Haircuts fundraiser grows new support
May 12, 2020
Kelowna Mayor and WFN Chief shaving their heads for a cause In dire need of a haircut and wanting to support the training of future health care professionals, some big names are joining the AV Foundation’s Haircuts for Health Care initiative. Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran and Westbank First Nation Chief Christopher Derickson are committing to dealing with their unruly self-isolation hair by shaving their heads, and in doing so, raising vital funds to help open the doors to a state-of-the-art new Health Sciences Centre at Okanag...
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Therapist Assistant students grasp value of collaboration on project designed to help quadriplegics
May 7, 2020
A final term project for Therapist Assistant Diploma (TAD) students turned out to be a gripping example of learning. When second-year students Tenley Csolle and Zoe Dack were paired up to work together on their TAD capstone (or final term) project, the duo quickly agreed they wanted to develop something that would help quadriplegics. “I was looking at how to help an artist or someone who wanted to paint and hold a paint brush. I like to draw and paint. I was thinking: if I had a spinal cord injury, how could I improve the technology that...
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New Alumni Association board members, President reelected for 12th consecutive year
May 5, 2020
The AV Alumni Association has elected two new board members and reelected Kara Kazimer as the Board President for the 12th consecutive year. Kazimer, a Bachelor of Business Administration graduate, has served on the Alumni Association board since 2001 and has been the President since 2008. “I am proud to be a part of the Alumni Association and help find ways to support and celebrate the graduates of AV,” says Kazimer. “Our alumni are doing so many great things and I love being a part of sharing my fellow alumn...
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College offers virtual info sessions, online summer sessions, $5K tuition giveaway to help ease stress for potential students
May 4, 2020
Physically distant but with a personal touch: AV is here to help. That’s the message for students and parents who have found the COVID-19 pandemic has an extra layer of anxiety around what life will mean after high school. “Picking a post-secondary path can be challenging at the best of times, without the added stresses of COVID-19 in the mix, so we want to ensure students know that we’re here to help,” says Andrew Hay, interim Provost and Vice President Academic at AV. “While our physical offices are closed f...
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Meet Evan Noble
April 30, 2020
Evan Noble was diagnosed with autism at five years old. Now after earning a diploma in Computer Information Systems from AV, Noble is working with the BC Ministry of Agriculture as an intern. Here’s what he shared with AutismBC recently: “It has been an excellent opportunity for me, and I have learned a lot. I am developing stronger skills related to working with others and have had the chance to use my education and computer skills in a variety of ways. I work withi...
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The Gathering Place
April 30, 2020
The moment you walk through the doors to the Gathering Place, everything seems to change: the light softens, the noise of the day fades away, and you are most likely greeted by a friendly face. Caroline Chartier is the Indigenous Transitions Planner at the Salmon Arm campus, and OC Life caught up with her to get the scoop on what makes the Gathering Place so special. Q: What was intent behind the Gathering Place when it was created? A: To provide a space for Indigenous students...
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Stober family invests in the future of health care in the Okanagan
April 29, 2020
The AV Foundation has received a landmark gift to the Our Students, Your Health campaign, which will help support the training of the Okanagan’s frontline health care professionals for generations to come. The Stober Foundation is committing $500,000 over the next five years to support the development of a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Centre at AV’s Kelowna campus, which will train 450 students per year over the next 40 years. In recognition of this leadership gift, AV Foundation is establis...
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Postcard Project raises funds and connects others by mail
April 28, 2020
A new initiative from an AV staff member is not only stamping out quarantine blues, but raising funds for much-needed mental health resources. Katie Maryschuk works in the Public Affairs department, tasked with updating the Okanagan community about news and events happening at the College. In her spare time, she collaborates on creative projects with two friends, and the trio had been discussing earlier this year new ways of sharing their work with the online community. That’s when the idea struck of how she could marry a fe...
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OC Audio Engineering and Music Production alums send new music and gratitude out into the world
April 27, 2020
From local creators to international headliners, musicians around the world are rallying to provide sweet sounds of hope amid troubled times during the COVID-19 pandemic. And if a common thread runs throughout these live shows, between the trends and among the shares, it’s an increased awareness for the value music brings to our lives. AV students Noah Potenteau and Logan Larocque are among those brightening the digital space with their talents. The pair recently completed the Audio Engineering and Music Product...
Read more...Haircuts for Health Care launches
April 24, 2020
College president steps up with 5k incentive Shaggy beards and untamed locks are an inevitable consequence of almost six weeks of physical distancing and the closure of all non-essential businesses, including our community’s beloved salons. However, as people take the necessary steps to flatten the curve, many will be tempted (required!) to take their unkempt hair into their own hands. A new community fundraiser launched by the AV Foundation is encouraging those who want to take matters into their own hands, to do so for a ...
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