The Gathering Place
April 30, 2020
The moment you walk through the doors to the Gathering Place, everything seems to change: the light softens, the noise of the day fades away, and you are most likely greeted by a friendly face. Caroline Chartier is the Indigenous Transitions Planner at the Salmon Arm campus, and OC Life caught up with her to get the scoop on what makes the Gathering Place so special. Q: What was intent behind the Gathering Place when it was created? A: To provide a space for Indigenous ...
Read more...
Stober family invests in the future of health care in the Okanagan
April 29, 2020
The Okanagan College Foundation has received a landmark gift to the Our Students, Your Health campaign, which will help support the training of the Okanagan’s frontline health care professionals for generations to come. The Stober Foundation is committing $500,000 over the next five years to support the development of a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Centre at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus, which will train 450 students per year over the next 40 years. In recognition of this leadership gift, Okanagan College Foundation is ...
Read more...
Postcard Project raises funds and connects others by mail
April 28, 2020
A new initiative from an Okanagan College staff member is not only stamping out quarantine blues, but raising funds for much-needed mental health resources. Katie Maryschuk works in the Public Affairs department, tasked with updating the Okanagan community about news and events happening at the College. In her spare time, she collaborates on creative projects with two friends, and the trio had been discussing earlier this year new ways of sharing their work with the online community. That’s when the idea struck of how she could ma...
Read more...
OC Audio Engineering and Music Production alums send new music and gratitude out into the world
April 27, 2020
From local creators to international headliners, musicians around the world are rallying to provide sweet sounds of hope amid troubled times during the COVID-19 pandemic. And if a common thread runs throughout these live shows, between the trends and among the shares, it’s an increased awareness for the value music brings to our lives. Okanagan College students Noah Potenteau and Logan Larocque are among those brightening the digital space with their talents. The pair recently completed the Audio Engineering and Music...
Read more...Haircuts for Health Care launches
April 24, 2020
College president steps up with 5k incentive Shaggy beards and untamed locks are an inevitable consequence of almost six weeks of physical distancing and the closure of all non-essential businesses, including our community’s beloved salons. However, as people take the necessary steps to flatten the curve, many will be tempted (required!) to take their unkempt hair into their own hands. A new community fundraiser launched by the Okanagan College Foundation is encouraging those who want to take matters into their own hands, to do s...
Read more...
Okanagan College welcomes new Vice President Students
April 24, 2020
Okanagan College will welcome a new member to its executive leadership team when Meri Kim Oliver assumes the role of Vice President Students this summer. Oliver comes to the College from Durham College in Oshawa, ON where she has served as vice-president Student Affairs since 2013. Prior to that appointment, she served as assistant vice-president, Student Academic Success Services at Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S. “As someone passionate about student development, I could not be more excited to be part of an institution wit...
Read more...
College responds with free professional development offerings during COVID-19
April 17, 2020
With organizations of all sizes in our communities facing uncertainty and disruption or adaptation to the way they conduct business in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Okanagan College is stepping up with resources to help individuals and employers tap into professional development offerings. The College’s Continuing Studies and Corporate Training department has published a new online Professional Development Resource page on its website to help people tap into free OC courses, webinars and panels. It will also point them in the ...
Read more...
Meet Adam Relvas
April 16, 2020
Adam Relvas, who took Professional Cook Apprenticeship, level 2 and 3 at the College in 2006, grew up in the South Okanagan and gained a passion for food through many food-focused family events. After graduating, Relvas worked as a line cook for Waterfront Wines in Kelowna, Sous Chef at Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen in Lake Country, Sous Chef at the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna, and later Executive Chef at Monashee’s Bar and Grill and The Kal’s Sports Bar in Vernon. Now,...
Read more...
na’ʔk’ʷulamən garden
April 15, 2020
Okanagan College's Kelowna campus is home to a traditional garden established in 2017 to celebrate and recognize the rich history and knowledge of the Indigenous people of the region.The name na'ʔk'ʷulamən generally translates to "the things that we do." This reflects things that Indigenous people do with plants and the land, including maintenance of the land; selection and use of plants for food, technology, medicines and for ceremonial purposes; and the sharing of this kn...
Read more...
Taking care of your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
April 15, 2020
There have been many rapid changes to protect all of us from the spread of COVID-19. If you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or even depressed as a result, know that you are not alone and that help is available. In times of transition and uncertainty, taking good care of ourselves is more important than ever and Okanagan College Counselling Services has some tips and resources to share. Essential strategies for wellness: Look after your basic needs. Eat well, drink lots of water, get enough sleep and get some exercise. When we ...
Read more...