VIUPoints: 5 Questions with Gerry Sylvester

Gerry Sylvester, left, poses with his son, Cam Sylvester, Regional Director - North America for Lattitude Global Volunteering, and VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ralph Nilson in front of the new Health and Science Centre construction site.

January 10, 2018 - 3:15pm

Vancouver Island University (VIU) recently hosted a very special guest – one of the Institution’s first presidents! Gerry Sylvester was Malaspina College’s second president, from 1979 to 1981. Before coming to Malaspina, Sylvester taught at Notre Dame University College in Nelson and Vancouver Community College, and served as the Dean of Instruction at Langara College. He was also successful in business, helping to found an asphalt company in Trail and he built and operated a number of gas stations throughout the Okanagan for a Canadian oil company. After Malaspina, he worked in administration at the College of New Caledonia and Vancouver Community College. His educational legacy continued after retirement when he helped found Corpus Christi College on the UBC Campus. Sylvester's recent visit to VIU included having lunch and a quick photo op with Dr. Ralph Nilson, VIU’s current President and Vice-Chancellor.

 

What is your favourite memory from your time at VIU?

I really enjoyed going to the Powell River Campus to help develop academic preparation courses and cultural programs.

 

How is VIU different now compared to when you were president?

There are so many first-rate academic programs here now, in addition to an even wider range of vocational training options. There is a real recognition of First Nations as a key component of the student body and culture of the university.

 

What accomplishment are you most proud of during your time here?

I’m proud of working with the board to keep the Island Highway from running right through the middle of campus by moving a vocational building onto the academic side of the campus to force the government to find another route. I also remember the Culinary Arts program instructors competing in the Culinary Olympics, where they took the gold medal. Finally, I’m proud of getting a local company to build a student residence at their cost to supply much-needed dorm facilities.

 

Tell us about your work with First Nations programming and how you applied that at Malaspina.

At Langara College, I set up the First Nations program in the late ʾ60s or early ʾ70s, and many of the First Nations artists who are well-known today came to work at our facilities there – people like Donny Yeoman, and Robert and Reg Davidson. At Malaspina, I got the board to return the gift of a Japanese Garden from Tamagawa University with a Totem Pole carved and raised by Robert and Reg Davidson. On my recent visit to VIU, I was happy to see the totem poles and the impressive Gathering Place for Indigenous students located in the heart of the VIU campus, recognizing the importance of the contributions of the culture of these students.

 

What does reconciliation mean to you and what can Canadians do to work toward reconciliation?

It means intellectual and de facto justice and equality for all Canadians. We need greater efforts to right past wrongs, by recognizing equality, treating everyone with respect, guaranteeing basic rights like clean water and education. In many ways, VIU appears to be taking important steps in the right direction. I believe the greatest power in the world is love, so love your neighbour as yourself.


Tags: 5 Questions


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