’s feet to the fire. “The US had a tremendous Ashley Whillans, Associate News Editor associate @theotherpress.ca campaign of historical proportions and up here in Canada there was an election for no apparent reason.” Staples speculated that election was actually called early because of a sense of the impending change in the US political landscape; he believes that if Canadians had seen Obama get elected down south as a “change candidate,” they might be sparked into similar change up here and that that was Harper’s ultimate reason for calling the election when he did. “Harper is going to be extremely lonely,” said Staples. “The club of conservative leaders is dwindling with the changes in Australia, England and the US. Now Harper is the last one standing. Canada is going to have to play a catch-up role over the next few years.” Groups affiliated with Ceasefire, including the Council of Canadians and the World Federalist Movement, were on hand to push their campaigns against private health care and for the creation of federated world much like the European Union, respectively. Stephen Staples of the Rideau Institute and Ceasefire Douglas College recognizes scholarship students By Ashley Whillans, Associate News Editor Alison ae CE Oo Hospital, and last year she participated in a volunteer program in Ghana. Conscientious and A: the Douglas College Council’s monthly staff meeting on Thursday, November 20", two students, Alison Inglis and April Taylor, were recognized for their scholastic and community achievement. The board was honouring both Inglis and Taylor for their local, national and international successes, as well as awarding the students with two prestigious scholarships. Inglis, a third-year nursing student, was awarded the Canadian Millennium Scholarship worth $4000 for her volunteer and extracurricular work in both Canada and Ghana. She was one out of only 200 students nationally to receive a Millennium Scholarship Award in her category. A transfer student from S.F.U., Inglis was noted as a remarkably focused and committed student, averaging a 3.97 G-P.A. while volunteering extensively, and working part-time. In the community she volunteers with the Eagle Ridge Hospital Extended Ward and Children’s committed, the council was very pleased to honour her achievements. Taylor was honoured not only for her work as a class representative for CYCC, a PRIDE member, or panel speaker, but also for making the Dean’s List at Douglas College this year. Murphy stated, “She is a leader, and a genuine and humble person. The other students look to up to her for direction, and look up to her honesty and humanity.” Both students were excited, and honoured to attend the event, and were made to feel welcome by all in attendance. As Andrew Taylor, the board president said proudly, “It is through the excellence of our students, that the importance of our college is best expressed.”