The 2025 cohort of neuroscience student researchers presented their projects at a poster session on Sept. 12. Research topics ranged from internet addiction and cognitive testing to the neurological effects of lesions in infants. Thanks to faculty members Hélène Nadeau and Sylvia Cox for making this possible and giving a real research experience to CEGEP students. Check out the article about the 10th anniversary here.
The Food Justice program at Dawson has been significantly expanded this year. Free food is being offered five days a week to the Dawson community, a vital part of the College’s commitment to well-being for all. Coordinated by the Office of Sustainability and funded by the Dawson Foundation and the Dawson Student Union, the program addresses food insecurity while advancing social justice and sustainability on campus.
Diana Rice of the Office of Sustainability explains that there is a broader understanding of sustainability that includes peace and social justice. “Food Justice programming is a critical piece,” she says, due to its role in tackling the harmful impacts of industrial agriculture on the environment and marginalized communities. The program prioritizes ethical purchasing by sourcing organic and local food to reduce pollution, protect biodiversity, and support economic stability for vulnerable groups.
There is a major impact on students and the entire Dawson community. “A student once confided that being able to eat lunch or breakfast four days a week meant that they could give their mom a break in terms of groceries, which were becoming more and more unaffordable,” Diana shared. “They said it was a relief because they already felt guilty about going to school and not working full time to help support the family. Knowing that they could help save money and keep food in the pantry at home longer made going to school more worthwhile and kept it accessible.”
Visit the link for the homepage news story.
The Professional Theatre department is proud to present Hecuba, a story about the women at the end of the Trojan war. This modern adaptation by Irish playwright Marina Carr is directed by Leslie Baker and performed by second-year students. Tickets are pay what you can, suggested donation of $5. Runs next Wednesday through Saturday, Oct. 1-4 at 7:30 PM each night. Visit the link to reserve your ticket(s).
The first young readers book of Adeline Caute (Faculty, French) is coming out on Sept. 16. Aimed at readers aged 9-12, Les Rescapés de l'orage, published by Éditions du Boréal, tells the story of four kids who find themselves alone on the streets of Montreal after a violent storm. There will be a book launch on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 2 PM to 4 PM at the Librairie Fleury (1169 Fleury est). Adeline has taught French literature at Dawson since 2013.
Dawson College is featured on the cover of AASHE's Sustainable Campus Index annual publication because Dawson achieved the platinum rating, a global first for an “Associate” level institution! Dawson is one of a dozen institutions in the world to have achieved this.
ICYMI: here is the news from last spring: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/news/dnews/platinum-rating-in-sustainability-a-global-first/
Visit the link to see the SCI report.
Dawson's own Elizabeth (Liz) Charles, a trailblazing educator and researcher whose innovative work has reshaped active learning in Quebec’s CEGEP system, has been awarded the 2025 Prix Gérald-Sigouin by the Association québécoise de pédagogie collégiale (AQPC).
“Elizabeth Charles has fundamentally changed pedagogical approaches at Dawson College and beyond,” said Academic Dean Leanne Bennett, one of her nominators. Colleagues describe her as “the heart and soul of SALTISE,” and praise her vision and unrelenting dedication: “Liz includes willingly all those who wish to contribute to her quest to improve pedagogy, making the classroom a place for reflective, inventive, and expressive individuals.”
Visit the link to read the homepage news story.
Physics faculty members Joel Trudeau and Manuel Toharia are accompanying nine Dawson students who arrived in Hamburg, Germany today, Sept. 11. They will be there for two weeks testing their prototype at the world-renowned DESY Research Centre after winning CERN's Beamline for Schools competition.
Phil Carpenter of Global News made a feature TV news report on Sept. 9, which aired Sept. 10. Visit the link to see it.
ICYMI: see the feature published on Aug. 28 on the Dawson website.
More than five years after the Mexico–Canada Sustainable Campuses Initiative wrapped up in 2019, its impact and friendships continue to thrive. In June, Dawson College faculty member Gisela Frias (Geography) and Chris Adam (retired Head of Sustainability) traveled to Mexico to represent Dawson at the 5th Binational Forum on Institutional Memory and Sustainability: Seeds of Yesterday, Fruits of Tomorrow. Both played central roles in the original initiative, which fostered international collaboration on sustainability in higher education.
Visit the link for the homepage news story.
This fall, to comply with Law 14, Dawson is offering specific education, complementary and Humanities courses in French. We want to recognize the hard work and courage of the teachers who have taken on the challenge of teaching in French this first semester. Chapeau!
The Teaching in French Task Force is back this year with a team of three French teachers and one pedagogical counsellor. We want to thank the outgoing members for their innumerable contributions and the resources they created: Jeff Gandell, Cathy Roy, Monica Lopez and Einat Idan. We also want to welcome Laëtitia Desanti who will bring her expertise from Programme d’aide en français (PAF) to those programs offering internships and technical courses in French.
We look forward to supporting colleagues teaching in French this semester or preparing to do so in the future. As always, you can contact us by emailing teachinginfrench@dawsoncollege.qc.ca . There are also many resources available on our SharePoint site.
-The 2025-26 Teaching in French Task Force (Laëtitia Desanti, Laurent Duval, Chantale Giguère, Jane Hudson)
Last Modified: September 25, 2025
