Community Support
New members of OC Board
September 28, 2020
Two new area residents have been appointed to ʪƵ’s Board of Governors. Andrea Alexander, a Councillor with the Westbank First Nation, and JoAnn Fowler, an Enderby resident who is a mentor for new social workers with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, have been appointed for one-year terms to the Board. “I’m looking forward to working with Andrea and JoAnn, who bring a tremendous depth of experience working with and serving communities in the region,” notes Gloria Morgan, the Chair of the Board of Governors, who...
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New OC business program creates more real-world learning for budding entrepreneurs
September 24, 2020
ʪƵ’s School of Business is launching a new program that will teach entrepreneurship and business in a way most business owners would say is key to learning – by doing. The Experiential Entrepreneurship program will offer an entrepreneurship specialty to the College’s Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Modelled after a long-running and highly successful program at the College’s partner school in Finland, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, the Experiential Entrepreneurship program will see business students design, ...
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OC alumnus attempts World Record, doubles fundraising goal
September 15, 2020
While debilitating chafing sunk OC alumnus Nick Pelletier’s hopes of breaking the Guinness World Record for fastest swim of Lake Okanagan from Vernon to Penticton, it didn’t stop him from more than doubling his fundraising goal. In addition to the swim being a personal challenge, Pelletier was also raising funds to help support BrainTrust Canada’s Youth Concussion Clinic which provides youth aged five to 25 years old who struggle with concussions and cannot afford any services or resources to support their recovery. “This cause is close t...
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Pandemic teaches importance of caring for one another
August 21, 2020
Eric Pruijs was in the first month of his Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) program when COVID-19 resulted in classes being cancelled temporarily and quickly moved online. “I felt alone when this was happening,” recalls Eric, who had saved up to take the program but still planned on working part-time to get by. “I was worried about my finances and how it was going to work out. I needed to find ways to support myself.” Eric considered leaving the program to focus on finding w...
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Award winner is teaching young people to crunch numbers
August 21, 2020
Erum Ahmad is creating an opportunity for Vernon high school students to improve their financial literacy skills, an experience she wished she had during grade school. The fourth-year ʪƵ Vernon Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting) student remembers being disappointed when she learned her high school didn’t offer any accounting classes. So Erum took it upon herself to create and teach a program to Clarence Fulton Secondary students in Vernon this past year...
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Major Rotary gift supports nursing education
August 10, 2020
A $100,000 gift from the Rotary Club of Kelowna Foundation Reichwald Fund will support the education of Registered Nurses (RNs) at Kelowna’s major post-secondary institutions. ʪƵ and the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) are each receiving $50,000 to support high-quality skills training and provide financial support for students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. “We are thrilled to support our future health care workers in Kelowna and throughout the Valley,” says Catherine Comben, Rotary Club ...
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New accessibility initiative launched to support OC students facing co-op barriers
July 14, 2020
Co-op has long been a staple of the ʪƵ experience, offering students from a variety of study areas the chance to gain job experience and practical training in the workplace. But what happens when a student faces accessibility barriers in finding work? ʪƵ’s Accessibility Initiative and survey, run by members of the College’s Student Services team, seeks to break down those barriers. The project received funding from the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training for work integrated learning initiati...
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Splatsin Band celebrates the success of two of their students, now OC graduates
July 9, 2020
Representatives of the Splatsin Band and ʪƵ recently came together to honour and celebrate the success of two of their students with a special graduation event. Two years ago, Alicia Dominick and Tina William began upgrading their education with the Adult Academic and Career Preparation (also known as Adult Upgrading) program at ʪƵ in Salmon Arm. They continued their educational journey with the Early Childhood Educator Certificate and Early Childhood Educator Infant Toddler Specialty training. And as they...
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OC business students adapt FruitSnaps project to feed those in need during pandemic
June 23, 2020
When the pandemic hit, they adapted. When greater need appeared, they collaborated. When an unthinkable tragedy struck, they supported each other through it. And when the chance came to share their idea with the country, they rose to the challenge. It all started in the fall of 2018, when ʪƵ business student Abby Lagerquist noticed apples still on the trees at the end of harvest season. After inquiring with the orchard owners, she discovered that these apples were imperfect and would be left on the trees to rot (sadly, the fa...
Read more...College working with students, employers and communities to enhance co-op opportunities for Indigenous learners
June 18, 2020
How can ʪƵ enhance support for Indigenous students stepping into co-op work terms with employers? And in turn, how can OC better assist employers looking to hire students and set them up for success during their time in the workforce? These are just two of many questions inspiring Jewell Gillies as she consults with students, employers, other post-secondary institutions and Indigenous community members in the region and beyond as part of a 15-month long research project. “This project delves into many aspects of co-operative...
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Haircuts fundraiser caps off with a ‘Pinky Blinder’
June 16, 2020
It was supposed to be a Peaky Blinders inspired haircut, but a miscommunication resulted in what may turn some heads this week: the Pinky Blinder. Grant Lawrence, Valhalla Angels Kelowna President and Vancouver Co-President, and Phil Ashman, ʪƵ Regional Dean for the Central Okanagan, are sporting the infamous Peaky Blinders ‘Tommy Shelby’ haircut gone pink after raising more than $5,400 from their friends and colleagues. Peaky Blinders is a popular, gritty drama available on Netflix. With salons reopening, Lawrence and Ashm...
Read more...Kofoed family celebrates the role of nurses
June 10, 2020
A $60,000 gift from the Kofoed family will honour a very special nurse in their life, and a generation of new nurses entering the field. Jack Kofoed, and his children Jacqueline, Leah, Jillian and Jeremy are giving to the Our Students, Your Health campaign to help complete construction on a new Health Sciences Centre at ʪƵ’s Kelowna campus. Jack’s wife Leona was a nurse. She passed away in 2017, and this gift recognizes her life’s work and the special care she received during her final days, according to her family. “Mom wa...
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Kelowna Mayor, WFN Chief shave their heads for health care
May 29, 2020
With their wives wielding clippers, Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran and Westbank First Nation Chief Christopher Derickson expressed a hint of apprehension for the looming buzz cuts they’d committed to, but not an ounce of regret for the profile they’ve been able to raise for a cause near and dear to their hearts. Both leaders were able to raise more than $10,000 each for ʪƵ’s Haircuts for Health Care campaign and, having met their fundraising goals, met up in the College’s courtyard recently for a physically-distanced buzz cut fro...
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Kelowna Chevrolet invests in health professionals
May 28, 2020
Kelowna Chevrolet is investing in future health care professionals, with a $50,000 donation to the Our Students, Your Health campaign for a new Health Sciences Centre at ʪƵ. Kelowna Chevrolet Dealer Partner Ian Speckman says he felt a responsibility to support the state-of-the-art Health Sciences Centre that will train health care professionals for the region. “As we’re all realizing, health care professionals are essential for our community,” says Speckman. “This is about supporting students so they can get the right train...
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Contest winner inspired to help others
May 26, 2020
When Brittani Sali answered the phone and learned she was the winner of a $5,000 tuition giveaway contest, she thought she might be dreaming. The 22-year old was just waking up, and she hadn’t been expecting the call from local radio announcer B Mack. Lucky for Sali, winning the tuition giveaway towards any health program at ʪƵ wasn’t a dream. The 22-year old was among one of 80 people who entered the contest, which was sponsored by the Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Fund, in partnership with Virgin Radio and the Okanagan C...
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College’s Camp OC cancelled for 2020
May 25, 2020
COVID-19 concerns are leading ʪƵ to cancel its Camp OC summer camp offerings for 2020. “We have been closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation,” said Dr. Dennis Silvestrone, director of Continuing Studies and Corporate Training for ʪƵ. “And given what we understand about safety and limitations, we have made the decision to cancel Camp OC this summer.” “It is a very difficult decision for us, and one made with the best interests of all our campers, students, staff and our surrounding communities in mind...
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