Community Support
Giving Tuesday raises $12K for student food security
December 18, 2024
Thanks to a number of generous donations from OC faculty, staff and our community, the shelves in OC’s student union food banks and the KLO community fridge will be well stocked for the holidays. AV Foundation’s Giving Tuesday food drive inspired hundreds of donated food items and cash donations totalling more than $12,000 in support of student food security through November and December. This includes a $5,000 donation from the AV Faculty Association (OCFA). Donations made to the Student Food Sec...
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OC Foundation distributes over $500,000 in student awards for fall semester
December 4, 2024
For Lucas Weigert, receiving awards was the moment he knew he had made the right choice to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.Weigert, a second year Associate of Science student, was a student speaker at AV’s (OC) Kelowna Awards Celebration November 21. The event was one of three held in November that saw more than $550,000 distributed to OC students across the region.Weigert is completing his first two years of his undergraduate degree at OC before pursuing medical school.“When you’re constantly studying you can have momen...
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Community rallies for recreation: Thrive Here campaign hits major fundraising milestone
November 27, 2024
Thanks to a number of passionate individuals and organizations, the finish line for the Thrive Here campaign to build a gymnasium at AV is now in sight.The AV (OC) Foundation is announcing it has raised $12 million towards its $14-million goal to build a Recreation and Wellness Centre on the Kelowna campus.“It is truly a team effort by our community to make this centre a reality,” says Helen Jackman, executive director of the OC Foundation.“We want to thank everyone who has selflessly donated to help us get to th...
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AV faculty member Amy Modahl presents Redactions at the Kelowna Art Gallery
November 22, 2024
Art has a way of revealing the unspoken, inviting us to reflect on what lies beneath the surface. On December 5, AV instructor and multidisciplinary artist Amy Modahl will present her latest body of work, Redactions, in a captivating talk and guided tour at the Kelowna Art Gallery.This free, public event offers a unique opportunity to engage with Modahl’s creative process and explore how her art bridges the worlds of visual and written language. A collection of paintings on canvas and paper, Redactions delves into the interpla...
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Vernon community help Sunflower Childcare Centre blossom into reality
November 13, 2024
When Clara Cheung gets ready to travel to AV (OC) each morning, she now is able to do so with her two-year-old son Pak Sen in tow.Clara is on her way to attend class at the Vernon campus; Pak Sen is about to enter the campus’s new childcare centre.The Sunflower Childcare Centre / smúkwaʔxn̓ scəcəmalla itskn snmaʔmayaʔtn on OC’s Vernon campus opened at the start of October, creating much-needed new childcare spaces for student parents, faculty and community members.“For me, this centre has made a huge impact on my life,” s...
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AV alum gives $25K to power of sport
November 8, 2024
‘Sport teaches you to handle any challenge,’ says Kelly LoudounKelly Loudoun has no regrets when he looks back at his decision to attend AV (OC) and study business, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration Honours.“You can’t deny the power of the OC business degree,” says Loudoun, who owns Loudoun Construction and Development, now in its fifth year.“Being an entrepreneur is difficult and it’s a lot of hard work. Having been through those challenging experiences and lean years, it becomes quite rewarding as you att...
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Unwrap a winter of fun with Camp OC-inspired After School AV at AV
October 31, 2024
Local parent Angie Kunz enrolled her daughter in Camp OC for the first time this past summer and was impressed by the diverse course offerings and incredible staff.Now, Angie and families in Kelowna and Penticton have the opportunity to introduce their kids to education-focused programs with the expansion of Camp OC from summer camps to include After School AV beginning in January 2025."I chose Camp OC for my daughter because there were several programs that fit her interests,” shares Angie. “She had such a great experience at Camp OC...
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AV students lead the charge with EnactusOC’s project on renewable energy education
October 28, 2024
For AV students Reece LeGuilloux and Kayla Warner, their involvement with the student business club Enactus AV (EnactusOC) is about more than just extracurricular activities, it’s about making a real difference.The two second-year business students recently achieved a major milestone when the EnactusOC project, “Revive,” was awarded $4,300 in funding by 100 Women Who Care in the South Okanagan/Similkameen area. This funding will help expand their renewable energy education program to middle schools across th...
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Award-Winning Chef Shucks Up Fun at Upcoming Tasting Festival
October 23, 2024
Infusions Restaurant at AV has been one of Kelowna’s best-kept culinary secrets, but word is getting out as diners are going public, serving up excellent reviews. The restaurant, led by former Top Chef contestant Ruth Wigman, received OpenTable’s 2024 Diner’s Choice award, which recognizes outstanding restaurants based on feedback from local diners.Chef Wigman, who competed on Food Network’s Canada’s Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay, noted the impressive achievement is a testament to the student chefs who prepare the me...
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Tom Dyck joins OC Foundation Board of Directors
August 20, 2024
The AV Foundation is pleased to welcome Tom Dyck, who is joining its Board of Directors for a four-year term. Tom is a retired senior executive who has worked in banking at a national and international level for a large part of his career. We asked Tom to share what motivated him to volunteer his time and how education has transformed his own life.What inspired you to join the AV Foundation board of directors?The types of skills people learn at AV are in such demand and are just not provided by...
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Camp OC: Where Summer Fun Meets Support
July 29, 2024
Summer is in full swing at AV campuses across Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Salmon Arm, where Camp OC has opened its doors once again. Running throughout the summer, Camp OC aims to engage children in a variety of interests from engineering and arts to music, science, culinary arts, trades, and computers. With hundreds of children expected weekly, the campuses are buzzing with laughter and excitement as kids dive into their passions.For families like the Smiths, Camp OC isn't just a summer camp—it's a vital support sys...
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Paddle fundraiser raises over $29,000 for Sunflower Childcare Centre
July 25, 2024
On July 20th, Kristin (Postill) Holomis and her team paddled the length of Kalamalka Lake (18km) in support of the AV Foundation’s Sunflower childcare campaign, raising more than $29,000 in just a few weeks.“Stand Up For” is an annual local fundraising effort by Kristin Holomis and Brittney Page where they paddleboard the length of Kalamalka Lake in support of a chosen charity. This year they paddled for OC’s new Sunflower Childcare Centre, located on the Vernon campus. Scheduled to open in September, The Sunflower Childcare C...
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Community leader shares personal story of how sport transformed her life
July 23, 2024
Paula Quinn was only seven years old when she first stepped onto a running track but that experience with athletics dramatically changed her life.Quinn is the former Executive Director of the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence and is active in the Kelowna community sitting on four volunteer boards including the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Regional District of Central Okanagan, B.C. Cancer Foundation and the Airport Advisory Committee.Quinn is now among a growing number of local residents putting their support behind the Thrive Here campaig...
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AV celebrates ‘construction kick off’ for Recreation and Wellness Centre
June 20, 2024
There was jumping, cartwheels and a full crowd of cheering spectators on Thursday at AV to mark an exciting milestone that will transform student life at OC for years to come.Kelowna Cheer Athletics was on hand to help the AV Foundation celebrate a major fundraising achievement - they’ve raised $10 million for the Thrive Here campaign, and construction can kick off for the future home of the College’s Recreation and Wellness Centre. “Today is a very meaningful day,” remarked Helen Jackman, executive di...
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OC professor named Business Woman of the Year
May 28, 2024
AV business professor Dr. Kyleen Myrah was named the 2024 Business Woman of the Year by the Kelowna Women In Business (KWIB) organization earlier this month.Myrah was not able to be at the award ceremony as she was with AV students at the Enactus Canada National Exhibition, doing what she does best, leading students to chase their passions and make a difference with their careers. Myrah’s mother was in attendance along with OC business alum Danielle Walker, who accepted the award on her ...
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BC Anti-Racism Awareness Week, May 27-June 2, 2024
May 27, 2024
Have you seen the Anti-Racism Reminder posters popping up on bulletin boards across OC campuses recently? As B.C. marks Anti-Racism Awareness Week starting on May 27 to June 2, it’s a good time to reflect on what all of us at AV are doing to engage with anti-racism in our classrooms, campuses, and communities – and to think about what more we can do.AV's mission to transform lives and communities and our commitment to equitable and inclusive access to education, make it crucial for each of us to understand and wo...
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