Celebrating National Pet Week! Tips to keep your dogs and cats safe

 

Did you know that May 2-6 is National Pet Week? Our friends from Algonquin College’s veterinary programs provided us with a list of the most common poisons harmful to dogs and cats.

If you think your pet has ingested a toxin, please contact your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away. Pet parents can also find more information at  https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/ or https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Keep this list handy to keep your pet safe.


It’s the annual CMHA Mental Health Week! #GetReal

The theme this year is all about empathy. These past two years more than ever have shown us as individuals that we have the ability to imagine what life is like for someone else. The important piece in doing so is we need to also recognize that sharing in the individual feelings doesn’t mean we also jump in to fix it.

Empathy is something you can learn if it doesn’t come naturally to you. #GetReal on how to help. “You don’t have to agree to understand, and you don’t have to fix it to help.” www.cmha.ca.

Read more >


Volunteer opportunities re-starting at Algonquin College

Looking for volunteers for an upcoming event? No problem. The AC Volunteer Centre has re-opened and is ready to help you find volunteers for activities of all kinds.

Elizabeth Holmes is the community engagement officer at the AC Hub in the Volunteer Centre overseeing the re-launch. “Our programming is back but may look a little bit different with the new hybrid nature of work and school at the College,” she said.

Holmes is excited to have opportunities available to students. “For the first time in over two years, we will have in an AC Day 1 presence with 25 volunteers working alongside the AC Hub’s student navigators,” she said. Student navigators are employed by the AC Hub and work to help support students as they begin their studies here at Algonquin College. “They are going to be in residence and assisting with questions like giving directions, or figuring out where orientation for programs are, answering any questions at all. If a student is looking for a building, a student volunteer will be able to walk them there.”

“We hope this is the first of many (returning and new) volunteer opportunities,” said Holmes.

Since February, Holmes has been fielding requests for volunteers from many community organizations like the HOPE Volleyball Tournament and Ottawa Race Weekend. She’s hoping to start hearing from on-campus services looking for volunteers as well.

“We are up and running and here to collaborate with different departments, services, faculty and programs,” said Holmes. “We are looking forward to connecting and engaging with the campus community.”

Website updates allow those interested to sign-up for a volunteer mailing list so they can be notified when positions and opportunities become available. Current opportunities are listed along with areas to showcase different organizations.

“It’s been tough to feel a sense of community on campus,” said Holmes, “but as things are opening up we are excited to re-engage and get students the most of their post-secondary experience. Volunteering is a great way to do that.”

Have a volunteer opportunity or wish to volunteer? Email volunteer@algonquincollege.com.