Community Engagement

A roundup of VIU students and employees in the news. 

VIU Chancellor Kekinusuqs, Dr. Judith Sayers, was formally bestowed with the duties of office in an online ceremony on June 17, 2021.

Making university a place where all can explore, learn, innovate and excel equally, regardless of background or financial circumstances, is what Kekinusuqs, Dr. Judith Sayers, Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) third Chancellor wants to help build.

Dr. Evan Tlesla II Adams will receive his honorary doctorate at VIU’s virtual graduation celebration event on June 24.   

If there is one thing about his story that Dr. Evan Tlesla II Adams hopes Vancouver Island University (VIU) graduates will take to heart – it’s that it’s never too late to change directions and pursue a different passion in life.

Families are being encouraged to open a no-fee, no contribution required Registered Education Savings Plan to access federal and provincial grants.

Vancouver Island, BC: Every year, Vancouver Island students miss out on millions of dollars in education savings grants from the provincial government because families don’t sign up to receive them.

Donated to VIU 25 years ago, the property is home to a range of educational activities, community events and research projects.

From programs that connect children to nature, to the magic of Christmas in the garden, to studying the effects of climate change on local plants, Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Milner Gardens & Woodland has been inspiring, delighting and educating students and community members of all ages for two decades.

On April 19, 2021, Nanaimo City Council and Vancouver Island University (VIU), announced the signing of a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the City of Nanaimo and VIU.

Under the terms of the MOU, the City and VIU, will work together to:

Series of videos showcase daring and exciting physics and chemistry experiments to get youth interested in science.

A show that has been getting kids excited about science for more than a decade went virtual this year – and caught thousands of elementary school-aged children up in a challenge that saw 11 lucky classrooms win science supplies.

WHAT: VIU virtual CREATE Conference – a celebration of student scholarship, research and creative activity

WHEN:  April 12-15, 2021, various times

WHERE:  Sessions offered via Zoom and online galleries, see full schedule here

Thanks to generous support from community, three annual awards will be given out to VIU students in the name of Micah Messent, who passed away in a plane crash in March 2019.

Every year, three Indigenous students will have their financial burdens eased a little in the name of Micah Messent, a Vancouver Island University (VIU) graduate who lost his life in a tragic crash two years ago.

The BC government has announced support for the development of new food hubs to strengthen food security on the island, including a new Seafood Innovation Centre at VIU’s Deep Bay Marine Field Station.