The meaning of a name: gifting and receiving in the Tla’amin way
November 1, 2022
By Liam Haggarty, Campus Administrator, tiwšɛmawtxʷ It’s been about a month since the Tla’amin Nation gifted VIU the name tiwšɛmawtxʷ (tyew-shem-out) to replace the old colonial name Powell River for our campus in the qathet (ka-thet) region, which extends from Saltry Bay to Lund on the Sunshine Coast. In the Tla’amin tradition, the gifting of a name is a significant act, which represents the... Read more
Setting us apart: VIU's brand refresh
October 31, 2022
By Meghan Clark, Director, Brand and Marketing In 2021, Vancouver Island University launched its first Strategic Plan, People, Place, Potential. The plan outlines six commitments for the next five years including welcoming a larger population of learners and becoming the region’s first point of call for research and expertise. The higher education environment is increasingly more competitive.... Read more
VIU Culinary Arts program in qathet region finds recipe for success
October 13, 2022
The Birch Tree Café and Bistro gives culinary students hands-on training in a real restaurant. After years of serving culinary creations at Brooks Secondary School, a move into a new space is proving to be a successful transition for Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) tiwšɛmawtxʷ (Powell River) campus Culinary Arts program. The program moved to a new training facility and permanent restaurant... Read more
Spring Semester photo album 2022
June 16, 2022
VIU students and employees had lots of great moments throughout the Spring Semester 2022. Here are some we thought we would share in our album look-back. We know not all the moments are here, but it shows that it was a busy and rewarding semester. Credit to the VIU Communications and External Affairs Team for their beautiful work. Read more
Dr. Carol Stuart reflects on a career well-worked, and some colleagues share well-wishes
June 16, 2022
“Welcome home” read the sign on the door to the office in Building 180. It greeted Dr. Carol Stuart on her first day at Vancouver Island University (VIU). “That morning, I had a meeting with Human Resources and had done a few other things. It was a bit later before I made my way to my office and there was a sign that said ‘welcome home’,” Dr. Stuart explains. “It reinforced everything I already... Read more
Combining passions and learning new skills
June 15, 2022
By Alyson Winks If you are interested in food, trying new foods, want to expand your culinary repertoire, or enjoy some good personal storytelling, look no further than Lily’s Vegan Adventures, which is authored, photographed, developed, and shared by VIU’s Lillian Morpak, Career and Cooperative Education and Peer-Supported Learning Assistant (which may well be the longest job title of anyone at... Read more
Gained in translation: the magic of translating texts into English
June 15, 2022
Dr. Katharina Rout taught in the English Department in VIU’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities from 1988 – 2017. She had a seat at the table as VIU evolved from a college to a university-college, into a university, and began to mature into its current state. She is the founding Chair of the Education Council, which was the precursor to the Senate, was awarded a Provost’s Teaching Award for... Read more
Trail maps, aspirations and focusing on the future of work at VIU – People Plan renewal
June 15, 2022
As I was planning to write an article on the VIU People Plan and our upcoming work to renew the plan, I reflected on why these types of plans matter. I thought about recent coaching I received when I was out mountain bike riding with a friend. He observed that when I ride, I concentrate heavily on the roots and the rocks that are right in front of me. He pointed out that I need to focus more on... Read more
The blessings of a new season
June 15, 2022
As we move into summer, calendar-wise if not weather-wise, I would like to reflect in this issue of VIU Voices about coming together. I am grateful for the chance to connect with many of you at our June 1 taco celebration. This was the largest employee event in quite a while, going back before the pandemic. Some of our longest-serving employees said it may have been our largest ever. As a person... Read more
The impact of social media on body image and mental heath
June 15, 2022
Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter. Chances are, you are one of the billions of people who use at least one of these social media platforms. While the idea of being informed and connected draws us to these sites, we also need to consider that may be dangerous to your health. The Homewood Health Article, “The Dangers of Social Media on Your Mental Health”, states that the more time... Read more