PEOPLE
Friday, February 18, 2011
Surrey/North Delta Leader 45
Not bogged down THOUGH SHE didn’t win in the end,
Eliza Olson, president of the Burns Bog Conservation Society, was among the top 10 finalists in CBC’s 2010 Champions of Change, a national award that honours Canadian volunteers. Four of the finalists were from B.C. “Biodiversity in all of its forms is vital for our planet, and it was really great to see it represented by the variety of Eliza Olson Canadian volunteers on stage and by the different organizations that they volunteer with,” said Olson. “Two of us were nominated for the environment category, but even so, many of the issues that others were addressing were problems worsened, in some way, because of degraded environments.”
Accounting for experience FORTY-FIVE PROFESSIONAL accountants took time recently
to share with 180 Kwantlen Polytechnic University students what a career in accounting is really like. The Kwantlen Student Accounting Club and the accounting faculty of the Kwantlen School of Business joined forces on to bring real-world experience to students who might consider this career path. Accountants with CMA (Certified Management Accountant), CGA (Certified General Accountant) and CA (Chartered Accountant) designations came from a variety of organizations such as Terasen Gas, Canada Revenue Agency, KPMG Public Accountants and other employers. For more information, visit www.kwantlen.ca
The faces of victory and defeat Frank Hurt Secondary was honoured recently for having collected the second-highest amount of food in the city for the Surrey Food Bank during the holiday drive. A second, in-school competition, however, pitted classroom teachers against office and support staff to see which group could donate more. The teachers lost, and instructors Vasilis Koutsanikis and Gary Bal had to have their makeup done and wear jerseys of teams they dislike.
Troupe pays it forward
S From us to you Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society CEO Charan Gill (left) receives a $5,000 donation from father-and-son philanthropist duo Dave and Ricky Mann.
Nourishing educations SODEXO CANADA has presented a $100,000 donation to
Kwantlen Polytechnic University in support of financial awards for students. Sodexo’s contribution will support three annual awards for Kwantlen students over the next ten years. The first award, valued at $5,000, will recognize a student pursuing a degree in any area of study at Kwantlen who achieves academic excellence and participates actively in the community. The second award will be offered in the form of a $2,500 bursary, to a student experiencing significant financial need. The third award, valued at $2,500, will be available to a student who demonstrates community involvement and volunteerism. Sodexo is the on-campus food service provider for Kwantlen’s four campuses.
enior thespians are reaching across the generation gap to support young performing arts students at Douglas College. Members of the Society for the Preservation of Vaudeville (also known as The Vaudevillians) recently donated $3,800 to their endowment at Douglas College. The money came from a benefit concert held at the Surrey Arts Centre in November. “One of the most rewarding and satisfying projects of the Vaudevillians is the bursary established six years ago,” said Vaudevillians president Marvyn Shore. “The bursary over that time has built up to about $60,000, and approximately 20 students have benefited thus far.” Surrey resident Doris Carruthers and Pam McKinnon of Delta visited Douglas recently to present the donation to college associate vice-president of External Relations Hazel Postma and the interim dean of Language, Literature and Performing Arts Meg Stainsby. “Our students really appreciate the support from The Vaudevillians and the message they impart, which is that the arts can be a part of everyone’s life, no matter the age or the experience – it’s the joy of performing that counts,” Postma said. The Society for the Preservation of Vaudeville also hosts several dozen performances each year at seniors’ residences throughout Metro Vancouver.
In the running DELTA’S ALEX SANGHA is on
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Alex Sangha
the nomination list of RBC’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2011 Award. As someone who has been actively involved with mental health, gay and lesbian, environmental, and social issues, Sangha been at the forefront in educating Canada’s immigrant and mainstream communities
Senior thespians from the Society for the Preservation of Vaudeville present a cheque for $3,800 to Douglas College to be used to support performing arts students. From left are Pam McKinnon and Doris Carruthers of the Vaudevillians, Meg Stainsby, interim dean of Language, Literature and Performing Arts and Hazel Postma, associate vice-president of External Relations, both from Douglas College.
about a number of culturally tough-to-digest issues. Voting begins today (Feb. 18) and the results will be announced in May on www. canadianimmigrant.ca/top25 Sangha is the founder of Sher Vancouver, a social, cultural and support group for South Asian gay and lesbian individuals, and of Greener Steps Sustainable Living, an integrated eco-site to promote and support green
SECT ION CO-ORDINATOR: BOAZ JOSEPH (PHONE 604-575-2 744)
businesses. He is the co-founder of a mental health organization and has been speaking about mental illness for more than five years. He also secured funding from the BC Government and other donors to launch an antibullying initiative called the “DOSTI” (friendship) project. “It’s a complete honour to be nominated for such an important award,” said Sangha.