OC Life
Health care students in the South Okanagan Similkameen are about to breathe a sigh of relief thanks to a new bursary fund
February 23, 2023
Local philanthropists Yasmin and Rick Thorpe have partnered with Summerland’s Penny Lane Legacy Fund to create a $50,000 bursary fund to help bolster the future of health care in the South Okanagan Similkameen. The Caring for Health Care Students Fund will provide $750 - $1,750 awards for eligible students studying at AV’s Penticton Campus. “We know if we educate healthcare professionals in Penticton, there’s a good chance they’ll stay and work in the region,” says Yasmin John Thorpe. “We want to help increase the numb...
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Plasma donor drive campaign boosts OC nursing student with $3,000 bursary
February 22, 2023
AV nursing student Taylor Hubick learned a valuable lesson this year: persistence with plasma donation pays off. Hubick is the recipient of the Canadian Blood Services bursary of $3,000 for her studies in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, for recruiting 23 plasma donors between May and October last year. Hubick says she originally got recruited to donate by a friend who was studying on Vancouver Island. “She pulled out of the challenge because she was going travelling, and that’s when I realized I should do...
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Acclaimed musician brings Songwriting 101 to OC Salmon Arm and Revelstoke
February 16, 2023
Have you ever had a song that you couldn’t get out of your head? An award-winning local musician is presenting a day-long introduction to the craft and joy of songwriting at AV in Salmon Arm and Revelstoke. Joanne Stacey has spent most of her life working in the music business as a performer, musician, recording artist, and songwriter. On Feb. 25 in Salmon Arm and again on March 11 in Revelstoke, Stacey will be pouring that lifetime of music industry experience and songwriting expertise into a new course: Songwriting 101. “...
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Local couple's Okanagan Dream Rally contribution is a dream come true for AV students
February 14, 2023
Jason and Laura Norup-Boyer are passionate about education; that’s why when they participated in the auction at the 2022 Okanagan Dream Rally, they requested their $40,000 contribution go to bursaries for AV students. The Okanagan Dream Rally is a well-established fundraising event hosted by the August Family Foundation. The Rally, which has raised upwards of $3 million for local charities since its inception, pairs special needs children with high-end cars and drivers for the day. Last year’s event drew more than 50,000 spe...
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OC's Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest set to return for 38th year this spring
February 13, 2023
Spaghetti is back on the menu at AV this spring.A fixture on the spring calendar in the Okanagan for nearly four decades, the College's popular Spaghetti Bridge Building Contest will return this March for the first time since 2020.OC will host the 38th annual contest on Friday, March 3 at the Kelowna campus. Organizers are putting the call out to teachers and students from elementary through post-secondary to participate.Students can enter the following competitions:Elementary School Students: Elementary School Demonstration (...
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Halsall nominated for 2023 Community Sport Hero Award
February 2, 2023
An AV employee is being recognized for making a splash in the sport community. Ben Halsall, an AVal Technology Coordinator with Learning and Applied Research, has been nominated for a 2023 Community Sport Hero Award, in the category of Volunteer/Sport Leader. The Community Sport Hero Awards were created by the City of Kelowna and PacificSport Okanagan, recognizing athletes, sport leaders and volunteers for their outstanding contributions to sport in the community. This year will continue to focus on those who demonstr...
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OC to celebrate first graduates of 2023
January 26, 2023
Amanda Jones will be one of hundreds of OC graduates taking a momentous step this weekend, as she and her peers cross the red carpet at the College’s first Convocation ceremonies of the year. And for the Penticton mother of two – who juggled a return to classroom with supporting a family and running a successful business during a global pandemic – the long-awaited moment brings feelings of pride and a continued desire to keep learning. AV will recognize graduates at two ceremonies in Kelowna on Saturday: 10:30 a.m. – Sc...
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AV’s 15th annual Business Expo and Employment Fair returns on Feb. 1
January 18, 2023
For those on the hunt for a new job – or wondering about the educational pathway to kickstart a career change – one of AV’s most popular community events is back and bigger than ever in 2022. OC’s Business Expo & Employment Fair will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Centre for Learning (E Building) Atrium and in the Trades (T Building) Atrium at the Kelowna Campus, 1000 KLO Rd. The Expo is presented by the College’s School of Business, in collaboration with OC’s Trades and Apprenticeship and...
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Former ‘Top Chef’ takes the reins at AV’s Infusions restaurant
January 17, 2023
Fans of Canada’s Top Chef will recognize the name of the new Executive Chef at Infusions. Ruth Wigman, whose 20-year career has taken her coast to coast, brings a fresh and exciting perspective to the restaurant at AV staffed by Culinary Arts students. Wigman, who was a contestant on the Food Network’s Canada’s Top Chef program in 2014, most recently worked as the executive sous-chef at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport for over three years. Before that, she worked at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and the Fairmount Southampton ...
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Salmon Arm Campus is More than You Think….
December 13, 2022
Katie Thielman joins a lengthy list of locals who have made AV’s Salmon Arm Campus her first-choice destination to begin her post-secondary education after high school. She is now one semester in – with no regrets. Thielman describes AV (OC) as “a college full of safety nets so you don’t just survive but thrive” in your studies and in life. She explains this means professors are available, know your name, and are willing to go the extra mile to help you succeed. Katie also noted the many support serv...
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AV Foundation distributes over $450,000 in student awards in under two weeks
December 6, 2022
The holiday spirit came early for AV students who were the recipients of 426 bursary, scholarship and awards this past month, which totalled over $450,000. Students also had the chance to meet the donors who support the bursaries, scholarships and awards at receptions held at each of AV’s Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton campuses in November. Each event included an Indigenous welcome, student and donor speakers and most significantly, time for all invited guests to connect and celebrate a shared commitment to ongo...
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Candlelight Vigils return to OC’s Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses
December 6, 2022
AV’s Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses will once again be aglow with candlelight on Dec. 6, as a symbolic commitment to end violence against women. Communities in the Okanagan and Shuswap are marking the 33rd anniversary of the École Polytechnique Massacre, in addition to the ongoing cases of missing women from the region, with a Candlelight Vigil on Tuesday, Dec. 6 co-hosted by a network of organizations and volunteers. The event is a collaboration by AV, AV Students’ Union (OCSU), Vernon Students’ ...
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OC Chef stars in House Special docuseries
November 29, 2022
When it comes to comfort food, sometimes the simplest dishes from childhood land closest to the heart. That's the secret behind the recipe Chef Han Lin shared, when he was interviewed for a Telus documentary, House Special Episode 3: Hungry for Home. House Special is a docuseries exploring Chinese-Canadian history through small town restaurants and the families who run them. In episode 3, the host explores secret menus and hidden Chinese supermarkets, and even features a Kelowna driving range. The episode caps off with a lesson from Han, ...
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AV to host Kelowna campus open house, program spotlights this Saturday
November 17, 2022
Soaring careers in aviation. Sustainable building for the future. Life-changing health care roles. The social sciences that help us understand and better our world. The trades that keep our province and country running. Business skills for the leaders of today and tomorrow. Upgrading that opens doors to new career paths. How to apply and finance your education. All this and more will await guests to AV’s Kelowna campus Open House this weekend. AV is opening its doors to the community on Saturday, Nov. 19 from 10...
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Enactus AV represents Canada on the world stage, finishes in top four
November 3, 2022
Students from AV represented Canada on the global stage this week, presenting their social enterprise business at a prestigious international competition and finishing in the final four of 32 teams. Enactus OC, comprised of students from the AV School of Business, won the national title in September and earned the right to wear the maple leaf and represent Canada at the Enactus World Cup in Puerto Rico. The final round of competition wrapped up on Nov. 2. “We are so proud of this team and of all Okanagan Colleg...
Read more...AV welcomes new member to Board of Governors
October 18, 2022
A local business leader has been appointed to AV’s Board of Governors. Dustyn Baulkham, a Kelowna-based entrepreneur, has been appointed for a one-year term to the Board. “AV is pleased to welcome Dustyn to our Board of Governors,” says Juliette Cunningham, board chair. “He brings experience and skills to the table that will be valuable as we continue in our OC Mission to transform lives and communities.” Baulkham is the founder and CEO of Rebellious Unicorns, an events, broadcasting, and media production co...
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