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
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
For the love of skating. And family.
March 1, 2023
By Aly Winks Every year in the late fall or early winter, Web Developer Analyst Michael Boquist heads into his backyard. He spends hours lovingly leveling a space of about 20 feet by 12 feet in the yard of his acreage. After that, he hauls out cedar boards and takes an enormous piece of plastic to cover the space he has leveled. He uses the boards to make a border around the plastic. With the... Read more
WEST Instructor, Community Advocate, Patron of the City
March 1, 2023
By Aly Winks Craig Evans has been making an impact since he moved to Nanaimo in 1977. At 22, he was ready to find a place to call home and Nanaimo seemed to answer that calling. It wasn’t long before he put his money where his mouth was and opened Nanaimo’s first recycling operation called the Nanaimo Recycling Society. “For years, I worked in the environmental movement, trying to enact change to... Read more
25 years of service: Dr. Chris Gill and Dr. Erik Krogh
March 1, 2023
In some ways, it is hard to believe that Dr. Chris Gill and Dr. Erik Krogh are celebrating their 25 years at VIU. If anything, it seems their energy, engagement and desire for excellence has only grown over the years, deepening their passion for research and teaching in the field of Chemistry. Both are professors in the Chemistry Department and are co-directors of the Applied Environmental... Read more
Jennifer U’Chong: 25 years of service in her own words
March 1, 2023
My name is Jennifer U’Chong, and I started working in the Employment and Life Skills Training Program (ELST) in the Academic and Career Preparation Faculty at Vancouver Island University in September 1997. In 2012, the ELST Program revamped to address the needs of our students, and the program transitioned into the Workplace Essential Skills and Training Program (WEST). The WEST Program has... Read more
Giving Tuesday: A visual representation of impact
March 1, 2023
If you were one of the generous donors who contributed to VIU's Giving Tuesday 2022 campaign, you would have received a thank-you card with a stunning stained-glass design on the front. The artwork was originally designed by Taryn Walker, VIU’s Alumni Relations Coordinator (and brought to life by Sheila Warren). Taryn wanted to find a way to get everyone in the office involved in the fundraising... Read more
Progress on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Action Plan
March 1, 2023
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan was adopted in November 2021 as a key transformational piece of the Strategic Plan, People, Place, Potential. In particular, it supports the priority to become a more inclusive and healthier place for work and study: “We believe that well-being in all its aspects depends on how we treat each other. We will therefore prioritize our work to... Read more
Creating a stronger, more resilient you
March 1, 2023
Use smart tools to support your physical well-being When life gets busy, often one of the first aspects that can fall to the wayside is our physical well-being -- this includes things like exercise, nutrition, and the ability to make positive lifestyle choices. Focusing on our physical well-being is a worthwhile endeavour. While there is no easy way to restart old healthy habits or create new... Read more