Real Estate Foundation builds on success lvancity grant m@ New Westminster Campus and David Lam Campus INside ... The Douglas College Newsletter with Institute of Urban Ecology The Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology (DCIUE) plants its 50,000" seedling this year —and a new $150,000 donation from the Real Estate Foundation of BC will help ensure the work continues. The latest donation builds on 10 years of support from the Real Estate Foundation, which has donated $400,000 to the DCIUE since 1994. The total doubles to $800,000, as Douglas College commits to finding matching funds from other sources for each donation. The Real Estate Foundation’s backing plays a major role in maintaining the Institute’s day-to-day operations, says DCIUE Executive Director Dr. Valentin Schaefer. “This new donation from the Real Estate Foundation provides important core funding that enables us to continue to be active in environmental and land- use projects around the Lower Mainland,” says Schaefer. “Having funding for day-to-day operations allows us to secure special- project funding from other sources for the work we do. Once we match the latest donation, total funding for the Institute from all sources will reach $3 million.” Douglas College faculty and students volunteered on many environmental projects through the 1980s, leading to the formation of the Institute of Urban Ecology in 1994. It’s been a busy decade. The Institute has involved over 7,000 volunteers in plantings and watershed cleanups, and presented educational events to almost 20,000 students and community members. The DCIUE also develops major environmental- enhancement projects such as Green Links and works in environmental planning and data gathering with governments, developers and community agencies. Real Estate Foundation Chair Ken Henderson says the Institute’s record of accomplishments and community teamwork was a deciding factor in the latest donation. “We were persuaded to offer the endowment funding because of the Institute's on-going success involving many community partners in a range of stewardship projects that deliver education and restoration,” says Henderson. “In particular, we are pleased that the Institute has effective working and funding relationships with industries operating in the region.” Looking ahead, the Institute plans to remain active in major new residential developments in the Tri-Cities. “We are planning to work with developers,” says Schaefer. “The objective is to find ways to maintain natural habitat beyond the IN The Institue of Urban Ecology has involved over 7,000 volunteers in community plantings and watershed cleanups. minimum legal requirements.” For more information about the Douglas New floors to be full when they open Spanking new computer labs, shiny new tiles in the bathroom and the faint smell of fresh paint — the final touches are being put on the new fifth and sixth floors at Douglas College’s New Westminster Campus, which will open to students for the Summer Semester. “We're done on time and on budget,” says Facilities Director Terry Leonard, with just a slight note of pride. “The construction is finished and now they've moved on to what they refer to as FFE — Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment. The custom-made furnishings are mostly installed and they’re just finishing off the details.” The 20,000-square feet of new space will be home to four meeting rooms, nine computer labs including space for the Health Information Services Program, which is relocating from the first floor. “They're thrilled about that,” says Leonard. The desks in the new labs are multi-functional — they convert from regular desks to computer desks, so the rooms can be either standard classrooms (most with U-shaped desk formations) or computer labs. Built to purpose, the rooms have reflective ceilings that deflect sound and an attractive, efficient lighting system. The elevator to the new floors starts at the fourth floor. Leonard points out that the new floors are livelier than the rest of the floors at the New Westminster Campus: “Because there was more structural steel used in the construction than concrete, the floor could give a perception of having more of a bounce to it when there’s a lot of people about.” Right now, the floors are empty, but there will definitely be a lot of people about since the new floors will be full to capacity when they open. Fora sneak preview, attend the Educational Services Vice- Presidential Selection Forum on March 8 and 9 (see page 2 for details). College Institute of Urban Ecology visit www.douglas.bc.ca/iue/ or call 604-527-5522. Below: Right now this new computer lab on the fifth and sixth floor is empty, but come the Summer Semester, the new computer labs will be fully occupied. Douglas College funds Burnaby ecology project Residents of Burnaby’s Capitol Hill have a chance to enjoy a greener community, thanks to the Douglas College Institute of Urban Ecology anda recent grant from VanCity. The VanCity Community Project Grant provides support to projects that contribute to the social justice, economic self- reliance and/or environmental responsibility of the community. The grant was awarded to the Institute of Urban Ecology earlier this year. The project aims to create a greener Burnaby through community participation. A series of fun and informative workshops were held in January and February. The workshops will culminate in a celebration of the Capitol Hill Greening Project on March 20 from 2pm at McGill Library (4595 Albert Street). Volunteers and the community are invited to gather for a community mapping exercise, where everyone can identify places of natural and cultural significance to them and place them ona map. There will also be a question-and-answer session with native plant specialists and free cake. On March 24 at 6:30pm, there will be an Organic Garden Lecture and slide show at the Coquitlam Library City Centre Branch. Community plantings are also planned for Spring 2004. Pre-registration is required for the workshops. Call 604-527-5522. Quote of the Month “‘T ve learned more in the last month than I ever imagined. I would not have wanted to graduate without this experience.” Computer Information Systems student Cindi Louis on her experience in Douglas College’s Co-operative Education Program (see page 2).