In the Community

Three installation art pieces by Connie Michele Morey at the View Gallery.

VIU’s View Gallery presents Threadbare, an exhibit by Connie Michele Morey

September 11, 2024

What: Threadbare, an exhibit by Connie Michele Morey When: Exhibit runs until November 1. Opening reception and artist performance September 20 from 4 to 6 pm Where: VIU’s View Gallery Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) View Gallery hosts Threadbare, an exhibit by artist Connie Michele Morey. Threadbare runs until November 1 with an opening reception and artist performance on September 20,... Read more


VIU tiwšɛmawtxʷ on a sunny day

VIU’s tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus invites public input on future of post-secondary training in region

May 24, 2024

Residents can have their say through a survey and in-person session. Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) tiwšɛmawtxʷ campus is planning for the future delivery of post-secondary education and training in the qathet region. The plan will ensure that program delivery reflects the needs of the community while contributing to the health and well-being of the region. Input from community will... Read more


Wildfire with silhouettes of trees

VIU News & Experts: May 1

May 1, 2024

Experts on harm reduction, wildfires and politics 🗣️ In this issue of VIU news & experts:  Substance use in public places: Harm reduction advocate and Nursing Professor Sarah Lovegrove Slowing the spread of wildfires: Dr. Sean Sloan, VIU Canada Research Chair in the Human Dimensions of Sustainability and Resilience Political scientists from across BC at VIU for conference Featured experts... Read more


A man and a woman kneel behind produce laid out on grass

Going beyond the bar: VIU students research Nanaimo’s culinary past

April 24, 2024

New exhibit tackling Nanaimo’s food histories now open at the Nanaimo Museum.­­ Beyond its famous, eponymous bar, Nanaimo’s culinary history is not widely renowned. A new museum exhibit created by two Vancouver Island University (VIU) History classes aims to alter that perception. During the Spring Semester, students from Dr. Chelsea Horton’s History of Vancouver Island class collaborated with Dr... Read more


Michael Mackenzie: Bad leaders, bad followers event postcard

VIU’s Engaged Citizens Speaker Series puts the spotlight on bad leaders and followers

April 11, 2024

Bad Leaders, Bad Followers: Threats to democracy that we don’t talk about enough – an edition of the Engaged Citizens Speaker Series When: Monday, April 15, 6:30 to 8:30 pm Where: VIU’s Malaspina Theatre (Building 310) or online via Zoom webinar. See Nanaimo campus map. Nanaimo, BC: There have been countless books written about leadership, but most focus on good leadership and what makes for a... Read more


Les Dickason wears a Nanaimo Museum shirt and leans on a car

Supporting the next generation of educators

February 26, 2024

Legacy donor Les Dickason shares his story When the opportunity to help set up a teacher education program at VIU (then Malaspina College) presented itself, Les Dickason left his job with the school district to be part of it. After his retirement in 1997, he established a bursary through the VIU Foundation. The fund has grown and now supports two students going into their second year of the... Read more


Season's greetings from the Senior Management Team

December 20, 2023

Members of the Senior Management Team share messages of gratitude and well wishes for the year to come with all VIU employees.   Read more


Gillian Robinson

Five questions with Gillian Robinson, Director, Strategic Communications

December 19, 2023

Gillian Robinson joined VIU in April 2022 as our Director of Strategic Communications. She oversees internal and external communications and institutional events for the university. Prior to VIU, Gillian was the Manager of Communications at the Resort Municipality of Whistler. She has worked in several corporate communications roles, from BC Hydro to Metrolinx, Ontario’s transportation agency but... Read more


Dr Anna Atkinson

Excellence in teaching with Dr. Anna Atkinson

December 19, 2023

Dr. Anna Atkinson believes that students learn best when they feel respected and safe.  Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a continuous and deep desire for all students to thrive, see themselves in the coursework, and push themselves to grapple with challenging concepts. Her passion and proven ability to lead her students to success was recently recognized with the West Coast Teaching... Read more


Brenda McKay Dr. Deborah Saucier Dr. Mike Quinn

The Senate's Outstanding Service Award - Brenda McKay

December 19, 2023

Known to almost everyone at VIU, Brenda McKay has served the institution for more than 28 years. Her entire tenure has been in Human Resources, which makes it safe to say that few know more about most employees than her. Since 2017, she has been the Director of Human Resources. Her hard work and loyalty were recently recognized at the 2023 President’s and Provost’s Awards with a rarely given... Read more