Collaboration & Partnerships
Families, don’t miss this free outdoor play workshop
February 26, 2020
Do you know a child who loves to stomp in the mud, look under rocks to see what crawly creatures might be living underneath or challenge themselves to walk the tightrope of a fallen log? Children will have a unique opportunity to express their creativity and engage their sense of wonder at an upcoming outdoor play workshop in March. A loose parts play date and open house will be happening on Saturday, March 7 from 10 a.m. – noon at Cousins Park on Beach Avenue and 6th Street in Peachland. The event is being hosted by AVĚěĚĂ, Out...
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RBC On Campus powers up financial literacy space at AVĚěĚĂ
February 25, 2020
A new collaboration between AVĚěĚĂ and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) will help OC students tap into free financial literacy support and services from RBC advisors. On Monday, RBC officially opened the new “RBC On Campus” financial literacy hub outside the Library on the second-floor mezzanine level of the Centre for Learning at the Kelowna campus. The space will be open from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Students will be able to drop in, free of charge, to speak with RBC advisors who can help students on a host of topics, fr...
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Okanagan teens take on booming tech industry at JABC TechWorks
February 20, 2020
More than 200 teens from high schools throughout the Okanagan spent their Thursday on OC’s Kelowna campus for a full day learning about technology and innovation. Organized by Junior Achievement British Columbia (JABC), the day focused on introducing middle school-aged students to the vast variety of opportunities that permeate the tech world. The morning opened with a plenary, led by Andrew MacLean, co-founder of HighTech U, a learning community based out of the University of Victoria. Other speakers included AVĚěĚĂ Regional Dea...
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Pushing the green building envelope: builders and educators working together
February 19, 2020
AVĚěĚĂ, UBC, City of Kelowna co-host net zero life cycle workshop Workshops often involve questions and answers; this one focused on the real-world queries and solutions that may unlock a greener future for us all. AVĚěĚĂ, the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBC Okanagan), the City of Kelowna and a host of industry partners convened in Kelowna at the Innovation Centre on Tuesday. Building Net Zero was a one-day workshop designed to bring together building and energy innovators to tackle an ambitious green ag...
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Signature Speaker Series explores slavery, murder, and piracy on the high seas
February 19, 2020
How do piracy, human trafficking and other serious international maritime crimes relate to commercial fisheries and the choices we are left with as a consumer? How does one go about solving cold cases? What is it like to defuse a hostage crisis and provide support to victims in the aftermath? Karsten von Hoesslin will delve into all this and more during his presentation “Slavery, Murder, and Piracy on the High Seas: Is there a direct line between human trafficking and the seafood that ends up on your plate?” on Monday, March 2 at 7:30...
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Chefs’ Table Society sets up Harry McWatters Scholarship Fund
February 13, 2020
A Canadian wine icon is honoured — scholarship will fund deserving students for overseas studies When Canadian wine icon Harry McWatters passed suddenly last summer, the sense of loss that so many felt went well beyond his extensive personal relationships. At McWatters’ service in Penticton, many of the 1,500 in attendance wondered just who might fill the void in the British Columbia wine industry which he helped invent, then cultivated for more than 40 years. “Harry’s mentorship is rightly legendary,” says Jonathan Rouse, Associate Dean...
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AVĚěĚĂ spotlights STEM education and career paths in Feb and March
February 13, 2020
What do soccer-playing robots, spaghetti bridges and soaring aviators have in common? Over the next month, AVĚěĚĂ will be opening its doors to elementary, middle and high school students to attend a series of events aimed at encouraging young people to step into Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). “We want learners of all ages to hear the message that there has never been a better time to get into technology careers. There is a very real need for skilled workers in everything from animation to electronic, civil, n...
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Community, industry support propels College’s Tourism Management program
February 11, 2020
For Julia Dorrius, born and raised in Revelstoke, the College’s new Tourism Management (TMD) diploma has done far more than just open her eyes to the booming demand for skilled tourism professionals – it’s also opened doors, giving her a chance to gain work experience with local employers. “I graduated high school last June and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” explains Dorrius. “My dad sent me a link to the program and suggested I take a look at it. I just finished my first semester and, so far, I’ve found it to be a great way to get th...
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Gateway graduation showcases student transformation
January 29, 2020
This is the second time Caleb Wykes has graduated from Gateway to Trades, but it's hard to say which time has been more impactful. The first time Wykes took the 10-week program that introduces high school students to the skilled trades, he graduated with a desire to “straighten up.” In the past Wykes would skip school, but after Gateway he started showing up regularly and working hard. The seventeen year old completed his Grade 11 and 12 and graduated early. The second time through the program Wykes benefited from getting an opportunity t...
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Enjoy spirited learning at charity fundraiser
January 27, 2020
Ward off the winter weather while learning to pick up the finer flavours of scotch as part of an upcoming whisky tasting to benefit AVĚěĚĂ students. Held by the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo, the 11th annual charity whisky tasting will test participants’ noses and taste buds as they learn to pick up notes of crème brulee or ripple bananas from seven mystery scotches. Tasty appetizers and buttery short bread will cap off the event, which typically sells out each year. “What people enjoy about this event is the opportunity to tas...
Read more...Runners, mark your calendars and take your marks: Campus to campus run returns in 2020
January 22, 2020
For the first time in a decade, runners will have a chance to lace up and enjoy a scenic run between the University of British Columbia Okanagan and AVĚěĚĂ, thanks to the return of the popular campus-to-campus half marathon and relay race. The run will commence at UBCO at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. From there, runners will follow a scenic 21.1 km route down the Okanagan Rail Trail to the Waterfront Trail, before finishing up at the College’s Kelowna campus on KLO Rd. Registration is now open at www.okanagan.bc.ca/campustocampus...
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Signature Speaker Series delves into screen time for kids
January 20, 2020
Should kids be left to their own devices when it comes to screen time? Dr. Michelle Ponti, a pediatrician from the Child and Parent Resource Institute in London, Ont., will discuss the risks and benefits of digital use for children as part of the AVĚěĚĂ Vernon campus’ Signature Speaker Series. “Screen Time: Should we leave kids to their own devices?” will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. in the lecture theatre of the Vernon campus. “Parents, caregivers and teachers are constantly challenged with the dilemma o...
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College’s 13th Annual Business Expo & Employment Fair powers up Tech Alley collaboration
January 17, 2020
Jobseekers, mark your calendars. AVĚěĚĂ’s popular Business Expo & Employment Fair is back for its thirteenth year, once again connecting students and community members with a diverse array of employers from the Okanagan and across the country. The AVĚěĚĂ School of Business and OC’s Student, Graduate and Co-op Employment Centre is presenting the 13th Annual Business Expo & Employment Fair on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The event is held at AVĚěĚĂ’s Kelowna campus in the Centre for Learning (E building) Atrium fr...
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College names Christensen, Louie and Galbraith as 2019 Honorary Fellows
May 14, 2019
AVĚěĚĂ is bestowing its highest honour on three notable Okanagan residents, each of whom has made unique and meaningful contributions through public service, mentorship and philanthropy. Tom Christensen, Robert Louie and George Galbraith will be named Honorary Fellows of AVĚěĚĂ during Convocation ceremonies in Kelowna and Vernon this June. “The accomplishments of this year’s Honorary Fellows are hard to summarize,” notes AVĚěĚĂ President Jim Hamilton. “Their contributions have had a lasting impact on so many ...
Read more...With help from federal government and donors, new Trades Training House opens at AVĚěĚĂ
May 15, 2018
AVĚěĚĂ Media Release The next generation of carpenters, plumbers, and electricians are stepping into a state-of-the-art new training space at AVĚěĚĂ this week thanks to investment from the Government of Canada, the College and a host of industry and community partners. Stephen Fuhr, Kelowna-Lake Country Member of Parliament, visited the Kelowna campus on Tuesday to officially open the College’s new Trades Training House. The 2,700 square-foot facility is designed to simulate a real-world jobsite that will constantly c...
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Bono, Thorpe and Waunch: OC honours three community builders
April 13, 2018
A trio of community builders – all champions of different causes – are being recognized this year by AVĚěĚĂ with the institution’s highest commendation. Mollie QuilQuil Sneena Bono, an advocate for Indigenous peoples, Rick Thorpe, a dedicated public servant, and Patrick Waunch, a recognized construction leader, are to be named Honorary Fellows of AVĚěĚĂ in June. “Each of these remarkable individuals has contributed significantly to our region, province and country,” notes AVĚěĚĂ President Jim Hamilton. “They ...
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