NC Students Beaten, Terrorized in Series of Violent Home Invasions
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niagara-news.com ROCKIN’ FASHION LOOKS THE SCOTTIES TO FAITH NN PAGE 11 PAGE 6 NIAGARA NEWS MARCH 17 2017 • VOL. 48 ISSUE 12 STARS IN HIS EYES Niagara College graduate, Ben Laurence, lands his dream job in aerospace By LYDIA VERSLUIS Staff Writer When he was in the sixth grade he created a back- pack with wings which was powered by his bicycle. Now that he’s older, Ben Laurence is literally shoot- ing for the stars. The Welland native packed up his life in the Niagara region to accept a position at Blue Origin in Seattle, Wash. Blue Origin is an aero- space manufacturer launched by Amazon’s andfounder spaceflight Jeff Bezos. services learned of the opportunity atLaurence Blue Origin had through first the networking website Linke- dIn. He had messaged back and forth and went down for an interview. The whole process took roughly a year and a half. “This is beyond what I have ever dreamed,” said Laurence in a press release. “My family has always been immersed in aviation and I’ve always wanted to work with airplanes even as a kid. The fact that right now I have a chance to work with space craft is just Niagara alumni, Ben Laurence, will be leaving his current position at the college to pursue his career aspiration of working for the U.S. based mind-boggling.” aerospace company Blue Origin. PHOTO BY LYDIA VERSLUIS Continued on page 2 NIAGARA NEWS INVESTIGATION y friend NC students beaten, terrorized Mwas up against the wall in series of violent home invasions with a knife Harrowing accounts of targeted attacks at student housing near Welland campus against his By RYAN THORPE and they were robbed, beaten ing accounts comes from gun pointed at me.” the door, made their way in, throat. I was in ALEX YORKE and threatened with guns the most recent home inva- That robbery at 426 First emptied out the drawers,” Staff Writers and knives. One student sion on Feb. 18. Ave., began at about 10 p.m. Carson continued. “They my room after was stabbed and two were Ethan Carson was watch- and resulted in multiple as- grabbed all of the money, At least six Niagara Col- hospitalized as a result of ing a movie in his bedroom saults and the theft of cash emptied the safe and took being told to go lege students have been ter- the attacks. One was treated when he saw three armed, and drugs. whatever was in the closet, rorized by a series of violent for post-traumatic stress. masked men run past his Within 20 minutes the which I believe was a huge home invasions at Block The Niagara Regional door. attackers were gone. bag of pot.” back in there Property Niagara (BPN) stu- “My friend was up All of the victims were The students say the dent housing since the fall, a nature of the attacks, but against the wall with a current, or former, Niagara robbery was a targeted with a shotgun Niagara News investigation Policedeclined (NRP) to comment confirmed on the knife against his throat,” College students in the attack on an alleged local has discovered. said Carson. “I was in my Broadcasting – Radio, Tele- drug dealer living at the pointed at me. In interviews with Niaga- the victims. room after being told to go vision and Film program. residence. ra News, students reported specificOne of details the more described harrow- by back in there with a shot- “They had kicked down Continued on page 8 ETHAN CARSON Page 2 NIAGARA NEWS • March 17, 2017 NEWS Designing rocket ships for future Continued from page 1 sought him out. Laurence had been “We are very excited that working for the college’s Research and Innovation dream job in aerospace Bendesigning has finally rocket nailed ships his in the Mechanical Engi- for future space travel. I Divisionneering program since his backfirst yearin am very proud of him,” 2012. Two years later he Lambert said in a press re- was promoted to Senior lease. “Although he will be Research Associate. missed, we are encouraged Laurence continued to knowing that his years work at the Research and spent with Niagara College Innovation Division after faculty and staff are forever he graduated in 2015. woven into the fabric of “Working in the Re- Ben’s ongoing technologi- search Centre has given cal career.” me such a unique skill Leaving the college and set that I would not have the Niagara region was been able to get anywhere else, because of the nature he is excited to begin a new of the work we do here,” difficultchapter infor his Laurence, professional but Laurence said. “We’re often career. There will be plenty of food on hand at this years Seafood Gala. SUBMITTED PHOTO “I was super excited to touching the software or work here at the college. thetouching first organization the equipment that’s I love everything about or trying to apply it to real working here. It’s such a problems that the industry great team and, honestly, faces.” I’d love to come back to the Manager of the Walker college someday. I think Seafood, eat food Advanced Manufacturing what the college does is Innovation Centre Jim Lam- super important,” he said. Niagara College Foundation holds its annual gala fundraiser on April 1 bert said Laurence is a real “Life is good and Niagara is success story and that it is such a beautiful place with By JESSICA ANDERSEN terson, was vice-president support generated through silent and live auctions no wonder Blue Origin had so much opportunity.” Staff Writer of Community Ventures for this event, thousands of stu- valued at over $100,000. Niagara College, according dents have had the opportu- The gala’s success is due Niagara College’s Foun- to an article that was pub- nity to pursue and achieve in large part to major spon- dation is holding the 28th lished in the April 19, 1991 their educational dreams.” sors, including Fallsview Annual Seafood Gala on issue of the Niagara News. The popular event in- Casino Resort (presenting Saturday, April 1, 2017 at The story said there cludes a spectacular buffet, sponsor), Rankin Construc- the Fallsview Casino Resort were 800 pounds of lobster live entertainment, both tion Inc. (admiral spon- Grand Hall in Niagara Falls. for 315 guests and was a live and silent auctions, and sor), and the Niagara Falls The reception starts at 6 fundraiser for the college’s is supported by more than Review, the St. Catharines p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Hospitality and Tourism 100 student volunteers Standard and the Welland Tickets are set at $250 program. Twelve chefs from a variety of program Tribune (media sponsors). per person and the tables cooked for two days in areas. The Seafood Gala is the seat 10 people. There preparation for the event. This event features a buf- most successful annual are non-seafood options “The Seafood Gala is our fet with a variety of seafood fundraising event, raising available for recipients and premier fundraising event dishes, accompanied by over $2.5 million in its 27- clothing is formal. in support of our students,” Niagara College wines. year history for equipment This prestigious event said Patterson in a press Guests enjoy an evening and learning resources as began in 1990 when cur- release from last year. - well as scholarships and rent president, Dan Pat- “Thanks to the generous ment, music, dancing and bursaries. filled with live entertain College unveils 5-year plan By ALEX YORKE the challenges and oppor- college” which outlines alike and more importantly, Staff Writer tunities that lie ahead,” said how the college will con- driven every major advance Niagara College President tinue to integrate cutting that Niagara College has Niagara College is getting Dan Patterson in the plan’s edge new ideas into techni- achieved.” ready to roll out a new opening statement. cal programs, such as the The College will also con- strategic plan that was “Our plan provides a recent announcement to tinue to emphasize creativ- approved by the Board of common purpose that will begin teaching automotive ity and entrepreneurship Governors for the period of unite our college com- students how to preform by supporting innovative 2017-2021. munity in pursuit of our electric vehicle mainte- ideas within the commu- The plan details how vision of enriching lives nance. nity by providing avenues Niagara College will con- “The College’s success for funding and appropri- tinue to adapt to a changing our mission of providing has been and continues to ate resources to special post-secondary education andoutstanding fulfilling applied dreams, educa and - be founded on its un- projects. market through increasing tion for a changing world,” wavering commitment to “At a time when economic diversity and broaden- Patterson continued. an unparalleled learner growth is so closely tied to ing the opportunities for “Teaching and learning experience,” said Chair of highly skilled and adapt- intercultural study, allow- remain at the heart of who the Board of Governors able workforces," said ing students to “be world we are and everything Carolyne Watts. Watts, "Niagara College ready.” that we do. Our collective “That commitment pio- has developed a forward- “As post-secondary commitment to the success neered at Niagara College looking strategic vision and education faces its most of our students is woven - commitment to excellence throughout our strategic sistent ranking among the that will serve to further we have leveraged the plan.” andtop tierreflected of Ontario in our colleges con differentiate it from its significantstrengths in shift developing in decades, a One of the main high- for student satisfaction has peers across the postsec- strategic plan that leads us lights of the plan is the differentiated it from com- ondary education sector to success as we adapt to concept of the “preemptive petitors and collaborators and beyond.” NIAGARA NEWS • March 17, 2017 Page 3 NEWS/OPINION Farm to table, Space to Spoon New initative uses data from satellites to give more complete map to predict trends to benefit farmers By KATHLEEN DRISCOLL warming and the data it Staff Writer has collected has helped the agricultural sector In conjunction with overcome new hurdles.