Malaspina employees recognized for long service

The old adage 'time flies when you're having fun' certainly applies to Malaspina University-College nursing professor Zoe Dams. So far, her career at Malaspina has spanned a quarter of a century.

Dams was one of 131 Malaspina University-College employees representing a total of 2,325 years of service who were honoured at an employee recognition event held recently at the Nanaimo campus.

“Employees are Malaspina’s most valuable asset,” said President Dr. Ralph Nilson. “This institution could not have achieved the kind of success it has without the commitment and dedication of the people who work here. Congratulations and thank-you to our employees for their years of commitment and dedication to Malaspina.”

The long service event recognized faculty and staff with 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of regular employment service at Malaspina.

Dams' association with Malaspina began after graduation from Ladysmith Secondary School. She completed her first year of post-secondary education at Malaspina's old Kennedy Street campus.

“To spend my first university year with dedicated teachers in small classes was a rich environment for intellectual participation and debate,” she said. “At Malaspina, I discovered what it is to love learning for the rest of my life.”

Dams obtained a bachelor of science in nursing and a master’s degree at the University of BC. She furthered her education over the years at the University of Calgary, University of Alberta and University of Ottawa. 

When she began teaching in the nursing department in 1981, Malaspina College was only 12 years old.  "I've seen  major changes and growth at Malaspina in the past 25 years," she said.  "I’ve also had  wonderful opportunities to follow my research interests, my nursing practice interests and my interest in the scholarship of teaching.”

Career highlights include attending a research internship in Ottawa, and participating in national nursing events and national meetings as a member of Malaspina’s first ethical review board. She also traveled to Yellowknife to help Aurora College implement nursing curriculum and to Chandigarh, India to meet with nurses regarding curriculum. 

“I’ve had the privilege of representing a very progressive institution,”  added  Dams. “Malaspina is seen as a leader in education, curriculum development in nursing and many other disciplines. This is institution has always been a place of exploring new horizons for me, many of my colleagues and even my family. All three of my children have been students here."

Stu Siefert, Coordinator of Malaspina’s Heavy Equipment Operator program, is a 30-year employee and alumnus of the Heavy Duty Mechanic’s program. “I completed all but one year of my apprenticeship at Malaspina,” said Siefert, who became a a full-time instructor in 1976 after leaving Finning International.

Over the past 30 years, Siefert has also witnessed major growth at Malaspina.  “It’s been an interesting place to work, and every day is different,” he said. “Employees have lots of opportunities to grow and try new things.”

Here is a complete list of employees recognized recently for long service:

35 years: Dave DeGear, Celia Sharp and Ron Apland.

30 years: Stuart Seifert, Judy Palm, Richard W. Johnston, Theresa Meyer, Malcolm Dunnett, Jennifer Franklin, Jane Cole, Hans-J. Fadum, Trudy Sorensen, Michael Armstrong, Hollis Lawson and Jane Saxton.

25 years: Erika Blakeman, Marit Fivelsdal, Raimo Marttala, Sandra Patrick, Paul Hurwitz, Zoe Ann Dams, Ian Bailey, Steve Lane, Glenn Campbell.

20 years: Josephine Kooi-Moy Chong, Gordon Howe, Sherry Routledge, Sharon Tillie, Alan Chapelle, Stephen Guppy, Patrick Ng, John Dalziel, Penny Pittman, Maria Frost, Ross Ballard, Eduard van Zinderen Bakker, Jane Kelly, Mick Baldwin, Nelda Bonsor, Steve Hughes, Jim Ayers, Rick Conroy, Eiko Eby, Bodil Ellins, Dan Hawthorne, Marshall Soules, Lynn Wytenbroek, Diny van Beers, Catherine Racioppa, Muriel Reiber, Gordon Buzzard, Caz Field, Richard Peeke Vout, Ted Gage, Nellie Starke, Piera Jung, Mary McLane, Marilyn Chapman, Sue Scollen, Glenda Sharpe.

15 years: Maureen Parkes, Mairi Speed, Glen Galloway, John Hannon, Janet Hampson, Barbara Campbell, Sharon Dalziel, Keith Harrison, Janina Hornosty, Charles Lemery, Maureen Okun, Rick Rollins, Neil Smith, Pamela Speight, Bonny Sacerty, Judi Bledsoe, Rosemary Flem-Ath, Valerie Hadley, Maia Matz, Gary Doolin, Darlienne Howes, Mary O'Neill, Caran Carr, Jennifer Brownlow, Jude Staffanson, Lynda Ladret, Leslie Bajkov, Rob Campbell, Ardith Conlin, Paul Best, Stephen Davies, Helene Demers, Jan Iverson, Wendy Kellet, Bernie Krynowsky, Maggie McColl, Heather Pastro, Al Stremming, Connie Kovalenka, Maureen McGillivray, Diane Rembold.

10 years: Griff Tripp, Jane Watson, Shirley Michaels, Karen Decker, Marcia Crosby, Erick Groot, Beverly Revin, Laureen Styles, Barry Manfield, Kathryn MacLeod, Lisa Douglas, Kate Challenger, William Weller, Sylvia Scow, Frank Moher, Katherine Pepper- Smith, Linda Baldwin, Patricia Ilagan, Ana Maria Donat, Chris Gill, Dan McDonald, Marie Scoretz, Sheila Cooper, Robert Pepper-Smith, Shelley-Anne Gajda, Kevin Jones, Kathryn Goldsmith, Erik Krogh, John Neville, Graham Sheehan.