Coble earns doctoral degree, shines light on Indigenous students’ post-secondary experiences
February 11, 2020
When James Coble crossed the stage to pick up his doctoral degree from the University of Calgary he was overcome with many emotions. But for Okanagan College’s Director of Student Services and father of two, there was no emotion greater than the pride of setting a positive example for his children. “For me, it was the completion of a seven-year journey,” explains Coble. “At the end, as I did at every stage, I reminded myself that my kids were always at the top of the list of reasons why I was doing this.” Coble graduated with a D...
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Mapping a world-wide worry: OC student charts coronavirus spread in real-time
February 4, 2020
Sean Heddle was looking for a career change after an injury left him unable to work as a concrete construction foreman. He could never have imagined that his foray into the study of geographic information systems (GIS) would see him building a real-time map of a global public health emergency. Heddle, who hails from Kelowna, is currently enrolled in the GIS Certificate course at Okanagan College in Salmon Arm. His professor, Shelley Desautels, recently issued an assignment to her class, inviting students to build a digital map of ...
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College spotlights health care assistant training across the region
February 4, 2020
Amid surging demand for health care assistants (HCAs) across the Southern Interior, Okanagan College and Interior Health are spotlighting training opportunities in February. The College has intakes of its Health Care Assistant program starting in April at the Kelowna, Penticton and Salmon Arm campuses. Those interested in learning more about the training and career opportunities can attend upcoming info sessions: Kelowna campus – Feb. 12, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Room E103 (E building), 1000 KLO Rd. Penticton campus – Feb. 18, 6:30 –...
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Swinging clubs to hammers: How a golf pro’s home renos inspired his program choice at Okanagan College
January 30, 2020
It’s easy to say that Greg Forbes went from looking for a hole in one, to drilling several holes in many. After growing up playing golf in Oakville, Forbes earned a golf scholarship to study at Coastal Carolina University, playing at storied courses at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. He completed his Bachelor of Business Science degree with a major in marketing, returning to Canada to tee off a career with retail giant Golf Town that ultimately brought him to Kelowna. “I had been opening stores across Ontario, and the opportunity ...
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Gateway graduation showcases student transformation
January 29, 2020
This is the second time Caleb Wykes has graduated from Gateway to Trades, but it's hard to say which time has been more impactful. The first time Wykes took the 10-week program that introduces high school students to the skilled trades, he graduated with a desire to “straighten up.” In the past Wykes would skip school, but after Gateway he started showing up regularly and working hard. The seventeen year old completed his Grade 11 and 12 and graduated early. The second time through the program Wykes benefited from getting an oppor...
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Pushor Mitchell invests in mental health
January 28, 2020
Pushor Mitchell is donating $30,000 to aid Okanagan College students who in their careers will support people facing mental health issues, homelessness and community isolation. The law firm that has been serving the Okanagan for more than 45 years is creating two annual awards valued at $2,000 each for students taking the College’s Human Service Work program. Human Service Work professionals help people navigate through crisis or chronic situations where the person feels they need external help and guidance to move forward with th...
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Enjoy spirited learning at charity fundraiser
January 27, 2020
Ward off the winter weather while learning to pick up the finer flavours of scotch as part of an upcoming whisky tasting to benefit Okanagan College students. Held by the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo, the 11th annual charity whisky tasting will test participants’ noses and taste buds as they learn to pick up notes of crème brulee or ripple bananas from seven mystery scotches. Tasty appetizers and buttery short bread will cap off the event, which typically sells out each year. “What people enjoy about this event is the opportunit...
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OC Communications students level-up video game studies
January 27, 2020
One Okanagan College Communications class brought multi-player action to a whole-new level this week. The Introduction to Video Game Studies (CMNS 290) class travelled to Scandia Golf and Games Tuesday night, as part of an exploration on the history of video games. The course explores video games as a cultural phenomenon. While highly popular, they are the least understood, theorized and explored form of media. Scandia posed an opportunity for the class to explore how the phenomenon began. “Scandia is something of a time capsule,...
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Cannabis training offers credentials for growing retail market
January 23, 2020
With a growing number of cannabis retail outlets open or in progress across the province, Okanagan College is launching new training opportunities for those looking to gain a competitive edge in the cannabis retail job market. Business manager Christopher Simpson has experienced a flood of interested applicants as he prepares to open Shire Green Cannabis in Prince George. “Legal retail cannabis has been slow to roll out in B.C. but it is gaining momentum,” says Simpson. “Because the industry is privately funded, it’s important t...
Read more...Runners, mark your calendars and take your marks: Campus to campus run returns in 2020
January 22, 2020
For the first time in a decade, runners will have a chance to lace up and enjoy a scenic run between the University of British Columbia Okanagan and Okanagan College, thanks to the return of the popular campus-to-campus half marathon and relay race. The run will commence at UBCO at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. From there, runners will follow a scenic 21.1 km route down the Okanagan Rail Trail to the Waterfront Trail, before finishing up at the College’s Kelowna campus on KLO Rd. Registration is now open at www.okanagan.bc.ca/campus...
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