In the Community

VIU invests in people through balanced 2015/16 budget

March 27, 2015

Vancouver Island University’s Board of Governors approved a balanced consolidated budget of $136.7 million for the 2015/16 fiscal year, on Thursday, March 26, 2015. The full budget is available on the University’s website at https://www2.viu.ca/budget/BudgetPlan2015-2016.asp. The largest investment in VIU’s budget continues to be people – dedicated faculty and staff – who are critical to... Read more


New Master of GIS Applications Program Approved for VIU

March 26, 2015

Students can now map their futures in a growing in-demand field through Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) newest master’s program. VIU has received approval from BC’s Ministry of Advanced Education and the provincial Degree Quality Assessment Board to offer a two-year Master of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Applications program starting in September 2015. “We’re recruiting students for... Read more


Western Forest Products Donates Cedar Logs to Complete VIU Totem Project

March 24, 2015

Two cedar trees harvested in the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations territory on Vancouver Island’s west coast have been donated by Western Forest Products (WFP) to Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) totem pole project. The donated cedars were delivered by WFP to VIU’s G.R. Paine Horticultural Training Centre on East Wellington Road, where they were blessed March 16 in traditional First Nations... Read more


VIU Hosts Spring Break Activities

March 23, 2015

The public is invited to register for free bird banding and chemistry demonstrations, as well as tours of the Natural History Museum, hatchery facility and giant sturgeon holding tanks, during Spring Break Days at Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Nanaimo campus March 23, 24 and 25. Pre-registration is required. These free, fun and educational activities are being offered to the general public... Read more


Startup Nanaimo hosts ‘Profits for Non-Profits unConference’ at VIU March 29

March 17, 2015

Nanaimo’s more than 800 non-profit organizations are doing their good work in an increasingly difficult funding environment. With reduced government funding for nonprofits, and increased competition for available funds, organizations are being pushed to become more financially self-sufficient and sustainable Startup Nanaimo’s Profit for Non-Profits unConference Sunday, March 29 will inspire non-... Read more


VIU Nursing Students Hosting Stem Cell Registry Event March 27

March 16, 2015

If there’s a chance you could save someone’s life, someone you’ve never met, would you do it? Vancouver Island University (VIU) Nursing students and Canadian Blood Services (CBS) are hoping to get a long list of healthy young adults showing up for a OneMatch stem cell donor registration event from 3 to 6 pm on Friday, March 27 at Nanaimo’s Country Club Centre mall. The registry is open to people... Read more


CVIJOBS & VIU Partner to support adult tutoring in Oceanside Region

March 12, 2015

A new partnership between the Central Vancouver Island Job Opportunities Building Society (CVIJOBS) and Vancouver Island University (VIU) will ensure adult tutoring programs continue in the Oceanside region. During the past few weeks VIU has been exploring the potential for CVIJOBS to take the lead on the Adult Tutoring Program, as the University shifts its focus to support other regional... Read more


Restoring Bluebird Population topic of VIU Science & Technology talk March 11

March 9, 2015

Sixty years ago, western bluebirds were a common occurrence in the Garry Oak meadows and savannahs of southwestern BC. However, this bluebird population experienced rapid declines throughout its range in the latter half of the 1900s, caused by loss of Garry Oak habitat, removal of standing dead trees that provide cavities for nesting, and competition for nest cavities with exotic birds such as... Read more


VIU To Award 31 Canadian QE II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships

March 5, 2015

Vancouver Island University (VIU) will award more than $800,000 in prestigious scholarships to 31 undergraduate, graduate and international students through the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) program. “I’m very pleased to announce that VIU will work in partnership with the University of Belize (UB) and community partners in Belize and in Canada, on the new... Read more


VIU Dental Assistant Students 'Catch A Smile' with Rotary

March 5, 2015

Nanaimo area school children are benefiting from lessons in good dental health and nutrition delivered by a local dentist and Vancouver Island University (VIU) Dental Assistant students volunteering in the “Catch a Smile Campaign.” A program of the Rotary Nanaimo Daybreak Club, the Catch a Smile Campaign was organized by Rotarians Donna Allen and Dr. San Mahara, who partnered with the VIU Dental... Read more