2011C O M M U N I T Y R E P O R T

3,6561,859

WELCOMEMessage from the Chair of the Board of Governors

Message from the Chair of Education CouncilMessage from the President

KEY ACHIEVEMENTSThe Okanagan College Foundation

Aboriginal student success20 years of international relations

RAISING THE BARNew nursing program

National research grantsStimulating business

Women in TradesCollege earns silver for sustainability

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONSVernon speaker series

English DepartmentWine expertise

2011 Honorary FellowsMentorship

Service with a differenceExceptional alumni

FINANCIALSYear in review

THE GOVERNING BODIESBoard of Governors

Education Council

445

6810

1213141516

17181920222324

26

2727

OKANAGAN COLLEGE RISING

2

142,5383,656

1,3394,186

46818,766

142,538

3,6561,859

4,186432825

26779.2

31

518,766

142,538

3,656

4,682 432825

25779.2

31

53

DID YOU KNOW?

21,000 people took courses or programs at Okanagan College in 2010-11

91per cent of employees responding to a satisfaction survey said they were proud to work at Okanagan College

7,643 Full-time equivalent students were educated and trained at Okanagan College in 2010-11 (not including 492 International FTE)

$92.9-millionThe College had a $92.9-million annual operating budget in 2010-11

2,503 students earned credentials 167 degrees, 410 diplomas, 78 associate degrees, and 1,848 certificates

1,200 employees work at Okanagan College

82.7per cent of employees responding to a survey said they were satisfied with their employment at Okanagan College

20The average class has fewer than 20 students

The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation is one of the world’s most sustainable buildings

$1.5 millionwas distributed to students in financial aid ($441,213) from Okanagan College and $1,099,327 from the Okanagan College Foundation

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A Message from the Chair of Education Council

Okanagan College is a growing institution. Not only are there more students, there are more courses and more programs. Some would say there are more academic policies too. Who approves these courses, programs, and policies? Education Council (EdCo) does, in conjunction with the Board of Governors. EdCo has been a part of Okanagan College since the College was created. Faculty members, support staff, administrators, and students meet monthly to review and approve new curriculum and academic policies. Supporting EdCo are a number of standing committees which provide a preliminary review of proposals, and hard-working support staff. Over 75 members of the Okanagan College community meet at various times during the month to consider curriculum and policies. Some of the proposals are accepted as presented, some need a little revision.

The overall goal is to ensure that the students who choose Okanagan College for their education and training have the best education and training that is available. Whether the students stay at the College for their degree, diploma, or certificate, or they come to begin a journey which will be completed elsewhere, EdCo sees that Okanagan College provides them the strongest foundation possible. EdCo sees the results of its work when we approve the graduands for graduation. Trivia: A person is a graduand after completing all the requirements for a credential and becomes a graduate after the credential is awarded. EdCo members believe our work is crucial to Okanagan College’s mission of transforming lives and communities. We are proud of our curriculum and of the quality of graduates.

Rick GeeChair, Education Council

One of the most gratifying aspects of serving as Chair of the Board of Governors is the opportunity to connect with people across the region. Everywhere I go, from Revelstoke to Oliver, I am struck by the number of individuals who have something positive to say about Okanagan College.

And with each passing season I am more deeply impacted by one of the most meaningful occasions that occurs throughout the year – Convocation. The year 2011 was no exception.

I had the opportunity to shake hands with nearly 2,000 graduates as they crossed the stage and made the transition from students to alumni. Some of the faces were familiar, having been proudly publicized by the College for winning business competitions, engineering feats or earning academic awards and scholarships.

Other faces were unknown to me, as was the case with Kimberley Chappell. Kimberley graduated from the Therapist Assistant program and represented the class as valedictorian for 2011. Listening to her speak words of encouragement to her classmates and share her gratitude to everyone who works at

Okanagan College reminded me of why each and every member of the Board gives their time to governance.

“Administrators, you should be proud of the staff you employ for they are the cornerstone to the success that we will all reach some day. They are passionate about what they do and that is an inspiration like no other to a student. And to us students they are the superheroes of our world helping to guide us through this chapter of our lives urging us to write our own stories.”

Kimberley Chappell, June 29, 2011

A look back at the year 2011 will reveal a great number of achievements for Okanagan College. From the perspective of the Board of Governors, none was more important than the continued commitment to our mandate, which is to create access to the education and training sought and needed by our students and community.

With the growing number of graduates who achieve their educational goals, we move closer to reaching ours – to transform lives and communities.

Lance KayfishChair, Okanagan College Board of Governors

A Message from the Chair of the Okanagan College Board of Governors

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In what can only be considered a year of tremendous progress, Okanagan College took significant strides toward fulfilling its mission of transforming lives and communities.

The stories shared within this Community Report are just a few of the examples of student achievement, community engagement, excellence in learning and teaching, applied research and innovation that helped make 2011 a banner year for the College, its students and the people who work here.

Among our most notable achievements this year was the opening of The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technology and Renewable Energy Conservation in Penticton. The $28-million project aims to meet the Living Building Challenge, the world’s most advanced measure of sustainability in the built environment. Is it a lofty goal? In short, yes. But when people asked me back in 2009 why we sought to construct one of the greenest buildings in North America, my answer was simple: why not?

I believe that post-secondary institutions have a responsibility to provide leadership in innovation; and not just by way of buildings but also through the delivery of programming, learning, teaching, service to others, and meaningful partnerships with the communities we serve.

During 2011 Okanagan College demonstrated that leadership across the board.

Whether providing much-needed access for health care students through the development of the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (which is also a partnership with UBC’s Okanagan campus) or working with members of the Agur Lake Society to build cabins for people with developmental disabilities or moving forward with partners in Coldstream and the Greater Vernon region to work toward a new recreational facility for the community, the commitment and dedication of our students, employees and partners were evident in the many achievements you will read about in this report.

But don’t just take my word for it – turn the page and discover Okanagan College for yourself.

Jim Hamilton, President Okanagan College

A Message from the President

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One of the best-known entrepreneurs in the province, and arguably the country, made history this year granting Okanagan College the largest ever gift to the B.C. college sector.

Jim Pattison, owner and founder of the Jim Pattison Group, provided the Okanagan College Foundation with a pledge of $2.5 million in matching funds in support of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation.

“I am a firm believer in education and understand that innovative buildings such as this are the places where we will train and develop a skilled workforce and the leaders of tomorrow,” Pattison said. “I appreciate the leadership demonstrated by Okanagan College and the overwhelming community support this project has received.”

Kathy Butler, Executive Director of the Okanagan College Foundation, thanked Pattison for his commitment to a greater vision for the region.

“This generous gift sends a message to businesses, students, and the public that Mr. Pattison recognizes and endorses the importance and growth of sustainable building practices and applied innovation,” said Butler.

The announcement was made at the official mid-December opening of the newly named $28-million Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation building in Penticton.

The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence was constructed with $22.65 million from the provincial and federal governments under the Knowledge Infrastructure Program. Shortly after the building was announced, the Okanagan College Foundation launched a $5-million fundraising campaign to fund its portion of the project budget.

“This has been an exceptional year of support for the College. It’s clear that the vision that went into the construction of The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence has inspired, and continues to inspire many people to contribute,” Butler said.

COLLEGE RECEIVES DONATIONFROM ONE OF B.C.’S GREAT ENTREPRENEURS

The Hon. Christy Clark, Premier, with Mr. Jim Pattison in Penticton.

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In 2011 the Okanagan College Foundation – which assists students at all four College campuses – experienced growth in virtually every area:

• 6.8percentgrowthinendowmentfundstoover$6.6million• 89newdonorsprovided$1.29million• Plannedgiftexpectanciesrose,andnowtotalover$13million

All told, these contributions provided more than $1 million in scholarships, bursaries and other awards to worthy students like Chris Pieper, a single father of two girls.

The 27-year-old student, who completed his Civil Engineering Technology diploma in 2011 and has gone on to pursue his engineering degree at UBC’s Okanagan campus, says financial assistance played a huge role in keeping his mind focused on his family’s future success.

“If there wasn’t any help, it wouldn’t be happening,” said Pieper, who picked up numerous Foundation awards including $4,500 from the Edd Kyle Memorial Award.

“We all can appreciate the current state of the economy, and it’s equally true for our students. For people like Jim Pattison, and so many others, to come forward at this time is truly admirable, and will make a huge difference when it comes to helping students commit to higher learning, and bettering their future,” said Kathy Butler, Executive Director of the Okanagan College Foundation.

The Okanagan College Foundation advances

the power of education by engaging

individuals and communities in contributing

to Okanagan College.

The Okanagan College Foundation

contributes to Okanagan College by:

• Helpingstudentswithscholarships, bursaries, awards and other financial support

• Buildingrelationshipswithdonors

• Supportingcapitalprojectsandprograms

• Managingfinancialresources responsibly and ethically

The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation - Penticton, BC

AT A GLANCE THE OKANAGAN COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Never let a bad grade get in the way of a good plan.

That may be an unconventional philosophy, but for 23-year-old Zeke Terbasket it’s working. It’s kept him focused, kept him working towards a goal, and taught him things he never would have otherwise known.

“Math is actually pretty handy,” said the Penticton student, one of more than 1,000 Aboriginal students attending Okanagan College in 2011.

That’s quite a statement, given that only a few years ago Terbasket was metaphorically beating his head against the textbooks.

“I was never good at math. In high school I took applied math and then when I went back to school I had to take upgrading to learn some of those principles again.

“I failed Math 11 three times. It’s been a struggle, and it’s a lot of work, but I just keep going. And it’s really good now.”

It’s true. Terbasket now has first-year calculus under his belt and he’s using his newly acquired math skills in his organic chemistry class, while working his way towards a career in the health sciences – maybe even as a pharmacist.

“That’s my goal right now. I like talking, and I think I’ll find it interesting to consult with people about their prescriptions, their health and their medications.”

Before entering college, the only real relationship Terbasket had with math was musical, counting the beats, and playing rhythms in his head.

As a teen growing up in Terrace, B.C., he had visions of being a break-dancer. His mom, Lynne Terbasket, saw things differently.

“I didn’t see college coming at all,” he said. “I wanted to stick with my break-dancing, but I was getting older and realized I couldn’t do that. Besides, my mom told me to get back to school. So I went back and started upgrading.”

A member of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, he and his mom decided to settle back in the Okanagan, and it’s given him a deeper appreciation of his culture and his people.

“Getting to know the elders and actually being here paints a broader picture for me than what I experienced from visiting in the summers.”

1992 – First employee hired for new Aboriginal Access and Services coordinator post

1994 – New Aboriginal Council begins advisory work – Members include representatives from: • OkanaganNation • ShuswapNation • FriendshipSocietiesandMétisAssociations

2000 – First Aboriginal Mentor hired in Penticton

STUDENT ExPERIENCESExPONENTIAL GROWTH

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2005 – Initial agreements signed with En’owkin Centre and Okanagan Nation Alliance – 347 Aboriginal students attending four campuses

2004-2006 – Additional Mentors hired in Salmon Arm and Vernon

2011 – Renovations completed for Aboriginal Centre in Penticton – 1,000 hours of Aboriginal Peer Mentor Support available to support current Aboriginal students

2007 – B.C. government implements the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education Strategy – First Okanagan College Aboriginal Student Handbook released – Renovations to Aboriginal Centre in Vernon

2008 – Two new Aboriginal recruiter positions created – Aboriginal Gathering Place built in Salmon Arm – Additional Mentor hired in Kelowna – Aboriginal Access & Services now has five base funded employees, one for each campus and a coordinator

2009 – College hosts the first Annual Youth Exhibition Pow Wow – First annual Aboriginal Student Graduation Celebration – 122 Aboriginal students graduate – Adult Basic Education provided on Reserve at Westbank First Nation – Launch of Aboriginal Gateway to the Building Trades and Residential Construction program – Renovations to Aboriginal Centre in Kelowna

2010 – Formal affiliation created between Okanagan College and En’owkin Centre – Ethan Baptiste Memorial Award created and joins more than a dozen financial awards, scholarships and bursaries available to Okanagan College Aboriginal students – 1,350 Aboriginal students attend Okanagan College* – 146 Aboriginal students graduate*

ABORIGINAL SERVICES – TIME LINE

As part of his success strategy, Terbasket soaks up every opportunity he can find – from volunteering his time at special events held on campus to picking the brains of those who work as career counsellors, education advisors, and mentors.

“He accesses every support service that a student would need and really makes the most out of the post-secondary experience,” said Marcy Trotter, the Aboriginal recruiter and events coordinator for the South Okanagan-Similkameen and Central Okanagan regions.

He also spends time in the Aboriginal student lounge where he can chat with friends, or work away on one of the computers. Trotter has seen Terbasket grow in confidence and he’s leaving a deep impression.

“He’s really an incredible individual,” she said. “He takes care of his educational needs. If he has questions, he goes to someone to get answers.”

For Terbasket it’s more a simple equation. What you put out, you get back in return.

“I think the biggest thing is having a growth mindset, rather than a fixed mindset,” he said. “The brain is a muscle and you’ve got to keep exercising it.”

STUDENT ExPERIENCESExPONENTIAL GROWTH

9*Most recent statistics available.

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PITCH FOR TOYOTA CRACKS 20-YEARS OF HOME RUNS

High up on a glass shelf in Chris Burns’ Automotive Collision Repair office rests a vital part of Okanagan College history.

Like a line-up of players getting ready for bat, are softballs, each one carefully signed by dozens of students in both English and Japanese katakana script. For Burns it’s like looking back at another home run for the partnership between Okanagan College and Toyota Technical College that started in 1991.

“Every year we play a softball game with the visiting students,” said Burns, brushing off the dust that’s collected over the years. “If I look through these names here I can probably remember exactly what year that was.”

Slowly the memory emerges of top officials arriving at the shop along with the president of the Nagoya-based college. The group was touring several schools in B.C. to assess where to place its top automotive mechanics students for a premium four-week summer program in

Canada that would spark both their auto body and English language skills.

“I remember being nervous at the time, and later thrilled they picked us,” he said. “I think it was partially because of the equipment we had here, but also because of the cultural experience we could give their students.”

It took a full year, and tons of paperwork back and forth, to prepare for that first year.

“That first class of 19 students was great. They brought two of their instructors with them – their sensei – and we had Kyoko Jones from International Education there as an interpreter, and we’ve never looked back.”

At the time, Okanagan College was already well positioned to work with Japanese students. Jones’ husband Glen, who also works in International Education and had experience working in Japan, assisted with business protocol.

President Jim Hamilton joins Toyota Technical College President Kazunori Ikeyama to celebrate 20-year partnership anniversary

“He kept reminding us that it takes 10 years to build a solid relationship with a Japanese company, and that’s exactly what happened. Now our relationship is very comfortable, very personal and the program continues to make substantial inroads.”

As of 2011, more than 700 students from Toyota Tech have received supplemental auto body training at Okanagan College, with this year’s class becoming one of the largest ever with 48 students. Another 12 students with eyes towards upper management at Toyota Motor Corporation enrolled in an intensive four-week ESL program launched in 2009 at the Vernon campus.

“Each of these students establishes a relationship with their homestay family, and today that probably means 500 families,” Burns said. “And those relationships continue. I remember one lady who took in a young girl from the class tell me she received an invitation to attend the girl’s wedding in Japan. So she went. The homestays become part of an extended family.”

As a symbol of how the relationship continues to flourish, Toyota Technical College President Kazunori Ikeyama visited the Kelowna campus in August to plant a Japanese cherry tree. This past fall Burns was part of a delegation from Okanagan College that included President Jim Hamilton, who returned the gesture by planting a Canadian sugar maple at their campus in Nagoya.

International Education program administrator Gordon Shuster said there’s no question that signing those partnership papers with Toyota Technical College mapped out a future in international education for Okanagan College.

Over the years, the International Education department has expanded its promotional efforts, each year attracting more than 450 individual students from 45 countries and over 200 study tour students at its various campuses.

“Having Toyota Technical College as one of our partners sends a good solid signal whenever we approach new institutions,” Shuster said.

Back in Automotive Collision, Burns recalls time spent sharing burgers with sensei, and crafting a souvenir video for each student to take home, filled with shop footage, plus priceless memories of jet skiing, and of course, that annual softball game.

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An international student population gives

Okanagan College a global perspective

on world events that extends well beyond

the classroom.

In March 2011 when the devastating 8.9

magnitude earthquake hit Japan and

killed 15,000 people, Okanagan College

students launched the Hope for Japan

fundraising campaign.

Students raised $13,707.68 by selling

more than 1,800 t-shirts, holding bake

sales, and raising the profile of the

situation both on the campuses and in

the greater community. Hope for Japan

was carried out in conjunction with the

Canadian Red Cross.

Soon after, Okanagan College’s

International Student Services Assistant,

Masami Kostiuk and the work of the

international students at Okanagan

College was recognized by Kelowna

Mayor Sharon Shepherd with the Spirit of

Kelowna award – in honour of their efforts

to raise money and awareness about the

issues facing the people of Japan.

College provides Hope for Japan

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For Gillian Wiens, choosing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Okanagan College was like a coming-home of sorts. The 25-year-old Kelowna resident grew up close to the College, attending high school at Kelowna Senior Secondary, which is visible from the new nursing lab window. Wiens spent two years at Okanagan College as a full-time Arts student before applying to the BSN program.

“I’d considered a few different careers before I settled on nursing,” explained Wiens. “First was fashion design and then came teaching but I always had nursing in the back of my mind.”

After completing two years of University Transfer courses at the College Wiens applied to Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs at a few universities in B.C. Her high academic standing granted her admission to several programs and as she was weighing her options, something interesting happened - she found out Okanagan College would be offering the first two years of the degree program in cooperation with UBC’s Okanagan campus and she applied right away.

“I chose to come to Okanagan College because the College has such a nice feel,” explained Wiens.

“Here you really get to know your instructors and the smaller class sizes create a learning environment that can’t be matched anywhere else.

“I was confident the instructors would be great and I already knew I liked the campus but I was definitely surprised by the facility. The new lab, high tech simulation rooms and equipment are world-class and it has been incredible to have this kind of technology right here at home.”

And home is where she hopes to stay. Though she hasn’t settled on a nursing specialty, Wiens would most like to use her skills and knowledge in Kelowna.

“I’ll have lots of options when I graduate,” said Wiens. “That’s one of the things that is so appealing about nursing – I can work in so many different settings. Right now I’m doing my clinical placement in rehab at the hospital and I also volunteer with seniors to get a feel for that.”

Wiens and 23 of her classmates will graduate from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in 2015, joining thousands of graduates from across the province who will help meet the pending skills and labour demands. She’ll finish her coursework at Okanagan College in 2013 and transition to UBC’s Okanagan campus to complete her degree.

“In the future I’ll go where the jobs are and hopefully there will be opportunities for me here in Kelowna but I’ll work anywhere.”

MLAs Steve Thomson (Kelowna-Mission), Ben Stewart (Westside-Kelowna) and Norm Letnick (Kelowna-Lake Country) joined other dignitaries and

students to launch the BSN program at Okanagan College.

NEW NURSING PROGRAMKEEPS LOCAL STUDENT CLOSE TO HOME

When professor Lee Cartier digs into the Okanagan economy, he’s looking for gold.

Cartier, who teaches in the Okanagan School of Business, has spent years researching what goes into creating an economy that’s derived from what he calls ‘the rural entrepreneur.’

He started mapping the export economy in 2005 with a grant from AgriFood Canada, and today he’s working with the BC Wine Institute in an attempt to capture the impact of wine on the local economy.

Cartier is one of a growing number of Okanagan College professors who spend time conducting research that adds to the greater understanding of the region. And now there could be even more following in Cartier’s footsteps.

This year both the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) added Okanagan College to a growing list of community colleges poised to assist with improving Canada’s performance when it comes to innovation.

Cartier says having such grants available will make a real difference in furthering the scope of locally developed research.

“This is new for colleges. Historically, large institutions like University of Calgary or UBC always ended up with the research dollars. Now government has recognized that there is a problem in terms of innovation in Canada. We don’t score well on innovation at the global level. Maybe we need to look at it another way.”

Cartier’s already looking at the wine industry in new and different ways, trying to determine why even after 20 years, B.C. wines only capture 50 per cent of the provincial market. His hunch is that local industry needs to take the next big leap by working together in industry clusters, rather than in silos where each winery competes with its neighbour.

“What we want to do now is dissect the industry, so we can look at the blockages to innovation,” he said.

The grant money he’s received from industry allows him to hire students to help get the work done – a win-win for everyone involved.

Okanagan College philosophy professor Roger Shiner agrees, saying the value of research funding extends directly into the classroom.

Shiner already has experience with SSHRC grants, having received one for his research on The Criminalization of Corporate Wrongdoing through his connections with both the University of Alberta and UBC.

“There are a lot of people who feel that research and teaching are incompatible, but that’s not the case at all. As a professor you’re constantly talking to your class about what you’re doing in your research and that makes the subject real for them. Research is a very enriching experience for everyone.”

THE VALUE OF RESEARCHCOLLEGE GAINS ACCESS TO NATIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS

In a 2007 report, NSERC identified a number of benefits colleges experienced when they accessed research grants. Among them:

• Improvedcredibilityandvisibilitythat allowed researchers to leverage funding from other sources• Enrichedcoursecontentandcurricula• Enhancedtrainingandexperiencesfor studentsthatelevatedtheirrésumés• Facilitatedintroductionsbetween students and potential employers• Strengthenedrelationshipswith private sector

The report concluded, in part: “colleges are well positioned to work with local industry beyond the provision of training. In particular, colleges with an established applied R&D capacity are well placed to help companies address problems via applied R&D projects and to assist them in adopting new technology.”

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Lee Cartier, Okanagan School of Business professor

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Business students at all four campuses of Okanagan College can now benefit from the practical skills taught through SIFE Okanagan.

This year, the Salmon Arm campus wrapped up its first full term with its own SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team.

“We just had an incredible group of students going into the year, and I couldn’t help but think that the timing was absolutely right to get SIFE into Salmon Arm,” said Megan Mills, a SIFE faculty mentor and professor with the College’s Okanagan School of Business.

Since its launch in 2005, SIFE Okanagan has worked on more than a dozen projects creating an economic impact of more than $800,000.

Mills doubts the Salmon Arm team would have truly gathered steam if it hadn’t been for the enthusiasm of star student Steven DeBoer.

“I proposed organizing a SIFE team to my second year students, and when I asked for volunteers, his hand was UP!”

DeBoer quickly collected followers willing to learn and in a few short months, members racked up business experience starting with developing communication skills, then launching a non-profit campaign, and finally creating a micro-business to raise funds to attend the regional SIFE competition in Calgary.

DeBoer, who graduated with a degree in Business Administration in January 2012, credits the program for helping him land an articling position with one of the biggest accounting firms in the world - Deloitte.

“Employers are looking for people who are involved in their community, and by being involved in SIFE you get to show where a lot of your skills are,” DeBoer said. “Plus you’ve got a list of professional situations, rather than personal situations, that you can draw from during the interview.”

This year Mills has a new crop of students eager to take on the kind of community-based projects for which SIFE is designed.

Led by the new Vice President Ryan Rithaler, the Salmon Arm team is already working with Community Futures Shuswap and the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society to launch a Young Entrepreneurs program with a local twist.

“We’re opening it up to the community so that anyone, not just high school students, can take part. That means young people who are inventors and those who have business ideas they want to present.”

Mills hopes this will help integrate the business program, and the business students, into the community with the aim of eventually working alongside business mentors.

“I think we’re satisfying a need that the community really has, especially now.”

SIFE SOARS IN SALMON ARM

Steven DeBoer (far right) celebrated a victory at the national SIFE competition with Campbell’s executives after winning the Let’s Can Hunger Challenge.

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Okanagan College’s Women’s Trades Training Initiative (WTTI) is proving to be a vital link in helping hundreds of women build new lives for themselves and their families.

Vernon’s Kelly Barrette is among more than 350 women throughout the region who have taken part in the program and it’s given her a window on a new world.

“I’ve always been a tomboy, and when I was in high school I took a metalwork class and enjoyed it.”

But Barrette never pursued it. Instead, like so many women, when Barrette finished high school she opted to work in service and retail. When she became a single parent it was soon apparent her wages wouldn’t cut it.

That’s when she heard about the program that targets unemployed and underemployed women with funding provided through Industry Training Authority of British Columbia through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement. Women learn hands-on which trade suits them, and then work their way towards obtaining a professionally recognized ticket, all while receiving financial support.

After completing 12 weeks in the WTTI’s Gateway program she moved on to Welding, earning a Level C Ticket.

“Metal is so forgiving, and it’s both a professional field and a creative field,” she said. “There are tons of jobs out there, not just up north, but down here too.”

Trades and Apprenticeship program administrator Nancy Darling said Barrette’s experience is typical of what she sees with students.

“The women quickly realize they have strengths they never imagined, and that there’s a real need for their skills in industry. WorkSafeBC and technology have changed so many things in the work place, and that is especially true for the trades. We are now seeing much greater participation from women across all trades training programs.”

Okanagan College is the only public educational institution in B.C.’s Interior that offers the program.

“We are actually seeing the results of this program including employment and a network of support for the women who participate,” Darling said. “There has never been a better time for women to enter careers in trades.”

Barrette agrees, but appreciates the practical side too. Now she doesn’t have to call a tradesperson when her clothes dryer breaks down, and her five-year-old is already thinking about his future career.

“The other day he told me he wants to be a Canucks player and a welder, and he said he’s going to be the safest welder out there. So, I made him a brown leather welder’s jacket. His only complaint? He wanted a blue jacket just like mine.”

Kelly Barrette

TRADING UPCOLLEGE HELPS WOMEN FORGE NEW CAREERS

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When Okanagan College began to focus its efforts on sustainability back in 2005, the goal was to incorporate sustainable practices in every part of the institution’s operation. With more than 7,643 full-time-equivalent students and 1,200 employees located in four campuses, nearly every department was challenged to find better ways of providing service with sustainability in mind.

Key to the plan was accountability, and with numerous initiatives firmly in place in 2011 Okanagan College boldly joined STARS.

STARS, which stands for Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Ratings System, was developed by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.The self-reporting assessment is divided into four categories:

• EducationandResearch • Planning,Administration,andEngagement• Operations •Innovation

Okanagan College was the first college in British Columbia to take part in STARS, joining 22 Canadian and 260 U.S. educational institutions including Yale and the University of Colorado – considered to be among the most sustainable educational institutions in North America.

For president Jim Hamilton, earning a silver rating gives him the assurance the College is moving to meet the vision set out for 2010-2015.

“Our aim is that we serve, lead and anticipate the social, economic and environmental needs of the communities we serve,” he said. “A silver STARS tells me we’re on the right track.”

As part of the assessment, each institution can gain innovation points – but once used they’re gone. That means in order to move forward, new innovations need to be found, or improvements made to existing areas. That’s just what Steve Robinson plans to do.

The Director of Campus Planning and Facilities Management was pleased with the results, but surprised the College didn’t do better when it came to waste reduction.

“We recycle, and we recycle well. What we hadn’t considered up until now is reducing the amount of waste we accept in the first place. That means looking at departments like Trades where scrap metal or wood often lands in recycling. That’s good, but maybe those scraps can be reused first.”

Robinson expects the real gain for 2012 will come with recognition of the new Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation at the Penticton campus. The Centre opened in 2011, but it was still in construction when the assessment was done so it was ineligible for inclusion.

Key among its features will be the building’s net zero energy and water consumption, and the roof covered with photovoltaic solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity.

There is no ceiling on sustainability. It’s something that occurs in increments. Like a torch run, it takes a community to accomplish, one step at a time.

STARS takes a holistic approach to sustainability, looking at all facets of the educational institution – from its buildings and operations, to educational programs, and even administrative commitments to campus diversity.

Okanagan College earned points in 86 sections including stellar points for its:

• communitygardens• compostprogramthatdiverts113.6kg of food scraps• 71individualcourseswitha sustainability focus• nativeplantscovering40%of campus grounds• 7percentreductioninwaterconsumption since 2005

Okanagan College also received one-time only innovation points for:

• Usingtreatedeffluentwaterinitsheat recovery system• PayItForwardcampaignto reduce lighting• TheCFL(compactfluorescentlight) crushing system that reduces the need for packing and shipping materials

The College’s STARS ranking included important initiatives such as the opening of a community garden in Kelowna.

STARS RANKING ADDS GLEAM TO SUSTAINABILITY

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Lifelong learners have a place to call home, thanks in part to the work of two programs launched through the Vernon campus of Okanagan College.

Over the years, the Kalamalka Speaker Series and the Science in Society Speaker Series have drawn in thousands of area residents curious about everything from the politics of the family farm to the murky science of the undersea world.

Okanagan College Librarians Taryn Schmid and Jennifer Sigalet launched the popular lunch-time Kalamalka Series in 2005, following Sigalet’s involvement in a similar community focused think tank at the Salmon Arm campus.

Sigalet was soon off in search of local people both within and outside the campus community who had expertise and interesting perspectives to share that would entice audiences.

“These events really are very grassroots,” said Sigalet, with topics often taking inspiration from current affairs issues. “I remember one where we invited Andrea Gunner, an agrologist from Armstrong. That was when new meat inspection regulations were hurting family farms. The talk created quite a stir in the community and we ended up with front page news.”

Since then, lectures have covered topics as heady as the politics of Afghanistan, to the virtues of happiness with psychologist Ben Coleman that drew a standing-room only crowd.

While the Kalamalka Series was flourishing Physics professor Richard Christie was brainstorming with a few other faculty members about a completely different lecture series – one that would be focused on science.

“The Vernon campus has always had a connection with the Okanagan Science Centre, so it made sense,” said Chemistry professor Carl Doige, who now chairs the series with help from Biology professor Laurie Donovan.

Okanagan Science Centre executive director Sandi Dixon offered up her team to provide administrative support while the College opened the doors to its lecture theatre, and delivered promotional assistance.

By 2007, they were ready to roll with their first lecture – a talk with University of Alberta paleontologist Phillip Currie on Tyrannosaurus rex. Costs to attend were kept low at $5 and before they knew it, the team was attracting more high-profile speakers – like CBC Radio’s Quirks and Quarks host Bob McDonald.

The series averages three speakers per year, and the talks attract audiences who may not otherwise attend lectures, including high school students.

“People start to see the College as not just a place for practical training, but also a place where you can engage in larger ideas.”

Jennifer Sigalet and Carl Doige are two of the employees in Vernon who help bring speaker series to life for the community.

STARS RANKING ADDS GLEAM TO SUSTAINABILITY

VERNON SHINESSPOTLIGHT ON CANADIAN ISSUES

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When Frances Greenslade’s editor sent back her manuscript with a pile of revisions attached, she knew just what to do with it – bring it to class.

“It was full of yellow sticky notes everywhere. The students were quite surprised,” said Greenslade, who has been teaching creative writing at Okanagan College since 2005. “I had to tell them that it’s all part of the process. Rewriting is something you do because you are a good writer.”

Fast-forward a semester or two and Greenslade is able to bring in the real thing – a published copy of Shelter, a book that quickly earned impressive reviews in The Globe and Mail, National Post, and Winnipeg Free Press, among others.

That real-life look at the industry is a regular part of the student experience for those enrolled in Okanagan College’s diploma program in Writing and Publishing.

“The College has one of the most active departments of creative writing in the country with so many published writers,” Greenslade said. In 2011, Okanagan College writers were popping up everywhere throughout the region with interviews in local publications, CBC Radio, and public readings like the Vertigo Voices series.

Their popularity extends well past the reaches of the College. Earlier this year faculty members travelled to Nelson, B.C. to read from the works at the Oxygen Art Centre. Among them were a distinguished group of Okanagan College professors including: poets Jason Dewinetz, Sean Johnston, Jake Kennedy and Kevin McPherson along with novelist Corinna Chong, plus nonfiction writer Melanie Murray who received national attention this year with the release of her book For Your Tomorrow: The Way of an Unlikely Soldier.

Hearing directly from writers can have a real impact, said Greenslade.

What also makes writing real is entering contests and submitting works to literary journals, like the Ryga Journal, edited by Okanagan College professor Sean Johnston.

The College continues to play a key role in the region, co-sponsoring the annual Okanagan Short Story Contest in conjunction with CBC Radio and UBC’s Okanagan campus, plus crafting the Three-Hour Short Story Competition – a special contest for aspiring writers attending College and those in Grades 11 and 12.

Equally important in the development of a literary culture is to reflect back to the community the work of mature writers, a role performed by The George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature. These pillars create a foundation for new writers to build on. But it all starts with the writing, and those yellow sticky notes.

Greenslade regularly reminds her students those notes aren’t filled with questions about punctuation and grammar – they’re filled with clues on how to make the work ring true.

GREENSLADE AMONG PROFS WHO BRING REAL WORLD INTO THE CLASS

Frances Greenslade

In 1983 when many were mimicking the moonwalk, Howard Soon was trying something equally out of this world, at least for the Okanagan. He was offering his first class in wine appreciation through Continuing Studies at Okanagan College.

At the time, there were only 13 wineries in B.C., but the master winemaker with Andrew Peller Ltd. and brains behind the award-winning Sandhill wines could taste success was just around the corner.

“I think if you live in the Okanagan, you should know something about wine. Everybody needs to be able to have a conversation about it,” he said.

At the time, very few were hearing that clarion call. His first class included a few doctors, still giddy at the concept of spitting. There were a few standouts in that first class – among them a spirited Moyra Baxter, who would later become a Peachland school trustee.

“When everyone was giving out their points for the wine we were drinking, she was able to tally them in a split second and give the average,” remembered Soon.

Since that first class, Soon has taught wine appreciation twice a year – every spring and fall, and hasn’t tired of it. He is among more than 250 instructors who spend part of the year teaching all kinds of Continuing Studies courses – from bookkeeping and blogging, to song writing and skin care. Typical instructors are much like Soon – experts in their own field and eager to share their passion.

“As an instructor, teaching this class helps me with my business because I refine my speaking skills and get a chance to test my assumptions about what people know about wine today.”

In 2011, Continuing Studies offered more than 1,300 courses across the four regions, serving more than 10,000 students.

Soon’s classes often fill up, but he prefers to have no more than 26 students. That way everyone can share a sip from the same bottle as they learn to identify the qualities vintners look for in a well-crafted wine.

“I took a program from the Society of Wine Educators, and that’s what I work with as my framework. I always want to make sure that I’m telling people factual information about what to look for in a wine. In our industry, good winemakers have to be able to speak to each other.”

Continuing Studies programs like Soon’s give students a chance to explore interests they might never otherwise consider. They can also provide a practical way to boost professional development.

“I often send our winemakers to the business courses available through the College.”

Among the most popular Continuing Studies courses are occupational first aid, FOODSAFE, and even Spanish. Many of them are offered during the evening and sometimes those interests spur students on to new careers.

“Several of my students have gone on to careers in the wine business after taking this course,” said Soon.

Given that, it probably won’t be too long before he’s sipping alongside a former student – now winemaker – well versed in the art of spitting.

WINEMAKER HELPS COMMUNITYDRINK IN KNOWLEDGE

Howard Soon

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GREENSLADE AMONG PROFS WHO BRING REAL WORLD INTO THE CLASS

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The criteria for nominating Honorary Fellows of Okanagan College requires the nominees demonstrate mentorship, excellence, eminence and accomplishment that reflects the values of the College and the diversity of Canadian society.

It didn’t come as a surprise to many when College President Jim Hamilton announced the 2011 Honorary Fellows would include a world renowned researcher, Canada’s highest-ranking female RCMP member, and an entrepreneur whose fabric stores dominate the Canadian textile industry.

Over the course of three Convocation ceremonies in June, Okanagan College bestowed Honorary Fellowships on Dr. Tom Landecker, Principal Research Officer at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO), Beverley Busson, former Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Mel Kotler, founding owner of Mel Kotler Consultants Ltd. and working partner of the Fabricland Company, Western Canada.

“I take a great deal of pride in calling Dr. Landecker, Ms. Busson and Mr. Kotler Fellows of Okanagan College,” said President Jim Hamilton. “Awarding Honorary Fellow status to these deserving members of our community is the highest honour we can offer on behalf of our College.”

Landecker is a highly respected astronomer, innovator, teacher and engineer. He was born and raised in Sydney, Australia and attended Sydney University. From an initial plan to become a chemical engineer, Landecker found a new passion while at university and emerged with two degrees - one in mathematics and the other in electrical engineering. Fascinated by the use of radio as a tool for probing the Universe, Landecker went on to earn his doctorate for research in radio astronomy.

He moved to Penticton in 1969 to work at the DRAO, supervising major projects such as the Canadian

Galactic Plane Survey, for which he and his team won an Outstanding Achievement Award from the National Research Council of Canada in 2010. He has been an adjunct professor at several Canadian universities, helped develop the Okanagan Research Innovation Council (ORIC) and joined the Board of Governors of Okanagan University College, where he was a member for six years and served as Chair of the Board for one year. He continues to follow his passion for astronomical research, working with colleagues in Canada and in other countries.

Beverley Busson spent more than three decades in Canadian law enforcement. Her career with the RCMP began in 1974 when she became one of the first women to become Regular Members of the RCMP. She went on to head B.C.’s Organized Crime Agency, earned a degree in Law from UBC in 1990, was invested as a commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2004 and awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2006.

After rising through the ranks, Busson became the first female Commanding Officer of British Columbia in 2000, a rank she held until 2006 when she became Canada’s top ranking RCMP member when she was appointed Commissioner of the RCMP – she was the first female to hold the rank of Commissioner. Among her distinguished achievements Busson has been awarded the RCMP Long Service Medal for 30 years of Good Conduct, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Canadian Forces Vice Chief of Defence Staff Commendation for her support of the Canadian Cadet Movement.

Since retiring to Blind Bay she has been seconded by the Prime Minister’s Office to a five-member committee charged with making recommendations to reform the RCMP nationwide and also joined the Okanagan College Foundation as a Director.

2011 HONORARY FELLOWS

Mel Kotler with Barry McGillivrayBeverley Busson Dr. Tom Landecker (right) and Richard Christie.

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Mel Kotler was born and raised in Montreal where he took on his first job in the textile industry straight out of high school. He spent 16 years learning the ins and outs of sales, management and marketing before moving west to Calgary in 1977 where he opened his first business, Fabricland.

As Fabricland stores continued to spread through Western Canada, Kotler and his family moved to Kelowna in 1985. While building his brand and retail outlets, Kotler raised five children and focused on giving back to the community.

From 1995 – 98 he served as the Chair of Leadership Gifts in the Campaign for Cancer Care. He also took on leadership roles with the United Way and Special Olympics of BC and was the President of the Okanagan Jewish Community for five years.

At the time of his retirement from Fabricland in 2001, Kotler had become a retail giant with 40 Fabricland stores in Western Canada and another 20 franchises across the region. In 2002 he was presented with a Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal by Sindi Hawkins for his outstanding service to the community. He was also named Entrepreneur of the Year as well as Community Leader of the Year. In 2004 Kotler was awarded the Fred Macklin Memorial Award in 2004 for his contribution to the wellbeing of the City of Kelowna. The United Way has recognized his leadership and service with a series of honours including the BC Vice-Chair’s Award of Distinction in 2004 and the Award of Distinction in 2008.

Kotler also serves as the 2011–12 Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the College’s Okanagan School of Business, where he contributes his time and expertise to help guide and mentor students in the business department.

Dr. Tom Landecker received his Honorary Fellow distinction at the 2011 Spring Convocation ceremony.

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When Dr. Kyleen Myrah picked up the phone, she had no idea the man on the other end of the line would take her students so far, so fast.

Myrah is a professor at the Okanagan School of Business and faculty advisor to SIFE Okanagan – the award-winning Students in Free Enterprise program that often attracts interest from local professionals.

“I remember he told me he wanted to help out. I hear that a lot from people, and often you find out it’s on a very cursory level,” she said. “But when I sat down with Sheldon, I knew right away that wasn’t what he was all about.”

Sheldon Gardiner is an entrepreneur who succeeded in Calgary’s rough and tumble oil and gas industry before settling in Kelowna. It wasn’t long before he was craving a new challenge – and he figured SIFE was just the ticket.

In short order he was on a first-name basis with the College’s business students, offering up tips on marketing, finance, even presentation skills. He helped launch Venture Okanagan where students rub shoulders with angel investors while providing business assistance to start-up entrepreneurs. Students were mesmerized.

“I kept hearing about him, and I wondered: why is someone dedicating so much time to students,” remembered Sattu Dhaliwal, the past-president of SIFE Okanagan. “You can tell some people get involved for their business. But he didn’t seem like that.”

When he showed up at the national SIFE competition in Calgary, and then helped judge the semi-finals, Dhaliwal’s curiosity was piqued. She brought her resume to Gardiner to see what would happen.

“Hespentacoupleofhourswithmeandtoremyrésuméapart,” she said. “He said the objective line is important,

but what employers really want to know is what you’ve accomplished. What are your measurements of success? It was phenomenal.”

Then he established an annual $2,500 scholarship for hard-working SIFE students. Dhaliwal received that first scholarship. Now she works for BMO.

Gardiner says it’s just what he does – help people recognize their own talents and, when appropriate, see the entrepreneurial opportunity.

“Students are always asking me: how do I find an opportunity? I don’t push it, but I might ask them: have you considered buying a business? You might be able to buy it and then approach an investor who can give you financial backing. And the students say to me: ‘Wow, I never thought of that!’”

By the end of 2011, SIFE Okanagan had captured three national awards, plus well-deserved recognition for Gardiner who, among a field of more than 100 business professionals nation-wide, was named Business Advisor of the Year.

“Sheldon has always been here for the students. That’s it,” Myrah said. “As a business leader, you’re putting a lot of risk out there when you take part in something like this. That takes a lot of faith and belief and trust in the group, and that’s a pretty rare quality.”

For Gardiner, it comes down to nothing more than giving back.

“Making a contribution to your community is what matters to me, and everybody does that at different levels,” he said. “I’m blessed to have the time to do a lot of volunteering, but I know it’s all relative.”

ENTREPRENEUR SHARES PRECIOUS COMMODITY WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS

Sheldon Gardiner (second from right) was honoured by ACE as Business Advisor of the Year, in recognition of his work with SIFE Okanagan students.

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For the second time in as many years, Okanagan College recognized one of its own with the Distinguished Service Award.

Dr. Gary Dickinson received the honour in June at the Summer Convocation ceremony based on his exemplary career that spanned two decades of leadership and dedication to Okanagan College as well as for outstanding service to his community.

The Distinguished Service Award is only extended to those who are most deserving. Over the past six years the award has only been presented twice.

With a 35-year career devoted to education, Dickinson worked in B.C. secondary schools and post-secondary institutions until retiring in 2000. The last 20 years of his career were spent at Okanagan College and OUC.

“Gary did much to develop and promote learning and teaching at OUC and that legacy lives on at Okanagan College,” explained President Jim Hamilton.

Dickinson holds three degrees from the University of British Columbia: a Doctorate of Education, a Master’s of Arts in Adult Education and a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education.

Dickinson joined Okanagan College in 1981 in the role of South Okanagan Regional Director, a position he maintained for five years before leading the Faculty of Adult and Continuing Education, where he was Dean for 14 years.

Dickinson’s leadership in Continuing Education contributed to the faculty’s growth and development throughout the region. At the time he joined the College, community education had been identified as an area of importance in which the needs of the community could be addressed.

“I began working for Okanagan College when Gary had become the Dean of Continuing Education,” said Charlotte Kushner, Acting Vice President of Students at Okanagan College. “The growth of our operation was very much a testament to his knowledge, skills and leadership in the area of adult education and continuing education operations. In fact, he was known around the province as the guru of all things continuing education.”

Dickinson spent the last year and a half of his career with OUC in an acting role as Vice President of Education. He retired from post-secondary in 2000.

Since retiring from OUC, Dickinson has followed his interest in continuing education by serving as President of the Society for Learning in Retirement, a 700-member organization providing educational programs for seniors in the Central Okanagan.

More recently he has served as a member of the Okanagan College Regional Advisory Committee since it was formed in 2006 and was elected as Chair in 2008, a position he continues to hold. He is currently also a community representative on the Okanagan College Research Ethics Board.

DICKINSON DISTINGUISHES HIMSELFWITH TRACK RECORD OF SERVICE

Dr. Gary Dickinson, Distinguished Service Award recipient, 2011

ALUMNI HONOUREDFOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND SLAMS

The year 2011 presented a golden opportunity for the Okanagan College Alumni Association (OCAA) to celebrate two of its most recognized members.

Though their ascent to roles of national and international recognition took them on divergent paths, both George Abbott and Shane Koyczan shared the honour of receiving awards at a celebration of their distinguished careers and achievements in October.

The Honourable George Abbott, Minister of Education and MLA for the Shuswap, received the OCAA’s Distinguished Alumni award in recognition of his commitment to education and public service. Famed slam-poet Shane Koyczan was honoured with the association’s Young Alumni award, which recognizes the achievements of an Okanagan College graduate under the age of 35.

Abbott has a long history with Okanagan College, first as a student during 1971 where he took general studies, then later as a professor of political science at the Salmon Arm campus in 1989.

After initiating his studies at Okanagan College, Abbott went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of British Columbia and then a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Victoria.

He was appointed Minister of Education in 2010. Previous ministerial responsibilities include roles as: Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Minister of Health, Minister of Sustainable Resource Management, Minister of Community, and Minister of Aboriginal and Women’s Services.

Penticton’s own Shane Koyczan is well known for his performance at the opening of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics when he shared his poem for Canada, We Are More, in front of millions of viewers.

Koyczan attended Okanagan College’s Penticton campus in 1998, where he took courses in the Associate of Arts degree program and excelled in creative writing. He moved to Vancouver the following year and immersed himself in the world of slam poetry where he quickly made a name for himself and attracted a dedicated following.

He won the US Slam Poetry Championship and Canadian Spoken Word Olympics; he has been featured on BRAVO television, and NPR, BBC, CBC, and ABC (Australia) radio. His first published collection, Visiting Hours, was the only work of poetry selected by both the Guardian and the Globe and Mail for their Best Books of the Year lists. Koyczan has a new novel in verse, Stickboy, which focuses on issues of bullying.

Board of Governors Chair Lance Kayfish (centre) helped celebrate the achievement of the Hon. George Abbott (left) and Shayne Koyczan - both of whom were honoured by the OCAA in 2011.

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Community efforts to explore the possibility of relocating the existing Okanagan College campus to the downtown core of Salmon Arm picked up steam in 2011 beginning with a survey and ending with a promise for the future.

“We recognize this initiative needs to be community-led and this past year of work has confirmed strong community support for the project,” said Lana Fitt, manager of the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society, which is overseeing the proposal with support from the City of Salmon Arm, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District and Okanagan College.

The four organizations showed their commitment to explore their options in November when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the next steps needed to develop a downtown campus by 2020. The aim is to create a proposal with strong partnerships with community groups, all while stimulating economic growth for the region.

“We are working towards a financially sustainable model that includes multi-use, shared infrastructure, supporting numerous community organizations,” Fitt said.

Clues as to what the campus might look like emerged through consultation with business groups, community organizations, and residents through several open houses and forums, plus a survey completed by nearly 600 people in the region. Among the top priorities: enhanced programs in agriculture, health and trades, plus a strong showing in the performing arts.

“This concept is really about meeting the immediate needs of the community,” said Regional Dean Jim Barmby, who sits on the DCC committee. “This initiative is driven by the community to better serve the Shuswap’s economic, social and educational needs. The College’s mission is to transform lives and communities, and in this case, the region is proposing how it could be transformed for the better.”

Bill Laird, chair of the DCC committee, said the project represents “an exceptional opportunity to not only transform the lives of students, but also contribute to improving the economic, culture and social well-being of our region.”

Fitt said the aim is to spend 2012 working on a business plan to be presented to the Board of Governors by year-end.

SALMON ARM COMMUNITYEMBRACES NEW VISION

Several partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the concept of a downtown campus in Salmon Arm.

Left to right, back row – Lynda Wilson (member at large, DCC Committee), Bill Laird (Chairperson, DCC Committee), Jim Barmby (Regional Dean of Shuswap Revelstoke, Okanagan College)Front row – Ron Oszust (former Board Chair, Columbia Shuswap Regional District) Jim Hamilton (President, Okanagan College) Kevin Flynn (Acting Mayor, City of Salmon Arm) and Michael Wagner (Chair, Salmon Arm Economic Development Society).

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Grants

Other

Contract Services

AncillarySales

Tuition

Capital Assets

Other Assets

Cash &Investments

Balance Sheet Summary As at March 31, 2011

REVENUE

ASSETSAssets:

Capital Assets Cash & Investments Other Assets

Liabilities:

Long Term Debt Accrued Payroll Benefits Accrued Liabilities & Other Deferred Contributions

Net

Represented by:

Unrestricted Surplus Restricted Surplus Investment in Capital Assets Unfunded Accrued Payroll Benefits

92.4 24.5 4.0

120.9

5.9 12.1

16.676.2

110.8

$ 10.1

8.73.3

10.2 (12.1)

$ 10.1

Income Statement Summary Year ended March 31, 2011

Revenue sources:

Grants Tuition Contract Services Ancillary Sales Other

How they were used:

Salaries & Benefits Supplies & Services Capital & Reserve

55.620.9

7.3 5.7 4.2

$ 93.7

63.524.2

6.0

$ 93.7

59.3%22.3%7.8%6.1%4.5%

100%

67.8%25.8%6.4%

100%

$ %

$ $

$

March 31, 2010

55.219.9

6.0 5.7 4.1

$ 90.9

61.124.9

4.9

$ 90.9

74.0 26.8 2.9

103.7

6.1 11.7

12.464.7

94.9

$ 8.8

10.27.23.1

(11.7)

$ 8.8

THE FINANCIAL YEAR IN REVIEW

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Okanagan College Board of Governors 2010-11

Lance Kayfish, Chair Tom Styffe, Vice Chair Phillip Bourbeau (term ended Sept. 2011)Michael ConlinBill CookeJacek Gabanowicz (term ended Nov. 2011)Rick Gee (Ex officio)Jim Hamilton (Ex officio)Brian HughesDoug ManningSunddip NahalAndrew Nelson (term ended Nov. 2010)Yvonne PinderLianne RozniakLoretta Swite-Ghostkeeper

Okanagan College Education Council

Rick Gee, Chair Michelle Nicholson, Vice Chair Ardeth AndersonJessica CallinSandra FriesenJim Hamilton (Non-voting member)Andrew HayRobert HuxtableTerry KosowickMelissa KuseCharlotte KushnerAlf LeimertLeanne MallorySiri MarkenKaren MatthewsAnn Marie McKinnonJane Muskens (Non-voting member)Sunddip Nahal (Non-voting member)Heather SchneiderSheilagh SeatonDamian WeirInga Wheeler

THE FINANCIAL YEAR IN REVIEW THE GOVERNING BODIESOF OKANAGAN COLLEGE

Okanagan Collegewww.okanagan.bc.ca