Some local folks are grateful for the generosity of the Elks Club of New Westminster.
The Elks Club recently presented the Lookout Emergency Aid Society with $600 in gift cards towards tenant projects. The society in turn provided $200 in gift certificates to each of its housing developments in New Westminster - the Cliff Block, Rhoda Kaellis Residence and Russell Residence.
Dave Brown of Lookout said the funds help residents buy food for their food programs.
"Very much appreciated," he said of the donation.
Fraser awarded
A longtime educator at Douglas College has been recognized as a leader in the field of early childhood development.
Susan Fraser, who taught in the faculty of child, family and community studies at Douglas College from 1981 to 1999, received a Child Care Award of Excellence for Lifetime Achievement from the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
The award, presented to Fraser at Douglas College on Tuesday, recognizes the valuable contributions that are made in support of early learning and child care in British Columbia.
"Susan Fraser shaped not only the early childhood education curriculum at Douglas College, she provided leadership and mentoring to early childhood practitioners across Canada and influenced the development of progressive early childhood education in the United States, Taiwan, China and the United Arab Emirates," said college president Scott McAlpine in a press release. "We are honoured to have had her as a member of Douglas College for 18 years."
May is Child Care Month in B.C., which aims to recognize the extraordinary work of child-care providers.
Student research
Seven geography students from Douglas College are working with Fraser River Discovery Centre to help educate the public about pollutants and other threats to the Fraser River.
The students are doing research on storm water runoff and other contaminants to update Discovery Centre's information about the effects of non-point source pollution on the Fraser River. Discovery Centre will use the information to update its volunteer training materials so interpreters can provide current examples for visitors when they are using the pollution model.
"It is fun to play with the toys and water at the pollution model," said Shannon King, the centre's education coordinator. "But our enviro-savvy visitors also want to know what the real deal is, and I am grateful that these students are helping update our training resources."
Through the pollution model, children can place toy cars, houses and animals in a large interactive model of the Lower Mainland. Various "pollutants" are then sprinkled on the city to make it rain, allowing kids to discover the pathways and environmental effects pollution has on the river.
Mike McFee, chair of the college's geography department and the students' instructor, said this type of learning is invaluable to students because it allows them to make the connection between their studies and real life.
"It's fine to read about these things in textbooks or hear about them in lectures, but now the students are actually seeing how they work, and they have the chance to help prepare educational materials," he said in a press release. "It's also a chance for students to give back to the community, as opposed to just turning in a term paper."
Leon Yee, one of the student researchers involved in the project, is excited to learn about the different ways that waterways are polluted and to educate the public to help create positive change.
"It's only recently I learned that fresh water could be in such high demand in the future that wars could be fought over it," he said. "If we don't make changes soon, this valuable resource could become so scarce that not only people living in arid conditions would have to worry about how to get it, but those of us living close to large bodies of water would have to as well."
Fraser River Discovery Centre is located at 788 Quayside Dr. Admission to the exhibits is by donation.
