VIU News & Experts: December 13, 2024

It's a Wonderful Life, consumer behaviour, drug education

In this issue of VIU news & experts: 

• Watch the recording of It's a Wonderful Life
• Consumer behaviour expert available
• Teaching kids about climate change while managing anxiety

Featured experts

Re-creating It’s a Wonderful Life

VIU’s Theatre department has a new annual holiday tradition and it’s a family-friendly one. Families are invited to be part of a live podcast recording of a one-hour adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life by local author and playwright Jim Maher. Attendees will be provided with hot chocolate and cookies. They are also invited to bring non-perishable food items for donation to Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank. It takes place December 21 starting at 7 pm in the Malaspina Theatre lobby and features local actors reading the different parts. Technical Director Robin Boxwell is available to chat more about the project. Learn more.

Holiday spending

VIU Marketing and Technology Professor and Media Psychologist Dr. Joanna Hesketh researches the social and cultural impact of our relationship with media and data. With the Christmas shopping season in full steam, she’s available to chat about consumer behaviour and trends she’s noticing in terms of what we're buying, how media are capturing our interest and how AI is impacting our decision making. She's teaching the Surveillance, Privacy and Analytics in a Digital Age course in VIU's Digital Marketing Certificate.

Looking for an expert for another story? Connect with VIU Experts.

VIU news

Drug education program gets Crimestoppers grant

Fourth-year VIU Nursing students were recently presented with a cheque for $2,500 from Central Vancouver Island Crimestoppers in support of the program’s Before P.A.R.T.Y. Drug education program.
 
The Before P.A.R.T.Y program is a health-based education program delivered by third and fourth-year nursing students to youth between the ages of 12 and 14 from Ladysmith to Ucluelet. 
 
The program aims to provide drug education and life skills that empower youth to make healthy informed decisions and life choices. Topics encourage positive decision-making by presenting real-life scenarios and equip students with the tools to make decisions that reduce harm to themselves and others. The program also addresses risk factors that drive youth towards drugs like peer pressure, trauma and substance abuse. Finally, it discusses strategies and resources that support mental health.
 
“I liked knowing that someone cares about our future,” one participant stated on the feedback form.
 
As nursing students connect with youth, they work to build a sense of belonging and purpose that helps them feel valued and supported. Through this support, they are more likely to develop a sense of responsibility toward their community and they are less likely to harm it. 

Eco-friendly boat cleaners

VIU researchers are giving consumers the answers with a database that breaks down which boat cleaning and maintenance products are eco-friendly and which ones contain potentially harmful ingredients. Dr. Alexandra Weissfloch, a VIU Chemistry Professor, and VIU student researcher Lily Eggert partnered with the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) to develop a searchable database of product information and advice on eco-friendly cleaning with minimal impact. Read more.

Re-examining the toxic drug crisis through stories

Dr. Sharen Karsten, a VIU Recreation and Tourism Management Professor, has just received a 2024 Reach award from Michael Smith Health Research BC to support her research into the toxic drug crisis. The Walk With Me project is an arts-based, community-engaged approach to help people “come together in new ways to imagine and create change.” The project includes “Story Walks,” where participants don individual headsets and go for a walk while listening to curated stories about people with lived experiences with toxic drugs, putting a human face on the issue. Afterwards, the group meets to talk about the stories they’ve heard and “reflects on the many dimensions underlying this public health crisis.” Learn more.

Giving Tuesday at VIU raises almost $380,000

VIU students in financial need will be able to focus on their studies rather than on meeting basic needs thanks to the generosity of the local community. The university’s eleventh annual Giving Tuesday campaign wrapped up on Tuesday, December 3. Thanks to the generosity of the community, almost $380,000 was raised, surpassing the goal of $350,000. Read more.

Elders receive King Charles III Coronation Medals

One current VIU Elder-in-Residence as well as a retired Elder-in-Residence were given the King Charles III Coronation Medal last month for their role as culture keepers. NDP MP for Nanaimo-Ladysmith Lisa Marie Barron and retired MLA for Nanaimo – North Cowichan Doug Routley presented the medals to C’tasi:a and Thiyuas at a special event. Elder Grace Elliott-Nielsen, Stz’uminus member and Executive Director of Tillicum Lelum Friendship Centre, who has worked with VIU on various committees and initiatives over the years, also received a medal. Read more.

VIU in the news

Teaching children about the impacts of climate change is important, but how do you do so without creating anxiety? Dr. Wendy Simms, a VIU Education Professor, spoke with Global News about this important topic.
 
Dr. Melissa Stephens and KJ Reed spoke to the Nanaimo Bulletin about 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence and harassment and violence directed toward gender-diverse people. Read the article.

Milner Christmas Magic was profiled in a preview piece by Nanaimo News Now. Read the article.

VIU English Professor Neil Surkan is the City of Nanaimo’s Poet Laureate. Neil talks about how Nanaimo’s outdoors inform his poetry and his goal as the poet laureate. Check out this Q&A in The Discourse with Neil.

A new solution is surfacing for boaters keen to tackle the problem of toxic chemicals in cleaning products that can poison salmon and other important marine life. A new online dashboard and helpful cheat sheet geared to help people choose the most eco-friendly products and cleaning methods while maintaining their vessels has been created by chemistry researchers at VIU and the Pacific Salmon Foundation. Read the  article.

The VIU Mariners basketball squads rank among Canada's best at the mid-season break. Read more from the Nanaimo News Now.

Milner Gardens & Woodland was mentioned in an article in At Home Victoria about BC public gardens that are open year-round.

Happening at VIU

Milner Christmas Magic
Each year, Milner Gardens & Woodland transforms into a dazzling wonderland thanks to the dedication of volunteers and staff who bring Milner Christmas Magic to life. This cherished holiday tradition is a testament to the dedication and teamwork of volunteers and staff behind the scenes. We caught up with volunteers and staff to ask them what makes Milner Christmas Magic so special. Read the article.