In the Community

Mid Island Co-op Helps Renew VIU's Malaspina Theatre

June 9, 2016

Generous donation from Mid Island Co-op will replace an entire row of seats in the aging theatre A $10,000 donation from Mid Island Co-op will help prepare Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Malaspina Theatre for the next act. The theatre turns 40 this year, and after four decades and thousands of community and student performances, rehearsals and events, the seats have seen better days. Mid... Read more


Courtenay Residents Called on to Contribute to VIU's 'Where is Here?'

June 2, 2016

Public invited to ‘get on the map’ in unique project exploring Courtenay’s downtown Which location in downtown Courtenay, Port Alberni or Nanaimo makes you feel most connected to your community? That’s a question a team of Vancouver Island University (VIU) masters and undergraduate student researchers are asking members of the public as part of a community mapping project called ‘Where is Here... Read more


VIU Students and Staff Encouraged to Make a Shift for Bike to Work Week

May 17, 2016

University is helping to plan the annual event, which aims to get more people onto two wheels instead of four Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) sustainability office is gearing up for Bike to Work Week in Nanaimo (May 30 - June 5) with free coffee and snacks for VIU riders, and a Celebration Station cheering on commuters in the University District. VIU students and staff have participated in... Read more


Green Thumb Alert: New VIU Partnership Offers Expert Gardening Advice

May 16, 2016

Free service offers top-notch expertise from trained Master Gardeners Get your green thumbs on! Gardening enthusiasts from the mid-Island and beyond can now get invaluable help with their planting plans thanks to a new partnership that offers free expert advice. The service, offered by Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) Milner Gardens & Woodland and the Vancouver Island Master Gardeners... Read more


VIU Student Forum Inspires Community Partners in Harewood

May 12, 2016

First annual community forum showcases Child and Youth Care student research From School District 68 to the RCMP, Island Health, and non-profit organizations like the Nanaimo Family Life Association and Kwúmut Lelum Child and Family Services, a wide range of representatives came out to Vancouver Island University (VIU) to participate in the first annual Harewood Community Forum. The forum was... Read more


Motocross Track Gets Facelift By VIU Heavy Equipment Operators

May 4, 2016

VIU students get real-world experience at Wastelands Motocross Track Thanks to the efforts of VIU faculty – students in the Heavy Equipment Operator program are putting their classroom skills to the test in real-world situations, and supporting community organizations while they are at it. By engaging with non-profits, community organizations and schools that require heavy equipment work but don... Read more


Harewood Elementary Students Partner With VIU To Dream Big

April 19, 2016

I Have a Dream program matches VIU Child and Youth Care students to youth As the bell rings to end the school day, eight Georgia Avenue Elementary students file into the classroom to attend the ‘I Have a Dream’ program. They enjoy a healthy snack of fruits, vegetables and yoghurt before engaging in games and activities designed to let them know that they are valued, their opinions are important... Read more


Free Public Lecture Examines the Ethical Issues Surrounding Doctor-Assisted Suicide

April 18, 2016

Doctor-assisted deaths are soon to become a legal reality in Canada, but the question remains: how do we best move forward with this option? This week, the federal government tabled new legislation on assisted dying that includes some restrictions on who qualifies, as well as safeguards to protect vulnerable Canadians.   On Thursday, April 21, Dr. Laura Shanner, a researcher and consultant in... Read more


Encore Fundraiser Invites Supporters To Take A Seat

April 14, 2016

Encore campaign will breathe new life into VIU’S Malaspina Theatre A comprehensive fundraising campaign called Encore is currently underway to bring Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) aging Malaspina Theatre into the 21st century ― and it represents a unique opportunity for Nanaimo citizens and businesses to give back to the theatre that over the past 40 years has given so much to the community... Read more


Firesmart Weekend At VIU

April 7, 2016

This Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10, come down to the Nanaimo campus to learn how to be FireSmart Nanaimo Fire Rescue and Vancouver Island University (VIU) are partnering together to launch the inaugural FireSmart weekend this Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10. VIU staff, along with a group of VIU forestry students and faculty volunteers, will be FireSmarting a forested area on the Nanaimo campus... Read more