OCNews

Research & Innovation

App Project
College and Monashee applied research projects seeks participants

February 16, 2021

An applied research project by Okanagan College and Monashee Health Collective, a local allied health professional clinic, is in need of participants to help guide the creation of a cutting-edge new tool to enhance communication between patients and health care professionals. Funded by a grant from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the goal of the project is to launch a prototype holistic wellness app. “We are looking for people to participate in this research project to investigate the impact of a new health a...

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Beverlie Dietze, Director, Learning and Applied Research
From Colleges to Communities: Lawson Foundation supports early childhood education project at OC and partner PSEs

January 19, 2021

A major investment by the Lawson Foundation will support researchers from Okanagan College and three partnering institutions in their innovative approach to advancing outdoor early learning and teaching across Canada. Okanagan College has received a grant of $750,000 for a collaborative project with Bow Valley College, New Brunswick Community College and Saskatchewan Polytechnic called Outdoor Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education: From Colleges to Communities. This goal of the three-year project is to demonstrate a model of outdoor pedago...

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Kerry Rempel and Kyleen Myrah hold up conference plaques in the Centre for Learning
OC professors win North American Case Conference gold

November 10, 2020

OC’s Dr. Kyleen Myrah and Professor Kerry Rempel took home the gold medal award for best case overall at the North American Case Conference, hosted by the North American Case Research Association (NACRA), over the Oct. 8 – 10 weekend. The case, titled “Change in the time of COVID: Determining How a Lived Experience Circle on Homelessness Adapts Their Team Development Model,” details how the Kelowna community strove to embed the voice of lived experience individuals into every aspect of their plan to functionally end homelessness and the cha...

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Dr. Steven Piper, Monahsee Health collective
New app aims to enhance communication between health professionals and patients

October 27, 2020

An applied research project by Okanagan College with Monashee Health Collective is focused on developing an innovative new tool that will help allied health professionals connect with patients in real-time – and support them on their path to wellness. Funded by a grant from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the researcher and students are working to develop, test and launch a prototype holistic wellness app over the next six months. Monashee Health Collective (MHC) provides chiropractic, physiotherapy, acupunct...

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Sociology Professor Mary Hanlon stands in front of a green hedge
Meet Mary Hanlon, Sociology Professor

October 1, 2020

Q: What is your education? A: I have a PhD in Sociology from the University of Edinburgh, a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from Athabasca University, a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and Spanish from Dalhousie University, and a Diploma in Textile Arts from Capilano University, back when it was a college.  Q: What is your area of interest? A: I am interested in the global fashion and apparel industry, and in understanding how and why worker right...

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The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence at the Penticton campus
Okanagan College joins Mohawk and other institutions across Canada to form Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery

September 24, 2020

Eight colleges, institutions, CEGEPs to support new climate-resistant economy Okanagan College is joining forces with a group of colleges, institutions, polytechnics and CEGEPs from across Canada to educate a post-pandemic workforce to support a new climate-focused economic recovery. The group of eight climate-action leading institutions from all regions of the country have launched an initiative called Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery. The group will champion projects across Canada to support a recovery that delivers good jobs, i...

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Michael Orwick
Okanagan College prof leads the way in developing new open educational resources

April 15, 2020

In a challenging time when nearly every post-secondary institution has made the move from in-person to online classes, an Okanagan College Business professor is working to develop and put free online textbooks in the hands of students. Announced in March, Michael Orwick, professor at Okanagan College’s School of Business was awarded one of four BCcampus Marketing OER grants. With aid from the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, the grants will help the development of open educational resources in marketing...

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A child playing at the workshop hosted in Peachland
How to play in today’s reality: A Q&A with Beverlie Dietze, Play Expert

March 31, 2020

Social-distancing is the name of the game for all of us right now. But getting outside, whether it be in your backyard or your neighbourhood, when following the province’s guidance, remains an important way for us to keep moving says an Okanagan College outdoor play expert. In early March, before the onset of COVID-19 halted such gatherings, the College hosted an outdoor play workshop alongside Outland Design and New Monaco in Peachland. This unique opportunity gave residents a chance to learn more about outdoor and unstructured play, and a...

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JABC Techworks workshop
Okanagan teens take on booming tech industry at JABC TechWorks

February 20, 2020

More than 200 teens from high schools throughout the Okanagan spent their Thursday on OC’s Kelowna campus for a full day learning about technology and innovation. Organized by Junior Achievement British Columbia (JABC), the day focused on introducing middle school-aged students to the vast variety of opportunities that permeate the tech world. The morning opened with a plenary, led by Andrew MacLean, co-founder of HighTech U, a learning community based out of the University of Victoria. Other speakers included Okanagan College Regional Dean...

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The panel presentation at the Building Net Zero workshop
Pushing the green building envelope: builders and educators working together

February 19, 2020

Okanagan College, UBC, City of Kelowna co-host net zero life cycle workshop Workshops often involve questions and answers; this one focused on the real-world queries and solutions that may unlock a greener future for us all. Okanagan College, the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBC Okanagan), the City of Kelowna and a host of industry partners convened in Kelowna at the Innovation Centre on Tuesday. Building Net Zero was a one-day workshop designed to bring together building and energy innovators to tackle an ambitious green agend...

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