OC Life
Celebrating the OC career of Dr. Bill Gillett
December 13, 2023
With the retirement of Dr. William Gillett (Bill), OC will certainly miss the former Dean of the School of Business. But we are in a celebratory mood and wish Bill all the best with his well-deserved retirement after a long career. "It has been a distinct pleasure and true privilege to be a part of the Okanagan School of Business and witness the incredible skill and dedication of the faculty and instructors as they inspire and guide our students to success in their careers and lives," said Bill. "The entire Okanagan community has be...
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Meet Jessica Skerlec
December 8, 2023
What is your name? Jessica Skerlec What are your pronouns? She/her Where is your hometown and where are you located now? Raised in Kelowna and still currently living in Kelowna. What did you take at OC? What campus did you attend? I took my Bachelor’s of Business Administration at ʪƵ, specializing in Human Resources Management at the Kelowna Campus. What is your current position? Negotiator for the National Collective Bargaining ...
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Dr. Samantha Lenci appointed ʪƵ Provost and Vice President, Academic
October 25, 2023
Dr. Samantha Lenci, a well-respected leader with experience working across multiple post-secondary institutions in Western Canada, has been named the new provost and vice president academic at ʪƵ, effective Dec. 1, 2023. “Dr. Lenci is an outstanding leader and team builder who brings expertise in program design, development and implementation, as well as an understanding of the transformative power of post-secondary education in communities,” said Dr. Neil Fassina, OC president. “Most importantly, in addition to her imp...
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OC’s Red Dot Players present The Haunting of Hill House
October 23, 2023
As the weather gets chilly something is heating up the stage at ʪƵ. A supernatural horror story that promises to be a hauntingly good time for attendees. The Red Dot Players are excited to present The Haunting of Hill House, a psychological horror story about an investigator of supernatural phenomena who arrives at Hill House to unravel its morbid history. The play is written by F. Andrew Leslie and based on the novel by Shirley Jackson. The performance is directed by OC faculty member Sarah Foss. "I was drawn ...
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OC hockey players chip in for collegiate hockey team
October 20, 2023
The Okanagan Lakers hockey team, consisting of students from ʪƵ, earned two wins in the B.C. Intercollegiate Hockey League last weekend, beating rivals Logan Lake/TRU and Simon Fraser University. The team is back in action this weekend with games Friday October 20 at 7:30 p.m. against the University of Victoria Vikings and Saturday Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. against the Vancouver Island Mariners. The win over the SFU Red Leafs last weekend, a 5-3 victory over the perennial powerhouse SFU club on Saturday night, was the Lakers f...
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Celebrating 60: Welcome to the 2023/24 academic year at OC
September 5, 2023
A message from ʪƵ President, Dr. Neil Fassina: For many people, this week marks the start of a new chapter. The first day of classes, a return to school, those initial moments where you check out the textbooks, syllabus, and materials of a new course – the energy on campus this time of year is electric and exciting. This year is all the more special for OC, because we’re celebrating sixty years since the opening of the B.C. Vocational Institute in Kelowna and the College’s growth through the region in the decades that...
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ʪƵ hosts You @ OC Event to showcase programs and services
June 13, 2023
With summer approaching and many people making their college or university plans for the fall, ʪƵ is extending an invitation to the community to explore the many opportunities available at OC. Applicants, admitted students, parents and anyone interested in learning more about programs and life at OC are invited to attend You@OC on Tuesday, June 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the College’s Vernon campus. During the event, application fees for all programs will be waived. You@OC is an opportunity to explore various program ...
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ʪƵ professor and artist receives Tanabe Prize
April 25, 2023
ʪƵ communications professor and artist Amy Modahl has been announced as a winner of this year's Tanabe Prize, alongside artist Robin Hodgson. The two artists, based in the B.C. Interior, will each receive $15,000 in recognition of their exceptional creativity and promise of future achievements. Modahl expressed her excitement and gratitude for receiving the prestigious award, stating, "I'm so honored to have been chosen to receive this award that will support my work as an artist, especially because I also received a Canada...
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OC profs to share their talents at Valley Voices
April 24, 2023
The following media release is shared on behalf of Valley Voices: Valley Voices to Echo Again in Vernon Published authors to participate in next Valley Voices reading series with a celebration of stories and a book launch at the Bean Scene coffee house May 10. VERNON– As witnessed by the recent packed house upstairs at Vernon’s Bean Scene coffee house, the word is out about a new reading series in the Okanagan. Valley Voices launched in Vernon April 19 during National Poetry Month with an enthusiastic crowd listening to award-wi...
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New ʪƵ student housing, childcare centre on target to open in 2024 in Vernon
April 21, 2023
When she decided to attend ʪƵ, student-parent Sarina Parsons was faced with the challenge of finding childcare while balancing her course schedule. She says it added stress at a time where she wished she could have been more focused on her learning. In just over a year, students like Sarina will have access to childcare and on-campus living options at ʪƵ’s Vernon campus, when doors open at a new mass-timber student housing building currently under construction. The 100-bed student housing project and Sunflo...
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New ʪƵ student housing centre on target to open in 2024 in Salmon Arm
April 21, 2023
Finding affordable housing isn’t just a challenge in the big city – it can be difficult in smaller, more rural communities as well. For students like Dylan Taylor, who are also focused on completing post-secondary education and entering the workforce, access to housing is transformational. “There are many pressures on students already right now, so having a way to access a place to live on-campus takes away a huge amount of stress and makes it possible to focus on my education,” says Taylor, an Arts student at the Salmon Arm c...
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OC English professor’s book on Dickens receives critical acclaim
April 12, 2023
When it comes to studying at ʪƵ, you never know when class discussion will spark ground-breaking academic work. OC English Professor Terry Scarborough is pausing these days to enjoy the accolades from a high-profile review of his book, Bite the Hand that Reads: Dickens, Animals and Sanitary Reform, a concept that sprung from classroom discussion in English 231: Studies in Popular Narrative. He regularly attends the Victorian Popular Fiction Association’s conference at the University of London and decided to explore the topic...
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Food for Thought: ʪƵ’s applied research expo unites innovators across timely topics
April 11, 2023
Are you hungry for knowledge and innovation in the field of applied research? Do you want to learn from experts and peers who are tackling some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in our society? If so, you won’t want to miss the 7th annual ʪƵ Research Innovation Partnerships Expo, or ‘RIPE’, on May 2. RIPE, hosted by OC’s Learning and Applied Research department, is a free virtual event for community members, industry, educators, researchers and students to network and learn about the impact of applied research...
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Post-secondary partners to unite early childhood education faculty, policy groups, and others from across Canada to discuss outdoor pedagogy in college ECE programs
April 5, 2023
How does playing outdoors support children’s development and wellness? Why is outdoor play such a powerful conduit for learning? How can we advance curriculum in college programs to empower current and future early childhood educators (ECEs) to view outdoor play as an important part of the children’s day, in all kinds of weather? How are colleges integrating and advancing outdoor pedagogy in their ECE programs? These and other questions will be explored during a unique virtual conference next month that will bring together early childhood...
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Inspire at OC Revelstoke: Volunteer to Tutor
April 4, 2023
One of the ongoing programs the Revelstoke Centre of ʪƵ is proud to continuously offer is the Volunteer Literacy Tutoring program. Melissa Jameson, a resident of Revelstoke since 2007 whom some may recognize from her work at Community Connections, or more recently the civic affairs reporter for the Revelstoke Mountaineer, has been the volunteer coordinator for the program since October 2022. Jameson has been struggling to match several learners with tutors and wonders if there is a misconception about what the tutor position i...
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Meet Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores
April 4, 2023
Q: What's your name? A: Ruth Gabriela Melo Flores Q: What's your hometown? A: Quito – Ecuador – South America Q: How did you end up at ʪƵ? A: Well, I studied for a bachelor's degree in Law in Ecuador. Then, I worked for a while and got my Master's degree in Government and Culture of Organizations at the University of Pamplona. When I returned to my country, professional opportunities arose for me. I mean, a Master's degree improved my career. Spain helped ...
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