issue 7// vol 45

Beyond the blues

» Mental health awareness comes to Douglas College

Tania Arora
Staff Reporter

 

yu. likely met someone or are
someone who is affected by mental
illness. According to the Canadian Mental
Health Association’s website, one in five
Canadians are afflicted with mental health
problems or illnesses. To help address this
issue and in the wake of Mental Health
Day, Douglas College organized the
therapeutic event “Beyond the Blues” on
October 10 at New Westminster campus
and October u at Coquitlam campus. The
event aimed to spread awareness about the
issues of mental health and to give people
ways to deal with them.

The event presented the ultimate
opportunity to relax, with coffee, animals,
mental health self-tests, a lot of knowledge,
paintbrush sessions, anti-stress bags, and
more. Like every semester, there was a huge
lineup of students coming to grab a hot
drink and take some love and pampering
in return. Stalls were set up to create
anti-stress bags of your own and paint
your heart out. Students enthusiastically
participated in each one of them.

Student life is full of many different
expectations that pile up—assignments,
job, decisions, midterms, and final exams,
to name a few. One solution to the stress
building up may be a living fur ball: Present
at the event were the volunteers for the
Pacific Assistance Dogs Society (PADS).

PADS is certified in training dogs for
professional requirements or people with
disabilities. The volunteers aid with the
responsibility of training these assistance
dogs. In an interview with the Other Press,
Lurline Langbell, who is an avid volunteer
with PADS, said, “These dogs within a span
of two years are taught up to 37 commands.
From turning off the lights to helping you
dress up, they can do everything” The
retired women had a six-month-old dog
named Jewel with her, a Black Labrador
from California.

The relationship between animals and
human beings has existed for thousands of
years, offering both companionship and in
some cases, therapy.

According to the 2017 annual report
of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights, and reports of the
Office of the High Commissioner and the
Secretary-General, “The current estimates

 

are that mental health
conditions will affect
one in four people
throughout their
lifetime. However,
nearly two thirds of
persons with mental
health conditions will
not seek treatment
for their condition.
Persons with
mental conditions
also experience
disproportionately
higher rates of poor
physical health for a
variety of reasons.”
Dogs, who appear to be the most
receptive to being therapeutic pets in
the animal kingdom, ask for nothing in
exchange for the love and affection they
provide. According to the National Center
for Biotechnology Information’s report
The Buffer Effect of Therapy Dog Exposure
on Stress Reactivity in Undergraduate
Students, “Research has shown that
the presence of one’s pet during stress
induction may buffer physiological
reactivity. Previous research also shows

 

news // no. 5

Photo via Douglas Students’ Union on Facebook

that exposure to a therapy dog can have
beneficial effects in patient populations
and can modulate physiological indices of
stress such as blood pressure and cortisol.”

Douglas College also set up a booth
to share information about exercises to
cope up with mental illness. Due to the
prevalence of mental health issues and
the need for increased dialogue, many
organizations, colleges, and universities
have started to come up with such sessions,
events, or therapies.

BC's LNG sector enters a new phase

>» BC government announces $40 billion investment in natural gas

Naomi Ambrose
Staff Writer

 

Bes Columbia's liquefied natural
gas (LNG) sector has gotten a new
economic boost.

According to a recent press release
from the BC Office of the Premier, British
Columbia’s LNG sector receivedt a $40
billion investment from LNG Canada. The
investment will go towards a natural gas
pipeline built in northeast BC that leads to
Kitimat. LNG Canada will spearhead the
project and will sell LNG to Asian markets,
which is expected to generate $24 billion in
British Columbia from investments.

Premier John Horgan said in the
press release that the project will balance
interests in the province.

“Today’s decision by LNG Canada to
invest in northern BC demonstrates that

 

balancing our economic, environmental,
and reconciliation priorities is possible,”
he said. “Tt’s a balance that will benefit
the people of BC as we build a cleaner
economy.”

LNG Canada stated in a press release
who the LNG Canada project participants
are.

According to the release, the
“venture participants—Shell, PETRONAS,
PetroChina, Mitsubishi Corporation and
KOGAS—have taken a Final Investment
Decision (FID) to build the LNG Canada
export facility in Kitimat, British Columbia,
in the traditional territory of the Haisla
Nation.”

The LNG Canada press release
also included information about the
distribution of responsibilities among the
LNG Canada project participants. “Each
joint venture participant will be responsible
to provide its own natural gas supply and

will individually offtake and market its
share of LNG. The FID is for two processing
units or ‘trains, with first LNG expected
before the middle of the next decade,” said
the release.

With regards to the economic activity
that is expected to be generated from the
investment, the Office of the Premier
stated that over 40 years, $23 billion in
public revenue should be generated.
Moreover, up to 10,000 jobs are expected to
be created during construction and up to
950 permanent jobs will be created when
operations begin.

The BC Premier's Office also
included perspectives about the project’s
significance for First Nations, particularly
the Haisla Nation, in whose territory the
pipeline will be built.

According to the release, the First
Nations are partners with the project. The
release further stated that “project partners

have reached agreements with elected
First Nations at the project site and along
the pipeline route.” Neither the Office

of the Premier's press release nor LNG
Canada’s specified whether these project
partners were from LNG Canada or the BC
government.

However, Karen Ogen-Toews, the First
Nations LNG Alliance CEO, shared some
insights.

“This [project] is great news for the BC
economy, for Canada, and for First Nations
in BC, said Ogen-Toews in a statement
within the Office of the Premier's press
release. “Responsible LNG development
means real benefits for Indigenous peoples
and communities, long-term careers and
reliable revenue to help First Nations close
the economic gap between their members
and other Canadians.”

The start date for the project was not
specified in the releases.

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