Imagine VIU campaign exceeds goal raises $7.3 million dollars

New in this update:SD-68 Island Connect Program sees enrolment quadrupled The Nanaimo Ladysmith School District has hired 28 new teachers to handle the increase in students opting to learn from home, rather than be in classrooms full time. The District says it's Island Connect Program enrollment quadrupled this year. The program provides at-home learning with a half-day of classroom time every week. A second, temporary learn-at-home program was also created this year, to address concerns about returning to classrooms in the midst of a pandemic. It allows students to keep their spot in their school and decide by early November if they want to return, or continue with at-home learning. The District's Superintendent says 456 students have enrolled in the "Transition Learning Program." Scott Saywell says instruction for those students started on Tuesday."We started our transition learning program this week, which involves another 400 students It's the equivalent of starting a whole new school in a couple of weeks."—SD-68 Superintendent Scott Saywell.Saywell says 17 temporary full-time teachers have been hired for the Transition Learning Program and 11 more teachers have been hired for the Island Connect Program.Imagine VIU campaign success now funding student assistance A capital fundraising campaign at Vancouver Island University has been so successful, it's allowed for the creation of millions of dollars in student assistance. Over the past two years, the Imagine VIU campaign raised $7.3 million dollars, exceeding its goal of $5 and a half million dollars. The campaign helped fund the Dr. Ralph Nilson Centre for Health and Science, the Windsor Plywood Trades Discovery Centre and the District Geo-Exchange Energy System building. An additional $2 million dollars raised in the building campaign will now be spent on new scholarships, awards and bursaries for students.Trudeau urges Canadians to bend the curveThe Prime Minister says Canada is at a crossroads when it comes to battling COVID-19. Justin Trudeau took to the airwaves late yesterday afternoon, urging Canadians to bend the curve."The second wave isn't just starting. It's already underway. We're on the brink of a fall that could be much worse than the spring. And we can't change today's numbers or even tomorrow's. Those were already decided by what we did or didn't do two weeks ago. But what we can change is where we are in October and into the winter. It's all too likely we won't be gathering for Thanksgiving, but we still have a shot at Christmas."—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.The Prime Minister is asking Canadians to heed the advice of public health officials to limit bubbles, wear masks and avoid parties. He is also asking Canadians to get a flu shot this year and to download the government's COVID-19 Alert app.