News Stories
VIU carpentry students learn by building tiny home
March 20, 2024
The home is being built at the Cowichan Trades Centre and will be delivered to a property in Saanich. Carpentry students are gaining real-world experience and providing a home in the process. The students are building a tiny home at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Cowichan’s Trades Centre. Program instructor Andrew MacLeod said the project came about somewhat unexpectedly after another... Read more
VIU Carpentry Program Partners With Nanaimo Hospice to Help Create Dream Home
March 7, 2022
Students will learn new technology and participate in the construction process. Students in the Carpentry program at Vancouver Island University (VIU) will be playing a big role in a new community project and it’s all for a good cause. The program is partnering with Nanaimo Community Hospice and the Canadian Home Builders’ Association – Vancouver Island (CHBA VI) to help construct a grand prize... Read more
VIU Hosts Virtual Event to Explore Careers in Trades and Applied Technology
May 6, 2021
WHAT: VIU Trades and Applied Technology Virtual Expo WHEN: Thursday, May 27, 3 – 7 pm WHERE: Online/Virtual Trades and applied technology programs at Vancouver Island University (VIU) can help students enter rewarding, high-paying careers after as little as nine months of school. Those interested in learning more about which careers may be a good fit can come to VIU’s first-ever, free Trades... Read more
Building Partnerships for Hands-on Learning Experiences
June 24, 2020
Community partnership ensures VIU carpentry students continue to get experience working on a real construction site while maintaining physical distancing guidelines. Experiential learning is vital for construction trades students to gain the skills they need to enter the homebuilding sector, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a new challenge at the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Carpentry program... Read more
Building Homes for a Nation
August 29, 2019
Malahat Nation is putting into action the “if you build it, they will come” concept through a partnership with Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) carpentry program. Since 2014, when George Harry Jr., Malahat Nation Chief, was a Foundations Carpentry student at VIU’s Cowichan campus, the university has partnered with Malahat Nation to build affordable housing on their land while offering... Read more
Trades Discovery Centre Builds Foundation for Future Workforce
August 1, 2019
Students and employees are enjoying the new learning space, which opened in fall 2018. When Jason Winchester came back to Vancouver Island University (VIU) in February for his carpentry apprenticeship training, he was excited to work in the new space. The Carpentry program is now located in the new Trades Discovery Centre, which opened in fall 2018 thanks to generous support from the federal... Read more