In the Community

VIU addressing Canada's Skills Shortage

October 10, 2012

VIU RELEASE: 2012/119 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2012 NANAIMO, BC - Vancouver Island University (VIU) is committed to working to address Canada’s skills crisis by training and educating leaders of tomorrow. That was the message from VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ralph Nilson in a luncheon address to the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce today. Referring to a... Read more


VIU hosts symposium on Food Security in Cowichan Valley

October 4, 2012

A hundred years ago, Vancouver Island produced 85 percent of its own food. What will it take to get there again? Vancouver Island University's new VIU@Cowichan Innovation Lab is sponsoring a day-long symposium on food security in the Cowichan Valley. Join local food activists, farmers and food producers, the public, students and faculty at VIU's Cowichan campus to explore the challenges and... Read more


VIU in the News - Cowichan students learning while taking double the credit

October 2, 2012

By Krista Siefken, Cowichan News Leader Pictorial September 29, 2012 Local high school students take their education a cut above the high-school level, learning hair stylings techniques in a program that gives them credit with both School District 79 and with Vancouver Island University. What education in the 21st century should look like is a topic of debate across the province, but for... Read more


VIU receives $500,000 bequest for student bursaries

September 27, 2012

“If you are educated, you are free.” Stanislaw Radzik Those were the sentiments of the late Stanislaw Radzik who made a bequest of more than $500,000 to create bursaries for VIU students. A bequest is a common planned giving donation, where donors include instructions in their will for part or all of their estate to be left to an institution such as VIU. Mr. Radzik placed a high value on... Read more


VIU in the News: McCarthy ready to take next step with Mariners women's hoops team

September 27, 2012

By Josh Aldrich, Nanaimo Daily News Heather McCarthy is hoping to take full advantage of the opportunity she will be given this year with the Vancouver Island University Mariners women's basketball team. The fourth year guard has worked her way from the far depths of the bench in her first year to being a big part of the team heading into this season. [Read more]() Read more


Local philanthropist donates $350,000 to VIU’S new nursing simulation lab

September 21, 2012

Thanks to the generous support of local philanthropist Sidney Sharman, VIU nursing students will now be able to get critical hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab to be built on the Nanaimo campus. Sharman’s donation of $350,000 combined with initial funding from Windsor Plywood ensures the funds are now secure to complete this critical project. “I think there’s no... Read more


Former whale-watching guide turns attention to much smaller species

September 21, 2012

Tegan Padgett was working as a whale-watching guide in Puerto Vallarta when she decided it was time to learn more about the natural world. “I knew I’d like to work in the field of biology so I decided I’d go back to school,” said Padgett, who was born in Vancouver and grew up in Powell River. “I like the combination of field work combined with lab work,” said Padgett, now in her fourth year at... Read more


Alternative film series fills cultural gap

September 21, 2012

Movie buffs looking for something different than mainstream films are invited to sign up for the Alternative Film Series Friday evenings at Vancouver Island University Oct. 5 to Dec. 7. “We’ll show thought-provoking international and independent feature films every Friday night for 10 weeks,” said Ron Bonham, a retired Vancouver Island University English professor who runs the Alternative Film... Read more


VIU hosts public forum on BC bioenergy production Sept. 27

September 19, 2012

A panel of four experts will discuss the challenges and potential for bioenergy production in BC at a free public forum hosted by Vancouver Island University Thursday, Sept. 27. “The world needs energy sources, but there are always tradeoffs,” said Greg Crawford, VIU’s Dean of Science and Technology. “Bioenergy is one area of energy we, as a society, need to think about. This forum will be a... Read more


VIU in the News: Mariner leads province after recovery from crash

September 19, 2012

By Ben Ingram Nanaimo Daily News Kalli Gordon has not let an injury that kept her off the golf course for eight months get in the way of having a solid season with the Vancouver Island Mariners. The 21-year-old was named Pacific Western Athletic Association player of the week for golf on Tuesday, following a tournament win at Hazelmere Golf Club in Surrey on the weekend that placed her atop... Read more