Okanagan College News

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Friday, February 03, 2012 Vernon Speaker Series tackles greening the information age Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release The information and communication technology (ICT) industry needs to go green if it is to continue in a world facing global warming, warns a leading expert in the field. Bill St. Arnaud, former chief research officer for 15 years at CANARIE (Canada’s Advanced Internet Development Organization), says the industry that creates virtually everything needed in a modern economy – from telephone lines to wireless signals, broadcast media and networking – is in desperate need of an overhaul. “ICT itself has become the heavy industry of the information age,” says St. Arnaud, who will be lecturing Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Okanagan College’s Vernon campus, as part of the Science in Society Speaker Series. “We need to find alternate solutions that enable ICT to become zero carbon immediately.” St. Arnaud says CO₂ emissions from ICT exceed that of traditional heavy industry smelters, steel mills and cement plants with a continuing dramatic growth rate of over six per cent a year. “At this rate ICT will represent 12-20 per cent of all CO₂ emissions by 2020,” he says. St. Arnaud is now a Green IT networking consultant who works with clients on the application of technology to research, education and Internet networks. He also works with clients to develop practical solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “We must now focus on how to adapt to a much warmer planet. Energy efficiency is not enough. We don’t have enough time to reduce emissions of ICT through energy efficiency. Building zero carbon networks, data centers and computers will be our major task in the coming years. We also need to design ICT solutions that can survive dramatic climate disruptions such as floods and droughts.” St. Arnaud is a regular contributor to the CBC’s technology show Spark and he also publishes a number of blogs including “Future Internet, R&E Networks, Green Internet, Green IT” and “Green Internet and Cyber-Infrastructure.” The Science in Society Speaker Series (a joint project by the Okanagan Science Centre and Okanagan College) is sponsored by the Best Western Vernon Lodge, Starbucks Coffee, Sweet Caroline’s Bakery, and the Vernon Morning Star. Admission is $5 in advance or $7 at the door. For advanced tickets and more information, visit the Okanagan Science Centre at www.okscience.ca or call (250) 545-3644.
Thursday, January 26, 2012 Kayfish and Styffe to lead College Board Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release Lance Kayfish has been re-elected to a one-year term as Chair of the Okanagan College Board of Governors, while the South Okanagan’s Tom Styffe was re-elected as the Vice Chair. Kayfish and Styffe were elected at the Board’s regular meeting this week. Kayfish has served on the College Board since 2007, became Chair in 2010, and is a risk management expert with the City of Kelowna. He holds baccalaureate degrees in both commerce and political science. “I am so very proud of the work Okanagan College does. Every year the college grows, improving access to some of the best educational programs in Canada. I look forward to working with the Board, staff and students to continue our mission of Transforming Lives and Communities,” Kayfish shared following the election. Styffe joined the College Board in January 2010. Styffe is a semi-retired Okanagan Falls resident with more than three decades of experience in construction project management. His portfolio includes projects ranging from the $25-million New Westminster campus of Douglas College to schools, hospitals, commercial projects and more than 1,000 units of residential construction. He is also serving his third term as an Alternate Director for the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and has been active in municipal and provincial politics, including serving as a councillor for Logan Lake. Kayfish and Styffe are joined on the Board by appointed members Bill Cooke, Douglas Manning, Sunddip Nahal, Yvonne Pinder, and Loretta Swite-Ghostkeeper, and by elected members Michael Conlin, Lianne Rozniak, Ross Saunders, Mike Marino as well as ex officio members Jim Hamilton (President, Okanagan College) and Rick Gee (Chair, Okanagan College Education Council).
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 Eat.Drink.Tweet 2012 Posted by: Public Affairs Announcing the 2012 Eat.Drink.Tweet. lineup Eat.Drink.Tweet. returns to Penticton this February 17-19 with some familiar and new faces on the social media front, including one of Canada’s top bloggers, a legally blind photographer, and a brief history of BC’s crazy liquor laws. Following the success of last year’s sold out event, and subsequent EDT’s held around the province, All She Wrote has once again partnered with Okanagan College to host Eat.Drink.Tweet., a social media conference with a culinary twist. This year, Naramata Bench Wineries returns to pour for the live Twitter wine tasting, which will be paired with creations by Okanagan Street Food, and a pre-conference day on the art of blogging — titled “Beer’n'Blogs” will see Chef Neil Schroeter’s food paired with craft beer from Penticton’s own Cannery Brewing. The pre EDT Beer’n'Blogs session takes place on Friday, February 17th, and will be led by Lorraine Murphy, a prolific blogger on her own site, Raincoaster, and now a reporter for TheDailyDot.com. Ask Lorraine about the time she got into a “flamewar” with Albania. The morning will see an intro to Wordpress session, followed by two breakout sessions featuring Cathy Browne — she of the aforementioned legal blindness –and Kathleen Rake of Click Media Works. The day will end with a panel on the best practices to build and maintain your blog. Friday evening marks the return of live Twitter wine tasting, but not before keynote Rob Duncan — author, actor, researcher — presents his talk Work together to win! Why collaborating with the competition can be the smartest thing you do…Rob is the author of the forthcoming book “Collaborative Intelligence” and will reveal some of his recent findings. Read his bio. The learning truly gets underway on Saturday, with a slate of twelve seminars to choose from; attendees will have a tough time choosing which ones they’ll want to go to from a list that includes sessions on Facebook marketing, QR codes, Twitter, YouTube, social media management and more. Check out the schedule and speakers. And on Sunday, Eat.Drink.Tweet. wraps up with a somewhat “TED” style morning of three short sessions, back-to-back: How Did We Get Into This Mess? A Ridiculous History of Liquor Control in BC, presented by blogger and historian Chris Mathieson; Out-Rage-Us! Controversy in Advertising, presented by Mark Rucker of The Rucker Archive; and Get social now! A look ahead to the 2013 North American Wine Bloggers Conference and how it can grow everyone’s business, presented by yours truly. All social media skill levels are welcome, as the presenters keep in mind that not everyone knows what a hashtag is, and anyone in any business will benefit both from the sessions and learning new marketing tricks, as well as networking “IRL” — in real life, in online lingo — with colleagues and other businesses from across the region. Register for the entire weekend or just a portion via Eventbrite.
Monday, January 16, 2012 College to celebrate the Year of the Dragon Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release Okanagan College’s International Education department is hosting its annual Chinese New Year and International Celebration on Friday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. in Kelowna. The success of last year’s celebration left the College’s lecture theatre bursting at the seams. This year, organizers have moved the popular event to the Kelowna Community Theatre. More than 20 cultural performances will take place in honour of the Year of the Dragon. Performers will include College students, employees and well-known cultural groups such as the Chinese Freemasons Club of Canada and the Latin Dance Club. Spectators can expect to see the Lion Dance, a traditional Japanese dance as well as an African dance performance. Entry into the event is by donation – proceeds will support the Okanagan College International Student Scholarship Fund. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and international cuisine will be available during the intermission. Tickets are now available at the Okanagan College International Education Office – 1000 KLO Road and will also be available at the door. Space is still available for additional cultural performers – contact Masami Kostiuk at mkostiuk@okanagan.bc.ca for more information.
Thursday, January 12, 2012 Okanagan College scores big at prestigious business competition Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release Eleven students have put Okanagan College on the national map for excellence following their success at the Inter-Collegiate Business Competition (ICBC) held at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario last week. Four of five Okanagan College teams landed in the top three spots in their categories, with the ethics team taking first place. The opportunity to compete in the finals came after the College teams edged out dozens of competitors in the preliminary round. Since its inception in 1979, the ICBC has established itself as the top undergraduate business case competition, attracting participation from the most prestigious business schools from Canada’s largest universities. Dr. Barry McGillivray, Associate Dean of Business, said it was an outstanding showing for local students who were up against universities like UBC (Sauder), University of Toronto, York, Dalhousie, Concordia and even Queensland University of Technology in Australia. “The ethics team proved they truly understood the case before them,” said McGillivray, who coached the ethics team and watched every Okanagan team participate. “The accounting team just nailed it, finance was great, and the debating team – I just never saw anyone happier. The business policy case was, without question, tough, and our team performed exceptionally well.” Zach Webster and Bianca d’Errico impressed the ethics judges with their analysis of a complex fictitious case involving foreign university exchange students, failing grades, and the potential for both financial and political outfall. “We did a cost-benefit analysis and took a utilitarian perspective to find a solution that worked best for everyone involved,” said Webster. “I thought we did well, but I was over the moon when I heard the result.” Steve Bernardo sat on the judging panel for the ethics competition. He’s a senior partner with Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark, Canada’s oldest management labour and employment law firm and was named in a U.S. publication entitled “Canada’s Best Lawyers.” “All the judges felt that the Okanagan Ethics team excelled in its presentation,” said Bernardo, who has been judging ICBC events for the last nine years. The other winning Okanagan College teams were: Accounting - Josh Widmann and Mike Naito – 2^nd place Debating - Vanessa Wittel and Emily Johnson – 3^rd place Finance - Jessica Wilson and Steven DeBoer – 3^rd place Business Policy - Becky Olson, Mike Marino and Leanne Manke – 4^thplace “This is a tremendous achievement for our College. We were the only college in the country to move forward to the finals, and these results demonstrate that our business students stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the country,” said Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton. The final competition draws judges from some of North America’s top corporations, making the ICBC a significant player in recruiting the next generation of business leaders. “Traditionally ICBC participants, especially those placing in the top three, are highly recruited by the most significant employers in Canada, and a reference to ICBC participation in a resume is instantly and almost universally recognized as a ‘badge of excellence’ by employers across Canada,” Bernardo said. “Many former ICBC participants occupy significant positions in corporate Canada and the professions.” McGillivray has already seen signs of interest saying two companies – Target and TransCanada – approached him at the competition about recruiting at Okanagan College, while others asked if they could contact some students directly. “This performance opens up a whole new avenue of employment for these students, should they wish to take it,” McGillivray said. This is only the fourth year the College has participated in the 34-year-old student-run competition. Up until now, the College’s best performance was a single second place finish. This year’s ICBC competition preliminary round attracted 175 teams from 38 post-secondary institutions from across Canada and internationally. The top six teams from each category advanced to the finals at Queen’s. Enrolment in the Okanagan School Business has seen notable growth in the last few years, with 1,863 students in 2010-11.
Thursday, January 12, 2012 Okanagan College Practical Nursing grads quick to enter workforce Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release There’s a good chance that practical nurses graduating from Okanagan College this weekend will be on the job within a month – that is unless they’ve already found work in their field. The 77 Practical Nursing graduates will be among 340 students who will receive credentials at Okanagan College’s annual Winter Convocation in Kelowna on Saturday. Of the 77 nursing students, 37 finished their program in December – another 40 completed their studies in August and many have already found jobs. According to figures released Jan. 6 from the Ministry of Advanced Education’s Student Outcomes Survey, even in today’s economy 58 per cent of those who graduated from the College’s Practical Nursing program between 2009-2011 landed jobs in their field in less than one month. Another 24 per cent obtained jobs within two months of graduation. Those numbers fit in well with projections from the B.C. Labour Market Outlook published in July 2011. The report identified health occupations to be among the top three groups to experience job growth, and noted that 42 per cent of B.C.’s job openings in all fields will require college or trade certificates. Practical Nursing Chair Norma Stubbert said the positive employment rate likely also reflects the depth and breadth of the training. “Our last 15 classes have experienced a 100 per cent pass rate on the national exam,” said Stubbert. “These figures speak not only to the excellence in program delivery and instruction, but also to the support offered to students.” Stubbert also gave credit to experts in the field who take time to work with the students. “These community partners play a significant role in ensuring our graduates have a solid foundation for their practice by providing excellent learning opportunities, which helps them quickly put their knowledge into practice,” she said. Students seem to agree. The Outcomes Survey also revealed 94 per cent of those surveyed reported they were satisfied with their education, despite 58 per cent describing the program as “difficult.” Joining the practical nurses in the first Convocation ceremony of 2012, are another 263 students graduating from more than 20 fields of study. The Winter Convocation takes place at the Kelowna campus of Okanagan College, Saturday, Jan. 14 and includes students from all four regional campuses. The morning program gets underway at 10 a.m. and will recognize graduates from a variety of programs such as Commercial Aviation, Bachelor in Business Administration, Advanced Culinary Arts, Electronic Engineering Technology, Human Service Work, and Criminal and Social Justice. The afternoon ceremony starts at 12:30 p.m. with the College conferring certificates on the practical nursing graduates. This marks the first Convocation ceremony of 2012. Okanagan College’s larger Convocation and Commencement ceremonies take place in June. In the 2010/2011 academic year Okanagan College conferred 2,551 credentials. Applications for the next intake for the 70-week Practical Nursing diploma, which starts September 2012, will be accepted until February 29, 2012. For more information about Practical Nursing and other programs at Okanagan College visit www.okanagan.bc.ca.
Friday, December 30, 2011 College half marathon celebrates 10 years of running Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release Registration is now open for the 2012 Okanagan College Half Marathon, 10 K and Relay Race. Event organizers are celebrating 10 years of the community race – with this year’s running events taking place on Sunday, April 1 in Kelowna. The race has grown steadily over the past decade and has adapted to offer a variety of distances and fun events to encourage participation from every type of runner – from newbies to corporate challenge teams to competitive racers. “The 2012 race will be a celebration of running, fitness and participation in our community,” said Christine Ulmer, Race Director. The Half Marathon has a proud history in the Okanagan thanks to the great support it has received from local runners and also as a result of the dedication of a number of volunteers who make the race happen every year. “We listened to feedback about the course and are pleased to be able to offer the same routes as last year, all of which proved to be popular, despite a rainy race day. We also moved the race to the first Sunday in April – it’s only a week further into spring than previous years’ races but we’re hoping the weather will be that much more accommodating for runners.” Each of the three races begins between 8 and 8:15 a.m. at the KLO Road campus of Okanagan College. The half marathon course will cover 21.1 kms of Kelowna pavement, taking runners along the Abbott corridor into City Park and will turn around atop the first hill on Knox Mountain. Runners will make their way back along the waterfront to Gyro Beach, across Lakeshore and finish back at the KLO campus. For new runners or those looking for a shorter distance, the relay race covers the same course as the half marathon and allows up to five runners to participate in segments of approximately 4 km each. Back for a third year is the popular 10 km route, which will take runners along the same first and last portions of the half marathon course with a turnaround in City Park. Prize money will be offered to the top three finishers in the male and female division of the half marathon. On each side, first place will receive $250, second place will take $150 and the third place finisher will receive $100. Prizes will also be offered to winners of the 10 km and relay portion of the race. Any non-runners wishing to be involved with the race can lend their time as race volunteers or course marshals, explained Ulmer.  “There’s no experience necessary, just some common sense and a desire to help out. Course marshals do not direct traffic but momentarily stop cars to allow racers to pass.”   To register, find out more about the course or to view entry fee deadlines, visit: www.okanagan.bc.ca/halfmarathon. All proceeds from the race are donated to Okanagan College’s campus recreation programs. To volunteer, contact Michelle Lowry at 250-762-5445 ext. 4649 or at mlowry@okanagan.bc.ca.
Friday, December 23, 2011 100-year-old Kelowna business invests in future at Okanagan College Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release Owners of one of Kelowna’s original pioneer businesses have decided to invest in the future by creating an endowment fund for landscape horticulture students at Okanagan College. Five descendants of one of the founders of the 100-year-old Stewart Brothers Nurseries have donated $10,000 to the College for an endowment to create the annual Stewart Brothers Nurseries Award for successful applicants enrolled in the Landscape Horticulture Certificate Program. “We wanted to give back to the community that we’ve been part of for the last 100 years,” said Sandra Bjarnason, who along with her sisters Colleen Mulvihill, Kate Stewart, Jennifer Stewart and Julie Crawford made the donation. The sisters are all grandchildren of Richard Stewart, who along with his brother William, launched the company in 1911. The company quickly positioned itself as a key player in establishing the Okanagan as a fruit-growing mecca. Over the next four decades, the nursery continued to grow, and by the 1950s, the company’s focus shifted from fruit to shade trees. Today Stewart Brothers Nurseries supplies shade trees throughout Western Canada, primarily focused on municipalities, as well as commercial and residential landscapers. Bjarnason said the current focus on healthy living and the environment continues to invigorate not only the Stewart family business, but the industry itself. “It’s a fabulous time to be in horticulture,” said Bjarnason. “People are realizing we need trees if we want to have a healthy planet, and they now understand more about the value of having trees in their communities.” Program instructor Rodger Hallman agreed. “There are so many opportunities out there that students can take advantage of,” said Hallman, “and people are looking for those who have certification.” Kathy Butler, executive director of the Okanagan College Foundation, said it’s an honour to have a new endowment such as this carry the name of such a well-established Okanagan family. “We are very grateful for this special endowment for our students,” she said. “I know our students here will appreciate the vision your forefathers had in starting their business, and as they grow in their own careers in this new era, that they will take on that responsibility of working in concert with nature.” The Okanagan College Foundation works with donors who are interested in making life better, and careers stronger for the next generation by creating valuable awards, scholarships and bursaries. For more information, call the Foundation at 250-862-5630 in Kelowna or Toll-Free at 1-888-650-6968. The Landscape Horticulture Certificate consists of a 120-hour program, which includes instruction in botany and soil science, plant identification, along with landscape construction and maintenance. Sessions get underway early in 2012 with programs offered in Penticton, Kelowna and Salmon Arm. For more details, contact Continuing Studies or visit www.okanagan.bc.ca and search for Landscape Horticulture Certificate.
Thursday, December 22, 2011 Ancient timber makes mighty gift for College carpentry program Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release Recycled timber originating from 250-year-old B.C. forests will soon add an authentic note of heritage to Okanagan College thanks to a hefty in-kind donation to the College’s carpentry program through the Okanagan College Foundation. Kim and Doug Cotter, owners of Cotter’s Bin and Demolition Services Ltd. in Penticton, salvaged the Douglas fir timbers from the historic Naramata packinghouse and offered to donate the lumber - worth approximately $22,266 - to the College. “It makes you feel good to have something done of value from this salvaged wood,” said Doug Cotter, who spent time working in B.C.’s logging industry. The Naramata Packinghouse was built in the 1930s from 250-year-old timber stands on Vancouver Island, explained Cotter. The Okanagan Tree Fruit Cooperative operated the packinghouse for decades, but closed the building a few years ago. When a water pipe burst last spring, the Cooperative determined the cost to restore the building was too great and hired the Cotters to demolish it. Alf Leimert, who chairs the Construction Trades Department at Okanagan College, got wind of the demolition and approached the Cotters about making a donation. Earlier this year the towering posts and beams were delivered to the College’s Kelowna campus where the wood will be used in the carpentry program. Nails and massive fasteners had to be removed from the posts and beams to prepare them for stacking in the College’s shed. Leimert said the wood gives his students a rare appreciation for the products that came out of the province’s forest industry more than 70 years ago. “These were the original growth trees. They had closer grain, they were slow growth, and the trees were larger. You just don’t see that any more,” he said. This coming spring, carpentry classes will begin using the wood to construct a large-scale heritage project for the Penticton campus. A decorative archway is expected to be complete by summer. “There’s nothing greener than recycling,” Leimert said, pleased the end product will add some local heritage to the campus. “In-kind donations like this make a real practical difference to our students and help them create something we would otherwise never see.” The Cotters have worked in the Penticton area for 24 years, operating Cotter’s Tree and Bin Service, and more recently Cotter’s Bin and Demolition Service Ltd., which provides roll-off waste bins, demolition and mobile container services throughout the region.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 Kelowna entrepreneur weaves into fabric of Okanagan College Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release One of the most well-known entrepreneurs in the B.C. Interior is quickly fashioning a deep and lasting relationship with Okanagan College. Mel Kotler, the founder of Fabricland, along with his wife Dina have invested in a new pattern for business program development – a Scholar Fund focused on retail management at the College’s Okanagan School of Business. “I wanted to do something for the College and this seemed to be a good match,” said Kotler, who became an Honorary Fellow of the College earlier this year, and the School of Business’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence. “This new Scholar Fund will enhance the College’s business program, and allow the College to move into new territory.” Kotler began his career working in wholesale textiles in Montreal before moving out West and launching Fabricland in 1977. By the time he retired in 2001, there were 40 Fabricland stores across Western Canada and another 20 franchises, paving the way for the company to become the largest fashion fabric distributor in the country. Kotler, whose son attended the Okanagan School of Business, said students require far more than gumption to get ahead today. “I got my master’s degree on the streets of Montreal, but business is far more complicated than it was back then. They need the kind of specialized training the Okanagan School of Business provides.” Associate Dean of Business Barry McGillivray said the Mel and Dina Kotler Scholar in Retail Management Fund will give the School of Business the ability to expand its existing retail programs. “The retail industry has become a highly complex field. It’s easy to purchase stock, it’s another thing all together to understand and appreciate the complexities of such things as inventory and supply chain management,” McGillivray said. “This will give us the opportunity to appoint a professor who can spend three years building to develop a program framework leading to a comprehensive specialty in retail.” Kathy Butler, executive director of the Okanagan College Foundation, said Scholar Funds provide another building block towards supporting and expanding the programs offered to students. “We truly value Mel Kotler’s commitment to our students here, and his clear demonstration of support and vision,” Butler said. Kotler said he’s honoured to be part of such an important development in the business school. His greatest wish is that it will help the next generation succeed in retail. “I tell young people I meet that whatever business they’re in, you need to have a passion. If you’re not doing something from the heart, then get out and do something else.”
Monday, December 19, 2011 Eat.Drink.Tweet. Market. Win. Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release What happens when you turn to social media to market a social media conference that focuses on the wine and culinary industries? First, you end up with a very successful program. Then, you end up attracting the attention and appreciation of your colleagues for the marketing initiative. That’s the case for Okanagan College’s Continuing Studies department, which was recently honored for excellence in marketing by the international Learning Resources Network (LERN). “Eat.Drink.Tweet.” is a program developed by Allison Markin in concert with Okanagan College. Markin is a social media consultant who runs her own business (All She Wrote Consulting), based in Penticton. The program was, and is, a three-day introduction to social media practice and theory that combines education with an IRL (in real life) experience involving wine and food, bringing in local chefs and Okanagan wines. The first event featured wineries from the Naramata Bench Wineries Association, and received enthusiastic support from Penticton & Wine Country Tourism. Offered for the first time in March 2011, it was promoted almost wholly through social media, and drew rave reviews from participants. It has spawned a series of similar events and courses offered through the College and the large three-day event is being held again this year in February. Markin has presented Eat.Drink.Tweet. events across BC and will expand to Alberta in 2012. In one weekend, the inaugural event drew more than two million impressions on Twitter alone. “Eat.Drink.Tweet.” was a trending topic in Canada, second only to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, which occurred the same week. Markin promised to get a tattoo of the Eat.Drink.Tweet. logo if the conference trended. It did, and she now sports some ink on her right ankle. “We were astounded by the response to the social media campaign promoting the program and then were amazed when it attracted as much attention as it did,” says Markin. Surprised too, when LERN chose to recognize the College’s entry for excellence in marketing against a field of more than 100 submissions from four countries. And those 100-plus entries were the highest quality ever submitted, according to LERN’s Vice President of Information Services, Julie Coates. “Lorrie Forde (Continuing Studies Program Administrator with Okanagan College) was instrumental in helping bring this to reality,” says Markin. “She had faith in the concept, helped promote the event and then made sure that LERN had a chance to find out about it.” The LERN award wasn’t the first for Eat.Drink.Tweet.: earlier in 2011, the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association awarded its Social Media Initiative Award to Markin for the invention of Eat.Drink.Tweet. To register for the next Eat.Drink.Tweet., you can visit eatdrinktweet.ca or look for it on Twitter under the hashtag #eatdrinktweet, and on the All She Wrote Consulting Facebook page (of course).
Monday, December 12, 2011 Entrepreneur inspires a new generation with largest-ever gift in B.C. college sector Posted by: Public Affairs Okanagan College Media Release One of the most sustainable buildings in the world will now carry the name of one of the province’s best-known entrepreneurs and community-builders, Jim Pattison. The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation was officially opened today in Penticton. The Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of B.C., announced the building’s new name from inside the community hall of the $28-million building. Jim Pattison joined Premier Clark, MP Dan Albas and approximately 250 guests, students and members of the community to announce a pledge of $2.5-million in matching funds to the College. Today’s announcement marks the largest private gift ever given to a college in the province of B.C. With a vision to attract further support for this unique building and the innovative programs taught within its walls, this generous donation will be used to match new contributions over the next five years. Thus, the leveraging impact of the gift will be a boost of $5-million to the College’s fundraising. “I am a firm believer in education and understand that innovative buildings such as this are the places where we will train and develop a skilled workforce and the leaders of tomorrow,” said Pattison. “I appreciate the leadership demonstrated by Okanagan College and the overwhelming community support this project has received.” The project was first announced in 2009 and was constructed with $22.65 million from the provincial and federal governments under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program. Shortly after the building was announced, the Okanagan College Foundation launched a $5-million fundraising campaign to fund its portion of the project budget. “Today is a great day for Okanagan College and the Okanagan College Foundation as we recognize the meaningful contributions of so many in our community, the province of B.C. and the federal government. We appreciate their investment in this building, our students and the future of this region,” said President Jim Hamilton. “It’s a prime example of what can be achieved when an institution, governments, students, individuals, communities, businesses and builders see an opportunity and seize it. The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence is where vision and passion meet experience and enthusiasm and result in something truly inspiring.” According to Kathy Butler, Executive Director of the Okanagan College Foundation, the Pattison pledge – contingent on raising equivalent funds from other donors – provides a huge incentive for others to contribute, given that all new donations will be matched dollar for dollar. “This generous gift sends a message to students, industries and citizens throughout the province and country that Mr. Pattison recognizes and endorses the importance and growth of sustainable building practices and applied innovation,” said Butler. “He is clearly encouraging others to make an investment. The Pattison Foundation’s generosity will accelerate the College’s drive to realize the building’s full potential as one of the world’s leading centres of excellence in green construction, training and applied research.” Butler also noted the Foundation has already raised over $200,000 in new gifts eligible for matching from the Pattison fund. Like those already received in the fundraising campaign, these new donations will be used for a variety of purposes from capital building expenditures to program development, student scholarships and bursaries. “The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence is a building that will grow and develop over time to lead the way in sustainable building techniques and practices,” said Lance Kayfish, Chair of the Okanagan College Board of Governors. “What the building offers in terms of programming and infrastructure will be quite different 10 years down the road. Continued investment in the Centre, its students and the programs the College can offer here will result in significant growth of the building’s capabilities.” From Ross Saunders’ perspective, continued investment in The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence will open doors to a brighter future for the people of the South Okanagan and beyond. “Today’s announcement marks an important investment in the future of this region,” said Saunders, a second-year Criminal and Social Justice student and Penticton Campus Council Chair of Okanagan College Students’ Union. “Not only is this one of the world’s most innovative and sustainable buildings, it is also one that has been embraced by members of our community and beyond. That means a lot to me and I am extremely grateful to everyone who has been a part of making this building a reality – especially Mr. Pattison.”

Announcing the 2012 Eat.Drink.Tweet. lineup