Have an idea for a story? Let us know! Contact: Mercedes Deutscher, News Editor Minews@theotherpress.ca (¥ Anew generation of leaders (Y Syrian refugee crisis increasing in severity (¥ Former Mayor of New Westminster passes away And more! Polls show a tight race among party candidates » A recap of week six in Canada’s 42nd Federal Election Mercedes Deutscher News Editor © news@theotherpress.ca he race for Canada’s next government proved to be closer than ever this week. On September u, the CBC poll tracker detected the NDP leading with 32 per cent of voter support. Second in the polls was the Liberal Party with 29.8 per cent, and the Conservatives were only a fraction of a per cent behind at 29.7 percent of the popular vote. The Conservative Party recently has received a surge in support with the emergence of the Syrian refugee crisis. According to the Toronto Star, the Conservatives received the warmest reception to their approach on the crisis with 24 per cent of popular support. The aforementioned approach would involve bringing in around 10,000 Syrian refugees within the next two years. Meanwhile, the NDP wishes to bring in those 10,000 refugees by the end of the year and even more refugees in the future. : The Liberal Party expressed : their goal of sponsoring 25,000 : refugees to come to Canada by : January. When polled by The Forum : Poll about the refugee crisis, 30 : per cent of Canadians agree with : : welcoming a 10,000 person total : : of Syrian refugees, while 41 per : cent of Canadians supporting : bringing in up to 100,000 : refugees. Week six of the election has : also been a week of controversial ! : content, on social media, : : in particular. Jerry Bance, a : Conservative candidate from : Scarborough-Rouge Park, has : been dropped from the race : after a 2012 video of Bance : emerged that depicts him, then : employed as an appliance service : technician, urinating into a : coffee mug that belonged to a : client. In a similar happening, : Tim Dutaud, from Toronto- : Danforth, has resigned from his : candidacy some videos surfaced : that show him conducting prank : : calls—one of which included : him posing as a disabled person. In response to the : candidates’ behavior, Prime : Minister Stephen Harper told : acrowd and CTV that “We : expect the highest standards of : our candidates, and that’s why : these individuals are no longer : candidates” Meanwhile, both the NDP : and the Liberal Party have been : pushing a platform that will : involve youth employment. The : Liberal Party has pledged to : spend $1.5 billion to help young : people find work, whether by : creating new jobs, or providing : employment assistance : programs. The NDP are pledging : $200 million to go toward the : creation of up to 40,000 jobs for : young adults, and to address the : issue of unpaid internships. In other election-related : news, Canadians who are : looking to vote early can begin : doing so immediately. There will Image via MacLeans : now be 400 Elections Canada : offices that voters may step into : and cast their votes any day of : the week. On weekdays, these : offices are open from 9 a.m. to 9 : p.m. As for weekends, advanced : voters can go vote on Saturdays : from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or on : Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. : Voters must come with personal : identification that includes a : home address. A new generation of leaders » Spotlight on Douglas College’s Student Ambassadors Mercedes Deutscher News Editor © news@theotherpress.ca hroughout August and early September, several events have taken place at Douglas College, such as New Student Orientation and the Week of Welcome. These events, among the Student Ambassadors. Operating under the Office for New Students, the Student Ambassadors are the largest leadership organization on campus. They take on leadership positions to help new students environment and community. Some of the skills learned Ambassadors include public speaking and event planning. Aside from work on campus, the Student Ambassadors enjoy time amongst themselves : through the use of socials and : outings. When asked what the most : rewarding part of the Student : Ambassador Program was, : Kim Paris, who supervises the : ambassadors, explained that it is : rewarding “seeing the friendships : that grow out of the Ambassador : program.” many others throughout the year, : are done so with the assistance of and laughing, and having a great > time.” “They’re always smiling, Paris explains that many : of the people who come into : the Student Ambassadors are : generally new students, shy, or : not previously involved around : the campus. However, upon transition into college life, as well : leaving the program, these as help create an exciting campus : students are seen as leaders : within the Douglas College pen : community. and developed within the Student : Some alumni of the : program have had interesting : opportunities after their time : with the Student Ambassadors. “We have students who es : are going to Uganda. We have : students who have gotten some : really great job offers...” Paris : describes. “There’s some cool : transitions to see them as timid, : shy students, and then... they’re : pretty confident and have some : great leadership skills.” The Student Ambassadors : recruit new members at the : beginning of each semester. For : the current semester, they will : be recruiting until the end of : September. Interested students : can apply online, and selected : applicants will be selected for Image via thinkstock : group interviews that involve : scenario and teamwork exercises. : From there, those hired out of the : interviews will join the program, : and attend socials that will help : integrate them into the existing : group of ambassadors.