Around the ring

Help the kids, buy a raffle ticket
Raising money to send children with disabilities to Camp Shawnigan is easier than ever, now that the UVic community is putting together a team for the 24-Hour Relay for the Kids on June 22 and 23 and holding a fundraising raffle. Last year the UVic team contributed $5,100 to the Easter Seal camp. Organizers want to double that amount this year, and they hope to do that with the addition of a fundraising raffle. Prizes include: an IBM Thinkpad, Lexmark printer and carrying case; a weekend at Pacific Shores Resort in Parksville and use of a Mercedes Benz during the weekend; and more. Tickets are one for $2, three for $5, or six for $10. For more information and tickets contact Kelly Ignacio at 721-6011 or kignacio@uvic.ca or Amelia Santos at 721-6110 or asantos@uvic.ca.

Math mania strikes again
Kids, parents, teachers and the general public are invited to discover the wonders of math at Lampson Street Elementary School (670 Lampson Street) on Tuesday, May 28, 7–8:30 p.m. when the UVic branch of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS) presents “Math Mania,” its popular biannual math education event. The evening will feature a series of interactive displays, games and art designed to demonstrate the math and computer science in everyday devices and concepts. Hands-on activities will include bubble-blowing, making geometric figures from straws and paper and an assortment of mind-bending games. For more information call Timea Halmai at 472-4271.

UVic president visits Port Alberni
UVic President Dr. David Turpin has been travelling across the province during the past few months, meeting with community leaders to see how UVic can make a difference in their regions. Last fall he visited Kamloops and Vancouver and on April 24 he met with community leaders in Port Alberni. After lunching with the Nuu-chah-Nulth Tribal Council education advisory committee, Turpin hosted a community forum where he and more than 45 participants discussed how the university could better serve the region. They also talked about how the Island Medical Program would help solve the area’s doctor shortage and the role that the massive Coasts Under Stress interdisciplinary research project will play in determining the social, ecological and scientific impact that changes to the natural environment have had in coastal communities. The fact that community groups in the Clayoquot Sound region are learning to adapt to changing global markets because of the Clayoquot Alliance for Research, Education and Training Project was discussed, as was the way the research alliance between the Rollins Art Centre, UVic’s department of history in art and the Maltwood Art Museum helps the centre catalogue its collections. In the evening, Turpin and other UVic officials hosted a reception for the university’s alumni. On May 2 Turpin travelled to Vancouver where he spoke to the Business Council of B.C. on the role of universities in British Columbia’s economic renewal.

Education alumni chapter launched
With massive changes coming to public education across the province educators need a place to go to find support and information, and tap into the experiences of their colleagues. These are some of the many benefits that UVic education grads are starting to reap from the new faculty of education alumni chapter, which was launched at a reception in April. More than 170 graduates of the faculty and its predecessor, the Victoria Provincial Normal School, came from all across southern Vancouver Island to renew old friendships, learn about new developments in the field, and hear messages of welcome from UVic president Dr. David Turpin and education dean Dr. Budd Hall. Speakers also included Joyce Flett (PNS ’34-5) and Shane Brown (BEd ‘01), who shared their perspectives across two-thirds of a century of teacher training. The oldest alum present was Percy Wilkinson (PNS ‘27) who is 98 years-old. Founding co-chairs of the education chapter are Wendy Gedney (BEd ’83) and Kevin Dranchuk (BEd ’00). For further information, call the faculty of education at 721-7757.

UVic seeks employers for language program
Local employers can receive federal wage assistance for short-term employees and help unify Canada this summer by participating in the Languages at Work program through UVic’s English Language Centre. Each summer for the past five years, francophone students perfecting their English at the English Language Centre have broadened their English-language skills through eight-week work placements. Once again this summer, employers in the private, public and non-profit sectors are invited to participate. Work placements will run for eight weeks, starting July 1. The program will provide 60 per cent of the employers’ wage costs, based on the B.C. minimum wage. The students are typically in their late teens to early 20s and will have completed a five-week intensive English language course at UVic. Interested employers are urged to contact program administrator Andrea Mus, 721-8469 before May 31.