By Taylor Johnson (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: February 27, 2013
Last Monday saw the addition of a new centre to the UFV community.
Previously two completely separate centres, the new UFV Centre for Safe Schools and Communities is the combination of the old BC Centre for Safe Schools and Communities and the BC Centre for Social Responsibility.
These two organizations specialize in school and communal safety, addictions, and mental health of British Columbians. It seemed logical that the two centres, which were working towards the same goal, would pool together into one larger centre. This is the event that UFV celebrated last week: the reopening of the two centres, joined together in a new form.
The site itself will remain on the King road campus in Abbotsford permanently, but the celebratory re-launch took place at UFV’s Clearbrook location. About 50 participants were given the opportunity to join in workshops and learn about the new centre.
The reopening included lectures by mental health professionals, and workshops revolving around suicide prevention and youth mental health.
The UFV Centre for Safe Schools and Communities’ goal is to unite British Columbians and students of various disciplines in living, learning and working in safer, healthier schools and communities.
Although the name indicates exclusivity to UFV and its students, the centre itself does not work only through the university. The centre will also offer a variety of educational opportunities for both students and non-students, paid and unpaid.
The centre has recently experienced a variety of student interest, from the area of Criminology and Social Work to students in other departments.
Coordinator Annette Vogt sees this diversification as an exciting direction for the centre. She is pleased that students from different disciplines have taken interest and become passionate about safer schools and communities. After all, she says, the centre is dealing with issues that affecte everyone. She sees the centre as a hub for learning, where networking amongst individuals can promote success, and encourages any student or faculty member to get involved in the process.
