In the Community

Big band concert Oct. 6 features VIU faculty, students and alumni

October 6, 2010

If you enjoy the sounds of big band jazz, don’t miss a special performance tonight (October 6) by some of central Vancouver Island’s most talented musicians. The Nanaimo Musicians’ Association Big Band (NMA) and the Arrowsmith Big Band share a jazz concert at 7:30 PM in the Malaspina Theatre at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Nanaimo campus. Faculty, students and alumni from VIU play key... Read more


Special screening of Cedar and Bamboo at Cowichan campus Oct. 6

October 5, 2010

A special screening of Cedar and Bamboo, a thought-provoking documentary about the unique relationships shared by early Chinese immigrants and Aboriginal peoples on Canada’s west coast, takes place at VIU's Cowichan campus today (Oct. 6). The documentary recounts the life experiences of four descendants of mixed heritage. Set in BC, their stories reveal the difficult circumstances of Aboriginal... Read more


VIU student studies community-based ecotourism in Ghana

October 1, 2010

Vancouver Island University (VIU) student Lori-Ann Shibish lived at a monkey sanctuary in Ghana, West Africa for three months this summer while studying community-based ecotourism. As part of her third-year Bachelor of Tourism Management program, Shibish undertook an internship with Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC), a Ghanaian non-profit organization which implements conservation... Read more


Human Rights Advisor wins Diversity Champion Award

September 29, 2010

Maria Gomes has devoted the past 11 years to ensuring Vancouver Island University (VIU) embraces the values of equity and diversity. The VIU Human Rights Advisor recently received a Diversity Champion Award from the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society (CVIMS) in recognition of her efforts. The CVIMS launched the Diversity Champion Award in 2009 to recognize community members who have... Read more


Sacred totems receive facelift and new home

September 29, 2010

Early next week, totems adorning the front entrance of Vancouver Island University’s Cowichan Campus will be moved to the Quw'utsun' Cultural and Conference Centre where they will receive a facelift. Two Coast Salish ‘welcome figures’ and a larger thunderbird totem will be refurbished by original master carver Harold Joe. After being spruce up, the totems will be moved to their new home at VIU’... Read more


VIU computer science researcher earns national scholarship

September 24, 2010

Kyle d'Oliveira wants to design video games. But his dream job is on hold while he pursues a master's degree in Computer Science, and possibly a doctorate. “I want to keep learning,” says d'Oliveira, a recent graduate of Vancouver Island University with a Bachelor of Science, Major in Computing Science (minor in Math). d'Oliveria has a big reason to keep learning. He won a $17,500 Canada... Read more


VIU students benefit from Realty Referral Program

September 18, 2010

When Dana and Cobus Swarts began looking for a home in Nanaimo, they found out their real estate investment could also be an investment in the education of students at Vancouver Island University. Through the VIU Foundation’s Realty Referral Program, participating realtors donate 25 per cent of their net commission from purchases and sales of property to, or referred by, VIU staff, students,... Read more


Application process opens for new degree in sustainable leisure management at VIU

September 17, 2010

Vancouver Island University is launching a long-awaited Master of Arts in Sustainable Leisure Management. The first public announcement of the graduate degree occurred in South Korea at the 11th World Leisure Congress on September 1st. The graduate program, set to process applications starting Nov.15, is unique because it is endorsed by the Degree Quality Assessment Board of British Columbia’s... Read more


Faculty member’s first novel shortlisted for Butler Book Prize

September 16, 2010

Vancouver Island University Creative Writing professor Jay Ruzesky’s first novel, The Wolsenburg Clock, has been shortlisted for the 2010 City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. The story follows the construction and reconstruction of a monumental church clock which charts the stars and planets and is covered with a fantasy of automated figures. First built in the medieval age, the clock is... Read more


Hall of Fame for 1983 soccer champions

September 15, 2010

The 1983 Mariners men’s soccer team has earned another triumph. The Vancouver Island University (Malaspina) team will be inducted to the Nanaimo Sports Hall of Fame at a special celebration at the Nanaimo Museum on Saturday (Sept. 18). Almost the entire team will be in attendance, along with coaches Les Malbon and Mike Armstrong, both professors in the Sport, Health and Physical Education... Read more