May 17, 2006 - 5:00pm
The graduates and faculty of Malaspina University-College’s Nursing program have a reason to celebrate – in fact they have 10 good reasons to celebrate.
That’s because over the past decade more than 700 nurses have graduated from Malaspina and gone on to work all over the world, saving lives, promoting healthy living and helping people who are in pain or ill. Now Malaspina nursing graduates are being asked to take some time for themselves to visit old friends and share their stories during the first Malaspina University-College Nursing Reunion, June 3 and 4 at the Nanaimo campus.
"You build a lot of relationships in four years and this event is about building new relationships, seeing old friends and building bridges," said Marit Fivelsdal, Bachelor of Science in Nursing professor, who has been teaching Malaspina nurses since the program was a diploma.
"Any one of those relationships can help you later in life. It’s fun to see what other people are doing. In this global age our nurses are going everywhere."
Malaspina’s nursing program began as Practical Nursing and was one of the core "vocational" programs at Malaspina College. In 1986 a two-year diploma nursing program started and was designed to prepare students to write the Canadian National Registered examination.
When Malaspina College became a University-College in 1989, the nursing program began offering third and fourth-year university-level courses in partnership with the University of Victoria. By September 1992 the first 36 students to complete an entire four-year baccalaureate nursing degree started at Malaspina, graduating four years later in 1996. This reunion will be the first of its kind in the department, making for an exciting event for both graduates and faculty.
"They want to celebrate their accomplishments and to bring people around to see the changes that are happening at Malaspina University-College," said Jon Beekman, Alumni Relations manager and event co-ordinator.
The event kicks off on June 3 at 8:15 a.m. with two professional development workshops followed by guest speaker Rob Calhan, manager for Vancouver Island Health Authority at Victoria General Hospital and past president of the British Columbia Registered Nurses Association at 3:30 p.m. The wine and cheese celebration and silent auction will start at 4:15 p.m. Proceeds from the wine and cheese event and silent auction will help establish a new nursing student bursary.
On June 4 there will be a family picnic and barbeque at the Departure Bay Kin Hut from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets for the reunion are $50 a person (including lunch, the wine and cheese) and $15 for guests at the wine and cheese celebration only and must be purchased in advance.
For more information go to www.viu.ca/alumni/NursingReunion or call the Alumni Relations Office at 740-6215.
Tags: In the Community
