Vancouver Island University News & Events
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The Shoots with Roots program at Milner Gardens & Woodland is challenging families, teachers and the rest of our community to 12 Days of Outdoor Play! Commit to spending at least 30 minutes playing, learning and exploring outdoors every day between December 21 and January 1. Follow the Shoots with Roots Facebook page for a daily activity prompt, track your progress, and share your adventures with #12daysofoutdoorplay. For more info visit Milner Gardens’ website, https://milnergardens.viu.ca/12-days-outdoor-play.

The lynx-hare predator-prey cycle that has existed for thousands of years in North America is increasingly under threat from climate change. To understand how this cycle, which helps maintain the biodiversity of more than a dozen species in the boreal forest, could be impacted by climate change Dr. Jamie Gorrell, a VIU Biology Professor, and Dr. Evan Hersh, a VIU post-doctoral fellow, are studying the genetics of Canada lynx. Gorrell and Hersh will be completing their research over the next two years thanks to an Accelerate Fellowship grant for $90,000 awarded jointly from Mitacs and Bill Harrower, principal biologist at High-Country Wildlife.

Extra food prepared by VIU Culinary Arts students as part of their program is finding its way to the stomachs of people in need through Nanaimo Salvation Army meal centre. To properly train students in the fundamentals of food preparation in a modern industrial kitchen setting, we still need to bring in food, regardless of where it’s going to go afterwards, says Jason Lloyd, Chair of VIU's Culinary Arts Program. But we had zero interest in having any of it go to waste." Read the story here: https://bit.ly/2JS472a

Interested in a high-demand career in the growing childcare industry? VIU Powell River is excited to add a cohort of the Early Childhood Education and Care certificate (ECEC-C) program starting in January 2021. The availability of childcare in the Powell River area has been challenge for young families for several years. In 2019, VIU expanded the ECEC program for 25 students to its Powell River campus to support the growing demand for childcare in the area. ECEC graduate Crys...tal Gallant says the timing for the expanded program was perfect for her and her family. My four children were all in school so I was able to follow my heart and goals to pursue a career as an early childhood educator. I have found work at Roots and Wings Early Learning Centre and I am excited to put my learning into practice. I have the honour of nurturing little humans’ emotional, social, physical and intellectual development. All of the theory courses for the ECEC program in Powell River will be offered online. The ECEC Special Needs Educator Designation (SNE) program at the Cowichan campus has also been extended beginning in January 2021, which is ideal for practitioners with their infant toddler educator (ITE) certificate who would like to complete their diploma education and gain SNE certification. Students may also be eligible for a bursary through the ECE Education Support Fund (ECE ESF). Applications are now being accepted for both programs. Visit https://pr.viu.ca/early-childhood-education-and-care, viu.ca/programs or contact [email protected] or [email protected].

Are you a mother living in the mid-Vancouver Island area trying to deal with caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic? VIU researchers are hoping you might consider participating in their study: The Burden of Care. They would love to hear about your challenges and successes while juggling kids who are home from school or daycare, homeschooling, looking after your family, parents, friends or neighbours, and work. Participate in the survey @ https://viusurveys.limequery.com/443641?lang=en

Three VIU Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture researchers, Drs. Spencer Russell, Timothy Green and Dan Baker, are leading an investigation on the effects of heat waves, due to climate change, on marine animals. They received $548,973 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation and BC Knowledge Development Fund to design research projects that aim to understand how extreme temperature fluctuations impact farmed finfish and shellfish. By identifying how marine heatwaves alt...er finfish and shellfish behaviour, physiology and immune responses, we will improve our knowledge on how these warm water events increase the susceptibility of aquatic animals to disease and make significant advances in the management of finfish and shellfish health and welfare, says Russell. VIU Research Matters See more

VIU Professor Les Malbon reflects on the progression of a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree as well as his own evolution as a teacher in the program over the past four decades. What's been beautiful about my tenure is that as a lifelong student as well, I have evolved too. The transition from Physical Education to Kinesiology began in 2016. The evolution has been a slow progress, but it’s been nice to be able to examine what we’re offering and how to make sure we’re delivering the best program that we can which includes both the hard sciences and social sciences, says Louis Mattar, Chair, Kinesiology Programs. Read the story at https://bit.ly/35uWqH8

WorldVIU Days 2020 is coming!! From Monday, November 2 Friday, November 6, 2020 join this virtual showcase of activities, lectures, film and music. This year organizers have developed new, virtual ways to create a connected community, showcasing efforts that students, staff and faculty are making to bring together people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and providing opportunities for people to have conversations with each other. Check out the program guide https://bit.ly/3mtxN3j and expand your horizons. https://news.viu.ca/worldviu-days-showcases-culture-series-

Do you know anyone who is currently considering their post-secondary options? VIU recently launched a new digital viewbook to make it easier for students to understand what we offer at VIU and the different services available to help get started. The overall goal of our new site is to make people feel inspired and empowered to take the next steps towards their educational goals. Check it out, and forward along to anyone you think needs to see it: https://info.viu.ca/about-viu/

This year our recruitment team will be hosting a number of virtual events for future students, parents and mature students. If you know of anyone who's interested in applying and has a few questions or wants to sit in on an info session, please make sure to tell them about the page linked below. Check the page for details on specific events: https://connect.viu.ca/recruitment-events

I view my job as harm reduction to reduce the harm that colonial institutions do to my community and, frankly, to almost everyone and to make life more livable, while we’re living here in the now." We are excited to introduce the presenter at VIU's sixth annual Indigenous Speaker Series - longtime CBC columnist, broadcaster and arts leader Jesse Wente. His keynote talk will be delivered on Wednesday, November 25. Read more about Jesse and register for this FREE event: https://news.viu.ca/viu-indigenous-speaker-shares-story-joy

Meet Ron Brash, VIU Alum of the Month. Ron is a graduate of the ITAS program and is a renowned cybersecurity industry expert. His skill set earned him a spot on Control Engineering, Engineering Leaders Under 40, Class of 2020 list. Read his story here: https://news.viu.ca/alum-month-ron-brash

In honour of World Food Day, we wanted to share this recording from a recent Engaged Citizens Speaker Series event, which discusses food security in the era of COVID-19. Earlier this year, COVID-19 curtailed travel on and off Vancouver Island, grocery stores began running out of select products and there were interruptions in food supply chains as virus outbreaks affected producers, processors and transport systems. COVID-19 has been a wake-up call for many, and a reminder t...o people just how precarious our food supply can be. In this webinar, Dr. Evan Fraser, Director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, discusses what can be done to make our food systems more sustainable and resilient. He is also joined by a panel of local food system experts: Jennifer Woodland, CEO of Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood LP Jen Cody, Executive Director of Nanaimo Foodshare Society Christopher Farmer Brown, a permaculturist, agricultural activist, entrepreneur and farming educator Watch now: https://news.viu.ca//community-/food-security-age-covid-19

Nanaimo Remembers is a unique video memorial project that aims to tell a piece of the story of the lives of the Nanaimo soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the First and Second World Wars. It includes the names of more than 200 soldiers from the Dallas Square Cenotaph in downtown Nanaimo and a special section highlights the contributions of local Indigenous soldiers, thanks to research conducted by VIU Elder-in-Residence Geraldine Manson. Thank you for watching live with us, and taking a moment to remember the sacrifices of those soldiers. #lestweforget

Did you know that October is Women’s History Month in Canada? This is a time to celebrate the women and girls from our past, and our present, who are contributing to a better, more inclusive Canada. In honour of this occasion, we wanted to share a video outlining why Dr. Deb Saucier, VIU’s first female, Indigenous president, is the 2020 recipient of the Indigenous Women in Leadership Award from the Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business. The theme for Women’s History Month ...this year is #BecauseOfYou and we think Deb’s quote below illustrates perfectly what she hopes to do to help raise up other women in post-secondary. I really believe in the transformative nature of education and being a woman president, and being an Indigenous president, I thought, could I make a real difference in the lives of Indigenous women, because if I can do it and become a president, anybody can. Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22CgqB6Yr6A&t=4s

VIU answers industry appeal for specialized Information Technology program offerings in the mid-Island area to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in this field. Registration began this October for two new ITAS diploma programs for the fall 2021 term. Read about it @ https://bit.ly/36lFjZ6

Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute members Haley Tomlin and Alanna Vivani trained undergraduate students Chloe McLaughlin and Zeb Martin to conduct sampling for the forage fish spawning habitat monitoring project at Morningside Beach in Nanaimo last week. During this hands-on experiential learning opportunity, the students learned how to properly fill out the datasheets, use the equipment and collect a 4L sediment sample from the beach. The students will continue to work on this project throughout the Fall 2020 semester and will assist in sampling beaches along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island from Deep Bay south to Cowichan Bay.

Fires are a very visible manifestation of climate change in some areas, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg, says Bill Beese, a VIU Forestry Professor and Forest Ecologist. Beese says foresters and researchers are observing three main impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems: changes to natural disturbances, changes to natural processes and changes to species. Students in VIU’s Forestry Program are learning management tools that can help mitigate climate change impac...ts or help forests adapt. Read more about Beese's insights and climate change's impacts on forests at https://news.viu.ca/fires-are-just-tip-iceberg-climate-chan

Vancouver Island University partnered with the Mastercard Foundation in 2017 on the EleV Program, which aims to boost the success of Indigenous students at post-secondary. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action demand the elimination of educational gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada. In this #VIUBlog post, VIU's Office of Aboriginal Education and Engagement and the Mastercard Foundation share four promising decolonization practices that have emerged from the EleV program and its evolution at VIU. Learn more: https://www.viu.ca/blog/lessons-learned-vius-elev-program

Join us for VIU's third Engaged Citizens Speaker Series event! Topic: Food Security in the age of COVID-19: Toward more resilient regional food systems Presented by Dr. Evan Fraser, Director of the Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph, and featuring discussion with local food system experts:... Jennifer Woodland, CEO of Nuu-chah-nulth Seafood LP Jen Cody, Executive Director of Nanaimo Foodshare Society Christopher Farmer Brown, a permaculturist, agricultural activist, entrepreneur and farming educator Earlier this year, COVID-19 curtailed travel on and off Vancouver Island, grocery stores began running out of select products and there were interruptions in food supply chains as virus outbreaks affected producers, processors and transport systems. COVID-19 has been a wake-up call for many, and a reminder to people just how precarious our food supply can be. Join Dr. Evans for a discussion about what can be done to make our food systems more sustainable and resilient. The evening will be divided into three shorter presentations each followed by an audience Q&A with the presenter and local experts that will explore: Impacts of COVID-19 on North American food security Implications on regional food systems Pathways to more resilient regional food systems Hosted on Zoom Webinar. Register here: https://viu.zoom.us/.../register/WN_RAd0S4LoSZayQ0DfhhdVvg

Congratulations! Bill Beese, a VIU Forestry Department Professor and Forest Ecologist, recently received the Canadian Forest Scientific Achievement Award from the Canadian Institute of Forestry / Institut forestier du Canada. The award recognizes individuals who have made innovative and outstanding achievements in forestry research in Canada. I was thrilled, says Beese about receiving the award. Anytime you are recognized by your peers for making a difference is very nice. It’s humbling to have people feel that way about the things I’ve done over the years. Beese has served on numerous advisory committees on research, old growth forests and ecosystem-based management, including an international science panel for Forestry Tasmania. He has also co-authored numerous research papers. #NationalForestWeek

We did it!! Over the past two years, the Imagine VIU campaign raised $7.3M to support our students: We transformed the Nanaimo campus by building the new Dr. Ralph Nilson Centre for Health and Science, the Windsor Plywood Trades Discovery Centre, and the District Geo-Exchange Energy System; We created more than $2 M worth of new student scholarships, awards and bursaries, and We acquired almost $2 M worth of new equipment and program support.... Thanks to all who supported this campaign! Learn more: http://bit.ly/imagineviu

Did you know that VIU launched a strategic planning engagement process, The Future We Want to See, last March? Read all about what our community has shared so far in the What We Heard report, and stay tuned for the launch of the draft plan, and the next round of engagement activities, in the coming weeks. More info: https://gov.viu.ca/strategic-planning