Articles tagged "Penticton"
OC Foundation chair’s book launch supports students in need
March 27, 2023
Honouring the past and supporting the future: Connie Denesiuk’s new book has ambitious goals. The Chair of the AV Foundation Board is launching a book next month about a story close to her heart, with the hope it will benefit the community around her. ‘Til Papa Returns; Surviving as a child refugee in WWII is the true story of Alfred Columbus, the youngest of eight children and father to Denesiuk. Alfred was learning how to farm the land their family had worked for more than 200 years, following advice and guidance from h...
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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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OC increases access to early childhood education in the South Okanagan
February 22, 2023
AV (OC) is opening new spaces for people interested in working in early childhood education, as childcare facilities across the region and British Columbia continue to face staffing challenges. The Early Childhood AV Certificate program starts at OC’s Penticton campus in mid-March and runs through May 2024. The intake will have space for 24 students, adding to the more than 145 Early Childhood AV students studying at AV in Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton this year. According to the province’s Labour...
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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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Partnership helping to fill staffing gaps in hospitality and tourism industry
December 1, 2022
Like many industries, the hospitality and tourism sector has been hard hit by staff shortages over the past few years with a declining youth population and an aging workforce combining to create significant challenges. But a new program designed in partnership by AV (OC) and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) will help to reduce those shortages. The first of four new cohorts of students enrolled in the Hospitality Professional Program this fall, a flexible program open to students anywhere in the Thompson-Oka...
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Alumni engagement poll
November 21, 2022
The AV Alumni Association invites alumni to participate in a quick poll. It will help assess the current state of alumni engagement at AV and establish a baseline for future tracking. OCAA is hoping to engage current OC employees who are also alumni, who may not receive messages. The survey should take approximately 2-4 minutes. To ensure confidentiality, your responses to this survey will be anonymized and combined with those of other respondents. Complete the survey by Tuesday, Dec. 6. To participate, please...
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Okanagan Enactus team off to Worlds
October 21, 2022
After claiming the National championship, the Enactus AV team will travel to Enactus World Cup 2022 in Puerto Rico later this month. For Penticton-based student Jon Talastas, the opportunity brings a chance to showcase a locally-grown idea on the world stage. From Oct. 30 – Nov. 2, OC’s Enactus team will compete against national champions from 30 other countries on projects that use entrepreneurship and innovation to solve the world’s biggest challenges. Enactus AV’s award-winning project – Unusually Goo...
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Throat-singing duo PIQSIQ to perform at OC's Penticton campus
October 18, 2022
AV joins forces with Route97 Culture to present fast-rising throat singing duo – PIQSIQ in Penticton Live music will return to AV's Penticton campus this November 4, 2022, for students and music fans alike. In collaboration with the Route97 Culture Road Trip series, AV will co-present the debut of PIQSIQ in the region, who will perform a special concert inside the LEED Platinum-certified building known as the Centre of Excellence in Room 113. You can buy tickets for the show here. With a style per...
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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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OC pilots tuition-free work-integrated learning for Early Childhood AV
July 26, 2022
AV is offering tuition-free Early Childhood AV (ECE) training with an innovative approach – providing students the opportunity to become certified during work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences as they provide education and care for young children. “AV is keenly aware of how many trained ECEs are in demand across the sector. This pilot project, with support from the Government of B.C., will increase access to education for people seeking certification, going a long way to meeting that need,” says Yvonn...
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Community invited to OC Penticton Career Fair on April 5
March 30, 2022
As the job market heats up, AV's Penticton campus is throwing open the doors to connect employers and career seekers next week. The Penticton Campus Career Fair will be held on April 5 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Centre of Excellence (PC113) at the Penticton campus, 583 Duncan Ave. West. "The Penticton campus prides itself on collaborating with the community, and the fair is an opportunity to connect employers in the region with much-needed talent," said Meri Kim Oliver, AV Vice-President Students. Students and c...
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New reverse osmosis equipment at BC BTAC to help beverage industry
March 18, 2022
The burgeoning beverage industry has more quality assurance equipment at its disposal thanks to AV’s British Columbia Beverage Technology Access Centre (BC BTAC). The BC BTAC has acquired a reverse osmosis (RO) system for use at its Penticton-based facility, in support of research and development among beverage manufacturers. “Reverse osmosis systems can be significantly beneficial as the industry adapts to climate change impacts,” said Wes Peterson, BC BTAC Manager. “Many growers are concerned about how environmental facto...
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OC’s Penticton campus hosts Chief Clarence Louie for a discussion about his book, Rez Rules
March 14, 2022
Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie will discuss his book, Rez Rules: My Indictment of Canada's and America's Systemic Racism Against Indigenous People, during a talk at AV’s Penticton campus next week. Louie was elected chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band in 1984 and has led his community for four decades since. He is known for focusing on economic and business independence in order to strengthen his community, which struggled with poverty. “Chief Clarence Louie is one of the most recognized First Nations leaders in Cana...
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OC Trades General Interest courses come to Penticton
March 2, 2022
What do hammers, bicycles and lawnmowers have in common? They are all topics in the new Trades General Interest programs launching at AV’s Penticton campus this month. The courses provide community members with the opportunity to learn hands-on skills in state-of-the-art trades shops with qualified instructors. The courses are scheduled in the evening and on weekends. Courses are also available for children in the evening and during summer camps. Participants will gain knowledge in various trades, build projects and learn how...
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Meet Kylee Seddon-Johnstone, SBT graduate
January 19, 2022
Q: What is your name? A: Kylee Seddon-Johnstone Q: What are your pronouns? A: She / Her / Hers Q: Where is your hometown and where are you located now? A: I grew up in Naramata, B.C., left for 10 years after high school and then returned back to Naramata to raise my two girls. I’m currently working out of my home office. Q: What did you take at OC? When did you graduate? A: I took the Sustainable Building Technology Diploma (formerly known as the Sustainab...
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Meet David Sawatzky, SBT graduate
January 19, 2022
Q: What is your name? A: David Sawatzky Q: What are your pronouns? A: He / Him / His Q: Where is your hometown and where are you located now? A: Originally from Kelowna, B.C., now I am located in Coldstream, B.C. where I am working on projects in the central and north Okanagan. Q: What program did you take at OC? When did you graduate? A: I completed the Sustainable Building Technology Diploma (formerly Sustainable Construction Management Technology Diploma) ...
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