Education

A woman stands behind a silver podium branded with the letters NSCC. She is lit with blue lighting and is standing in front of a wall-sized window. There is an electric piano beside her on the stage.

Nova Scotia Community College officially opens Sydney Waterfront Campus

October 21, 2024 by Bill MacCuish

The NSCC Sydney Waterfront Campus welcomed dozens of visitors for its official opening Friday.

Principal Carla Arsenault, staff and students say that it was an opportunity to showcase the school’s modern technology and impressive size compared to its predecessor.

The new school replaces the nearly 50 year old Marconi Campus located just outside the city limits. The province decided a new school in downtown Sydney is a more convenient location and it would be too expensive to upgrade Marconi.

Construction on the new campus started four years ago with a cost of $170 million, one of 17 NSCC campuses across Nova Scotia.

One thousand students enrolled for the inaugural Fall semester, about 100 more than last year.

Four people holding up a multi-coloured ChromaNB banner, with more people behind them, and another person lying on the ground in front of the banner, and in the background is a black and blue shipping container

National Coming Out Day and the ongoing process of self-disclosure

October 9, 2024 by Iona Coe

With Coming Out Day on Friday October 11th, Local 107.3FM met up with Alex Ash of Saint John 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy and education organization, Chroma NB to find out a little more about what coming out can mean to the community.

Alex explores many of the difficulties and joys that can be involved in the continual process of coming out and expressing one’s true self, as well as the importance of allyship. And, with the New Brunswick Provincial election just days away, they emphasize the importance of the use of people’s democratic rights, to ensure their voices are heard, whichever party people choose to vote for.

You can find more information about ChromaNB at their website, chromanb.ca.

A blue and white kiosk on a trailer with hoses, brooms and a sign that says "Invasive Species - Protect Our Lakes" and "Clean, Drain and Dry your Equipment for Free". The trailer sits on a parking lot in front of a stand of trees and a lake.

County launches boat cleaning pilot project to fight the transfer of invasive species

September 24, 2024 by Brenda Little

Prince Edward County is taking part in a pilot project to help stop the spread of invasive aquatic plants, animals and/ or algae through recreational boating.

Zebra mussels, water soldier and phragmites are just a few of the invasive species threatening waterways and wetlands.

The CD3 Wayside Solar Trailer is a waterless watercraft cleaning system that is available to the public, to clean, drain and dry their boat, canoe or kayak when retrieving their craft from the water and before entering a different lake, river, pond etc.

Quinte Conservation staff moves the trailer to five different boat launch sites throughout the County for boaters to use free of charge. The goal is to educate the public, demonstrate how the cleaning station works, why it is important, invasive species to watch for, and to gauge usage. The project runs for four weeks ending Oct. 15 at the Northport launch.

Pictured is a poster that reads "Disaster! Are you ready?" with written information printed below. In the background, other pieces of the exhibition can be seen.

Sutton Museum helps people prepare in the face of natural disaster

August 19, 2024 by Taylor McClure

The Sutton Museum of Communications and History is helping people get prepared in the face of natural disaster with its current temporary exhibition “Disaster! Are You Ready?”.

Museologist behind the exhibition, Michel Harnois, explained “that as an individual, as a family, and as community”, people aren’t ready to face the potentials challenges that follow natural hazards.

With unpredictable natural hazard events, such as ice storms and snow storms, happening on a daily basis, “Catastrophe: Are you ready?” is all about having visitors understand that everyone has a part to play in resolving issues that may arise as a result, noted Harnois.

As an educational resource in Sutton, visitors of the museum’s exhibition will have the opportunity to learn how to prepare an emergency kit and how to can create and implement an emergency plan if their community is facing a potential natural disaster.

The exhibition runs until Oct. 14.

A wall is adorned with an alphabet and umbrella art as light shines in from a window exposing a playground outside.

Local foundation takes ‘deep dive’ into community data

June 13, 2024 by Loni Taylor

The Cortes Island Community Foundation (CICF) has initiated a new project called “Vital Signs 2024” in order to discover the metrics of the small rural community.

On June 7, CICF released a survey asking questions to islanders about assets and gaps in the community. Manda Aufochs Gillespie, executive director of CICF, explained that it is important to survey and data-collect on Cortes Island.

“We actually often miss out on even the most basic data that allows us to access funds through government programs or through grants.”

By the end of June, the foundation hopes that at least 290 people over the age of 15 will fill out the survey in order to produce an accurate set of data that can be compiled into a report and shared with various granting bodies, local government, and policymakers.

To hear more about the Vital Signs initiative, listen to the CKTZ News Update.

A man in a white shirt and blue tie sits at a desk with framed certificates behind him.

Nova Scotia reaches ‘agreement in principle’ with teachers in contract talks

April 18, 2024 by Rick Conrad

Nova Scotia will likely avoid a teachers’ strike as government and union negotiators reached an “agreement in principle” late Wednesday night.

The Nova Scotia Teachers Union entered conciliation talks with government negotiators on Monday and Tuesday with a 98 per cent strike mandate. More than 10,000 teachers and educational specialists voted last Thursday to go on strike if an agreement couldn’t be reached.

Teachers are concerned about rising levels of violence in schools, teacher recruitment and retention, and compensation for substitute and permanent teachers.

Premier Tim Houston joined the talks himself on Monday night. Houston told reporters after a cabinet meeting on Thursday that he believes the agreement addresses many of the union’s concerns.

Ryan Lutes, president of the teachers union, said in an interview Thursday that the premier’s presence at the bargaining table seemed to move things along.

Dr. Leo Groarke attending a graduation ceremony for Trent University.

Dr. Leo Groarke reflects on 10-year presidential term at Trent University

April 11, 2024 by Edward Sweeney

This summer, Trent University will get a new president when Dr. Cathy Bruce takes over for Dr. Leo Groarke at the beginning of July.

According to Trent University’s website, Groarke “was installed as the eighth President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University in 2014 and was reappointed for a second term in 2019.” Now, after 10 years, his presidential term is ending.

Trent Radio joined Groarke, in his office overlooking the Otonabee River, for an exit interview. He reflects on the past 10 years, discusses the current state of post-secondary education in Ontario, and looks ahead to Trent’s future of growth and corporatization.

Listen to Trent Radio’s interview with Dr. Leo Groarke.

A collage of 4 pictures. Top left: several competitors with tools working on their robots. Bottom Left, Several green clad competitors working on their robots. Bottom Right: Blue branded robots in the arena doing their thing. The robots are like super advanced kinetix style builds, with wheels, pullies, arm units etc.

FIRST Robotics Competition Bringing Over 1000 Youth To UW For Provincial Qualifier

March 18, 2024 by Dan Kellar

On March 22nd and 23rd, youth-led teams from South Western Ontario will descend on the University of Waterloo to compete in the Waterloo district FIRST Robotics Competition (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a qualifying event for the provincial competition in April.

This year, 8 regional teams will join 32 other school and community teams entering their robots in competition with and against each other through a round-robin style tournament.

This show features an interview with Professor Maud Gorbet, director of the Biomedical Engineering Program at the University of Waterloo, a long-term volunteer and member of the steering committee with Waterloo-Wellington FIRST, and a mentor on the KW based robotics team: the 2702 Rebels. She discusses the competition, the importance of applied STEM education, and efforts to address the underrepresentation of women and non-binary folks, as well as Indigenous, Black and other racialized populations in STEM disciplines.

Group of students and elders sanding outside new school holding a ribbon and scissors

Ribbon cutting ceremony for ‘Na Aksa Gyilak’yoo School in Kitsumkalum

March 15, 2024 by Sabrina Spencer

Students of ‘Na Aksa Gyilak’yoo School in Kitsumkalum marched through the village singing and drumming from the old building to the brand new school on Thursday for the ribbon cutting ceremony and soft opening of the facility.

‘Na Aksa Gyilak’yoo School focuses on providing holistic forms of education and diverse learning, according to the school. In September 2021, approval was granted by Indigenous Services Canada after a long planning process undertaken by the Kitsumkalum Project Team and community members. Ground breaking took place in April 2022.

CFNR was on location and spoke with Principal Elmer Moody about what this means to the students the village and about the plans already in place for further expansion.

Moody is hopeful that they will get possession of the school by Friday and students will be able to attend classes after spring break with Friday being a day for set up and going over fire drills.

Woman sitting in a radio recording studio with black sound proofing behind her. The computer to her right is on, showcasing audio waves. The woman has black headphones on and is wearing a blue blouse.

President of WUSC Windsor reflects on value of Student Refugee Program

March 12, 2024 by Aysha Mian

Canada is a country filled with different cultures and people, including refugees. The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) released its annual report on February 22nd. Founded in 1929 by a group of students at University of Toronto, the organization primarily focuses on providing education, economic, and empowerment opportunities across the world.

One achievement of theirs was doubling the number of refugees they support every year — more than 12,500 refugees across the world have been given quality education and economic opportunities through programs such as their Student Refugee Program.

Through the program, one refugee student is sponsored every year at the University of Windsor.

On February 29, CJAM spoke to Olga Phionah Niyitegeka, the President of the UWindsor WUSC Student Committee, about WUSC, its purpose and the value of the Student Refugee Program.

Two women standing side by side on a porch on a sunny day.

Local groups give adults opportunity to ‘nerd around’ in nature

February 22, 2024 by Taylor McClure

Nature Nerding and Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton (PENS) are teaming up to offer monthly opportunities for adults to reconnect, experience, and learn from nature.

“Nature Nerding for Curious Grown-Ups” will provide participants with the chance to take part in leisurely walks and “slowdown, reconnect, and revive” their “child-like sense of wonder and curiosity,” said Jessica Adams, educator and founder of Nature Nerding.

Adams added that the idea behind the outings is to “engage the senses” and for people to experience and recognize what is around them, while also learning about the different species, biodiversity, and ecological phenomena.

According to Patricia Lefèvre, executive director of PENS, the collaboration is a part of a larger initiative that will see the non-profit environmental organization “pool” together other experts, specialists, and nature-education resources in the area with the goal of offering educational activities across the Eastern Townships.

A promotional image of Dr. Cathy Bruce for her appointment as Trent University President. An action-style shot of her teaching or lecturing.

Trent University appoints Dr. Cathy Bruce as 9th president

February 9, 2024 by Edward Sweeney

On Feb. 2, it was announced that the Trent University Board of Governors have appointed Dr. Cathy Bruce as the 9^th president of the university.

Bruce has over 30 years of experience in teaching and administration and began her career at Trent University in 2003. Since then, she has taken various roles and started multiple projects with the institution, and will now become the President and Vice Chancellor of the school starting on July 1.

Listen to Trent Radio’s interview with Trent’s new president-designate to hear them discuss international student strategies, housing shortages, the Blue Ribbon panel, and more.