Million dollar idea: Â黨´«Ă˝alumnus creates a charitable gala in time of need
April 14, 2020
Â黨´«Ă˝alumnus, Drew Vincent knew he wanted to bring the community together during a global quarantine. His challenge: how to hold an in-person online and still generate the kind of participation needed. His ingenuity and the community’s generosity yielded results that surpassed expectations. In just five days, his idea turned into a $20,000 donation to help the Okanagan community during COVID-19. The event also laid the groundwork for an even bigger charitable effort on May 2. A graduate of the College’s Bachelor of Business Administ...
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Families and community at the heart of Enactus GreenScreen technology initiative
April 9, 2020
GreenScreen is bigger than just a technology recycling program. It’s about people and helping build connections. An initiative launched by Okanagan College’s Enactus team in 2019, the project works to repurpose technology such as phones, laptops and tablets, saving them from the landfill and connecting them with families in need. The team consists of students Isaac Hossmann, Emily Pilon, Rachel Wehrmann and Maya Samaddar, and aided by College professor Devin Rubadeau. Working alongside Kelowna Cell Repair, Columbia Bottle Depot an...
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Nurses inspire nurses: Â黨´«Ă˝health care students step up during time of crisis
April 8, 2020
“The community needs us.” It’s a statement that has become a rallying cry for a class of Okanagan College practical nursing students who are only weeks away from completing their studies and joining their teachers on the front line. And like many other Â黨´«Ă˝health care students and grads, their actions are speaking even louder than their words in the face of COVID-19. Jodi Kemp is one of those students who is stepping up in a big way to support her community, her profession and the nurses she is training alongside at Kelowna Gener...
Read more...Â黨´«Ă˝passes 2020-2021 budget – virtually
March 31, 2020
Okanagan College’s Board of Governors has passed a $126.8 million budget for the coming year, but the board also recognized that circumstances associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic will prompt change over the coming months. It was passed Tuesday by the Board which gathered virtually through an online meeting platform, an indication of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on operations at the institution. “The very nature of the meeting drove home the fact that circumstances are changing rapidly. We fully recognize the budg...
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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 pl...
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Top marks for Â黨´«Ă˝business students at Western Canadian Business Competition
March 30, 2020
Before the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt on major events and gatherings in the province, Okanagan College’s School of Business students enjoyed a winning-weekend as home and host team at the Western Canadian Business Competition (WCBC) in Kelowna earlier this month. Attracting eleven teams from seven different institutions across the province, it was Â黨´«Ă˝students Kitty Le, Nelson Denby, Sloane Mazza, Josee Edgecombe alongside coach Dan Allen, who captured first place in the Senior Division of the Top Strategic Plan category. Students...
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Specialized Training Offered by Lillooet Tribal Council and Okanagan College
March 26, 2020
The Community Adult Learning Centre in Lillooet, B.C., recently partnered with Okanagan College to offer the Introduction to Office Administration training program, a fast-track program designed to build essential office skills necessary to job readiness in the field. Community consultation and local job vacancies highlighted a need for office administration. Yvonne LaRochelle, manager for the Community Adult Learning Centre, set out to close the gap between those in need of work and the office administration jobs available in her...
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Â黨´«Ă˝student and printshop owner supports business community
March 26, 2020
People helping others is a sign of the times, especially if Okanagan College student Bryan Carlton has anything to say about it. In addition to studying part-time for his BBA, Carlton owns Snap Printing in Kelowna. Since the pandemic landed in North America, he found his clients in education, event management and business have either reduced hours, put projects on hold or cancelled events. “I have a few clients who let me know how slow it was and wanted to see If I can do anything to possibly help them out. I figured banners were...
Read more...Tom Budd sponsors health care tuition
March 26, 2020
Local businessman and philanthropist Tom Budd is giving residents an opportunity to win free tuition toward a health care career at Â黨´«Ă˝ Budd, along with local radio stations Virgin Radio and Sun FM, are offering the contest called Wishin for Tuition across the Valley until April 12. Residents can win up to $5,000 toward their tuition to one of any 10 Health Sciences programs at Â黨´«Ă˝ The programs offered range from nursing to Early Childhood Education and Pharmacy Technician. The prize money is coming ...
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College Culinary Arts program drops off donation to food bank
March 24, 2020
See a need, fill a need. This is exactly what Okanagan College’s Culinary Arts department did earlier this week as culinary classes came to an unexpected halt in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tallying the vast amount of ingredients that would have been utilized in student labs and cafeteria plates, instructors gathered as much as they could and delivered it to the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank. Initiated by Ross Derrick, interim Culinary Arts instructor and chef at Cod Fathers Market and Kelsey Oudendag, Culinary...
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