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(¥Y Local news roundup: Week of March 16

NDP support continues to
grow 1n Metro Vancouver

» Leader Thomas Mulcair draws hundreds to NDP rally

Mercedes Deutscher
Staff Writer

 

n March 18, an NDP rally

was held at the Fairmont
Hotel in Vancouver, which
featured a keynote by party
leader Thomas Mulcair.

politics of fear with the politics
of hope?” Mulcair challenged,
after a brief introduction by
NDP nominees Constance
Barnes (Vancouver Centre)
and Scott Andrews (Vancouver
Quadra), and NDP MP Jinny
Sims (Newton-North Delta).

Mulcair elaborated on NDP
Party positions and policies,
which largely consisted of
improvements to the lives of
those recognized as “middle-
class.”

“Under Stephen Harper,
there is no federal minimum
wage,’ boasted Mulcair. “We'll

: change that, and bring ina
: federal minimum wage of $15 an
: hour”

Mulcair also spoke of

: improving access to services,

: affordable housing, and

: institutions. Mulcair expressed
: that if he were elected as the

: next Prime Minister of Canada,
: he would work to reduce the

: costs of childcare to $15 a day.
“Are you ready to replace the :

In addition, Mulcair

: addressed the rising housing
: prices within Vancouver.

“If we price middle- and

: low-income Canadians out of

: our cities, then our cities cease
: to be all they can be: diverse,

: economic, dynamic engines of
: economic opportunities for the
: whole population.”

Mulcair expressed his

: support for small businesses,

: stating that small businesses

: add culture to the community
: while hiring a large percentage
: of the population.

Improving the environment

: was another topic of interest at

: the rally, as Mulcair commented
: on the Harper government’s

: decision to remove Canada

: from the Kyoto Protocol.

: Mulcair stated he would focus

: on decreasing emissions

: throughout the country. As well,
: Mulcair referenced the ongoing
: transit and transportation

: referendum, commenting on

: the lack of involvement from

: the provincial and federal

: government.

Access to education,

: particularly post-secondary
: education, was another platform :
: for discussion. The NDP listed
: reducing tuition fees as one of
: its primary goals in the party

: policy.

“We believe ... in creating

: universal access to public

: education,” explained Andrews.
: “What we've seen is variations

: in tuition across the country,

: and that’s a little unsettling.”

: Andrews pointed out a trend of

Have an idea for a story? Let us know!

Contact: Angela Espinoza, News Editor

Mi news@theotherpress.ca

www.theotherpress.ca

  

: the federal government

: to decentralize and place more
: responsibility on provincial

: governments to help fund

: post-secondary education, and
: expressed that post-secondary
: education should be at the

: forefront of public services.

Andrews suggested that

: ashift in priorities would be
: needed to address decreased
: government funding toward
: basic adult education. He

: explained that community

 

Photo by Mercedes Deutscher

> inclusion, along witha

: commitment from the federal
: government to the provinces,

: would help decrease the rising
: costs of basic adult education.

The NDP used the rally as

: a platform to launcha social
: media campaign, using the
: hashtag #tm4pm.

Additional rallies in support

: of the NDP, Liberal, and

: Conservative parties will be held
: throughout Canada this year

: prior to elections.

 

Did you know? Douglas College Student Ambassadors

Angela Espinoza
News Editor

Mi news
= @theotherpress.ca

“Did you know” informs Douglas
students about college services.
If you're part of a campus
organization for students and
want to raise awareness, email us
at news@theotherpress.ca

Ds College maintains
a number of student-led
organizations throughout both
campuses, such as the Student
Ambassadors. The Student
Ambassadors often organize
events and activities at the
college, with a focus on team
building.

“The student ambassadors
are a select group of student
leaders who volunteer their time
on campus,” said Samantha
Berbeck, student development
coordinator at the Office for
New Students (ONS). “This

: program, run out of the [ONS],

: allows Ambassadors to gain

: personal, professional, and

: leadership skills while giving

: back to the College community.

“Student Ambassadors help

: the ONS staff run events like

: New Student Orientation and

: monthly Information Sessions.
: They also have the opportunity
: to create and plan their own

: events to increase student

: engagement. This semester,

: the [David Lam] Campus

: Ambassadors planned a Games
: Expo, and the New Westminster
: Ambassadors are planning an

: [Easter-themed] event.”

Like other college groups

: and organizations, getting

: involved with the Student

: Ambassadors gives students a

: chance to gain volunteer as well
: as work experience in the down
time between classes.

“There are a few ways that

: students can become involved,”
: said Berbeck. One way students
: can get involved is by attending

: various events put on by the

: Ambassadors, and speaking to:
: members one-on-one. “Students :
: can also apply on our website :
: (dcambassadors.org), we

: typically look at applications

: at the beginning of each new

: semester, and then hold group

: interviews. We are looking for

: leadership skills, a welcoming

: and positive attitude, and

: past volunteer experience. Ifa

: student doesn’t make it into the
: program, we recommend that
: students get more volunteer

: experience and reapply ina

: future semester”

Berbeck added that

: students who get involved with

: the Ambassadors program

: also receive benefits beyond
additional volunteer experience.

“Students gain experience

: in public speaking, planning

: events, and working as a team,
: and they have the chance to

: develop their personal and

: professional networks. We
also offer training nights for

: things like interview skills and

: leadership training,” all of which
: Berbeck states are great resumé
: builders as well.

“Another huge benefit is

: the social aspect, ambassadors

: doa lot of great work, but they

: also have a ton of fun. In the

: past, we have had games nights,
: Christmas parties, and laser tag
: events.”

: Photo from Douglas Student Ambassadors via flickr

 
   

Those wishing to apply for

: the Student Ambassadors, or

: who just have questions about

: the program are invited to

: get in contact with the group.

: Information is available at the

: ONS offices located at the New
: West campus in room 2817 and
: the David Lam campus in room
" A1360.