MBA student helps build support for Oceanside youth program
November 9, 2010
Xin (Alec) Guan didn’t realize his martial arts background would come in handy when he enrolled in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Vancouver Island University. Guan studied taekwondo for three years at high school in WuHan in the Hubei province of China. His appreciation for the discipline and commitment of martial arts practice has helped him work with promoters of an... Read more
Students monitor record coho salmon run in Millstone River
November 5, 2010
Curious members of the public will have a unique opportunity to see salmon spawning in the city. A record number of coho are expected to travel up the 14-kilometre Millstone River through Bowen Park in Nanaimo this month. “It’s the perfect outdoor classroom for the public and students,” said John Morgan, Professor of Fisheries Management in the Resource Management Officer Technology (RMOT)... Read more
Pygmy Big Band dance and fundraiser Nov. 20
November 4, 2010
Get your dancing shoes ready. The second annual Pygmy Big Band Dance takes place at Bowen Park Auditorium in Nanaimo on Nov. 20. “This will be a delightful evening of music and dancing featuring four different big bands,” said Greg Bush, music professor at Vancouver Island University (VIU). “It will be the event of the season.” Last year’s dance sold-out and generated $6,000 for music... Read more
Education opens world of opportunities for refugee students at VIU
November 4, 2010
Vancouver Island University students are paying 72 cents each this semester to help Aden Abdi Ahmed start a new life in Canada. Ahmed travelled more than 14,000 kilometres from a refugee camp near the village of Dadaab in northeastern Kenya to begin his educational journey at VIU. Born in Somalia, Ahmed was among more than 100,000 refugees living in three camps in the region. According to UNHCR... Read more
Dark comedy opens Thursday at VIU
November 3, 2010
Vancouver Island University Theatre department’s fall production of The Arsonists, opens at Malaspina Theatre at the Nanaimo campus on Thursday, Nov. 4. The show is unique in that director Barbara French, costume designer Michelle Kuzilla-Spoor and set designer Wendy Karpulik are all alumni of the theatre program. French graduated from VIU’s Theatre program in 1997. She went on to get a Master... Read more
Mariner men's soccer team wins provincial title
October 30, 2010
VIU Mariner men's soccer team won the provincial title in the 2010 in the BC Colleges Athletic Association (BCCAA) tournament. Now they will compete in the national championship in Alberta. A 2-0 victory in the finals over University of Northern BC Sunday evening in Surrey was golden. Jared Stephens was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament and best forward while Matt Mehrassa earned... Read more
Poets on Campus series features two writers Nov. 8
October 30, 2010
Celebrated writers Don Domanski and Alissa York will read their work 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 8 at the Library Writing Centre on the Nanaimo campus. The readings by the award-winning poet and novelist are the third event in the 2010/11 Poets on Campus series at Vancouver Island University (VIU). Don Domanski, VIU’s 2005 Gustafson Chair of Poetry who lives in Halifax, has published eight books of... Read more
Book talks aim to inspire readers
October 29, 2010
As days become shorter and nights are colder, it’s prime time for curling up with a good book. Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) and the English Department of Vancouver Island University (VIU) are teaming up to provide free book talks to intrigue and inspire readers at VIRL branches. “My colleagues and I do what we do because we are endlessly fascinated by the ways in which language... Read more
Indonesian children benefit from international collaboration
October 26, 2010
The Early Childhood Education department at Vancouver Island University (VIU) is making a positive difference in children’s lives not only in Canada, but also on the other side of the world. VIU faculty helped Widya Mandala Catholic University in Surabaya, Indonesia develop new curriculum for teachers and childcare workers. The initiative, part of a five-year collaborative project funded by... Read more
Take back your sidewalks: Creating pedestrian-friendly communities for seniors
October 23, 2010
A free forum on pedestrian-friendly communities for older persons in Qualicum Beach and Parksville will be held on Nov. 2nd from 10 am – 2 pm at the Qualicum Civic Centre for registered participants. This first of its kind event will explore the issue of creating safer pedestrian environments for older adults by bringing concerned community members together with experts to take part in a... Read more