issue 09 / volume 41 BC minimum wage set to increase by $0.20 » Federation of Labour president calls decision ‘pathetic’ Angela Espinoza News Editor Mi news 5 ' @theotherpress.ca wage from $10.25 to $10.45 was announced on March 12. The 20-cent change will be implemented beginning in September, and is the first of a new initiative that will see increases to minimum wage each year starting September 2016. The idea behind the yearly inflation. This is the first time minimum wage has been changed in BC since May 1, 2012, from $9.50 to the current $10.25. Increases to BC’s minimum wage have occurred several times since 2011, when the set $8 per hour—the lowest in Canada at the time—was gradually improved from its 10-year freeze. : poverty and that is terrible : and so the minimum wage will wage raise, with the president of : counteract that to some degree if : Many have criticized the : BC’s Federation of Labour, Irene : Lanzinger, telling CBC, “Ithink : : the government’s announcement : : was pathetic and inadequate. It : won't deal with the hundreds of : thousands of people who work . bee : n increase to BC’s minimum : full-time and live in poverty.” There have been calls for : BC’s minimum wage to be raised to $15 per hour, following : Seattle’s decision to implement : the raise beginning April 1. A : “Fight for $15” movement, which : has chapters throughout North : America, began a petition, : which as of March 14 has gained wage raise is to adjust minimum : nearly 23,000 signatures out of a wage accordingly with the rate of : goal of 30,000 for BC alone. Concerns over the 20-cent “We lead the country in : increase have primarily focussed : | i-” : on the number not being high : enough to meet minimum when minimum wage was raised: living costs in the province. In : a statement made in November : 2014, Lanzinger said, “We are : seeing a growing gap between : rich and poor and a lot of : poverty in British Columbia. : we raise it to $15.” Premier Christy Clark has : addressed the concept of a ? $15-minimum wage, on Marchu : : stating publicly that the increase : would be detrimental to smaller : business throughout BC. On March 12, the Shift, : a Seattle-based online news website, published an article stating that a number of Seattle- : based restaurants had recently : closed their doors due to not : being able to pay staff $15 per hour while also keeping their businesses open. The Shift : shared the Washington Policy : Center’s statement that “dozens” : of staff have since lost work as : aresult of the upcoming wage news // 5 : increase. In Canada, Ontario and Nunavut currently have the : highest minimum wages, set : at $u per hour. The Northwest : Territories currently has the : lowest minimum wage at $10 per : hour, but that will be increasing : to $12.50 in June. Student Engagement Awards return to Douglas » Campus Life prepares for annual evening of student, faculty recognition Mercedes Deutscher Staff Writer reparations for the 2015 Douglas College Student Engagement Awards are underway, and are being organized by Campus Life. “Student engagement is the amount of time and energy that students put into their experience here at the college, student engagement manager for Campus Life. The Student Engagement Awards are held annually and are dedicated to recognizing the achievements of students throughout both Douglas College campuses. This year’s event will take place on April 9 Westminster. There are five awards distributed to a nominated student from each category. Leader of the Year is rewarded in recognition of a student who shows exceptional leadership : toward their academics and : community. The Campus : Engagement Award recognizes : a positive student who has : contributed to campus culture, : while the Community Builder : of the Year award recognizes : the efforts ofa student who has: : effectively demonstrated college : : values and has engaged with : ; the community outside of both ; campuses. The Outstanding : Student Group Leader Award : is given to a student who holds : a prominent role in a Douglas be it in the classroom, outside of : College organization. The the classroom, ora combination : Kickstarter Award is given of both,” said Erin Biddlecombe, : in recognition of a student ee : who has demonstrated strong : initiative in either their campus : or community. ast years’ S' tudent Engagement Awards via douglife.ca efforts made by a specific faculty Biddlecombe also explained Students are encouraged to However, two new awards : have been created to recognize : the role of faculty members : at Douglas. Outstanding : Contribution to Student : Engagement by a Faculty at the La Perla Ballroom in New : o¢ Staff Member awards an : employee of the college who has: : improved student life through : tools such as mentorship : and advising. Outstanding : Contribution to Student : Engagement by a College : Department recognizes the : toward student engagement in : the college. : Nominations for the awards : : closed on March 6, and the : selection committee is in the : process of selecting this year’s : winners. “It’s going to be very : hard for the decision making : committee to decide on our : winners because there are a lot : of really great students who : have been nominated,” said Biddlecombe. : that the Student Engagement : Awards have a higher purpose than to recognize specific : students. The awards are : meant to inspire other students : and faculty to become better engaged in campus life. “The goal of the event is : part of an overall strategy that’s : connected to the college’s : strategic plan ... to make sure : Douglas College is the most : student-engaged campus in Canada.” : attend the Student Engagement : Awards, which will include : dinner, the awards ceremony, : aspeech from president of : Douglas College Kathy Denton, : anda keynote presentation from : local author Meghan Williams. : Admission costs $10 for students : and $30 for non-students. The March 31 panel forum will be in room 2201 from 4:30 to : 6 p.m. with displays and booths : operating in the concourse from : noon to 4:30 p.m.