In the Community

Government of Canada Investment to Support Mobile Forestry Skills Training at VIU

July 23, 2015

NANAIMO, BRITISH COLUMBIA -( July 23, 2015) - Western Economic Diversification Canada Today, the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced over $1,000,000 in funding for Vancouver Island University to establish a mobile forestry skills training program on British Columbia's Central Coast and Vancouver Island. The investment, provided through... Read more


VIU Summer Welding Camp to Spark Interest in Youth for Trade

July 21, 2015

Young students considering a future career in the welding trade and apprentices working through certification will benefit from a significant donation to Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Welding program. The Canadian Welding Association (CWA) Foundation has donated $25,000 to VIU’s Cowichan Trades Centre to install four new welding booths to be used in testing for apprentices. As well, the... Read more


New Program Focusing on Health Promotion for Aboriginal Communities to Launch at VIU

July 16, 2015

Applications are now being accepted for a new certificate program being launched at VIU’s Parksville/Qualicum Centre in September 2015. Funding by the province of BC will support the first delivery of the program which was developed in collaboration with the Inter Tribal Health Authority (ITHA). The “Community Health Promotion for Aboriginal Communities” program will provide students with a basic... Read more


VIU and Nanaimo Port Authority Collaborate to Support Prosperous Community

July 14, 2015

Vancouver Island University (VIU) and the Nanaimo Port Authority have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote collaboration between the organizations in order to support the educational, social, environmental and economical prosperity of the region. The MOU, signed on June 25, 2015, will strengthen the partnership between the two organizations by outlining key objectives for... Read more


Alien 'Plant-Hunter' Sculptures on Display at VIU's Milner Gardens

July 2, 2015

Robots, spaceships, and rockets have crash-landed at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Milner Gardens & Woodland, and alien ‘plant-hunters’ are searching the gardens for new and hearty plant species to take back to their home planets. That’s the theme of a new art exhibit at Milner Gardens created by VIU Visual Arts students. Forty sculptures of all sizes and shapes are on display along... Read more


VIU Grey Whale Exhibit Leaves Legacy for Future Generations

June 24, 2015

The unveiling of a 10-metre long grey whale skeleton at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Deep Bay Marine Field Station was an emotional moment for Sharon Cooper of Sc’ianew First Nation. Cooper first saw the body of the grey whale five years ago after it washed up at East Sooke Park near Victoria. “I was so sad,” said Cooper. “People had carved their initials into the whale’s body, and huge... Read more


Aerial themed student artwork at Nanaimo Airport highlights Port Theatre's upcoming season

June 24, 2015

The Port Theatre Society has teamed up once again with Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Visual Art department and the Nanaimo Regional Airport to mount an art exhibition that is open to the public at the Nanaimo Airport terminal.  First-year VIU art students explored a “history of aviation" theme to suit the space and to allow for the use of "skywriting" style banners that offer highlights to... Read more


Statement of Openess & Respect in Nanaimo

June 18, 2015

This statement has been issued on behalf of a partnership of community organizations in Nanaimo and region.  For generations people from around the world have come to our community to visit, live, learn, work and do business — welcomed first by the Snuneymuxw peoples and joined, more recently, by those who now call the Nanaimo region home. This openness and respect for our fellow global... Read more


VIU Partnership with Island Savings to Benefit Harewood Families

June 16, 2015

Programs that will benefit children and youth in the Harewood community and enhance learning by students in Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Child and Youth Care (CYC) program are the result of a new partnership between Island Savings and VIU. Island Savings, which already supports eight $1,000 bursaries for students studying full-time in five different Health and Human Services programs, has... Read more


VIU offers fun, interactive Summer Camps

June 10, 2015

Children and high school students can enjoy fun, interactive summer camps at Vancouver Island University (VIU) in July and August. High school science students are invited to sign up for GeneSkool, a free science camp at VIU’s Nanaimo campus July 20 to 24. Organized by Genome BC, the camp will appeal to students interested in learning about molecular biology techniques that geneticists and... Read more