June 9, 2023 - 5:00pm
New "fast ferry" for Nanaimo, Oceans Day and more
In this edition of VIU News & Experts:
- What a new downtown Vancouver to downtown Nanaimo ferry will mean for the region.
- Interest rate hikes and what they mean for home buyers/owners.
- World Oceans Day experts.
- VIU gets $1 million for innovative upgrading program.
Please reach out to us with your requests for experts! We are happy to help.
Featured experts
Interest rate hikes
The Bank of Canada raises key interest rate to 4.75%, the highest level in 22 years. Dr. Charles Schell, Acting Associate Dean of the Faculty of Management’s Graduate Programs Office and a Finance Professor, is following the situation closely. He is happy to comment on implications for home buyers and homeowners facing mortgage renewal decisions.
New fast ferry
Hullo, the Vancouver Island Ferry Corporation’s new downtown Nanaimo to downtown Vancouver passenger ferry services, has announced tickets will start at $39.99 and trips will begin in August. Jenn Houtby-Ferguson, a Recreation and Tourism Management Professor, is following the development closely and can comment on the impact it will have for the region.
Pride Month experts
- Dr. KJ Reed, a Studies in Women and Gender Professor, researches how transgender, non-binary and other gender creative youth understand and experience privacy, and make gender and sexual orientation disclosure decisions.
- Dr. Marni Stanley, Dean of VIU’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities, is available to talk about Pride Month and why it matters.
Affordable housing targets
The BC government has targeted 10 communities, some on the Island, where it is taking a more aggressive step in setting higher housing targets. Mark Holland, a Community Planning Professor, can discuss the challenges ahead to work on promoting more supply.
World Oceans Day
World Oceans Day was June 8 and we have experts who can comment on various topics. This year’s World Ocean’s Day theme is Planet Ocean: tides are changing.
- Dr. Timothy Green, VIU’s Canada Research Chair in Shellfish Health and Genomics, can speak about marine disease and climate change adaption of marine organisms.
- Dr. Dan Baker, a VIU Fisheries and Aquaculture Professor, specializes in thermal biology, carbon dioxide elevation and acidification and can speak about significant challenges associated with oceans and climate change.
- Dr. Heather Wiebe, a VIU Chemistry Professor, is an expert in molecular modeling and simulation, with a focus on the biochemistry of deep-sea organisms. She’s looking into the impact plastic pollution has on deep-sea organisms.
VIU in the news
The High School goes IB
The High School at Vancouver Island University is now an accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) school. The private school will be the first in Nanaimo proper to offer the IB program for their Grades 11 and 12 students. Learn more.
Pathways program funding
VIU will receive $1 million from the BC government to support students seeking training in several high-demand career areas, who need pre-requisites to get into specific programs such as early childhood education, health and trades. Learn more.
Research to counteract the spread of misinformation
Dr. Melissa Huggan, a VIU Math Professor, received the 2022 Kirkman Medal from the Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications. The award recognizes excellent research by fellows or associate fellows of the ICA early in their research careers. Huggan’s research examines pursuit-evasion games, and her current research relates to the classic game of Cops and Robbers. This research can give insight into the real-life problem of containing the spread of misinformation on a network. Learn more.
Campus events
Graduation time
More than 1,200 graduates will receive degrees, diplomas and certificates at VIU's 2023 convocation ceremonies on June 22 and 23. All ceremonies will take place in the VIU gymnasium. Visit the convocation homepage to learn more.
Tags: Community Engagement | Research | Announcements
