Camosun College is preparing for its first open house since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Saturday event, set for 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Interurban Campus, is geared to people thinking of attending the college.
“Nothing beats experiencing Camosun in person,” said Mary Hendrixson, Camosun’s manager of domestic strategic enrolment. “Our open house provides an opportunity to connect with our community and discover the advantages of studying at Camosun.
“We encourage prospective students to come out and experience the energy and excitement of our campus.”
She said those attending can talk with faculty, students and alumni.
Programs and courses of study represented at the open house will include arts and science, business, health and human services, trades and technology and the Centre for Indigenous Education and Community Connection.
Refreshments will be available at the Centre for Business and Access, and there also will be food trucks on campus. Parking will be free.
>>> Lunch ‘N’ Learn supports seniors in Central Saanich
The District of Central Saanich is joining with Beacon Community Services and the Centre for Active Living for a pair of “Lunch ’N’ Learn” sessions meant to support older adults.
The sessions are free and will look at topics that have come out of the district’s Age-Friendly Community Plan, with lunch included at both.
The first session is on Tuesday and is titled Simple Ways to Prepare for an Emergency. It will run from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Centre for Active Living 50+ at 1229 Clarke Rd., and will present basic steps for staying safe in a variety of emergency situations.
The second session is Navigating Supports and Services in the Community, and will be on Nov. 26 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., also at the Centre for Active Living 50+.
“The District of Central Saanich is committed to fostering a strong, informed and resilient community, and ensuring residents of all ages enjoy a great quality of life,” said Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor. “Through initiatives like the Lunch ’N’ Learn sessions, we aim to empower our residents and connect them to the many wonderful resources we have in our community.”
Jennifer Van Es, director of Beacon Community Services, said the sessions are also a good way to socialize while learning about community resources.
“Remaining independent has many benefits for individuals, communities and society as a whole,” she said. “Beacon’s senior services, led by a team of over 200 compassionate volunteers, help to set up a continuum of programs and services for older adults on the Peninsula.
“We are pleased to be able to respond to the needs of our community in this way.”
To register, contact the Centre for Active Living at 250-652-4611.
>>> Guide prepares you for emergencies, climate change
The District of Sooke has produced a guide for both preparing for emergencies and taking action to address climate change, in partnership with the Fireweed Learning Commons, an Island-based non-profit with a focus on sustainability and climate.
The Climate Field Guide for Residents of the Sooke Region “offers residents tools and guidance on how to take impactful local action to address climate change,” the district said.
The guide includes information on preparing for emergencies like wildfires and floods, including having an easily accessible phone list of family members, friends and key services in the community, such as a designated person who can pick up your children from school if you aren’t able to.
It also includes ways to reduce your carbon footprint such as using a heat pump — including how to access rebates — cutting down on vehicle use and controlling household waste.
It provides tips on everything from reducing wildfire risks to water conservation and growing your own food, the basics of electric vehicles, and how to cope with extreme winter storms, flooding, heat and smoke. It even includes Sooke Road closure routes.
The district aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.
The Fireweed Learning Commons has been using the guide in its Liveable Futures series of workshops in Sooke, which looks at measures such as climate planning in the home.
“Our community is committed to creating a sustainable future, and this Climate Field Guide is a valuable resource to help residents make informed choices,” said Sooke Mayor Maja Tait. “The actions we take today will have a lasting impact on future generations.”
Fireweed Learning Commons co-chair Elizabeth Lange said “the path to a livable future” requires people to act differently as well as think differently.
“This guide and our workshops are more than just a how-to resource, they are an invitation for residents to reconnect with the Earth to understand what is going on around us, to our community and hope in its collective future, and to the concrete actions required of us in an already-changing climate.”
• The digital version of the guide is available at letstalk.sooke.ca/sooke2030 or fireweedlearningcommons.ca/ .
>>> Spooky Pumpkin walk at Sooke’s Pineridge Park
The Friends of Sooke Parks Society is hoping this year’s Spooky Pumpkin Walk will be as popular as last year’s inaugural event, where more than 300 carved pumpkins were on display at Pineridge Park.
The second annual event is on Friday, and people are invited to start dropping off their Halloween jack-o-lanterns at 1 p.m.
Volunteers will start lighting them at 5 p.m., and activities will continue until 7:30 p.m. — when the pumpkins will be collected and sent to a local farm for composting.
Joining in this year is the Wild Wise Society, a volunteer-run group that spreads awareness about the need to co-exist with wildlife. In this case, the group will be stressing that pumpkins left on doorsteps are a prime attractant for bears preparing for hibernation.
Funding for the Spooky Pumpkin Walk was provided by the District of Sooke, the Capital Regional District and the Recreation Foundation of B.C.
