![]() Animation program comes to Okanagan CollegeAspiring animators will be able to bring their passion for drawing to life this fall with animation industry veteran Steff Farrar at the helm of a new two-year diploma at Okanagan College. OC Alumni Association announces highest honours![]() In recognition of outstanding contributions to the College and its surrounding communities, two Okanagan College alumni have earned the top honours awarded by the Okanagan College Alumni Association (OCAA). Wine Talks returns
Enactus youth projects get a boost
Builder honours father and industry with $50,000 gift to College
Ken and Karen Dahlen, owners of the custom home building and renovation company, are among the first to contribute to the project as a way to demonstrate the company’s appreciation for its industry, employees and community. “Our success over the years has come from multiple skilled tradespeople within our region,” says Keith Dahlen. “With a shortage of skilled trades, we believe the best way for the company to give back to our industry is by helping to provide quality training for the next generation.” The $50,000 gift will support the construction of the new 13,450 square-foot state-of-the-art facility that will serve approximately 150 students per year in Vernon. The building will include multi-purpose trades shops for the College’s electrical, carpentry, plumbing and pipefitting programs, as well as a dedicated welding shop. “This gift sends a powerful message to our students when an employer with an exemplary reputation in the community invests in their future,” says Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton. “It represents the value the Dahlen family places on education and will be truly transformative for trades training in Vernon and the surrounding region.” Read the full story here. Digging the na’ʔk’ʷulamən Garden![]() The Kelowna campus will be home to a traditional garden by the end of next month. Named the na’ʔk’ʷulamən Garden or "things that we do," the garden will host a wide variety of indigenous plants that are of significance to the Syilx/Okanagan people of the region. The garden will be located by the north entrance to the Centre for Learning. In early June more than 380 plants will arrive from Sagebrush nursery. With that many plants arriving at one time, the Garden Task Force is in need of assistance. Planting days are being coordinated for June 6 and 7. If you, any students or friends could help plant some of these wonderful local plants on those days, contact Angie March at local 4501.
Dr. Gabriel Balint to lead Viticulture Technician DiplomaThe Okanagan College School of Business welcomes Dr. Gabriel Balint as professor and chair of the new Viticulture Technician diploma. Balint will be collaborating with his fellow professors and the local grape and wine industry to deliver the two-year pilot project to 20 students beginning in September at the Penticton campus. Balint earned his PhD in Viticulture and Oenology at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario in 2011 and his Masters of Science in Horticulture jointly delivered by the University of London, Wye, UK and the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Iaşi, Romania in 2007. In addition to this field expertise, he also earned his Sommelier certificate from Niagara College in 2009. Jonathan Rouse, Food, Wine and Tourism Director says, “Dr. Gabriel Balint is a true 'vine to wine' expert and we are thrilled to welcome him to our team.” The new Viticulture Technician diploma program is designed to take advantage of the academic year and the viticulture growing season and will provide students with a working co-op period from May through August annually. Students will gain the theoretical knowledge, practical skills and field experience necessary to pursue careers in the viticulture sector. Mame McCrea Silva joins Facilities and Business ServicesHealth and safety at Okanagan College is a priority for the team at Facilities and Business Services, and Carolyn Hayman, Manager, Health, Safety and Emergency Management Services, along with Alex Kortzman, Health and Safety Coordinator, are now also working with Mame McCrea Silva, who has been seconded as Manager, OHS Operations & Training for a two-year period. Silva promote health and safety programs at all campuses; she has a strong background in emergency training, and is currently the Kelowna Campus co-chair on the Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee. Silva joined Facilities and Business Services on May 29. Tinning's art featured at Meadowlark Festival
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May 30, 2017, Vol. 11, Issue 30 Watch Convocation LIVEConvocation 2017 will be livestreamed on Okanagan College’s Facebook page at the following times. Be sure to tune in, like, share and comment to congratulate all of our 2017 grads. Trades Commencement (Kelowna) Spring Convocation (Kelowna) Vernon Convocation Summer Convocation & Kelowna
Volunteer for Convocation 2017This June, Okanagan College will celebrate its graduating students at six Convocation ceremonies. Volunteers are needed to assist as event ushers, to distribute gowns to grads and to help prepare refreshments for the reception. Please contact Michelle Lowry if you would like to volunteer, noting the ceremony you are available for.
For more information about Convocation, visit the website. Register for Connections before May 31Registration is open for Okanagan College’s annual employee conference. Connections is organized by employees for employees. It is about connecting face-to-face with colleagues from different departments and campuses, and celebrating the strengths and diversity of the people who work here through interactive, social activities and fun informative workshops. You will hear from President Jim Hamilton about what's happening in and around Okanagan College and you will have a great opportunity to interact. Reminder: if you register here before May 31, you will be eligible to win one of two iPad Airs. Family Award application deadline approachingA reminder that applications are now being accepted for the next round of the Okanagan College Family Award, designed for immediate family members of continuing (regular) Okanagan College employees. This round of applications is for programs or terms starting between April 1 - August 31, 2017. Full award criteria and the application form can be found in myOkanagan under “OC Express – Forms," and then click on “Foundation," or click here to download the application form. For more information, contact the Financial Aid and Awards Office or 250-862-5419.
Join the Be Well Mind and Body ChallengeJoin Athletics, Recreation and Student Life for the Be Well Mind and Body Challenge May 25 – June 23. In collaboration with Brett Wade engage in daily mindfulness activities, workout Wednesdays and informative Facebook posts and discussions. Participation qualifies you for a chance to win weekly draw prizes and one of two Fitbit Flexes. For more information contact Heather Carson or Jenn Naiman. Click here to sign up (click on ‘forgot password’ and enter your preferred email account). There is no fee associated with this challenge. Kelowna Campus Fitness Facility spring hoursPlease note that spring hours for the Fitness Facility from May 1 - June 30 will be: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday - Friday and 12-4 p.m. on Saturday.
Think safety; work safelyThe Joint Occupational Health & Safety (JOHS) Committee in Kelowna has a bulletin board located on the first floor of the Centre for Learning (Building E) on the east wall near the washrooms. The board includes contact info for co-chairs and members, the last three months of meeting minutes, and other pertinent Health & Safety information. The JOHS webpage has links to an online comment box, the Terms of Reference and JOHS committees at the other campuses. Think Safety; Work Safely.
Employee and Family Assistance Program - mobile app and monthly newsletterAs part of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits, employees can now download a free mobile app to access local health and wellness professionals. The app is available on Apple and Android devices; click here for more information about the app and how to download it. The monthly EFAP newsletter "How to manage symptoms of depression" can be found here. Volunteers needed for Smart StartThe Kelowna campus fall orientation team is busy planning Smart Start, a series of sessions designed to provide incoming students with a smooth transition from high school or work life to college. This new pre-orientation conference will run August 30 and 31, 2017. The committee is looking for volunteers who may be interested in running a session. If you have a great idea for a session, the committee would love to hear about it. To learn more about this event, visit okanagan.bc.ca/smartstart. Questions, comments and ideas can be directed to Carlyn Young. SCMT Smart Start sessionA Smart Start session for the SCMT program is open to anyone interested in this program and wants to learn more about the SCMT program and opportunities. Join instructors and advisors and learn about the Sustainable Construction Management Technology program, the blended learning format, course expectations, equipment, software requirements and anticipated projects. Please register online. More information about the program can be found at www.okanagan.bc.ca/scmt.
ETUG conference in KelownaJune 1-2 – ETUG is a group of education technology users in British Columbia higher education. The ETUG two-day spring conference is being held at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna on June 1-2. This event is a great opportunity for Okanagan College employees to learn about education technology. The main theme of the conference is Education by Design and streams include Learning Design, Education Technology, Faculty Development and Breakthrough Thinking. For more information and registration please see the ETUG website. Staff Spring BBQJune 7 – Employees are invited to attend the OC Social Committee Spring BBQ hosted at the Kelowna campus in the L-Cove (between the A and C buildings) on Wednesday, June 7 between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. For just $5, you’ll get a burger and a drink and a chance to catch up with your colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere. To ensure there is a burger waiting for you, tickets can be purchased ahead of time from any of the following Social Committee members: Angie March (Regional Dean’s Office), Carlyn Young (Registrar’s Office), Dawn Douglas (Advancement Office), Heather Grassick (Trades Office), Jo-Dee Hecko (HSW Instructor), Lynda Dreaper (Human Resources), Margaret Johnson (Executive Office), Tanya Tarlit (Co-op Office). Salmon Arm Charity Golf Tournament and houseboat vacation prize raffleJune 23 – The ACIC 21st Annual Links-to-Learning Golf Tournament will take place at the Salmon Arm Golf Club on Friday, June 23 with registration at noon and a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The $150 registration fee includes green fees, cart, range balls and a buffet dinner. Help support the Okanagan College Foundation and Okanagan College students by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Shuswap houseboat vacation. The prize is a three-day weekend or four-day midweek houseboat vacation this fall on a Mirage 65, 22 sleeper with Waterways. Click here for more information. The trip is valued at $2685 and the winner is welcome to upgrade to a different boat or season or length of stay (depending on availability), by paying the difference. Raffle tickets are 1/$10 or 3/$20. Cash, cheque or credit card accepted, draw date is June 23, 2017. To register for the golf tournament, purchase raffle tickets, or for more information, please email Margaret Scharf or call local 8238. All funds raised will directly benefit Okanagan College students by providing scholarships and bursaries.
Kelowna Now, The View in Mission, and Okanagan Edge reported on the success of Enactus Okanagan College at the Enactus Canada National Exposition, where four OC teams competed and brought home multiple awards. The Salmon Arm Observer featured the Word on the Lake Writers’ Festival, which was held in part at the Salmon Arm campus. Penticton’s B.C. Wine Information Sensory Lab was mentioned in a Penticton Herald article on plans for a new innovation centre to support local agriculture in Summerland. The Business Examiner – Thompson Okanagan profiled Kelowna’s business community and its growing tech sector, including the College’s new animation program, while the Okanagan Sunday covered open houses for the program, taking place in June, also covered by Kelowna Now. A 2008 Honorary Fellow, Kenneth Harding, was remembered in the Kelowna Capital News. A review of Okanagan College Coyotes respectable finish to their season was covered by the Kelowna Capital News, and mentioned in the Fort McMurray Today. The Penticton Western News covered the upcoming Camp OC programs being offered this summer. A brief mention for former Vernon campus regional dean, John Lent, and his blues and roots ensemble, was in an article in the Vernon Morning Star.
Do you have comments, questions or a submission for INSIDE OKANAGAN COLLEGE? Please email Public Affairs c/o Allison Markin.
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