Building brighter futures together
At Vancouver Island University, our impact is made possible by the strength of our alumni, donors and community partners.
With more than 100,000 alumni worldwide, VIU graduates are making a difference every day, applying their knowledge and passion to help shape a better future. Our donors play an equally vital role. Gifts of every size provide scholarships and bursaries that enrich student experiences, remove barriers and support student success. When you give to VIU, you’re investing in our students and the impact they will carry forward into the world.
This past year showcased what we can achieve together. We raised more than $5.8 million last year, including $380,000 during our annual Giving Tuesday campaign. Culinary and Baking students created the world’s largest Nanaimo bar, with community support funding a much-needed new oven for their program. Milner Gardens received national recognition, and VIU Fest welcomed more than 4,000 people onto campus for a day of celebration and connection.
Your generosity, partnership and belief in VIU make all this possible. Thank you for helping us create opportunities that change lives and for walking alongside us as we build a stronger, brighter future together.
Richard Horbachewski
Associate Vice-President, External Relations
Vancouver Island University
100,000+
alumni from 160 countries.
1,837 awards
distributed to students.
7.1 million
in available scholarships, awards and bursaries.
$1,693
average dollar amount given to students.
Community impact stories
Eating a sweet world record
What’s 70 feet long and filled with more than 150 pounds of dark chocolate?
The world’s largest Nanaimo bar! VIU Culinary Arts and Professional Baking and Pastry Arts students whipped up this delicious dessert on May 17 to help raise money for new ovens.
The record-setting bar, which weighed more than 1,100 pounds, was built and unveiled at a public event on the Nanaimo campus attended by more than 4,000 people. All attendees got the chance to watch the chocolate being poured and received a bite of history. Aside from raising more than $80,000 through sponsorships and donations to fund two new commercial-grade ovens for the programs, the event stirred up some community pride. Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog attended and proclaimed May 17, 2025, as Nanaimo Bar Day in honour of the successful challenge.
“The Nanaimo bar is much more than a sweet, mouth-watering dessert; it’s an icon of our great city,” Krog told the crowd. “It only makes sense that the largest Nanaimo bar ever made is put together here.”
The record was certified by two national organizations that represent VIU trades students: the Baking Association of Canada and the Culinary Federation of Canada.
Aron Weber, Chair of the Baking program, credits former students with coming up with the idea a few years ago when they were brainstorming ways to bring publicity to a business. They were surprised to learn the record for the world’s largest Nanaimo bar wasn’t held by someone in Nanaimo.
“Right there, it kind of lit a fire in us that we needed to bring that record back to Nanaimo.”
Four alumni currently working in the industry came back for the event. Erik Cessford, Hannah Palmer, Faithe Haley and Elleora McKay were all part of a group of students who dreamed up the idea of bringing home the world record for largest Nanaimo bar. Hannah and Elleora travelled from Scotland to be part of the big event.
“It’s such a spectacular way of bringing attention back to VIU and boosting a program that we all loved so much,” says Hannah.
Community comes together to support students on Giving Tuesday
VIU’s 12th annual Giving Tuesday campaign raised nearly half a million dollars to support students in financial need.
The campaign focused on raising money for the VIU Access Fund, a special-purpose fund that provides students with financial support and access to specialized equipment so they don’t have to choose between paying bills and attending school.
Learn more about VIU Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign.
The Laptop Loan program
When Master of Business Administration student Peeyush Srivastava started his program, he discovered quickly that his old laptop was not up for the challenge. Not only was it working slowly, but the battery could not last through the note-taking he needed to do during his classes.
“Everything in my program is done on a laptop – all my course materials are on VIULearn, all the lecture slides are online and if you don’t have a laptop you can’t complete any of your assignments,” he said.
Srivastava was able to borrow a laptop with a long battery life through VIU library’s laptop lending program. Through this program, students can borrow commercial-grade laptops for as long as an entire semester.
The Career Closet
Professional attire can be a costly barrier for students preparing for interviews, presentations or their first day on the job. That’s why VIU’s Career Studio launched the Career Closet, a free resource where students can access gently used professional clothing and personal care items to help them feel confident and prepared. The Career Closet continues to grow, ensuring students have what they need to make strong first impressions and pursue career opportunities without financial stress.
“I see students coming in and you just see their confidence grow when they can put on a suit jacket or dress pants” says Peggy Janssens, Career Closet Coordinator and a second-year Master of Business Administration student. “We hope that giving them that extra small piece of the puzzle completes everything and gets them as ready as possible.”
The Gear Closet
Students in VIU’s Resource Management and Protection programs are preparing for careers in conservation, natural resources, fisheries and parks. Learning how to protect the province’s flora and fauna requires lots of hands-on practice.
Technician Mike Lester said faculty started noticing more students showing up to field days without the proper gear to stay warm and dry. For example, wearing running shoes to go into a river to take samples, or jeans to trek around in the wet bush.
Faculty worked with the VIU Foundation to purchase a range of gear, from waders to waterproof jackets and pants and steel-toed boots to put in the new Gear Closet. The gear can be signed out from the library the same way students check out books and other items.
“If it’s either this or a textbook, they can now choose to buy the textbook and sign out the gear they need,” said Lester.
Giving back with purpose
Daniel Gardiner is a Senior Vice President at KPMG Corporate Finance Inc., the middle-market investment banking division of the international accounting firm KPMG LLP.
After graduating from VIU in 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, Major in Accounting, Daniel pursued the Chartered Professional Accountant designation and scored in the top one per cent of the more than 3,000 Canadians who wrote the three-day Common Final Exam in 2018. Daniel also became a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder in 2021. Most recently, he received the 2023 Rising Star Dealmaker of the Year Award from the Association for Corporate Growth in British Columbia and in 2025 he made BCBusiness magazine’s 30 Under 30 list.
Daniel originally chose VIU because of the approachable nature of the VIU faculty. He gives back to VIU now through a scholarship that he sponsors.
Why VIU?
Growing up in Nanaimo, I attended many events on campus. This made it much easier to make the transition from high school to post-secondary studies as I was already familiar with the space. One of the biggest benefits I considered when selecting VIU for my undergraduate degree was the relatively small class sizes. I wanted to attend an institution that would support me in my educational pursuits by allowing more access to faculty for an immersive learning environment. The Faculty of Management and Accounting program at VIU has a strong reputation, this aligned with my goals of earning my BBA.
Why do you give to VIU?
I was fortunate enough to receive scholarships during my university studies and so I viewed establishing a scholarship myself as a way to pay back the gracious donations and financial support of others. I want to make sure that there are always ample incentives and support for high-performing and hard-working business students.
How can students use their university experience to prepare for the real world?
Look for opportunities like case competitions, internships and other extracurricular pursuits that help contextualize your learnings and let you apply them in a simulated “real-world” environment. I also recommend finding part-time work in your field so that by the time you graduate you already have relevant experience.
Any advice for young professionals?
The people that I have seen best navigate the transition in their first few years post-university are genuinely curious and open-minded people who want to learn as much as possible from their colleagues and mentors.
Alumni spotlight on Terry Poucette
VIU alum Dr. Terry Poucette is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Kiipitakyoyis, or Grandmother’s Lodge, at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary.
Royal recognition for community service
Several members of the VIU community received King Charles III Coronation Medals over the past year for service to their communities and country.
The Coronation Medal, a Canadian honour created to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, was launched by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, recognizing those who have made significant contributions to Canada and their home province.
Recipients
Cloy-e-iis, Dr. Judith Sayers, VIU Chancellor and President of Nuu-chah nulth Tribal Council.
Snuneymuxw First Nation Elder Geraldine Manson (C-tasi:a), VIU Elder-in-Residence.
Thiyuas - Florence James, Coast Salish Elder and matriarch from the Penelakut Tribe and former VIU Elder-in-Residence and Indigenous/Xwulmuxw Studies Professor. Thiyuas also received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from VIU in June 2024.
Dr. Imogene Lim, a retired VIU Anthropology Professor and Honorary Research Associate.
Métis Knowledge Holder and retired VIU Elder-in-Residence Stella Erasmus Johnson, who was one of 30 people to receive the medal from Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (LFMO) President Melanie Omeniho.
Dr. Deborah Saucier, former VIU President and Vice-Chancellor and a proud Métis leader.
Research collaboration for marine and food safety
Marine foods have been harvested by Indigenous communities since time immemorial, but climate change and other environmental impacts are putting the safety of food sources at risk. A collaboration between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Burnaby Laboratory, VIU and Indigenous communities aims to increase food security and sovereignty.
Learn about this project to enhance food sovereignty and security for Indigenous peoples.
Deep Bay hosts Pentlatch fish trap panel
A significant Pentlatch cultural Belonging unearthed by K’ómoks First Nation and archaeological collaborators was on public display at VIU’s Deep Bay Marine Field Station last year.
Learn more about the Pentlach fish trap panel at Deep Bay.
Milner Gardens receives national recognition
VIU’s Milner Gardens & Woodland received 5 Blooms and a special mention for Natural Heritage Preservation for The Rhododendron Species Garden from Communities in Bloom.
A five-year plan to grow the gardens
A new chapter is blooming at Milner Gardens & Woodland with the launch of a strategic plan to guide activities at the public garden over the next five years.
Learn more about the five-year strategic plan.
Five ways to give
One
Make an online donation
Two
Fund a bursary or scholarship
Three
Make a bequest – leave a legacy
