Green roof sprouts at Nanaimo campus
December 12, 2011
The Gathering Place for First Nations and other students at Vancouver Island University is now covered with native grasses and other species. A crew from Victoria-based Paradise Cityscapes laid a membrane, spread a layer of growing media and planted sedum, fescues and other plants that are well suited to growing conditions on the 3,000-square-foot roof of Shq’apthut: A Gathering Place. Some of... Read more
VIU in the News: Vancouver Island University's newest building gets 'green' roof
December 9, 2011
Project will become the focus of a biology study to measure carbon offsets By Darrell Bellaart, Nanaimo Daily News A layer of topsoil on the roof of the Vancouver Island University's newest building will soon be blanketed with a multi-coloured display of ground-covering foliage. A green roof planned for the aboriginal Gathering Place is finally being installed, two years after construction... Read more
VIU launches new degree program in social work
December 8, 2011
Vancouver Island University is launching a new online Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree program. “We’re accepting student applications for this new program immediately,” says Pat Konkin of the Faculty of Health and Human Services. “The first intake starts in August 2012.” The online program will provide social work education that addresses local, national and global needs. “One of our... Read more
Regional partnership enhances business career opportunities for First Nations students
December 7, 2011
There was added reason to celebrate at the First Nations Christmas feast Dec. 7 at Vancouver Island University. The lunch-hour event at Shq’apthut: A Gathering Place marks the beginning of a new partnership between Vancouver Island University and Ch’nook Indigenous Business Education. Ch’nook encourages First Nations students to pursue educational opportunities in business and related fields... Read more
VIU training programs boost employment prospects
December 7, 2011
Vancouver Island University is recruiting eligible students for tuition-free employment training programs which start in the new year. The programs are designed to help unemployed people get back into the workforce, and employed individuals requiring skills-upgrading to improve their job prospects. “VIU has received upwards of $700,000 this year under the provincial Employment Skills Access... Read more
Annual student art sale on Wednesday
December 6, 2011
VIU Department of Art and Design presents the annual student art sale Wednesday, Dec. 7. Look for paintings, sculpture, ceramics, art cards, prints and photographs from 10 am to 2 pm in Arts Building (325), upper floor. Pieces sell from around $3 to $500 with paintings in the $100 to $450 range. View samples of the students' work on [Flickr]() Read more
Poetree blossoms at Vancouver Island University
December 5, 2011
Poets on Campus, the Creative Writing Department and Portal Magazine are joining forces to celebrate the launch of Poetree – a new online showcase for poetry at Vancouver Island University. Poetree, a concept originated by creative writing and poetry instructor Marilyn Bowering and further developed and designed by students Emily Smythe and Jingzhi Zhou, is a new digital poetry project website... Read more
Tourism grad wins provincial award
December 2, 2011
Vancouver Island University graduate Lori Ann Shibish is the winner of a provincial tourism award. Shibish, who graduated last June with a Bachelor of Tourism management degree, received the Tourism Industry Association of BC's (TIABC) Pat Corbett Leadership undergraduate award recognizing her academic excellence and exceptional leadership qualities. The award was presented at TIABC’s 12th... Read more
Cooking up career changes at VIU
December 2, 2011
Two students in Vancouver Island University’s Culinary Arts program have the winning recipe on how to cook up a career change. “Just do it,” says Wes Carter, a former painting contractor who hung up his brush after 27 years. “You won’t regret it,” adds Rod Fedosoff, a former salesman at Home Depot who lost his job due to company downsizing. Both in their mid-50s, Fedosoff and Carter are among... Read more
VIU's Foundation releases $150,000 to support new learning environments
November 30, 2011
To celebrate VIU’s 75th anniversary, the University's Foundation Board has approved the release of $150,000 in matching funds to support two of VIU’s newest facilities: the Deep Bay Marine Field Station and Shq'apthut, the Aboriginal Gathering Place. The announcement was made at the Festival of Trees gala fundraiser last weekend. “Our Foundation feels it’s important to enhance the generosity... Read more