In the Community

World leader in science presented with honorary doctorate from VIU

March 4, 2009

Dr. Richard Beamish, who discovered the problem of acid rain in North America and a method of determining the accurate age of fish, will be attending a graduation ceremony for the first time in his life when Vancouver Island University pays tribute to his distinguished career by presenting him with an Honorary Doctorate in Science. “This will be the first graduation I have ever attended,” said... Read more


VIU brings the art of pampering to the central island

February 25, 2009

The Centre for Continuing Studies at Vancouver Island University (VIU) is pleased to announce the launch of two new certificate programs in Esthetics and Nail Technology. The programs will begin in May 2009 and will be held at VIU’s Parksville /Qualicum Centre. “Due to the boom in the spa industry, there has been demand for esthetics  programs  in our area for several years,” said Jennifer... Read more


Review: Pragmatism

February 23, 2009

Continuum has over two dozen guides in print now. Their goal is to provide clear, concise and accessible introductions to various philosophical writers, thinkers, and subjects that students and the general reader will find valuable in understanding the topics. For the most part the guides do just that and this one is no exception. Except for a few relatively minor typographical errors which... Read more


Biology grad part of international research team

February 23, 2009

Only a year after graduating from the Bachelor of Science program at Vancouver Island University, Jake Etzkorn is making a name for himself as an international researcher. Etzkorn works as a research technician for Environment Canada researcher Dr. Max Bothwell and recently as a senior research assistant with VIU’s Applied Environmental Research Laboratory (AERL) team. “Jake worked with the... Read more


VIU partners with Coast Salish Employment and Training Society

February 23, 2009

Vancouver Island University (VIU) and the Coast Salish Employment and Training Society (CSETS) in Duncan have signed a partnership that will secure 12 seats in the new Aboriginal Construction Program at VIU for CSETS clients. The program, which begins in April 2009, will build VIU’s new First Nations’ Gathering Place while giving students cultural knowledge and Industry Training Authority credit... Read more


VIU Engineering fairs challenge high school students

February 20, 2009

The Department of Physics and Engineering at Vancouver Island University is pleased to continue its 2nd Annual Engineering Fair competition with two events in February. These events introduce Grade 11 physics students to engineering practice through a design competition and interaction with local engineering firms. Schools within District 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith), 69 (Parksville-Qualicum), and 79... Read more


Campus group works to bring student refugee to VIU

February 20, 2009

If you want to change the world, you start by changing people's minds. These words, spoken by Vancouver Island University student Kalila Wilkinson, are representative of a student club at VIU dedicated to bringing a refugee from a developing country to study in Canada. That group of students is raising funds as part of the World University Service of Canada's (WUSC) Student Refugee Program,... Read more


Vancouver Island University Welcomes Celebrated Environmental Writer

February 20, 2009

Tim Lilburn is not the kind of environmental activist who spends his spare time chained to old-growth cedars or standing in front of big machines. “That is important work to do,” said Lilburn, “but the machines are going to keep on coming and coming." Instead, he does his own work by writing poetry and essays. Poetry and essays? Well, yes. Lilburn would rather be held captive by nature than by... Read more


VIU grad receives Alberta teaching award

February 20, 2009

By Jan Beecher Talk about a feather in her cap. Vancouver Island University Education graduate Jennifer Koganow recently received the Alberta School Board Association’s Edwin Parr Award recognizing her as one of the province’s best first year teachers. Koganow was shocked when she learned she had received the prestigious award, but her former instructors at VIU were not. “I can honestly say... Read more


Business students support charities

February 19, 2009

Third-year business students at Vancouver Island University raised over $4,200 for charity and practiced their professional selling skills at the same time. Students enrolled in instructor Duane Weaver’s Professional Selling class formed six teams and had one hour and 20 minutes to sell bottled water on the Nanaimo campus. “The project is designed to teach students how to be professional sales... Read more