2026-08-27 – Newsroom

Product Design student and teacher win awards for women in STEM

The determination and creativity of Dawson College Product Design student Uyen Dao have earned her the Prix Excelle Science, presented by the Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie as part of the Chapeau! Les filles 2026 contest. The annual awards recognize women who choose careers and fields of study traditionally dominated by men.

Uyen described the recognition as the first "bloom" of her efforts and said it reassured her that she is on the right path after years of persistence and growth. She chose Dawson's Product Design program after realizing she wanted to do more than style products.

Visit the link to read the homepage news story and learn what Uyen wrote about her teacher Kim Webb.

Homepage news

New DG welcomes Dawson community to new semester and Dawson community welcomes new DG

Eager to hear from Dawson College's new Director General, Toby Harper-Merrett, employees packed the venue for the Welcome Assembly on Aug. 17, marking the start of the new academic year.

In his first remarks to the Dawson community, Toby shared insights into both his leadership approach and his personal background. While acknowledging that he is beginning his tenure from a learner's perspective, he also demonstrated an understanding of the Dawson community, its history, its current concerns, and the significant contributions the College makes to Quebec.

Visit the link for the homepage news story.

#DawsonProud

Social Service teacher recognized for her transformative impact on the program

For her exceptional contributions to Dawson College’s Social Service program and her commitment to student success, faculty member Marie-Eve Dufour received a mention d’honneur from the Association québécoise de pédagogie collégiale (AQPC) at its annual conference in May.

“Leadership, generosity and an unwavering commitment to student success make Marie-Eve a truly deserving recipient of this recognition,” said Azra Khan of the Office of Academic Development.

Visit the link for the homepage news story.

#DawsonProud, Homepage news

Dawson Theatre grad starred in 51-show run of Les Misérables this summer

Nathan Bois-McDonald, a 2023 graduate of Dawson College’s Professional Theatre program, has spent the summer playing Marius Pontmercy in a 51-show run of Les Misérables in Montreal and Quebec City. The production’s popularity in Montreal led organizers to add 18 extra performances.

Nathan describes Marius as “a young romantic rebel” whose arc moves from idealism and loss to resilience. “He goes to the barricades and all his friends who are there with him get killed,” he says. “He has some survivor’s guilt but decides to push on and live fully. He marries the daughter of Jean Valjean. His arc is incredibly satisfying to play as an actor.”

To learn about Nathan's career and experience at Dawson, visit the link for the homepage news story.

#DawsonProud, Homepage news

Selma Hamdani is Associate Dean of Creative & Applied Arts

On Aug. 3, Selma Hamdani began her new role as Associate Dean of Creative & Applied Arts at Dawson College. She brings extensive experience in teaching, learning, and academic leadership, having served as Interim Associate Dean of Science, Medical Studies and Engineering over the past year.

A dedicated member of the Dawson community since 2012, Selma is a passionate advocate for active learning. She co-led Dawson’s Active Learning Community of Practice and served as co-director of SALTISE, a Quebec-based network that promotes evidence-informed teaching and learning in higher education. Before moving into academic leadership, she taught in Dawson’s Psychology Department and coordinated the Psychology Profile within the Social Science Program. Selma holds a Master of Science in Psychology (Neuroscience) from McGill University.

Visit the link for the homepage news story.

#DawsonProud, Events

Save the dates for Dawson’s Fall Open House events

Students in Sec. IV and Sec. V, their family and friends are invited to Dawson's Fall Open House events.

This year, visitors will need to check the date that faculty and students from their program(s) of interest are present.

Sunday, Oct. 18, 1 PM - 4 PM: all pre-university and technical programs in Science, Medical Studies and Engineering
Sunday, Nov. 15, 1 PM - 4 PM: all pre-university and technical programs in Creative and Applied Arts and Social Science and Business Technologies

Office of Academic Development, Teaching & learning

The Faculty Learning Communities are back!

Are you interested in connecting with colleagues and exploring new approaches to teaching? Would you like to work through classroom challenges in a supportive setting? You might want to join one of our Faculty Learning Communities for 2026-27.

We offer five brand new communities that bring together faculty, professionals, and staff around topics ranging from teaching in the age of AI, planning assessments, and embodied learning to environmental sustainability frameworks and pedagogical re-enactment.

Visit the link for all the details and how to join.

Dawson Remembers, Events

20 years later, Dawson remembers

The Dawson College community, along with alumni, retirees, friends and supporters, are invited to gather on Friday, Sept. 11 for a 20-year commemoration of the Dawson tragedy.

On Sept. 13, 2006, student Anastasia De Sousa was killed, 19 others were wounded, and countless students, employees, families and community members were profoundly affected by the events that unfolded at the College.

In the years that followed, the Dawson community committed itself to teaching peace and promoting well-being for all. One of our first collective acts was to support a grassroots initiative that raised funds to create the Peace Garden, a lasting space for reflection, remembrance and hope.

You are invited to gather in the Peace Garden (outside on campus toward the corner of Wood Avenue and Sherbrooke Street West) at 12:30 PM on Friday, Sept. 11. To access the Peace Garden, walk west (turn left if exiting the front door at 3040 Sherbrooke Street West or right if facing the front door with your back to Sherbrooke Street)

#DawsonProud

Dawson resident horror expert’s new book

Archival Anxiety in Documentary and Mockumentary Horror looks at the ways fiction and nonfiction media have turned to horror discourses in addressing a reality of increasingly overwhelming mediation. From the experimentally ambiguous approaches of "gothumentaries" (Gothic documentaries) such as Homo Sapiens (2016) and Interceptés (2024), to the obsessive chroniclers of screenlife and fake found footage works such as Unfriended (2014), and The Outwaters (2022), the book traces a generalized millennial and 21st-century archival anxiety around an unsettled and unsettling hypermediated reality.

Kristopher Woofter, PhD, teaches in the English Department at Dawson College. He has published widely on horror and related subjects, including eco-horror, eco-pessimism, and the Weird tradition. His forthcoming work includes the co-edited collections The Routledge Companion to Global Horror (January 2027) and The Oxford Handbook of Shirley Jackson (2028). He is the editor of the journal Monstrum.

Dawson Gives

Sign up by Sept. 8 to play NFL survivor: a fun way to give back

For the past several years, Academic Dean Leanne Bennett has run an NFL survivor pool, largely as “an excuse to extend my football obsession well beyond what is probably reasonable,” she says.

This year, Leanne would like to extend the invitation to the Dawson community as a way to have fun and support the Dawson Food Bank.

Visit the link for Leanne's invitation to you. Don't wait, must sign up before Sept. 8.

#DawsonProud, Office of Academic Development

Building community at the Inclusion and Wellness Retreat

The fourth edition of Dawson’s Inclusion and Wellness Retreat took place on June 9 and 10 at the picturesque Far Hills Inn in the Laurentian mountains. Twenty-one people from a variety of departments gathered to explore ways we can design our teaching approaches, interactions, and courses to meet a wide range of student needs.

Visit the link to read what participants appreciated in the report.

Office of Academic Development

Support is available for teaching IN French

The Teaching in French Task Force is back this year with a team of three French teachers and one Pedagogical Counsellor. We look forward to supporting those teaching in French this semester or preparing to do so in the future.

The Teaching in French Task Force is available to support you with:

Designing or adapting learning activities and assessments for multi-level groups
Reviewing exams or instructions for clarity
Assessing the level of readings to ensure they are accessible for all students taking courses in French
Other challenges as they arise

You can reach us at teachinginfrench@dawsoncollege.qc.ca. The many resources we have developed are available on our SharePoint site.

-The 2026-27 Teaching in French Task Force (Laëtitia Desanti, Laurent Duval, Chantale Giguère, Jane Hudson)

Office of Academic Development

Ped Day proposals due Sept. 1

Submit your proposals for Dawson Ped Days via this FORM by Tuesday, Sept. 1 for possible presentation at either the Fall Ped Day on Sept. 25 or the Winter Ped Day on Jan. 13.

Dawson’s Ped Days aim to inspire, motivate, and help us connect with each other. We will explore various topics in teaching and learning, and the winter ped day will include thematic groupings and workable resources for participants. These Ped days are designed for faculty and educational professionals and address local priorities identified by teachers while supporting strategic objectives.

You are invited to present your explorations of innovative, inclusive, evidence-based practices that enhance learning, including across disciplines and learning environments.

If you wish to discuss your ideas, please do not hesitate to reach out to Azra Khan, pedagogical counsellor, OAD.

Health and Safety Committee

Reach out to Dawson’s Health and Safety Committee with any concerns

The College has an established a Health and Safety Committee responsible for addressing workplace health and safety matters affecting employees. The Committee meets regularly to review issues related to the campus environment and to identify proactive and preventive measures that support a safe and healthy workplace.

The College is committed to a collaborative approach to health and safety and welcomes input from any member of the community. You can reach out to the Health and Safety Representative (HSRep@dawsoncollege.qc.ca).

We wish you a good semester!

-The Health and Safety Committee

#DawsonProud, Awards Office

ICYMI: meet our Winter 2026 award recipients

Many of Dawson's Winter 2026 award recipients received their awards at Dawson's Graduation ceremonies on June 23.

You can see all the recipients here on the Awards Celebration page: https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/awards-scholarships/award-recipients/

#DawsonProud, Dawson Grads, Homepage news

ICYMI: two incredible valedictorian speeches

Julien-Alexandre Pinard, a graduate of the Education, Family and Childhood profile of Social Science, and Alexa Blasato, a graduate of the Enriched Health Science program, were the two valedictorians for the two graduation ceremonies on June 23 for Dawson's Class of 2026.

They both gave moving speeches that are well worth reading. The College featured each of them in website news stories and the text of their speech is at the bottom of each story:

Representing the Class of 2026: Julien-Alexandre Pinard takes the stage

From setback to strength: valedictorian Alexa Blasato’s journey of resilience and impact

Sustainability

Dawson DishShare: Making Sustainability Simple, One Dish at a Time

Looking to host an event at Dawson College and reduce waste at the same time? Say goodbye to single-use plastics and hello to the Dawson DishShare program. DishShare is a free, eco-friendly service brought to you by Dawson College’s Office of Sustainability.

Visit the link to learn about how you can use it for your next meeting or event.

Well-being for all

Finding motivation- 3 secrets to improve your goal setting

Richard Koestner, Professor of Psychology at McGill University, has spent more than three decades studying motivation and goal setting. On June 10, he shared insights from his research with Dawson employees during the College's Support Staff Training Day. The following notes summarize key points from his presentation.

One of the things he said is that Jan. 1 in our northern climate is a terrible time to set a new goal. It is easier when the weather is milder. The beginning of the new academic year could be a great time to think about goals.

Visit the link for his three secrets to setting goals that you can meet.

Facilities Management

New cafeteria and new food offerings at Dawson

Over the summer, Dawson's cafeteria on the second floor in the Upper Atrium was renovated and a new service provider took over its operation. "Our goal is to provide higher-quality food at affordable prices for the Dawson College community," says Jean-Philippe L’Heureux, Director of Operations for Sodexo Canada.

The cafeteria now features four main food stations:

The Grill, serving burgers, fries, poutine, pizza, chicken fingers, and other favourites.
Table du Chef, featuring daily creations prepared by our chef.
Global, offering internationally inspired meals.
Deli, providing made-to-order sandwiches and paninis.

Opening hours are:

Monday to Thursday: 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM

DawsonITE

DawsonITE is your curated news related to IST and Education prepared by Dawson's Rafael Scapin.

In this issue:

Professor's invisible prompt trap catches 32 students cheating on their midterm with AI
School uses AI instead of teachers for personalized learning: Co-founder breaks it down (Video)
Universities Experiment with Hidden Grades

Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026

Product Design student and teacher win awards for women in STEM

New DG welcomes Dawson community to new semester and Dawson community welcomes new DG

Social Service teacher recognized for her transformative impact on the program

Dawson Theatre grad starred in 51-show run of Les Misérables this summer

Selma Hamdani is Associate Dean of Creative & Applied Arts

Save the dates for Dawson’s Fall Open House events

The Faculty Learning Communities are back!

20 years later, Dawson remembers

Dawson resident horror expert’s new book

Sign up by Sept. 8 to play NFL survivor: a fun way to give back

Building community at the Inclusion and Wellness Retreat

Support is available for teaching IN French

Ped Day proposals due Sept. 1

Reach out to Dawson’s Health and Safety Committee with any concerns

ICYMI: meet our Winter 2026 award recipients

ICYMI: two incredible valedictorian speeches

Dawson DishShare: Making Sustainability Simple, One Dish at a Time

Finding motivation- 3 secrets to improve your goal setting

New cafeteria and new food offerings at Dawson

DawsonITE

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