OC Life
TD gives $85,000 to help kids and newcomers access AV’s Indigenous Garden
October 18, 2022
Hawthorn, wolf willow, and sage are among the traditional plants growing in the garden on the hillside at AV’s Vernon campus, which this year was visited by more than 250 local school children, thanks to generous support from TD Bank Group. TD’s gift, made earlier in 2022, is funding tours of the K'nmaĺka Senqâĺten - Kalamalka Indigenous garden for children and newcomers to Canada. The garden is located on AV’s Vernon campus. AV has already received a portion of the funding; the remainder will be...
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AV welcomes new Associate Director, Indigenization
October 17, 2022
AV is pleased to welcome Rhea Dupuis, x̌ʷnámx̌ʷnəm, as the College’s first Associate Director, Indigenization. Rhea, from the Syilx Okanagan Nation and a member of the Penticton Indian Band, brings more than 20 years experience to OC, working in both public and Indigenous education systems, as well as with mental health and wellness organizations. Rhea’s traditional name is x̌ʷnámx̌ʷnəm, a Syilx name which means Hummingbird. “I am both thrilled and grateful that Rhea has chosen to share her wisdom, skills and experience with...
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Fall Open House and Info Sessions return at AV
October 14, 2022
High school students, parents and people of all ages considering post-secondary education – mark your calendars. AV is opening its doors this fall for a series of Open Houses and Spotlight Sessions across the region, the first of which is happening at OC’s Salmon Arm campus on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Events will then follow: Open House and Spotlight Sessions in Penticton on Wednesday, Oct. 26 First Year FAQs in Vernon on Oct. 26 and Open House and Spotlight Sessions on Wednesday, Nov. 2 Open House in Kelowna on Saturday, Nov....
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Meet Chef Rob Walker
October 12, 2022
Q: What is your name? A: Chef Robert Walker Q: What did you take at OC/OUC? What years did you attend? What campus did you attend? A: I graduate from the Culinary Arts Certificate program at Okanagan University College in 2001. Q: Why did you choose your program at OC? A: I grew up in the Kootenays not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life. But I always loved food. In the back of my head was this question, “How do I become a chef?” I had my eye on the Okanagan Valle...
Read more...OC’s 3 Hour Short Story Contest returns to challenge young writers
October 11, 2022
Calling all bloggers, bards and balladists: AV is inviting young wordsmiths to ply their trade under a tight time limit for bragging rights and prizes. The OC 3 Hour Short Story Contest returns in 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to gathering restrictions. Aspiring authors who are up for the challenge will need to make careful use of the 180 minutes they’ll be given to craft a compelling original short story at the contest, which will be held Nov. 5 from 1 – 4 p.m. at each of the College’s campuses in Penticton, Kelowna, Ver...
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AV’s Red Dot Players return with series of funny folk tales
October 6, 2022
For the first time ever, the Red Dot Players, AV’s community theatre troupe, will present a fall production this year, delving into the world of fables and folk tales. The Red Dot Players will present Folk Tales: Grimm & Otherwise this fall, the first time the community theatre company has produced a show in the fall, in addition to its regular spring-time feature. “This production has been bouncing around in my head for many years,” said Mike Minions, the show’s director and producer, and recently retired Okanagan Coll...
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Okanagan Enactus team takes top spot at Nationals
October 5, 2022
This past weekend, Enactus AV (OC) travelled to Toronto, Ontario to compete in the Enactus Canada National Exposition final round. They became the first team from Western Canada to be crowned the National champion out of more than 60 teams across Canada. Their award-winning home-grown project is providing nutritious food to people locally and multiple countries around the world. Their win will now see the students travel abroad to share their inspiring idea and compete at the next level. Unusually Good Food Company was insp...
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Prepare to be scared: OC hosts outdoor Fear Film Fest
October 3, 2022
Eat, drink and be scary with AV’s Fear Film Fest, a series of outdoor film screenings in the Kelowna campus courtyard from Oct. 4 to 6. Hosted by the Communications Department, the open-air screenings were popular events with students before the pandemic, and are returning this year with the goal to make your hair stand on end. “We’re reviving a long-standing department tradition of hosting community building events as a way to increase student engagement. We hope the timing of this film fest will also give students a chance...
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Evening marking 15 years of OC Writing and Publishing program celebrates creative community
September 12, 2022
Writers and fine artists in the North Okanagan have found a lot of reasons to celebrate this fall. Fifteen years’ worth of reasons, to be exact. The community of poets, fiction and creative non-fiction writers are coming together for Celebrating 15 Years of Writing and Publishing, an evening devoted to the collective showcase of students, alumni, instructors and former faculty members. “We have such a dedicated and talented community of writers, with a long history of promoting creativity in the region. This is a significant milestone fo...
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Hoopla Fundraiser for AV Coyotes to be hosted by Sportsnet’s Brad Fay
September 7, 2022
After a two-year hiatus, the Kelowna College Basketball Society is bringing back its much-anticipated and popular Hoopla event, raising awareness and support for the OC Coyotes basketball teams. The evening fundraiser takes place on September 28th from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the Centre for Learning on AV’s K.L.O. Road campus. Tickets for Hoopla are $50 and can be purchased https://occoyotes.eventbrite.com. “We are looking forward to connecting with the community in-person for the first time since 2019, as we cele...
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The Market at AV serving up locally produced food to fuel back-to-school
September 7, 2022
Move over, cafeteria lunch trays: locally produced foods and goods are sliding into the spotlight at AV this September. The Market at AV launched Sept. 6 in the former cafeteria space in Kelowna, and will be a source of healthy, local food that supports the holistic health and well-being of the campus community. Offering local, fresh food on campus celebrates the incredible diversity of Okanagan food and agriculture and furthers OC’s commitment to Feed BC. “Sustainability is vital for all aspects of student l...
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Meet Karl Heldt, Collision Repair student
July 27, 2022
Q: How did you hear about AV’s program? A: I found the program on AV’s website while browsing training possibilities for a new career. I applied because I felt like trying something new. Q: Why did you want to pursue this career? A: I chose this career because I’ve always been interested in vehicles. Before I enrolled in the program, a friend of mine was in a car accident and wrecked his car. He knew I was interested in cars so he gave it to me to work ...
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AV welcomes new Dean, Arts and Foundational AV
July 27, 2022
AV is welcoming an award-winning Arts educator and researcher to its academic leadership team. Dr. Judith Anderson will be joining AV as Dean, Arts and Foundation AV, which offers a wide array of arts university studies programming, including a new applied Arts degree, along with multiple levels of Adult Upgrading, English Language and Adult Special AV for students at all four campuses. “Judith brings a breadth of experience to AV. She taught extensively while offering insight into hu...
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Meet Tony Yang, RV Service Technician Foundation
July 12, 2022
Q: How did you hear about AV’s program? A: I attended a Career Fair and learned about the entry-level foundation program. Q: Why did you want to pursue this career? A: I own a campground and wanted to learn more about trailers to expand my knowledge and business opportunities. Q: Do you have a favourite learning experience or project while taking the program? A: I really liked the electric, plumbing and appliance lessons. It was a practical knowledge and I enjo...
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Meet Helen Pleavin, RV Service Technician Foundation
July 12, 2022
Q: How did you hear about AV’s program? A: I looked up the program online when I heard about the RV Tech career and was thrilled to find a local post-secondary institute offering the training so I could take it close to home! Q: Why did you want to pursue this career? A: I worked in the tourism industry for 20 years and wanted a career that was more practical and hands-on. I felt like being an RV Service Technician would be a good fit to my previous experiences. Q: ...
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Meet Josh Lang, RV Service Technician Foundation
July 12, 2022
Q: How did you hear about AV’s program? A: I heard about the program at the Abbotsford RV show, I applied because of the wide variety of areas we learn about. Q: Why did you want to pursue this career? A: I love the outdoors and repairing things so I thought it would be a great fit for me to learn how to repair RVs. Also, a lot of the skills I am learning transfer to other aspects of my life. Q: Do you have a favourite learning experience or project while takin...
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