VIU Media Highlights: June 19 - July 19, 2021

A round-up of VIU students and employees in the news. 

News Stories

Top Performing article for the last two weeks:

• Yahoo News: New Evidence of Spawning Pacific Sand Lance Found in Salish Sea. Highlights a study conducted by VIU’s Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute and WWF-Canada. Reprinted by numerous outlets with a reach of 50 million. 

Other stories

• Acadamica.ca: BC provides $2.9M to PSE, community organization in support of literacy programs: VIU one of the post-secondary institutions receiving funding for community literacy projects.  
• Academica.ca: Institutions Host Fireside Chats, Webinars, Events to Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. VIU’s event was mentioned in this roundup article.
• Academica.ca: Partnerships Lead to New Supports, Fellowships at SMU, Brescia, Centennial, NLC, VIU, UNBC. VIU received funding from the BC Oil & Gas Commission to support Indigenous education initiatives. 
• Academica.ca: BC Post-Secondary Institutions Cancel Classes, Invite Community to Air-Conditioned Spaces During Heat Wave. VIU mentioned as one of the institutions that did this. Chek News also ran a story.
• Archynetys: Twenty students receive On The Move scholarships to study outside the EU during the next academic year. VIU student Irene Dangla received one of the awards. 
• BC Civil Liberties Association YouTube: No One Left Behind: Reflections on human rights and civil liberties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Panelists include Kekinusuqs, Dr. Judith Sayers VIU Chancellor.
• Canadian Association of Research Libraries YouTube: Webinar: International Perspectives on Investments in Open Infrastructure (June 17, 2021). Panelists include Ben Hyman, VIU University Librarian.
• Capital Daily: Housing in Greater Victoria: Past, Present and Future – Community Council Panel Discussion. Mark Holland, a Master of Community Planning Professor, is one of the participants.
• Chronicle Tribune: In America’s Sandwiches, The Story of a Nation. Dr. Imogene Lim, VIU Anthropology Professor, is a contributor (behind a paywall). 
• Chemainus Valley Courier: Deserving students receive major and subject awards. Award-winning student Hanna Starkie is planning on attending VIU's Duncan campus next spring to work towards a certificate in Office Administration.
• Comox Valley Record: Cumberland Adding King George Hotel to Heritage Registry. VIU Master of Community Planning students Neethu Syam and Jacob Burnley worked with Cumberland earlier this year on some planning projects. 
• Cowichan Valley Citizen: Duncan Christian award winners reflect on challenges of 2020-21. Senior Athlete of the Year award winner Andrew Young is planning to study Kinesiology at VIU this fall.
• Cowichan Valley Citizen: A&E column: Cowichan elder’s book published; SPCA summer camp. The first writeup is about a book published by Elder Dr. Ruby Peter and VIU anthropologist Helene Demers. 
• Cowichan Valley Citizen: Numerous Batteries and Drill Kits Stolen from VIU Cowichan Trades Centre. 
• Houston Today: District of Houston top official resigns. Article mentions that Cassie Ofner – who received a diploma in recreation and sport management and a certificate in event management from VIU – has been appointed as the District’s leisure services director.
• Kelowna Now: Meet West Kelowna’s Face of Environmental Consulting: Darryl Arsenault. Arsenault is a VIU graduate of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology Diploma program.
• Kolt New Country 107.5: New Evidence of spawning Pacific sand lance found in Salish Sea. Highlights a study conducted by VIU’s Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute and WWF-Canada.
• Ladysmith Chronicle: Two LSS students win prestigious Vancouver Island University scholarships. Alyssa Van Horne and Cathryn Sampson receive full-tuition scholarships to VIU.
• Ladysmith Chronicle: Parade honours Stz’uminus graduating class of 2021. Story includes list of seven VIU graduates.
• Ladysmith Chronicle: Anti-Racism Rally in Nanaimo Postponed Due to Threat of Violence. The rally was supposed to start in the VIU Nanaimo campus parking lot. Story picked up by other Black Press outlets, Chek News and MyCoastNow.  
• Nanaimo News Bulletin: VIU student published in science journal for her efforts trapping insects. Based on a VIU News Release.
• Nanaimo News Bulletin: Vancouver Island Regional Library selects VIU chief librarian as new executive director. Story features Ben Hyman. Picked up by other Black Press media outlets.
• Nanaimo News Now: Orange Hearts Decorate VIU Campus on National Indigenous Peoples Day.
• National Observer: West Coast heat wave burned BC’s shellfish sector. Story features interview with VIU’s Dr. Timothy Green. Story picked up by Yukon News, Times Colonist and others.
• NationTalk: Education Roundtable Defines Anti-Racism Action Plan. VIU is part of the roundtable launched by the provincial government.
• Nature: Influence of ontogenetic development, temperature, and pCO2 on otolith calcium carbonate polymorph composition in sturgeons. VIU’s John D. Morgan co-authored this paper.
• Pacific Western Athletic Association media release: PACWEST Soccer Schedule Unveiled. Story features VIU Mariners head coach Kevin Lindo and upcoming season schedule.
• Parksville Qualicum Beach News: Community arts council gets creative with Parksville Qualicum Beach partnerships. Milner Gardens & Woodland and ElderCollege are partnering with Oceanside Arts Council to enhance awareness of what’s available in the region. 
• Parksville Qualicum Beach News: Parksville Lioness Club Disbands After 37 Years of Community Service. The club had an annual scholarship at VIU.
• Rolling Stone: The Secret History of the ‘WORST Legally Blonde Musical Production EVER.’ A video of children’s theatre group performing in VIU’s Malaspina Theatre inspired a meme and SNL parody sketch.
• Shaw Spotlight: A walk Through the Rhodos – The Greig Rhododendron Species Garden. The segment highlights VIU Milner Gardens & Woodlands’ unique rhododendron garden.
• Sturgis Journal: Centreville school board approves personnel moves. Leigh Fryling, who earned degrees from VIU and Western Michigan U, will be the junior high English/Language Arts teacher
• Sports Illustrated: Breaking the Grass Ceiling: More Women are Playing College Baseball Than Ever Before. Story features VIU Mariners Alli Schroder.
• The Discourse: A message from Lys Morton, The Discourse’s newest intern. Morton is a VIU alum.
• The Discourse: Lessons from Vancouver Island’s 2021 grads. VIU grads reflect on learning during the pandemic, written by Lys Morton, a recent VIU graduate. 
• University of Victoria Media Release: 2020-21 Vanier Scholars. Dorothea Harris, from Snuneymuxw First Nation, is examining, through storytelling, the lived experiences of Coast Salish students who have attended VIU, Camosun or UVic.
• VIU Alum of the Month: Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun. Eliot recently created two beautiful murals in VIU’s Nanaimo campus library.
• VIU Blog: 5 things you may not know about VIU's Adult Basic Education program.
• VIU Blog: Healing the Heart and Mind.
• VIU Blog: An Online Semester at VIU During a Global Pandemic.
• VIU Blog: Beating the Odds. 
• VIU Blog: Catching Up with This Year’s Recipient of the Governor General’s Medal.
• VIU News Release: Summer Camp Makes Transition to University Easier for Indigenous Students. Story picked up by CBC Radio, CTV, NationTalk, Education News Canada and First Nations Drum.
• VIU News Release: VIU Invites Community to Learn about Sustainable Development through Online Game. Story picked up by Education News Canada.
• VIU News Release: Indigenous Youth Exploring Issues through VIU Art-based Literacy Project. Story picked up by First Nations Drum.
• VIU Media Release: Queen Elizabeth Scholars from Tanzania Learn Lessons in Resilience. Story picked up by Education News Canada.
• VIU News Release: Starting Over and Making a Difference in Canada. Charlton Mapayi’s story of embarking on a new career after moving to Canada from Zimbabwe, thanks to the Medical Device Reprocessing Technician program.

Top-performing Broadcast Story

• CTV News at 5 and 6: Broadcast a story featuring Clarissa Peter talking about the Indigenous summer camp being organized by the Community Cousins program. Reach of each broadcast: approximately 984,000. Read the VIU News Release.  

Videos

• VIU's Virtual Graduation Celebration reached 24,000 people and had 2,100 comments. 

VIU Student Pulse

• VIU Student Pulse: Edition: Open rate: 89%
• Most-clicked link: BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training’s Return-to-Campus Guidelines

Social Media

• Top Tweet: Our post re-sharing the Oceanside News story about Dr. Evan Adams being awarded an honorary degree from VIU earned 8,000 impressions.

• Top Facebook post: Our virtual Graduation Celebration livestream reached more than 23,000 people and included 2,000 comments during the hour. 

• Top Instagram post: A story we re-shared from the VIU Students’ Union account about hiring staff for the pub was seen by more than 2,000 people.