|
News.

La Nina set to make an appearance

Urban sustainability

 

 

Cold winter on the way

ee - Z a

By Eric Wilkins, Staff Writer

he Lower Mainland had its
| first snowfall of the year last
week, and if meteorologists
are to be believed, there are plenty
more on the way. The reasoning
behind the meteorologists’
prediction: this is a La Nina year.

La Nina is a naturally
occurring phenomenon that takes
place in the subsurface waters of
the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
Under normal conditions, trade
winds push warm water westward,
and the result is an upwell of cold
water along the South American
coast. However, due to unknown
causes, every three to five years
(though sometimes as separated
as two to 10 years) the prevailing
trade winds are stronger than
normal and carry on for longer.
The effect of this extended wind
is an increase in the cold water
build-up along the South American
coast. The temperature of the water
can drop as much as three to four
degrees. These changes, in turn,
alter the jet stream, which proceeds
to create anomalies in the regular
location and intensity of storm
paths. The outcome of all this is a
much harsher winter for Canada.

What does this mean for us
Vancouverites? It will be a very

   

i hati *
@ Photp by Tommy Chen

cold winter. Conservative estimates
for the temperature drop are one

to two degrees below the normal
winter temperature, but it may go
as low as four degrees. In the ‘90s,
Ontario experienced a severe seven
degree drop from their normal
temperature, but BC will hopefully
avoid this extreme. It is expected
that there will be generous
amounts of snow to accompany the
frigid weather this year.

In case of extreme snowfall,
students should check Douglas
College’s website (www.douglas.
be.ca), Twitter (twitter.com /
douglascollege), Facebook (www.
facebook.com/douglascollege), or
phone in to the information line
(1-877-679-0823). In the event of a
closure, there will be a broadcast on
CBC 690AM, CKWX 1130AM, and
CKNW 980AM.

 

PREPARE

 

Ensure that appropriate winter
clothing is handy, and if you are
a driver, make the worthwhile
purchase of winter tires to safeguard
your safety. For the sake of comfort,
it is also a good idea to insulate
your household, or at least seal any
noticeable cracks or openings.

 

 

Vancouver Convention Centre’s ‘living roof’ is the greenest in the city

By Maria Asselin-Roy,
News Editor

he roof of the Vancouver
; Convention Centre at
Waterfront is no! like any
other man-made steel, wood,
or cement roof in the city. It is
completely unique in the sense
that the entire 2.4-hectare roof is
a thriving micro ecosystem. This
“green roof” began three years
ago, and it is still the largest green
roof in Canada today. Although
some claim the roof looks more like
an overgrown brown jungle, it is
actually thriving with life and is
helping to sustain the environment
whilst living in an urban economy.
The roof is trimmed once a
year and, due to the immense

Vancouver’s most sustainable roof.

Many of the environmental
problems today (global warming,
air pollution, etc) can be traced
back to large cities and the lifestyle
choices people make. According
to Sustainable Cities International,
urban population levels are at an
all time high and with that, urban
environmental management is
becoming progressively important.
Since urban areas require assistance
from other ecosystems to thrive, the
destruction of natural ecosystems
is what made the urban population
come to be.

Although it’s virtually
impossible to stop the use of other
ecosystems to contribute to our
own—we can make a difference
in our carbon footprint by using

“Although some claim the roof looks more like an overgrown
brown jungle, it is actually thriving with life and is helping to
sustain the environment whilst living in an urban economy.”

size, the trim takes about a week
to complete. Maintenance crews
look for invasive species to ensure
the naturally occurring plants

and animals are not disturbed.
Currently, there are 25 different
plant species that have flourished
on the roof, which is far more than
was originally thought. The roof
is also home to several birds and
insects, four active beehives, and
some field mice. Some of the plants,
such as the aster, have grown to
be over eight feet tall. The aster,
for example, has been an excellent
source of food for the beehives. This
year, the four beehives produced
over 120 pounds of honey. The
honey is then used in the kitchen
of the Convention Centre, and the
remaining honey is then jarred
and sold for promotional use of

the example of the Vancouver
Convention Centre. Rooftop or
home gardens that allow natural
plants to grow will immensely help
the air and naturally occurring
species. Even supporting local
farmers by buying local crops, milk
products, and meat exceptionally
contribute to living sustainably.
There is plenty of information on
this topic to be found online. Some
example are www.sacgardens.org
and www.greenr.ca.

 

 

TESL program offered at David Lam campus next semester

By Maria Asselin-Roy,
News Editor

n the winter of 2012, Douglas
[case will be again offering
the popular TESL program

at the David Lam campus in
Coquitlam.

TESL stands for Teaching
English as a Second Language, and
the program prepares students for
careers in tutoring, teaching, and
leadership both abroad and in the
Lower Mainland (where there are
employment opportunities due
to adult immigrants from foreign
countries in need of English
assistance). The TESL program
4

prepares graduates to teaching
English overseas, to participate in
international volunteer projects, to
tutor conversation lessons to both
individuals and small groups in
Canada, to tutor new immigrants

addition to the program courses,
TESL students also take a 30-hour
practicum; students spend 10
hours tutoring Douglas College
students and 20 hours teaching in
ESL classrooms at various language

“,..the program prepares students for careers in tutoring, teaching,
and leadership both abroad and in the Lower Mainland...”

in community centres and non-
profit organizations, and to teach
in private language schools and
organizations.

The TESL program is
intensive—15 credits are completed
in one 13.5-week semester. In

schools and programs around the
Lower Mainland.

The program is recognized
by TESL Canada, which allows
Douglas College TESL graduates
to obtain professional certification
once they have completed a

bachelor’s degree (which can be
obtained either before or after the
TESL program).

Space in the program—which
is not offered every semester—is
limited.

Information sessions for the
TESL program will be held on
December 1 at the New West
Campus in room 2201 at 5 p.m. and
on December 6 in the small cafeteria
at the David Lam campus at 5
p-m. For more information, Julia
Robinson (program coordinator) at
TESLinfo@douglascollege.ca