In the Community

Vancouver Island University Launches Regional Partnership Aimed at Reducing Child Poverty on the Island

November 21, 2016

Local governments and community groups to help spread the word about the Canada Learning Bond and the BC Training and Education Savings Grant Ashley Tom’s two daughters are still in elementary school, but they each already have money earning interest in the bank to put towards their post-secondary educations. Tom, 27, is taking upgrading courses at Vancouver Island University (VIU) and Tillicum... Read more


VIU Celebrates the Raising of a Third Totem Pole at Shq'apthut, the University's Aboriginal Gathering Place

November 15, 2016

Hundreds came out to a special ceremony honouring the third pole, which represents the Kwakwaka’wakw Territories  NANAIMO, BC: Three majestic totem poles representing the three major language groups on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast now stand tall at Shq’apthut, Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Aboriginal Gathering Place. The third pole, representing the Kwakwaka’wakw Territories,... Read more


Students from The High School at VIU Pay Tribute to First Nations Soldiers

November 8, 2016

Grade 11 Social Studies pupils present VIU Remembrance Day ceremony As Remembrance Day nears, a group of students from The High School at Vancouver Island University (VIU) are honouring those fallen in warfare and highlighting the contributions of First Nations soldiers. On Monday, Nov.7, Violet Elliott of the Snuneymuxw First Nation was at The High School (THS), teaching Grade 11 Social... Read more


VIU Hosts Reconciliation Workshops This Fall and Spring

November 1, 2016

The KAIROS Blanket Exercise explores the history of Canada from an Indigenous perspective Imagine you are living on the land, as your ancestors did for many thousands of years before you, hunting, fishing and farming. Your community has its own language, culture, traditions and laws governing your existence. Then an outside group arrives. At first, there is lots of cooperation and support... Read more


Canadian Celebrities Read War Letters for VIU's National Online Archive Project

October 28, 2016

Audio recordings a new addition to the University’s Canadian Letters and Images Project "My Dearest Flo, Just a line to tell you Poor old Bert is killed.” So begins one of the letters that Sheila McCarthy, an acclaimed Canadian stage, film and television actress, reads out for Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Canadian Letters and Images Project – an online archive of letters and images... Read more


New Student Refugee Award Kicks Off WorldVIU Days

October 27, 2016

The VIU International Refugee Newcomer Award launches at the annual event, which celebrates the University’s cultural diversity This year’s WorldVIU Days will kick off with the launch of a new Vancouver Island University (VIU) award to help refugees pursue higher education. The VIU International Refugee Newcomer Award will support newcomers to the mid-Vancouver Island region who have arrived as... Read more


VIU's Malaspina Theatre Looking for Participants for 24-Hour Playwriting Competition

October 20, 2016

Competition, which takes place November 18-20, requires teams to come up with a short play over the course of a weekend Calling all budding playwrights! The Malaspina Theatre at Vancouver Island University (VIU) is looking for people to enter the theatre’s inaugural 24-Hour Playwriting Competition, happening November 18 - 20. “We’re looking for absolutely anyone with a desire to try something... Read more


VIU Hosts Women in Trades Event to Encourage More Women to Consider Trades Careers

October 13, 2016

October 19 event is a partnership between industry, Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools and VIU Carla Smith has worked in the construction industry for the past 20 years and not regretted a minute of it. Smith, who is president of CMF Construction Ltd., a general contractor, loves the complexity of the jobs her company works on – not only are they creating something new and useful, but they’re... Read more


VIU International Students Hit CHLY's Airwaves to Assist Crime Stoppers

October 13, 2016

Nanaimo Crime Stoppers has partnered with VIU International and CHLY 101.7 to get their messages out to different language groups The microphone is live and Vancouver Island University (VIU) international student Wei (Edwin) Song from Beijing confidently leans in to voice a Crime Stoppers message in his native Mandarin.  He is one of four students who came together to assist Crime Stoppers... Read more


VIU Series to Engage Canadians in the Challenging Process of Reconciliation

October 11, 2016

It began with the launch of the nationally recognized Witness Blanket art installation and will continue into 2017. Vancouver Island University (VIU) is honoured to announce the start of Reconciliation Road: Join the Journey with VIU, a series of events and activities that support the process and meet the challenge of reconciliation between Canada’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Canada’... Read more