In the Community

Annual student art sale on Wednesday

December 6, 2011

VIU Department of Art and Design presents the annual student art sale Wednesday, Dec. 7. Look for paintings, sculpture, ceramics, art cards, prints and photographs from 10 am to 2 pm in Arts Building (325), upper floor. Pieces sell from around $3 to $500 with paintings in the $100 to $450 range. View samples of the students' work on [Flickr]() Read more


Poetree blossoms at Vancouver Island University

December 5, 2011

Poets on Campus, the Creative Writing Department and Portal Magazine are joining forces to celebrate the launch of Poetree – a new online showcase for poetry at Vancouver Island University. Poetree, a concept originated by creative writing and poetry instructor Marilyn Bowering and further developed and designed by students Emily Smythe and Jingzhi Zhou, is a new digital poetry project website... Read more


Tourism grad wins provincial award

December 2, 2011

Vancouver Island University graduate Lori Ann Shibish is the winner of a provincial tourism award. Shibish, who graduated last June with a Bachelor of Tourism management degree, received the Tourism Industry Association of BC's (TIABC) Pat Corbett Leadership undergraduate award recognizing her academic excellence and exceptional leadership qualities. The award was presented at TIABC’s 12th... Read more


Cooking up career changes at VIU

December 2, 2011

Two students in Vancouver Island University’s Culinary Arts program have the winning recipe on how to cook up a career change. “Just do it,” says Wes Carter, a former painting contractor who hung up his brush after 27 years. “You won’t regret it,” adds Rod Fedosoff, a former salesman at Home Depot who lost his job due to company downsizing. Both in their mid-50s, Fedosoff and Carter are among... Read more


VIU's Foundation releases $150,000 to support new learning environments

November 30, 2011

To celebrate VIU’s 75th anniversary, the University's Foundation Board has approved the release of $150,000 in matching funds to support two of VIU’s newest facilities: the Deep Bay Marine Field Station and Shq'apthut, the Aboriginal Gathering Place. The announcement was made at the Festival of Trees gala fundraiser last weekend. “Our Foundation feels it’s important to enhance the generosity... Read more


Nursing students spread message on risky behaviour

November 29, 2011

Vancouver Island University Bachelor of Science in Nursing students hope to make a difference educating youth about the risks of poor decision-making and alcohol use. The students are assisting staff at West Coast General Hospital in Port Alberni Thursday with the P.A.R.T.Y. presentation aimed at grade 10 students. High school students will see in graphic detail what might happen if they were... Read more


VIU in the News: Food focus growing at VIU

November 28, 2011

By Jenn McGarrigle - Nanaimo News Bulletin For three Vancouver Island University students, encouraging more people to eat locally produced foods begins on campus. Celia White, Jesse Alexander and Leah Chesterman hope to encourage more local and sustainable purchasing practices at the university. They have funding from two national organizations, Meal Exchange and Sierra Youth Coalition, to... Read more


VIU grads pursue publishing careers around the world

November 25, 2011

When Brynna Gabrielson attended high school on Vancouver Island, she never imagined that one day she’d be living overseas and pursuing her dream career in publishing. A recent graduate of VIU’s Creative Writing and Journalism program (CREW), Gabrielson is enrolled in the Master of Publishing program at Oxford Brookes University in the United Kingdom. It’s the largest publishing program in Europe... Read more


WUSC Local Committee hosts Bike for AIDS at VIU

November 24, 2011

Students are riding stationary bikes for 10 hours straight today to raise funds for Bike for Aids, an initiative that outfits doctors in Malawi with "bike ambulances", allowing them to reach more patients more quickly. Donations are welcome at the event organized by VIU's World University Service of Canada Local Committee (WUSC). There are prizes for people who want to join in from Arrowsmith... Read more


17th Annual Festival of Trees lights up downtown conference centre

November 22, 2011

Downtown Nanaimo is the place to visit this weekend for festive entertainment, spectacular holiday decorations and a visit from the jolly guy himself – Santa. Vancouver Island University is proud to announce that the 17th Annual Festival of Trees presented by Canadian Tire is underway at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC) until Dec. 2. The Festival of Trees is the largest community... Read more