2026-10-15 – Newsroom

Thank you to Dawson’s amazing Support Staff

Dawson College would not function without the dedication of its approximately 200 support staff members. To recognize their contributions, the management team hosted a coffee break on Sept. 22 in the Employee Lounge (6B.1). Opened earlier this year exclusively for Dawson employees, the bright and welcoming space features banquette seating, private cubbies for quiet time, a kitchenette and games.

“On behalf of the management team, we would like to thank you for your daily efforts to keep the College running smoothly, particularly during this period of financial constraint,” wrote Pascahl Scott, Director of Human Resources, in her invitation to staff.

Pictured from left to right: Anu Kehar, administrative technician in Human Resources; Amira Kelner, administrative support agent in Human Resources; and Megan Ainscow, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs.

#DawsonProud

Ready for Science Open House on Sunday, Oct. 18

A big team of faculty, support staff, professionals and managers are getting ready to welcome our future students to Dawson College for Science Open House this Sunday, Oct. 18 from 1 PM to 4 PM. It is truly an Open House with no reservations or registration required.

This is an opportunity for prospective students, their families and friends to attend information sessions for pre-university Science programs, Computer Science Technology, Engineering and How to Apply.

The three-year professional programs in Science, Medical Studies and Engineering will also be staffing booths in the Upper Atrium and some will be taking visitors to tour their learning spaces.

The next Open House will be Sunday, Nov. 15 from 1 PM to 4 PM. That event will be dedicated to students who are interested in programs in Creative and Applied Arts and Social Science and Business Technologies.

Please invite the high schoolers and families in your networks. Visit the link to go to the Open House webpage.

Homepage news

Moving from failure to friction

Dr. Fiona Rawle encouraged Dawson faculty to shift the conversation from "failure" to "friction" during her keynote address, The Science of Learning from Failure, at Dawson’s Fall Ped Day on Sept. 24.

The word failure often carries feelings of disappointment, anxiety and hopelessness, noted Fiona, who holds a PhD in Pathology and Molecular Medicine and is Associate Dean, Pedagogical Development and Scholarship at the University of Toronto Mississauga and a Professor in the Department of Biology.

Visit the link for the homepage news story, which includes resources from Ped Day.

#DawsonProud, Academic News

Three decades of student creativity celebrated at gallery exhibition

Student artists from across three decades of Dawson's history are being highlighted in a new exhibition at the Warren G. Flowers Art Gallery, where works created between 1993 and 2026 have been brought together to showcase the talent, experimentation and achievements of Visual Arts students.

In an interview following the Oct. 8 vernissage, Amanda Beattie, Assistant Chairperson of the Fine Arts Department, reflected on the breadth of creativity represented in the exhibition and the strength of the Visual Arts program.

Visit the link for the homepage news story.

Office of Academic Development

Call for Facilitators: Faculty Learning Communities 2027-28

Want to connect with colleagues, engage in rich discussions about the scholarship of teaching and learning, and tackle teaching challenges as part of a convivial and collegial group? Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) might be the answer.

Visit the link for details.

#DawsonProud, Dawson Grads

Meet & greet with Computer Science alumni working at Deloitte

The Dawson Ada Society invited alumni working at Deloitte who graduated from the Computer Science Technology program for a casual conversation about life after graduation and navigating the tech industry on Sept. 30.

Visit the link for the story by Computer Science Faculty member Swetha Rajagopal.

Health and Safety Committee

Do you know where the emergency exits are near your workplace?

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the emergency exits closest to your usual work area. Look for the red illuminated “SORTIE” signs and take note of more than one possible exit route.

Consider discussing the evacuation routes with your colleagues and making a plan in case you need to evacuate.

Remember: the exit you normally use may not be the nearest or safest option during an emergency. Know your alternatives before you need them.

Milestones

In memoriam: Anne Legault and Lynn Gold

We regret to inform you that two Dawson colleagues passed away over the summer months.

Anne Legault who worked in the CLÉO centre for French tutoring and support passed away on June 16. Her obituary is here.

Lynn Gold, a retired English teacher, died July 17. Her obituary is here.

IST

October is Cyber Security Month

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month across Canada. This year's theme, "Your best defence is you, " is a reminder that cybersecurity is not only a technology issue but also a shared responsibility across our community. Cybercriminals use sophisticated techniques, including AI-generated scams, phishing emails, fraudulent text messages, and social engineering tactics that can appear legitimate at first glance.

In the coming weeks, you will receive an invitation from Dawson IT Support to follow a new cybersecurity awareness module. It should only take a few minutes and will give you some practical knowledge that can be applied both at work and at home. Additionally, if you have joined the College recently, you may be asked to complete some prior year modules.

IST has compiled some resources on our website.

Thank you for your cooperation and for doing your part to help keep Dawson College secure.

Office of Academic Development

Last call for proposals for Intercollegiate Ped Day

The deadline is Oct. 18 for proposals for Intercollegiate Ped Days (IPD). This year’s theme for the virtual event on January 12, 2027 is From Support to Learning: Exploring Dimensions of Well-Being in CEGEPs. Proposals should explore the theme/sub-themes and how they relate to teaching and learning in the CEGEP context and our pedagogical and institutional practices.

Please consult the Call for Proposals for details.

Student Services

Want to be on Dawson’s Halloween map?

Does your department want to be part of the candy trail this year? If your office would like to hand out candy during the Trick or Treating activity taking place on Friday, October 30 from 1:30 PM - 3 PM, please sign up in the link by Oct. 26: 2026 TRICK OR TREATING

Any department that is not part of Student Services will have to provide their own candy for approximately 150-200 students. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. " Let's allow our students to be kids for the day!

In the news/in social media

Richard Filion remembers

Former Director General Richard Filion shared his thoughts and memories of Sept. 13, 2006 in this interview published Oct. 5 on the website of the Portail du réseau collégial du Québec. Visit the link to read it.

Anne Carson books available at the Dawson library

Did you know that Dawson employees can borrow books from the Library? That includes books by Canadian author Anne Carson.

Last week Anne Carson was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature.”

Find these titles at the library:

Decreation: poetry, essays, opera - PS3553 .A7667 D43

Norma Jeane Baker of Troy: a version of Euripides's Helen - PS3553 .A7667 N67

Glass, irony, and God - PS3553 .A7667 G53 1995

Student Services, Well-being for all

Thank you from Héma-Québec

The Dawson community made a remarkable contribution during the Sept. 29-30 Héma-Québec blood drive. A total of 152 employees and students donated blood, including 16 first-time donors. After processing, these donations yielded 396 blood products used to help patients requiring transfusions.

"So many lives are saved thanks to you!" said Naderge Ceneston of Héma-Québec.

The next blood drive at Dawson will take place Feb. 16-18.

DawsonITE

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

In this issue:

5 Takeaways From Microsoft Global AI in Education Survey
Can you spot an essay written by AI?
I gave ChatGPT, Claude, and NotebookLM my entire semester, one was built for the way students study

Link: https://dawsonite.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/

Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026