Urban Planning, Suburban Re-Planning

I know several Champlainers who are deeply interested in urban planning, especially the need to rethink the way cities (even small cities in Ontario) work in order to be environmentally sustainable. I'd be interested in knowing what you think about this lecture (20 minutes) "Retrofitting Suburbia" by Ellen Dunham-Jones.

Living Learning Communities: A Pulse of Champlain Life

Beyond Harvest Weekend, the Pig Bowl, High Table Dinner, floor hockey tournaments, and the Ceilie are an ongoing collage of events known as Trent’s Living Learning Communities (LLCs). These Living Learning Communities are just another way to get involved at Trent University, and certainly contribute to the diversity and strength of Champlain College. Luckily, Champlain College is home to three of these communities – Active Living, Global Living and the newest to the College, La Maison Française. The benefits of living in one of these communities are unlimited, and each opportunity is what you make of it. The most important thing to note about LLCs is that you do not have to attend everything, but if you can, you will be met with intellectually challenging discussions with faculty, fun activities, and a range of conversations with your peers.

My experience with Trent’s Global Living Community (TGLC) was very positive. TGLC is a community composed of students who unite under an interest in global citizenship, diversity, and world affairs. Although I did not get to live in TGLC, the tower quickly became my new home. This is something that is not well known about Living Learning Communities. No matter what tower you’re in, you can participate. Even if you’re not in either community, I highly recommend joining in on some of the events to get a taste of something new. You will find something that interests you. Tim, one of the bloggers here, was the Don of TGLC in my year. He did a phenomenal job with TGLC programming and always made me feel included even though I was not registered in TGLC. He worked very hard and I can only thank him for allowing me the opportunity of so many fun discussions and friendships.

Some of the activities that TGLC offers are exclusive lectures and talks with visiting professors, workshops with Trent professors, many catered Seasoned Spoon lunches and dinners, games nights, and a true circle of friends. It is one thing to attend a Gaza teach-in, but it is another when you’re surrounded by the people whom you’ve talked about Gaza with all year. TGLC also serves an immense study benefit to review for exams and midterms with people who have attended the same activities as you, are studying the same courses, and who live close to you. Lastly, you may have one group of friends separate from your LLC, but you always have this bond with your LLC members. They are where your home is. Living in an LLC means that you will never be lonely and there will always be something going on in the tower that you can be involved in. Making these quick and immediate friendships that an LLC offers creates endless possibilities for fun for the rest of the year.

I know that the July 31^st application deadline for LLCs is approaching, so I highly recommend that anyone should join in on this positive experience. It is one of the experiences from first year that I would relive over and over again. The friendships that I have made, the knowledge I’ve acquired, and the unique experiences that TGLC presented truly makes Living Learning Communities one of the highlights of my first year, and certainly adds a huge impact to the pulse of Champlain College.

Welcome to YOUR next Milestone

Exactly four years ago today, I was sitting in a hot and crowed gymnasium awaiting and anticipating the excitement of receiving my High School Diploma. I thought that once I received that piece of paper, my life was over. No more friends, no more ISUs, no more memories to last me a life time. But what I hadn't realized was that it was only the beginning.

By the end of August 2006, I was feeling more excited about moving to school. I remember the feelings of excitement and uncertainty with what would come. After I had settled into my residence room and said goodbye to my parents, I went down into the Quad. Outside there were a large group of excited and energetic students greeting all the new students...just like me! They wanted to know everything about all the new students. They also encouraged me to come out to various activities hosted by the college and university over the week.

Introductory Seminar Week (ISW) was a huge part of my university career at Trent. ISW in my first year, was especially important as a new student.It allowed me to check out all the classes I was signed up for, the classes I wanted to take, and last but not least, how to have fun! It was through ISW that I met some of the people whom I have been friends to this day.

In my second year, I wanted to help new students just like the staff members helped me in my first year. It was through my involvement with ISW as a staff member, I was able to continue to branch out in supporting the college that I will always love dearly through my extra-curriculars.

As my 4 years have come to an end at Trent, and more so in Champlain, one thing I will always hold and offer as advice to any student coming to Trent is take part in ISW, and more importantly find something you love to do and don't give up on it; it will lead you to new opportunities and perhaps allow you try something out of your regular comfort zone.

"Reach for the moon and if you miss you'll land among the stars"---Les Brown

What do you think about the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster?

Ever heard of Nomadic Massive?

Nomadic Massive is a Montreal-based band. The song displayed above, "Moving Forward" is one of their recent and very famous pieces. It would be really awesome if we brought them to Champlain/Trent one of these days. Their interest in facilitating social change via performances and workshops, creating awareness over international issues, dedication to open-mindedness and their multi-cultural appeal would make for a perfect fit in Champlain or the University in general. The group is quite popular internationally. They have initiated socio-cultural exchanges with like-minded artists all over the world.

Del F. Cowie writes:

"Montreal’s Nomadic Massive are probably one of the most aptly named bands around. Boasting 12 members and vocalists that rap and sing in five different languages (English, French, Spanish, Creole and Arabic), Nomadic Massive provide a truly multicultural listening experience. Predictably, with such a diverse number of influences in a group made up of artists who were previously pursuing solo careers, the album’s musical approach rarely settles into one groove. Incorporating their diverse cultural backgrounds, Nomadic Massive successfully transfer traditional musical forms to hip-hop’s intrinsically syncretic approach with polished production skills."

Overall, they look like a pretty dynamic band and would be excellent for Champlain.

A short story about WUSC...

The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a non-governmental organization committed to fostering human development through education. This NGO has active programs in South America, Africa, and Asia, focusing on poverty alleviation, delivering clean water and sanitation, strengthening civil society, and promoting education.

WUSC’s domestic services, like the Student Refugee Program (SRP), are implemented through an extensive network of over seventy post-secondary establishments, and the program has been in place at the Trent campus for over 10 years. The SRP student who comes to Trent is sponsored by the university and their first-year expenses are paid for by students fees in the form of a levy.

Currently, we sponsor one SRP student but as of next fall, we will be sponsoring two students.

The SRP student(s) live in the Trent Global Living Community in Champlain College. When I was the Student Don of TGLC in 2008-2009, the SRP student was actively involved in anchoring meaningful programming for the community. Having the refugee student in TGLC is a perfect fit because the community is open and respectful committed to global citizenship, diversity and programming that among other things, fosters student refugee support and awareness on campus and in the community.

This past academic year, the Trent WUSC local committee requested a levy increase of $2.00 to meet our dream of sponsoring a total of two SRP students. In January 2010, we were successful in getting our name "WUSC" in the ballot allowing students to vote for us for a levy increase in the March referendum.

In a nail-biting, trepidation-filled and very exciting three-day referendum, we were successful in getting our request of a $2.00 increase in the levy.

With the levy increase, we unanimously decided to sponsor a second student. Way to go, Trent! And way to go TGLC and Champlain, the home of the SRP students that provide support, encouragement and resources.

Levée du drapeau franco-ontarien

Voila le discours que je donnais a la levée du drapeau franco-ontarien. C'était un plaisir de participer, surtout avec les élèves de L'Ecole Monsignor Jameau.

C'est un plaisir de vous rejoindre pour cette occasion especiale. Je suis fier de nôtre communauté, sa diversité, sa richesse du gens, sa richesse des langues.

Il y'a plus que quâtre cent annees que M. Samuel de Champlain traversait nôtre territoire et établiait les relations qui fondait nôtre pays. C'était toujour les liens entre les gens qui donner raison et force a Champlain, a la nouvelle France, et puis le Canada.

Il faut se souvien que Champlain ne decouvriait pas ce territoire. Comme on tous connait bien, il y'aurait beaucoup des gens lá avant l'arrivée du Champlain: les Mohawk, les Algonquin, Ojibwe, et beaucoup plus. Le sieur de Champlain était sage; il savait que la "decouverture" serait une illusion.

Le vrai connaissance, la vrai realité était dans l'apprentissage de la culture, l'education de l'autre. Il commencer les amitiés par échanger les étudiants du langue. Les jeunes hommes Françaises de la compagnie du Champlain, étaient échangé avec les jeunes hommes natives d'Ontario. Les échangées vecu parmi l'autre cultur pendant une année ou plus. Ceux gens-la apprirent la langue de l'autre, leur culture, leurs moyens l'un et l'autre. Et c'est juste cette sort du vrai connaissance-la connaissance d'experience, la connaissance partage, qui distingue M. Champlain, et differencier toujour nôtre pays.

Le drapeau qu' on éleve aujourdhui est un symbole pas justement des gens qui parle Français, mais aussi des gens qui partage la culture Française, et tous qui apprenne la langue et la cultur.

En ma qualité de nouveau Chef du College Champlain et directeur du programme internationale a Trent University, je vous felicite tous pour ce jour et ce moment heureux!

Drapeau Franco-Ontarois

Lundi 7 Juin, je vais participer dans le deuxieme journee du drapeau Franco-Ontarois a le mairie du Peterborough. Voila le drapeau.

Revez-vous avec moi: je veux élever cet drapeau-la sur la toit du Champlain!

Presentation of Honorary Degree to Trent Alumna Nancy Strickland

The Value of University Residential Colleges

This past February, Trent University's Ashley Fellowship was awarded to Dr. Don Markwell. Dr. Markwell is the Warden of Rhodes House, Oxford University. He is responsible for the Rhodes Scholarships around the world. The Ashley Fellowship is funded by a bequest from the late Professor C.A. Ashley, longtime friend of Trent University and an enthusiastic proponent of the role that the informal contacts of College life can play in the academic pursuits of the University.

Dr. Markwell was at Trent for about two weeks and delivered three public events including a lecture, a panel and colloquium. I was fortunate to attend all three. While all three lectures were highly interesting and full of insight, the relevant one that I will briefly discuss was titled "The Value of University Residential Colleges". The lecture had an impressive response panel featuring Thomas H.B Symons, Founding President of Trent University. John Fraser, Master of Massey College, University of Toronto. Susan Wurtele, Professor of Geography and Trent University Alumna and finally, Julia Harrison, Professor and Director of the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies.

For those that attended this lecture, I am sure they walked away as satisfied and informed as I was. You can access a copy of the lecture here.

Markwell is huge proponent of the residential college system. In his speech, he cited a number of universities that have recently revitalized their colleges including Princeton, Yale, Rice, Harvard and Oxford University. He spoke about the renaissance in the college system as even more universities have started to establish, plan and expand internal systems of residential colleges.

Markwell revealed that through his own observations, "colleges provide one of the best potential environments for encouraging mutually rewarding connection between students from many different cultures and countries – but such positive interactions do not just happen by chance, and leadership within colleges is needed to encourage them and create good preconditions for them".

He referred to a quote by Alan Gilbert (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester) that summed up his lecture quite nicely:

"the kinds of multilayered, close knit, highly interactive learning communities that good university colleges and halls of residence create are likely to remain among the hallmarks of any great undergraduate educational experience."

I would encourage everyone to read through his lecture which I found to be very informative, topical and critical for Trent University's college system.