Community Support
Hall Family Foundation makes historic $10-million donation to Okanagan College
February 23, 2026
A local family with a long and successful history of entrepreneurship is investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs, through a $10-million donation to Okanagan College. The Hall Family Foundation has announced a transformational financial gift, the largest in OC’s history and the largest ever made to a public college in British Columbia. This extraordinary contribution establishes the Hall School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Okanagan College. Ed Hall was the co-founde...
Read more...
Gateway to Trades students mark program completion at Okanagan College
February 10, 2026
Students in Okanagan College’s Gateway to Trades program celebrated the completion of their studies during a graduation ceremony held Jan. 23, marking a milestone in their educational journeys.Gateway to Trades is a partnership between Okanagan College and the Central Okanagan School District that introduces students in Grades 10 to 12 to post-secondary education through hands-on training in skilled trades, including carpentry, electrical, automotive and sheet metal. The program is aimed at students who may not otherwise see post-se...
Read more...
Building Careers from the Ground Up: Highstreet’s Impact on Trades Education
January 22, 2026
The skilled trades are making headlines. As experienced workers retire and infrastructure demands grow, the industry is evolving rapidly. Advances in technology, such as AI, robotics, and drones, are transforming traditional roles into efficient, data-driven careers, particularly in green energy, construction, and advanced manufacturing. Skilled trades offer stable, well-paying career paths that combine hands-on expertise with digital innovation, and they are essential to our future.Thanks to the generosity of Highstreet Ventures, a...
Read more...
OC Speaker Series: Exploring online conversations in Canada
January 14, 2026
Okanagan College (OC) invites the community to an upcoming OC Speaker Series event that explores online conversations using data. The talk, Making Big Data Qualitative: Sentiment Analysis on Reddit, will take place on January 15 from 12 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Penticton Campus Lecture Theatre.The session will be led by Ashley Peckford, a criminology instructor and researcher. In her talk, Peckford will share her research on online discussions in the Canadian subreddit r/Canada. Her work looks at how extreme political ideas can...
Read more...
OC Foundation celebrates $1.25 million distributed to students
December 4, 2025
When Bachelor of Business Administration student Adam Giffin stepped up to the microphone at this year’s Okanagan College Foundation Student Awards Reception in Penticton, he carried with him a story that resonated across the room, shaped by resilience, determination, and the power of community.Originally from England, Adam spent nearly a decade working in hospitality, eventually managing two busy bars before travelling through Australia, Asia, and Europe with his wife. They settled in the Okanagan in 2018, welcoming their first dau...
Read more...
Help nourish student success through food security
November 28, 2025
Over 56% of Canadian post-secondary students face moderate or severe food insecurity — 5 times the national average — driving many to skip meals. As this challenge grows amid rising costs, so does the need for meaningful support that goes beyond traditional financial aid and meets students where they are. When students have reliable access to nutritious food, they’re more likely to thrive academically, socially, and professionally.Did you know?Students with reliable access to nutritious food are 2x more likely to achieve a GPA above...
Read more...
Community thrives here: OC Foundation releases 2024–2025 Gratitude Report
October 22, 2025
It was an easy choice for this year’s Gratitude Report theme: Community thrives here.This phrase reflects the spirit that lives at the heart of everything we do at Okanagan College Foundation.When you give, you do more than support education. You help build a place where people belong, where dreams are nurtured, and futures are transformed. Your generosity reminds students that they are not alone as they navigate challenges like the rising cost of living, mental health pressures, and food and housing insecurity. Your support is a ha...
Read more...
ELEVATE delights guests and fuels the next generation of culinary talent
October 16, 2025
Okanagan College (OC) hosted a night of mentorship, creativity and inspiration as alumni, instructors, and students joined forces with some of the region’s most celebrated chefs for Elevate: An Okanagan Experience.The Oct. 4 event transformed the Kelowna campus into a vibrant piazza alive with flavour, artistry, and community spirit, all in support of OC’s future Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism.The evening showcased the best of Okanagan’s culinary scene, with locally renowned chefs — many of them College alumni or former instructo...
Read more...
New community members appointed to OC Board of Governors
July 28, 2025
Okanagan College is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Governors, and the re-appointment of four returning board members.Community representatives Amanda Louie, Allan Louis and Carollynn Schafer joined the Board in May after each being appointed by the Province for terms ending July 31, 2026.Board Chair Dale Safinuk was re-appointed for a one-year term, while fellow board members Gurjit Chand and Sheri Hamilton were each re-appointed for further two-year terms, and Dustyn Baulkham was re-appoint...
Read more...
Honouring National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 20, 2025
National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated on June 21 and coincides with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. It is a time where many First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities celebrate their culture, languages, and traditions. As we work towards Truth and Reconciliation and recognize that the learning and healing journey is ongoing, take time on this day to reflect and to honour the stories, achievements and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, who have lived on this land since time immemorial and whose presenc...
Read more...
Okanagan College to host student-led community Pride celebration
May 27, 2025
Okanagan College, together with students from The OC Pride Community, is proud to announce it will host a community Pride celebration at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus on May 29 (5 to 8 p.m.)The community is invited to the all-ages free event featuring performances from OC student and alumni Drag Queens and Kings including Jovian, Misty Demeanour, Freida Whales, The Muffin Man, Mr. Shellfish and Syren Call.“We welcome the community to join us for this event, which will serve as a safe space for students to express themselves and ...
Read more...
Okanagan College, City of Kelowna partnership “game-changing”
May 6, 2025
With construction well underway on the new Okanagan College Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre, the College and the City of Kelowna are announcing a new, game-changing partnership.“We’re so excited for the Centre to open because it will mean students have incredible access to sports leagues, strength and mobility classes, wellness programs and so many other activities that help build connections and contribute to healthy lifestyles,” said Dr. Neil Fassina, OC president. “Working together with the City means we can pr...
Read more...
B.C. declares provincial day of remembrance and mourning for victims of tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival
May 1, 2025
The Province of British Columbia has declared Friday, May 2, 2025, an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025. Eleven people were killed and dozens more injured while celebrating Filipino culture and history in a senseless attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver. As people learn more about the victims, they are also learning that the victims’ loss is felt deeply across the province.This tragedy has had profound impact on...
Read more...
Thorpe and Friends celebrate 100th student award
April 16, 2025
Okanagan College Foundation is celebrating a significant milestone in philanthropic giving. Two students — Keira Chevallier and Angelina Sebastian — both in the Health Care Assistant program, received awards from Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and friends whose generosity has now supported over 100 students in total.“When we started these awards nearly 20 years ago our goal was to reach 100 students,” shared Rick Thorpe at a ceremony marking the achievement yesterday.“We couldn’t have done this without the support of our friends. Everything...
Read more...
Final stretch: $1M left to cross finish line for Thrive Here campaign
March 27, 2025
Kelowna Auto Dealers Association donates $200k in support of Recreation and Wellness CentreThe home stretch is now in sight for the Thrive Here fundraising campaign for a Recreation and Wellness Centre on Okanagan College’s (OC’s) Kelowna campus.The OC Foundation is celebrating $13 million raised towards the $14 million goal thanks to amazing support from the community including a $200,000 donation from the Kelowna Auto Dealers Association (KADA). “This is a meaningful project for us to support,” says Sam Ghessesow, KADA ...
Read more...
Nothing Fishy about Char Donation
March 14, 2025
Okanagan College (OC) culinary students had quite the catch on their hands when a whopping 2,000 pounds of Artic Char arrived in the College’s culinary school, waiting for them to prepare, earlier this year.The generous donation from Road 17 Fish Farms provided the students with a hands-on lesson in large-scale food preparation as well as the benefits of supporting community.The fish were processed and vacuum-sealed by OC student chefs before being delivered to the Kelowna Gospel Mission.“This is a generous donation from Road 17 Fis...
Read more...