OCNews

Research & Innovation

Food for Thought
Food for Thought: Okanagan College’s applied research expo unites innovators across timely topics

April 11, 2023

Are you hungry for knowledge and innovation in the field of applied research? Do you want to learn from experts and peers who are tackling some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities in our society? If so, you won’t want to miss the 7th annual Okanagan College Research Innovation Partnerships Expo, or ‘RIPE’, on May 2. RIPE, hosted by OC’s Learning and Applied Research department, is a free virtual event for community members, industry, educators, researchers and students to network and learn about the impact of applied research....

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Jesse Lipscombe
Annual applied research expo shines spotlight on inclusivity

May 2, 2022

As society emerges from a post-pandemic world, now is the perfect time to get those creative juices going for innovation. Okanagan College is set to host the Research Innovation Partnerships Expo (RIPE) on Tuesday, May 10 – a free event for community members, industry, educators, researchers and students to network and learn about the impact of applied research. Presentations cover a range of topics, from podcasting and applied research innovation, supporting inclusive workplaces, microplastics in Okanagan lake, engaging in education with y...

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Outdoor Play
Experience limitless adventure during free outdoor play day

February 18, 2022

Do you know a child who loves to stomp in the mud, look under rocks to see what crawly creatures might be living underneath or challenge themselves to walk the tightrope of a fallen log? Children will have a unique opportunity to express their creativity and engage their sense of wonder at an upcoming outdoor playday on Saturday, March 5 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus. The outdoor play day is being hosted by Okanagan College in collaboration with Bow Valley College, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, New Brunswick Commun...

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Three Okanagan School of Business professors pose for a photo after winning the bronze medal at the North American Case Conference
OC professors win back-to-back North American Case Conference award

November 23, 2021

Business Professors Dr. Kyleen Myrah, Kerry Rempel and Stacey Fenwick continue to put Okanagan College on the map when it comes to case research and writing. Myrah, Rempel and Fenwick took home the bronze from the recent North American Case Conference, hosted by the North American Case Research Association (NACRA) virtually Oct. 14 to 16. NACRA is an organization made up of case writers, researchers and teachers from all over the world. It holds an annual North American conference and publishes a top-level peer-reviewed journal of educati...

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BCBTAC Logo
LCRB Clarifies Legality of Sample Distribution for Wine Releases

July 5, 2021

Sent on behalf of the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre  BC BTAC Consults with Licensing Branch to Confirm Legality of Wine Sample Delivery The province’s Liquor & Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) confirmed this week that the local beverage sector may legally deliver taste-sized samples of their product, which is great news for boutique producers and medium to large companies alike as it will allow for the traditional ‘Vintage Release’ for BC wineries in virtual format. In searching for ways to offer up its services to support bever...

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Children Outdoor Play
Post-secondary partners seek to unite early childhood education instructors across Canada

April 28, 2021

Virtual conference will focus on outdoor pedagogy in college ECE programs How does playing in the mud support children’s cognitive and social development? Why is outdoor play such a powerful conduit for learning? How can we advance curriculum to empower current and future early childhood educators (ECEs) to tap into it? These and other questions will be explored during a unique virtual conference next month that will bring together ECE instructors and outdoor play experts from across the country. On May 18, Okanagan College, in collaborati...

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Research Innovation Partnership Expo logo
RIPE with opportunity: Join OC for a conference showcasing applied research in the region

April 9, 2021

From proposal writing to hydroponics, chemotherapy to climate change, and early childhood education to engaging with marginalized populations, the region is RIPE with applied research projects and Okanagan College is inviting you to attend its free showcase event to hear about the innovative research projects happening in your own backyard. RIPE (Research, Innovation and Partnerships Expo) is happening on May 4 from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. as a virtual event, allowing people from across the region to attend. The event is an opportunity for comm...

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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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