VIU Media Highlights: November 30 - December 13, 2021

A bi-weekly roundup of VIU students and employees in the news.

Note: This will be the last edition of 2021 - look for media highlights again in January 2022! 

Top 10 News Stories

1. Nanaimo News Bulletin: BC man who struggled with substance use, crime seeks to end drug addiction stigma. Features story on Christopher Lamoureux who is about to become a student at VIU. Picked up by multiple Black Press papers. Reach: 3.4 million.
2. MedPageToday: Researchers to Study Psilocybin’s Effects on Strained Healthcare workers. Reach: 1.85 million. 
3. Victoria News: Vancouver Islanders can now have opioids, other drugs lab-checked by mail. Program partnership with UVic, VIU and Island Health. Picked up by multiple Black Press papers. Reach: 1 million.
4. University of Saskatchewan: USask PhD candidate’s research shines light on Indigenous water governance in Manitoba. Story on Warrick Baijius, a VIU Geography major alum. Reach: 626,000.
5. CHEK Upside: VIU Launches its own signature chocolate. Reach: 544,000. Inspired by VIU News Release. 
6. Nanaimo News Now: Video: ‘We’re just thrilled:’ iconic Christmas lights tradition returns to mid-Island. Story on Milner Christmas Magic. Story picked up by CFJC-TV. Reach: 398,000.
7. Nanaimo News Bulletin & Parksville Qualicum Beach News: VIU encourages speaking out against gender-based violence. Picked up by multiple Black Press papers. Reach: 200,000.
8. Parksville Qualicum Beach News: Milner Gardens in Qualicum Beach lights up with 100,000 lights for Christmas. Reach 91,200.
9. Parksville Qualicum Beach News: Frontline workers eligible for free membership at Milner Gardens in Qualicum Beach. Reach: 51,200.
10. Powell River Peak: Powell River Regals answer last-minute call to play VIU. Reach: 30,400.

VIU News

• VIU News Release: VIU Researcher Exploring Changing Attitudes Towards Childbirth.
• VIU News Release: VIU Professor Exploring Work-Life Balance of Employed Parents During Pandemic. Story picked up byOceanside News and Education News Canada. 
• VIU Community Classroom: Podcasts explore criminal justice system issues.
• VIU Community Classroom: What are land acknowledgements and protocol?
• VIU Blog: A role model for giving back.
• VIU Blog: Wayfinding at VIU.
• VIU Blog: 13 strategies for exam success.
• VIU Blog: Unlocking the mysteries of the human mind.

Top-performing Broadcast Story

• The CHEK News story about VIU’s signature chocolate flavour was seen by 84,000 people. 

VIU Student Pulse

• December 1 edition: Open rate: 60.6%

• Most-clicked link: Milner Gardens Christmas Magic

Videos

• Happy holidays from VIU President Dr. Deborah Saucier was viewed more than 1,160 times. 

Social Media

• Top Tweet: A post reminding people to be careful due to new snow on the ground reached more than 1,000 people.
• Top Facebook post: A post about Milner Christmas Magic reached more than 13,500 people.

• Top Instagram post: A post about Milner Christmas Magic was liked by almost 600 people.
• Top Instagram reel/video: Two snippets of VIU President Dr. Deborah Saucier’s holiday video reached more than 8,000 people and the full video was watched 750 times.