In the Community

VIU graduate encourages students to embrace opportunity

June 4, 2011

Lori-Ann Shibish knows how to make the most of a university education. Nothing short of remarkable describes her accomplishments at Vancouver Island University over the past four years. Shibish received a Bachelor of Tourism Management degree (major in recreation) at the June 7 convocation ceremony at which she served as class valedictorian. She also received the Governor General Academic... Read more


Thousands watch VIU convocation ceremonies around the world

June 4, 2011

The world was watching as more than 650 Vancouver Island University students received university degrees this week in three convocation ceremonies at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo. For the first time, friends and family all over the world were able to watch VIU’s ceremonies live on the Internet. “VIU provided a live webcast of this year’s convocation ceremonies,” said VIU President Ralph Nilson... Read more


VIU honours 'renaissance man'

June 2, 2011

Dr. Marshall Soules is known as a professor who inspires students to stretch their imaginations and expand their thinking skills. Soules spent over two decades sharing his gifts as an educator with generations of students at Vancouver Island University, and now his contribution will be formally recognized when he receives an Outstanding Service Award at the convocation ceremony June 7. Whether... Read more


Wine Country chef Bernard Casavant honoured with VIU's Distinguished Alumni Award

June 2, 2011

Bernard Casavant was surprised in 1976 when he was singled out as the most promising graduate in the Culinary Arts Program at Vancouver Island University (then Malaspina College). He recalls that not many people had given him much of a chance in succeeding as a professional chef. After 35 years creating distinctive Western Canadian cuisine for fortunate diners including British Royalty and... Read more


In the news: VIU student helps woman, 70, who was trapped in car

June 1, 2011

By Walter Cordery, The Daily News June 4, 2011 Nanaimo's Derrick Kalicum just had to stop when he saw an elderly lady trapped in her car. On Thursday afternoon, Kalicum came across a car accident that turned into a hit-and-run. The 70-year-old woman was in a Toyota Matrix that was struck by a reddish-maroon vehicle at the intersection of Wakesiah Avenue and Second Street around 12:42 p.m. The... Read more


VIU and faculty reach agreement

May 26, 2011

(Released jointly by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Advanced Education) Vancouver Island University and the Vancouver Island University Faculty Association have accepted the recommendations of a Special Mediator and reached a two-year agreement, announced Finance Minister Kevin Falcon. The agreement covers approximately 300 faculty members at VIU. Stephanie Cadieux, the... Read more


VIU students earn Skills Canada medals

May 24, 2011

The first week of June will be a busy one for Ladysmith student Stryder Cooke. Cooke, who is nearing completion of a 10-month Career Technical Centre program at Vancouver Island University, recently won gold in the automotive service category at the B.C. Skills Canada competition. The 17-year-old is headed to Quebec City along with top students from across the country for the Skills Canada... Read more


VIU student wins national award

May 19, 2011

Mike Dillman, a fourth-year accounting student at Vancouver Island University, is a national award winner. He won first place and $500 in the 2011 Estey Undergraduate Student Paper Competition run by the Centre for Accounting Ethics at the University of Waterloo. The competition focuses on business ethics. Judging is a blind review process and the competition attracts submissions from across... Read more


Students provide winning suggestions to conserve energy at VIU

May 18, 2011

Travis Martin didn’t have to look far for a bright idea when Vancouver Island University held a contest to find inspiration for a way to save energy. The third-year student from Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, had an Earth Science class in VIU’s Faculty of Management building which is often bathed in sunlight. Martin suggests a “natural-lighting” campaign for the university with students,... Read more


Math students shine at VIU

May 16, 2011

Vancouver Island University recently hosted some of the brightest young minds on Central Vancouver Island at the final round of the 2011 BC Secondary School Math Contest (mid-island region). The event took place at VIU on May 6. The B.C. Secondary School Math Contest is an annual event organized by several colleges and universities across the province. This is the seventeenth year that VIU has... Read more