In the Community

Dana McFarland

5 Questions with Dana McFarland

December 19, 2023

Dana McFarland has devoted her career to preserving and making a wide range of information more accessible while ensuring respect for cultural property is maintained. Through her current role as Librarian and Coordinator, eResources and Scholarly Communication at VIU, some of her best days are when she gets to help people “share outcomes of their scholarship, teaching or creative work... Read more


Three women stand with red balloons in support of Giving Tuesday

Fall 2023 semester photo album

December 19, 2023

It was a busy semester with a wide array of events and activities for students and employees alike. People came out to have fun, show support, and make their voices heard. Check out just a sample of events below.  Read more


Eliza Gardiner holds a bouquet of red roses and stands next to Joy Gugeler and a student during the 2022 vigil.

National Day of Remembrance vigil will “reaffirm commitment to fight against hatred and misogyny”

November 24, 2023

VIU community members unite to host events during the 16 Days of Activism campaign.  The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign asks people to take action to end violence against women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ individuals. This year several organizations at Vancouver Island University (VIU) have come together in support of the movement. VIU’s Faculty Association Women’s &... Read more


VIU fun for Halloween 2023

October 30, 2023

VIU employees shared their favourite Halloween photos with us. Check out how our colleagues celebrated in the album below. Be sure to click on the images to see the entirety of each. Read more


Mike Quinn portrait photo

Dr. Michael Quinn: First year reflections

June 7, 2023

Dr. Michael Quinn, VIU’s Provost and Vice-President, Academic is completing his first year so we asked him to share his thoughts, learnings and insights at this important time for VIU. What were your first impressions of VIU? I can’t believe how fast a year has gone by! What really impresses me about VIU is the people. The team I work with on a daily basis is outstanding. It was important to me... Read more


Spring Semester 2023 photo album

June 7, 2023

Spring Semester 2023 was full of a variety of events and activities for students and employees alike. International Women's Day, Holi, The Scholarship, Research and Creative Activity Symposium, and Trans Day of Visibility among many others show that VIU truly is a place where all are welcome. Thanks to the Communications Team for the images. Read more


Meara Kimball is dressed in suspenders and jeans with a shirt that says Dash on it

Dash Dauntless: VIU’s professional wrestler

June 7, 2023

By Alyson Winks For much of Meara Kimball’s childhood, brothers and wrestling were necessary annoyances that had to be endured. In the days of single-television households where smart phones were still just a sparkle in Steve Jobs’ eye, agreeing on what program to watch was a daily battle. Eventually, Meara learned to tolerate, then secretly, enjoy professional wrestling. It was the 1990s and... Read more


rainbow circle with arrows making the colours that says Thrive Here in the middle

Benefits Overview: Where do You Turn When You’re Not Sure Where to Turn?

June 5, 2023

“Employee benefits” encompass all forms of insurance, perks, support resources, or compensation that are provided to employees over and above their base salaries and wages. VIU offers a broad set of benefits and resources to support employee well-being. The variety can make it difficult to navigate where to start or what the best service is for your current situation. VIU’s Employee Health, Well-... Read more


Supporting an inclusive learning environment: A thank-you to VIU Faculty

April 11, 2023

VIU is committed to supporting the academic success of our most vulnerable students by ensuring those who are registered with a disability are afforded accommodations enshrined under Human Rights legislation. The progress we have made as an institution is in large part owed to you as faculty. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to achieve our mandate, and for that, the University thanks you. Further... Read more


Jacob Frankel holds up his phone to a sala bush. The green leaves appear on his phone screen.

Nature lovers asked to head outdoors and become citizen scientists during BioBlitz

April 4, 2023

Volunteers can help contribute to biodiversity research by collecting information on flora and fauna. Nature lovers are invited to head outdoors for science during the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR) BioBlitz this April. “We’re grateful to everyone who volunteers! Each observation improves our knowledge and understanding of both species and ecosystem health throughout the biosphere,”... Read more