Dawson in the news
Diana Rice of the Office of Sustainability was interviewed by CTV News. about Food Justice programs.
You can see the Oct. 23 report by visiting the link.
19 community organizations at Mental Health Fair Nov. 12
The second edition of Dawson’s Mental Health Fair will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 11 AM to 2 PM in Conrod’s (2F.4). This event brings together a diverse range of community-based organizations to support Dawson students’ well-being and mental health. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with groups offering resources in areas…
Have you completed your sexual violence prevention training yet?
Have you completed your sexual violence prevention training yet?
Take a little over 15 minutes this week during a workday to do this mandatory training. Faculty members, why don’t you carve out some time on Ped Day this Friday, Nov. 7 to do it?
All employees must take sexual violence prevention training each year as part of the College’s legal commitment to preventing sexual violence and as laid out in the Policy on Sexual Violence.
To access the training:
- Log into Omnivox
- Click on Moodle under the Academic Services menu (on the left)
We appreciate your cooperation, active participation and dedication to making our workplace a safe and supportive space for everyone.
Help us plant a micro forest at Dawson on Oct. 30
The Office of Sustainability is inviting the Dawson Community to come to the west side of the campus (closer to Wood Avenue) on Thursday, Oct. 30 any time between 10 AM-12 PM to participate in the Micro Forest Dig-In.
Come help plant native species, trees, edible bushes, and wildflower seeds! All gloves and tools will be provided. This is a great way for staff to use our weekly well-being hour.
The Office of Sustainability’s proposal to Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) to create a micro forest secured a Campus Climate Micro-Grant.
Diana Rice of the Office of Sustainability described the project in the proposal: "We will plant an adapted form of a micro forest based on a Haudenosaunee land conservation and rehabilitation practices (approximately 30 feet x 40 feet) on the Dawson grounds between the Peace Garden and Wood Avenue to decrease greenhouse gases in the atmosphere of our urban campus, continue to enhance our Living Campus learning space by creating another microhabitat to be used in program curricula for competency attainment, assessment, and evaluation; decolonize our land to design a uniquely Haudenosaunee version of a micro forest."
Thanks to all who gave blood
The Dawson community came through on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Héma-Québec blood drive on campus. A total of 158 donors gave blood over the two days surpassing the drive's goal set by Héma-Québec. Thank you!
Report on Sept. 30 and Beyond Walk
As part of Dawson’s Well-Being for All program, faculty in History and Coordinator of Decolonization and Indigenization Studies Certificate, Ben Lander volunteered his time to twice lead a group of students and staff/faculty on a walking tour that examined the colonial history of the land on which Dawson College and its nearby neighbours is situated….
Help the Food Bank feed students
The Food Bank of the Financial Aid Office supports students who need that extra help to get through their time at Dawson College. Our shelves are always in need of a little love. Please consider adding a few extra items to your grocery order and drop them off at room 4E.2 or 4E.5. The semester is in full swing, and the visits are getting more frequent. Items that are well loved include: pasta sauce, pasta, ready made soups, rice, noodles, tea, instant coffee, boxed non-dairy milk products, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, Kraft Dinner, Knorr Sidekicks. Thank you for your continued support!
Expanded Food Justice program advances well-being for all
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.
Weekly Work Pause for Health, Connection and Joy
Visiting a museum, going for an urban hike and playing games are some of the activities that Dawson employees have enjoyed during their workdays over the past year. The College’s Human Resources team launched weekly Well-Being Hours in the fall of 2024. Every employee may spend one hour of worktime each week focusing on their personal well-being.
“It has made me really appreciate our Dawson community and all the new initiatives the College has offered in the last couple of years to work on well-being and community building,” said Sophie La Font, Project Coordinator in the Office of Sustainability. “I have met a lot of lovely new people that work outside my typical work sphere. These activities have helped me to feel more engaged and refreshed.”
For some resources and ideas, check out the HR well-being Sharepoint page.
Visit the link to read about other colleagues' experiences using the well-being hours in the homepage news story.
Book a Living Campus tour
Living Campus Tours - This September: The Office of Sustainability loves to showcase the amazing work it has accomplished over the years with faculty, students, and various other partners! Take your students on a tour so they can get a sense of the campus, how they can volunteer as a Sustainabili-TEAM member with the Office of Sustainability (counts for ROSI hours) as well as all the different projects that have been spearheaded by students and faculty over the years.
Please visit the link to sign up for your tour!
Last Modified: November 6, 2025
