In the Community

VIU Theatre Students Present Tartuffe -- a Comic Play About a Con Artist

November 3, 2015

Tartuffe is a comic play about a con artist extraordinaire who oozes piety and charm while duping a wealthy Parisian patriarch and seducing his wife. Students in Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Theatre program present Tartuffe at the Malaspina Theatre (Building 310) on the Nanaimo campus, with opening night set for Wednesday, Nov. 5. Performance dates are Nov. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 at 8 pm... Read more


VIU Grad Launches First Book and Creative Writing Scholarship

October 29, 2015

At 81, Vancouver Island University (VIU) Liberal Studies graduate Gisèle Merlet is proudly launching her first book As I Rise, a collection of linked short stories set in Montreal, the south of France, Guatemala, and Vancouver Island. The launch takes place at VIU’s Nanaimo campus on November 3, from 1- 2:30 pm in the auditorium of Building 355. “I found my niche,” says Merlet, who’s the... Read more


Premier Clark Announces Investments to Benefit VIU Students

October 28, 2015

Premier Christy Clark today announced $100,000 towards business plans for a new automotive and marine repair facility and a new health and science centre in addition to a $1 million investment in information technology upgrades at Vancouver Island University. “We are preparing students for careers in a range of sectors critical to our economy, including LNG,” said Premier Clark, who made the... Read more


VIU Trades Students Help Restore Community Spirit in Cowichan

October 28, 2015

A community pulling together to create something positive – that’s the outcome of a sad situation in Cowichan. Trades students at Vancouver Island University (VIU) are the latest group to come to the aid of students and staff at Ecole Mount Prevost Elementary School who were devastated when someone chopped down several trees on school property. Matt Melgaard, instructor in VIU’s Residential... Read more


WorldVIU Days Nov. 2-6 Celebrate Global Community

October 28, 2015

WorldVIU Days at Vancouver Island University (VIU) Nov. 2-6 will celebrate the connections we make as global citizens throughout the world, and with each other right here in our own communities. “Creating a Connected Community” is the theme for this year’s WorldVIU Days, which include daily public activities at VIU’s Nanaimo campus and a free keynote presentation Tuesday, Nov. 3 by Charles... Read more


VIU Students Incubating Ideas at SquareOne

October 26, 2015

Students from Vancouver Island University (VIU) are taking entrepreneurial ventures to the next stage at SquareOne, Nanaimo’s downtown tech incubator and co-working hub. SquareOne – an initiative of Nanaimo Economic Development and Innovation Island –  and VIU announced a new partnership in May offering three no-cost co-op desks to VIU students. Since then four students have taken advantage of... Read more


Town of Qualicum Beach Joins Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Roundtable

October 19, 2015

The Town of Qualicum Beach signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Vancouver Island University (VIU) recently to collaboratively meet the mandate of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. “This is another step in the right direction for the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, which has been evolving with positive momentum since VIU and the City of Parksville signed an identical agreement... Read more


Nationally Award-winning Author Paul Yee to Speak at VIU Oct. 19

October 16, 2015

By Maurice Gallant Award-winning Canadian author Paul Yee will speak at Vancouver Island University (VIU) on October 19 about his latest work, A Superior Man and his remarkable writing career that has spanned more than three decades. Much of Yee’s work has been devoted to young readers with memorable books such as the 1996 Governor General’s Literary Award-winning Ghost Train.  Whether the... Read more


VIU Education Students Encourage Youth to Vote in Federal Election

October 16, 2015

Get out and vote. That’s the message to youth in Nanaimo from Year 6 Education students at Vancouver Island University (VIU). The students, all completing their final semester of VIU’s teacher training program, created a website called You Only Vote Once (www.yovo.weebly.com) as part their class ‘community action project.’ “Youth voting is a concern,” said student Dan Callaghan. “There’s... Read more


International Artist Donates 31 'African Scrapbook' Paintings to VIU

October 16, 2015

International artist Maureen G. Marshall has donated a series of 31 paintings to Vancouver Island University (VIU) based on her sketches, masks, carvings and memories of her African and European travel experiences. The collection of paintings are on display in a special exhibit at the View Gallery, a renovated art gallery at VIU’s Nanaimo campus from now until November 13. About 30 people,... Read more