Announcements

campus arial

Update to community June 11, 2024

June 11, 2024

Dear VIU community, Last night, the Students for Palestine Committee and the Palestine Solidarity Encampment (PSE) requested a meeting to continue our ongoing dialogue. VIU agreed to meet today, where we shared information and received a commitment from the PSE that their organization would not disrupt convocation ceremonies. VIU welcomed this assurance. We also reaffirmed other commitments and... Read more


Two flagpoles side by side. One holds the Canada flag and the other the Pride flag.

Community members share impactful stories during VIU’s Rainbow Project

June 11, 2024

What: The Rainbow Project: Searching for a voice, Pride stories through the decades When: June 22 and 23, 7 pm  Where: VIU’s Malaspina Theatre lobby, Building 310, Nanaimo campus  Community members will share impactful stories from their lives during The Rainbow Project: Searching for a voice, Pride stories through the decades. The event is hosted by Vancouver Island University’s Theatre... Read more


campus arial

Update to community June 10, 2024

June 10, 2024

Dear VIU community, Today, Vancouver Island University (VIU) held a follow-up meeting with the Students for Palestine Committee and the Palestine Solidarity Encampment (PSE) to continue the dialogue from our initial meeting last week. As promised in our initial meeting, VIU came prepared for a mutually respectful dialogue, ready to discuss the item identified by PSE as the core issue of the... Read more


campus arial

Dialogue update to community

June 7, 2024

Sent on behalf of Dr. Michael Quinn, Carolyn Russell and Emily Huner Dear VIU community, As President Saucier wrote last week in her message to the campus community, VIU is committed to the hard work that is needed to resolve the issue with the encampment groups. We wanted to provide an update on today’s initial dialogue session with the Students for Palestine Committee and Palestine Solidarity... Read more


campus arial

Update to community May 31, 2024

May 31, 2024

Dear VIU community, As we approach one month of having a protest encampment on our campus, I want to again thank all employees and students for the advice, insight, support and patience as we navigate this complex situation. This encampment has been a very difficult situation for all involved and I want to assure you that VIU is committed to the hard work that is needed to resolve the issue with... Read more


Frances Ward holds up seaweed and text across the image reads, Send Kelp

Experience Frances Ward’s journey cultivating a kelp farm in the documentary Send Kelp!

May 31, 2024

What: Send Kelp!, a documentary film screening When: June 8, 6 pm Where: Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Malaspina Theatre, Building 310, Nanaimo campus What does it take to create a kelp farm off the coast of Vancouver Island? Frances Ward, a self-professed “seaweed nerd” and adventurer is determined to find out. She sets out to build one of the first farms of its kind in BC. The... Read more


campus arial

May 17 President's message to campus community

May 17, 2024

The last few weeks have been some of our campus community’s most challenging in recent memory. I want to thank all the members of the VIU community and beyond who wrote to me recently expressing various opinions on the Palestine Solidarity Encampment at our Nanaimo campus and offering me advice on how to address the challenges related to the encampment. There are many challenging discussions... Read more


Aerial view of VIU's Nanaimo campus

Update to community May 10, 2024

May 10, 2024

Vancouver Island University welcomed students back to campus this week for the start of the Summer Semester. To support students, VIU’s buildings have returned to normal summer access hours. The library hours have been adjusted to align with staffing availability. As we prepare for Pride Month, VIU’s rainbow staircase is getting a much-needed facelift with a new coat of paint. This is part of the... Read more


Aerial view of VIU's Nanaimo campus

Statement about encampment on the VIU campus

May 7, 2024

May 7 update to community: Building access and invitation for dialogue The summer semester is now in full swing and we are experiencing some beautiful weather this week. VIU continues to closely monitor the encampment on our Nanaimo campus. Protestors have remained calm and peaceful and VIU continues to actively support peaceful demonstrations on our campus and the right to freedom of expression... Read more


Students gather around three screens on a desk with a projection of an image on the wall behind them.

VIU Media Studies hosts Showcase and Social on April 25

April 18, 2024

The Showcase and Social is also being live streamed from the Rogers TV studio.  Join Vancouver Island University (VIU) Media Studies students and faculty on Thursday, April 25 from 4 to 7 pm at Shaw, 4316 Boban Drive in Nanaimo, for a year-end presentation of projects and recognition of graduates.  At 5 pm, video production students from the Digital Media course 281 will coordinate a live stream... Read more