Community Report 2010

Langara College

Envision the Future Community Report 2009

Langara College Library/Classroom Building Designed to LEED Gold Standard Committed to Sustainability www.langara.bc.ca

1

Envision the Future

President’s Message Langara College has a reputation for quality education that is accessible to the communities we serve. Our learners go on to fulfilling careers and are wellpositioned for lifelong learning opportunities. More learners than ever are taking advantage of what Langara has to offer. This is reflected in our increasing enrolments, including record numbers in 2009.

This report highlights some of the achievements of the college community over the past year.

Award-winning graduates, outstanding faculty and staff, new programming, successful alumni, and accomplished varsity teams are all part of the Langara experience.

Over the past year, the Langara community also took part in an extensive strategic planning process to establish priorities for the next phase of College development. To achieve our vision of being the leading undergraduate college in the province, Langara needs to focus on three key areas: 1. Continue to create learning opportunities for learners that prepare them for meaningful careers, future Dr. David Ross President Langara College

education, and active citizenship in our communities and beyond.

2. Grow our facilities, people, and resource base, which are fundamental to better serve the ever expanding Langara community.

3. Build on our regional reputation nationally and beyond with the goal of supporting our graduates and attracting the resources to advance the college’s vision and supporting our strategic priorities.

Thank you for your support in 2009 and we look forward to serving our communities in 2010 and the years to come.

2

Community Report 2009

Table of Contents

2

President’s Message

4

College Board of Governors

5

Chair’s Message

7

Envision the Future

8

The New Driving Force

10

More Accessible Than Ever

11

Thinking Green - For the Long Haul

12

Dedicated to Our Community

14

An Olympic Alpine Contributor

16

Buildings for the Future

19

Education for Our Future

20

Expanding by Degrees

22

Continuing Education

23

International Education

24

Pushing Our Limits

27

Alumni Success

30

Being Global Citizens

32

Supporting Our Dreams

34

The Bottom Line

www.langara.bc.ca

3

Envision the Future

College Board of Governors as of October, 2009

4

Community Report 2009

David Chiang

Ross Clark

Laura Cullen

Sarj Dhaliwal

Board Chair General Manager and Director ACL Services Ltd.

Partner Davis LLP

Division Chair Business and Community Programs, Chair Education Council Langara College

Chief Financial Officer Celayix Software

Dennis Dineen

Bruce Falstead

Craig Hemer

Anne Lippert

Board Vice Chair Vice President Commercial Mortgages Peoples Trust

Manager Aboriginal Relations Terasen Gas Inc.

Partner Odgers Berndston

Vice President Lippert Investments Ltd.

Megahn McCarthy

Brian McGibney

Claude Painter

David Ross

Principal Dr. George M. Weir Elementary School

Workshop Coordinator Fine Arts Department Langara College

Instructor Early Childhood Education Langara College

President and CEO Langara College

Colin Smith

Lee Van Wagoner

Arts and Science Student Langara College

Arts and Science Student Langara College

Chair’s Message In the past year, the college community welcomed Dr. David Ross as President and CEO. Dr. Ross has already made many important changes that have renewed the college’s mandate and strengthened its reputation in the community.

We are committed to growing this success.

The Board of Governors, in collaboration with the Executive team and the wider college community, developed a strategic vision which focused on the Langara student experience, the quality of Langara’s people and culture, and Langara’s strong reputation as a provider of exceptional education.

Langara College is widely acknowledged for its robust programs that address labour market needs. These programs are ably delivered by faculty and dedicated support staff. As a result, the College continues to experience record student enrolment.

Fortunately, an infrastructure program has brought much needed capacity. The opening of a new Students’ Union Building provides Langara students with common space and the retrofit of ‘C’ Building provides state of the art classrooms, multi-purpose meeting space, computer labs, and offices.

David Chiang Chair, Board of Governors Langara College

We appreciated the support of our neighbours during the construction of these buildings. On behalf of the Board, I invite the community to visit our campus and see for yourself the great work that is being done each and every day.

www.langara.bc.ca

5

6

Community Report 2009

Envision the Future Langara College is known for quality education and progressive programming that adapts to the changing needs of the communities we serve. We are globally connected through our partnerships and student involvement. It is this history that firmly places us as one of BC’s leading post-secondary institutions.

In 2009, Langara College strengthened our commitment to our community by welcoming a new President, appointing our first Vice-President Academic & Provost, and implementing a new five-year strategic plan.

We are excited by the new opportunities and are eager to see how these transformative initiatives will shape our future.

www.langara.bc.ca

7

Envision the Future

The New Driving Force Welcoming a new president David Ross became Langara College’s second president replacing Linda Holmes, who served as College president for the last 14 years. He was installed at a ceremony held in June 2009.

“I am truly honoured to join Langara College as president and look forward to the continued and future success and development of the College in its mission to serve learners as they embark on their personal and post-secondary educational goals,” said Ross.

“Langara College, as a provider of a wide variety of education opportunities sits at a point in the education continuum where demand is increasing and the transformative experience we offer is even more critical for learners seeking meaningful first steps.”

Ross hopes to further consolidate Langara College’s reputation as the premiere undergraduate college in the region and expand its offerings of four-year baccalaureate programs.

Prior to Langara College, Ross was the VicePresident of Administration and Student Services at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Nebraska; a Master of Aquaculture from Simon Fraser University; a Master of Business Administration; and a Bachelor of Science from Dalhousie University.

Strategic Plan In 2009, Langara College developed a new fiveyear strategic plan to set a clear vision and goals for the coming years. The process began with an evaluation of the existing landscape, identifying new opportunities, and receiving feedback from the College community.

“Langara College begins the next phase of its ongoing development in a very strong position. A reputation for excellence and quality education, a global reach in terms of partnerships and student involvement, programming that continues to adapt to the changing needs of the communities we serve and a history that places us as a leading postsecondary institution in the region,” said Ross.

The final Strategic Planning document was presented to the College Board on June 25, 2009. For more information please visit the College website at www.langara.bc.ca.

8

Community Report 2009

From Left to Right: David Chiang, David Ross, Martin Gerson

First Vice President Academic & Provost Appointed In September 2009, Dr. Martin Gerson became Langara College’s first Vice President Academic & Provost. Gerson is now responsible for creating and implementing a new academic management structure for the delivery of regular studies programs and courses.

Gerson will work with the internal College community through the transition to the new structure. His role will also include program development, forming academic partnerships, and connecting with the community and other institutions to help facilitate easier transitions for students into their career or from one institution to another.

“The President and the College believe that forming linkages with community organizations and other institutions to help students on their educational or career path will help to make Langara College’s students and our programs more successful,” said Gerson. “The President recognizes that it is important for our organization to put resources into the management of our academic operations in order to strengthen our program development capabilities and facilitate community outreach.”

www.langara.bc.ca

9

Envision the Future

More Accessible Than Ever In Fall 2009, Langara College welcomed a new addition to the neighbourhood—the Canada Line SkyTrain route.

Accessible via the Langara - 49th Avenue Station, located two blocks west of the main campus, the route connects the College with downtown Vancouver in as little as 13 minutes and Richmond Centre in 12 minutes. It also makes traveling between Langara College’s four learning centres (all located along the Cambie Street & No. 3 Road transportation corridor) easier than ever.

Langara College students can take full advantage of the new route, as the College is part of the Vancity U-pass Program. The pass gives students unlimited access to TransLink bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus services as well as discounted fares on the West Coast Express.

Social Media To better connect with current, past, and future students and employees, Langara College has joined the social media sites Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Over the summer, we worked tirelessly to build our social media presence. We are now connected with over 3,300 Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and YouTube subscribers.

Our social media presence has allowed us to connect directly with our community, share information about news and events, answer questions in real-time about the College, and be a part of the ongoing online dialogue. We are looking forward to increasing our online presence further in the future.

10

Community Report 2009

Thinking Green - For the Long Haul At Langara College, we are committed to leading initiatives and positively contributing to a sustainable society. We understand that the world’s resources are finite and need to be used conservatively and wisely.

Our choices, both big and small, have an impact on our world and on future generations. So, from the construction of our new buildings to the napkins we use in our cafeteria, we are constantly looking for ways to lighten our ecological footprint. Here are some of the ways we are taking action:

Sustainable Construction Langara College is committed to sustainable construction. All of our new buildings on campus, including the Library/Classroom Building, ‘C’ Building, and the Students’ Union Building boast special green features and are built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold standards. LEED is a certification based on the Canadian Green Building Council’s performance standards for environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.

We Practice The 3 R’s There are a variety of ways that the College recycles, reuses, and reduces: •• The cafeteria offers biodegradable consumer food packaging, plates, and utensils made from compostable materials like sugarcane, cornstarch, and bamboo •• There are easily accessible recycling containers available for paper, cans, and bottles throughout the College. All monies collected from our bottle-recycling program are put back into student bursaries •• For over 10 years, Langara College has maintained an on-site worm compost

Energy Management This summer, Langara College hired an energy manager through the BC Hydro energy manager program to carry out its mandate to become more energy efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Communicating Sustainability The College is also working on Langara Thinks Green, a website devoted to sustainability at Langara College. The website will feature the College’s sustainability initiatives to date as well tips and details on future plans and resources.

For more information please visit the College website at www.langara.bc.ca.

www.langara.bc.ca

11

Envision the Future

Dedicated to Our Community At Langara College, we deeply value our community connections. We work tirelessly to create opportunities with the community at large to foster open dialogue, provide service, and encourage engagement.

Langara College Centre for Art in Public Spaces The Langara College Centre for Art in Public Spaces encourages dialogue among students, professional artists, and the community at large, and engages the community in the research, production, and presentation of art in the public realm. We facilitate the generation of creative projects through an Artistin-Residence program, and events and public dialogue through a guest speaker lecture series.

Fine Arts Lecture Series Langara College Fine Arts Lecture series works to connect professional artists with students and those with an interest in art. The series brings artists out of their studios and creates opportunities for the public to meet practicing artists and hear about their projects and experiences.

12

Community Report 2009

“…the playroom was filled with the smiles and laughter of the children who were entertained and educated by the very amusing play and its engaging actors.

We are very grateful to the troupe for coming and performing for the children at the hospital: it not only provides a welcome break from their regular routines, but it always helps to brighten their spirits.

Thank you for sharing your time and amazing talent with the patients at BC Children’s Hospital”.

Excerpt from an attendee’s letter to Diane Hart, Director, Child Life Department of the BC Children’s Hospital, after a Studio 58 student performance on July 28, 2009.

Studio 58 Studio 58, Langara College’s professional theatre training program, offers four full-length and two indie-style professional quality productions annually. Here are some plays that Studio 58 put on last year: Lot’s Wife, Jocasta, Bye Bye Birdie, The Merchant of Venice, and Tuesdays with Morrie.

The public is invited to attend.

Langara Community Lecture Series For over 20 years, current and retired Langara College instructors, supported through generous audience donations, have offered free lectures on a wide range of topics, including art, photography, and gender issues, to the community at large.

United Way Campaign The Langara College community comes together every year to fundraise for those most in need. From pancake breakfasts to hot dog sales, the campaign has many events to help raise money.

This year’s campaign has raised over $23,000 (and still counting!).

Forums Langara College has worked to bring attention to gang violence and violence against women in the South Asian community. We organize and host several forums a year to keep the topic top of mind in the public eye.

BC College and Institute Library Services (CILS) Langara College strives to remove barriers for students with disabilities. Through CILS, we provide resources in alternate formats to be used with adaptive technology for students with disabilities across BC’s post-secondary institutions. We partner with other agencies provincially, nationally, and internationally to share resources and provide services to students and instructors, reducing costs, and improving access time for these materials.

www.langara.bc.ca

13

Envision the Future An Olympic Alpine Contributor Langara College is proud to be a community contributor to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Langara is supporting the events by hosting a transportation hub for Whistler Creekside events like skiing.

Volunteers and spectators alike will be able to park on campus, catch a bus to Whistler, and enjoy the games.

Photo Credit: Rick Etkin. All rights reserved

To accommodate the games, the College will be suspending all classes. However, campus facilities will remain open and accessible to students, staff, and the community at large.

14

Community Report 2009

www.langara.bc.ca

15

Envision the Future

Buildings for the Future Langara College is excited to announce the opening of two buildings at its main campus on 49th Avenue - the renovated ‘C’ Building (formerly the Library) and new Students’ Union Building.

The design and construction of the buildings mark the next phase in the ongoing transformation of Langara College into a sustainable campus.

Both buildings opened for full student use on September 8, 2009, adding 6,771 square meters of space. The official opening was held on November 20, 2009.

‘C’ Building features include:

•• Complete voluntary seismic upgrade of ‘C’ Building to extend building lifespan and improve employee and student safety •• Geo-exchange Energy Transfer System, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy •• Low VOC paint with reduced levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) •• Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) Reflective Roof to reflect the sun’s energy and

•• Six new state-of-the-art classrooms

significantly reduce the

•• 80-seat multi-purpose room

building’s cooling costs

•• Two meeting rooms and a board room •• Three computer labs •• Bookstore •• Education Technology Centre, Math/Stats Activity Centre, and Writing Centre •• Faculty and executive offices

Students’ Union Building features include: •• Dave Pearson Native Student Centre •• Duke’s Coffee •• Langara Grill Restaurant •• Student lounge •• Langara Students’ Union offices

16

Environmental features:

Community Report 2009

•• High performance cladding and windows systems •• Water usage control on all taps, toilets, and urinals

www.langara.bc.ca

17

Envision the Future

18

Community Report 2009

Education for Our Future To meet the changing needs of our community, Langara College continuously evaluates existing programs and develops new curriculum to reflect current industry demands.

University Studies

Health Sciences- NEW

Langara is BC’s leading university transfer college, transferring more students to UBC than any other college in the province. With courses in over 60 subject areas, we provide the most comprehensive Arts and Science university transfer programs of any college in the region.

An interdisciplinary approach to health, illness, and disease in human communities. It builds upon the basic sciences but also draws from research-oriented fields. Students may transfer to third-year studies in SFU’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

Recreation Management - NEW This program is designed to meet the needs of those with a diploma in recreation who wish to upgrade their education and skill set and further their career.

Career Studies Langara has over 30 career programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, certificates, and/or citations.

All of our career programs are developed in cooperation with community-based advisory committees, and combine a strong academic core with market-ready skills.

Design Formation Formerly Display+Design, this program has been redeveloped to merge design and disciplines of spatial formation and communication design. The program bridges architecture and industrial, interior, and graphic design.

www.langara.bc.ca

19

Envision the Future

Expanding by Degrees Bachelor’s degrees are becoming standard requirements for employment and advancement.

Langara College is excited to be able to meet this growing demand with a number of innovative degree programs.

Taught with academic rigor comparable to any university, programs are designed to give students hands-on practical experience in their chosen field. Our goal is for graduates to enter the professional workforce seamlessly with the skills, knowledge, and ability to succeed.

We are looking forward to expanding our baccalaureate programs in the future.

Business Administration Langara College offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in four areas of concentration: accounting, business management, international business management, and marketing.

The program is current, hands-on, student-centered, designed with flexibility in mind, and has a solid foundation of theory and practical knowledge. It may be taken full- or part-time, in-class, on weekends or in the evenings, and online.

20

Community Report 2009

Nursing

Recreation Management

Langara College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing delivers a collaborative curriculum that equips students with the broad base of knowledge and skills necessary to provide nursing care in an increasingly complex health care system. The program is designed to educate nurses to work with individuals, families, and communities from a caring and healthpromotion perspective. It emphasizes student and faculty interactions as well as individual learning processes. Small group work and discussions are used to enhance student involvement and participation.

Langara College’s new Recreation Management Program was developed to address the needs of recreation diploma graduates who wish to further their education and advance their career.

The program offers a strong combination of recreation and business courses that deepen understanding of philosophy, environment, and leadership in recreational settings as well as business knowledge and tools such as financial management, marketing, and human resources. The program may be taken online on a full- or part-time basis.

Mike Lee US Third Party Marketing Manager for Xbox Business Administration 2008

www.langara.bc.ca

21

Envision the Future

Continuing Education Since 1997, Langara College Continuing Studies has developed and expanded programs and courses to meet the changing needs of our community. All of our offerings are developed in consultation with partnership agencies and industry leaders to keep the curriculum relevant and current. The management team, program coordinators, and instructors balance a cutting-edge spirit with a concern for educational quality and continuous improvement.

Whether the objective is to improve business skills, enhance a career path, expand individual creativity, or develop a more holistic approach to personal well-being, Continuing Studies offers more than 700 courses and 35 certificate programs designed with the needs of the student in mind.

22

Community Report 2009

This year we introduced four new areas of study:

Advanced Typography The Advanced Typography certificate program is for design graduates wishing to further their education and for professionals looking to strengthen their typographic skills.

Communication & Ideation The Communication and Ideation Program is for designers of all levels. It explores advanced strategies through courses such as Ideation, Human Factors, Design for Sustainability, and Visible Language.

Yoga Teacher Training The program provides multi-disciplinary training in classical and contemporary yogic practices. Rooted in Raj/Hatha Yoga, students gain the knowledge and skills to effectively teach yoga to diverse groups.

Art of Camera & Lighting The program is designed for students with basic video and/or film experience who are looking to upgrade their skills to a professional level.

The program teaches both technical and creative aspects of camera work and lighting.

International Education This year, Langara College welcomed over 1,000 international students from nearly 50 countries, an increase of approximately 10% over last year. We have a strong Homestay program and to ensure student success, we have developed several initiatives to maximize the student experience.

ESL Programs Langara offers two ESL programs focused on moving students into university-level classes in the shortest possible time: Skills Training for English Proficiency (STEP) is a full-time, intensive, lower-level English language program focusing on the environment and culture. Students develop their English language skills while expanding their knowledge of Vancouver, Canada, and the world.

Langara English for Academic Purposes (LEAP) is an intensive full-time English program designed to prepare international and Canadian students for full-time study at English language universities and colleges.

University Quality Assurance (UQA) To access Canada’s top universities, students must show high academic performance and English language ability. The UQA program was developed to assist international students, who may not meet the criteria for direct entry, gain access to a Canadian university. Through the program, students complete two years of study at Langara College and acclimate to Canadian culture before transitioning to one of our partner institutions.

Langara PLUS To be competitive both academically and professionally, students need more than a high Grade Point Average (GPA). The Langara PLUS program offers students the opportunity to gain additional experiences, skills, and knowledge by participating in a variety of workshops and events. A ‘Statement of Achievement’ is awarded upon completion of the program.

Field Schools In addition to offering a Canadian experience to international students, Langara College provides international learning opportunities to Canadianbased students. We offer a wide range of field study options ranging from art history tours of Europe to ecological studies in Southeast Asia. Our international programs combine academic studies with the experience and excitement of travel.

www.langara.bc.ca

23

Envision the Future

Pushing Our Limits Athletics

Outstanding Athlete

This past year, Langara College was the runnerup for the Overall CCAA Sport Supremacy Award for their athletic achievements between the years of 1974 and 1999. In addition, City of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson recognized the athletic prowess of our women’s soccer team by proclaiming February 3rd “Langara Falcons Women’s Soccer Day”.

Langara Falcons’ goalkeeper, Loren Lidin was named the national player of the year by the CCAA for her outstanding contribution to women’s soccer. Lidin helped the Falcons’ to their fourth league title in five years and led the BCCAA this season with a goals against average of 0.59 and four shut outs.

The Langara Falcons compete in men’s and women’s badminton, basketball, and soccer. We are one of the top college athletic programs in Canada and are longstanding members of the British Columbia Colleges’ Athletic Association (BCCAA) and the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA).

Over the last three decades, the Falcons have amassed an impressive number of achievements including: •• 159 Provincial Championship Titles •• 18 Provincial Aggregate Trophies •• 22 National Championship Titles •• 69 CCAA All-Canadian Awards •• 24 CCAA Academic All-Canadian Awards

Langara College’s intercollegiate athletic program has a long tradition of athletic success.

24

Community Report 2009

“To say that the athletics program [at Langara] is proud of Loren would be a huge understatement,” said Langara College’s Director of Athletics and Intramurals Clayton Munro. “It is certainly a first for a Langara goalkeeper and I think that speaks volumes of her as a student-athlete.”

It has been a stellar year for Lidin. She was also named BCCAA athlete of the week, BCCAA first-team all-star, CCAA athlete of the month for October as well as BCCAA player of the year.

Lidin is the third player in Langara College women’s soccer history to be honoured as national player of the year.

Loren Lidin Bachelor of Business Administration student

www.langara.bc.ca

25

Envision the Future

Adam Frost Coach, Canadian National Wheelchair Rugby Team Recreation Leadership 2006

26

Community Report 2009

Alumni Success Wheeling to Victory Adam Frost is passionate about wheelchair rugby and this passion has led to him to become the coach of the Canadian National Wheelchair Rugby Team - a full contact sport, combining elements of basketball, handball, and ice hockey.

Frost started as a player but discovered his true calling while volunteering as a coach with BC Wheelchair Sports. To prepare him for this leadership role, he chose Langara College’s Recreation Leadership Program.

Since graduation, Frost has been working with the Canadian national team.

In 2008, the team won the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. They are currently training for the 2010 World Championships.

www.langara.bc.ca

27

Envision the Future

Community Building Altaz Jamal is a Business Administration (BBA) Program pioneer. While he was a student at the College, he recognized a need for BBA students to connect with their peers and establish career networks to support their future success. In 2008 he turned his ideas into action and helped found the Langara Business Association (LBA).

Under Jamal’s leadership, the LBA grew from a 28-member club into a vibrant organization representing over 300 student voices. Their mission is to provide mentorship to new business students, create career opportunities for third and fourth year students, facilitate the development of career networks, and promote the strength and talents of their members to the world.

Since graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2009, Jamal has become the Marketing Director at Simply Computing.

Altaz “Taz� Jamal Marketing Director, Simply Computing Business Administration 2009

28

Community Report 2009

Academic Excellence Anja Lanz recently received the 2009 Faculty of Science Student Achievement Award from UBC for her academic excellence. She credits her success to the solid education she received while at Langara College.

“I relied on my solid math and physics training obtained at Langara to get me through the intense courses,” said Lanz. “I really noticed that some other students were not as prepared for physics and math material as I was, which showed me that Langara’s curriculum was welldesigned and topics were well-chosen.”

During her time at the College, Lanz shared her skills with fellow students by working as a peer tutor in the Math & Statistics Activity Centre and with the Physics Department.

Anja Lanz UBC Undergraduate Langara College Engineering Transfer 2003

On Top of the World Jeff Renaud is the food service supervisor at Canadian Forces Station Alert on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island, between Greenland and the North Pole.

After 30 years of working in healthcare as a cook, Renaud had reached a career plateau. He needed to upgrade his education to move forward in his career. To accomplish this, he took a two-year sabbatical from work and travelled the world while completing Langara College’s online Nutrition & Food Services Management Program.

Jeff Renaud Food Service Supervisor, Canadian Armed Forces Nutrition & Food Services Management 2007

“I would have been overlooked for this position were it not for Langara’s Nutrition & Food Services Management Program. The focus on management skills, rather than the nutrition aspect, is what got me here,” said Renaud. “It’s exactly what I’d been wanting.”

Renaud finds the position challenging, hands-on, and requiring the use of the administration and organizational skills he learned in the program.

www.langara.bc.ca

29

Envision the Future Being Global Citizens Langara College encourages global citizenship. We fund projects, develop curriculum, and encourage students to do individual projects. Our students have shown themselves to be extraordinary world citizens promoting awareness and reaching out to others on global issues such as sustainability, poverty, education, and equality.

Joshua Hergesheimer

Kirsty Matthews

In June 2009, Langara College Journalism graduate Hergesheimer travelled to Ethiopia as part of a joint scholarship by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and Langara College Journalism department. Hergesheimer wanted to strengthen the Canadian public’s understanding of international development issues and Canadian contributions in the field by investigating clean drinking water accessibility and its effect on Ethiopians.

He discovered that up to 75% of the Ethiopian population did not have access to clean water. His story, featured in the September 19, 2009 issue of The Vancouver Sun, highlighted Canadian initiatives that are helping to bring clean spring water to the villages of Ethiopia.

Kirsty Matthews, a graduate of Langara College’s Digital Film Production program, was one of five individuals recently selected to be a United Nations Citizen Ambassador. As a Citizen Ambassador, she will act as an international advocate for positive change.

“We have an obligation, as citizens of the world, to protect our environment and our natural resources and to speak out against injustice. It means fostering a global consciousness that is defined by a fundamental concern for human rights and human dignity.”

Matthews is currently working on a documentary about South Africa and the effect globalization has had on the country since the end of apartheid. She is also working on a film about the protests surrounding the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, emphasizing the marginalization of the people in the downtown eastside.

“I grew up in apartheid South Africa, and as a little girl I went to a white-only school. I was 12-years old when the first black girl was allowed to come to our school and my classmates teased her relentlessly. I was so appalled that people I knew, people I was friends with, could act this way, so I started a group aimed at helping black kids integrate into previously white-only schools, the cause took up a momentum of its own and before we knew it we were attending peace rallies and speaking conventions. It really opened my eyes as to what can be achieved when you’re willing to speak up for somebody else.” ~ Kirsty Matthews

30

Community Report 2009

Daniel Budgell General Biology 2005

Daniel Budgell Langara College general biology graduate Daniel Budgell is the founder of the non-governmental aid organization Global Peace Network (GPN). He established the charity in response to his experiences working in Mwanza, Tanzania as part of Langara College’s Rural Health Training project to develop communitylevel training modules in water quality and health.

To date, GPN has touched thousands of lives though its work in education, disease prevention, and environmental conservation projects. Their commitment to the region continues as funding has recently been secured to build a small orphanage, community centre, classroom, and dispensary in partnership with local Tanzanian association.

For his local and global community efforts, Budgell was awarded the Langara College’s 2009 Outstanding Alumni Award for Community Service Achievement.

www.langara.bc.ca

31

Envision the Future

Supporting Our Dreams Langara College appreciates all the support we receive from our community.

Big and small – through bequests, donations, scholarships, and bursaries – our donors are instrumental in helping us create a supportive environment for students to excel. Your gifts allow us to provide financial assistance to students in need, reward academic excellence, enhance programming, improve facilities, and expand academic resources.

With your assistance, we will continue our mission to create new opportunities for our students. Langara College remains committed to providing accessible education that meets the needs of our diverse community.

From Left to Right: Johnstone Metzger, Simma Holt, Don Allen

32

Community Report 2009

The Department of College Advancement works with community volunteers and college employees to support and enhance the student experience by: •• establishing new scholarships to recognize academic excellence •• creating new bursaries to assist students in financial need •• developing capital fundraising proposals for specific college projects to support academic programs and services (i.e. computer labs, library books, academic resources) •• coordinating and supporting annual fundraising campaigns for internal departments •• generating gifts, donations, bequests, and funds in support of programs and activities •• identifying and cultivating business alliances and community partnerships to expand learning opportunities •• overseeing the recognition and stewardship of existing donors

Johnstone Metzger Classical Studies Student

In March 2009, Johnstone Metzger received three scholarships for academic excellence.

Inspired by Wayne Gretzky, who achieved so many assists in his career, Metzger felt an obligation to share his good fortune and help others “score their goals.” He donated his scholarship monies to help financially struggling students participate in the Greek Field School Program.

The program offers students the opportunity to learn about Greek culture, landscape, and history first-hand by travelling to Greece and earn academic credits. “For classical studies,” said Metzger, “it is important for students to experience the sites and architecture in person to have a real sense of history.”

The participants of the field school will not discover who provided the bursary until the last day of the trip.

Simma Holt Journalist

Journalism is Simma Holt’s greatest passion and she holds the Langara College Journalism Program and its past department chair, Rob Dykstra, in high regard. To share her passion with generations to come, she has endowed the Leon and Simma Holt Arts and Science scholarship. The scholarship recognizes outstanding academic achievement by a student enrolled in the Arts and Science Program.

Holt is a pioneer in Canadian Journalism and has paved the way for women in the industry. She has worked as an investigative reporter, feature writer, columnist, editor, and novelist. She has written four successful books and received many awards, including the Alumni Jubilee Award for Distinguished Achievement by the University of Manitoba.

She continues to freelance, saying, “I must write; nothing else interests me now.”

Don Allen Psychology Instructor, Langara College

Don Allen gifted Langara College with two scholarships/ bursaries. The Rajean C. Salmon Scholarship, in memory of his aunt, will be awarded to a Design Formation student who best demonstrates the highest level of creativity, commitment, and determination to succeed. In memory of his parents, he created the Donald B. & Dorothy C. Allen Bursary for any student who demonstrates academic potential and financial hardship.

“I feel an obligation to help those who haven’t been as fortunate as I have through hard work, wise investments and lots of luck,” explained Allen.

Allen has been with the Langara College Psychology Department for 19 years. He will be retiring at the end of the year to sail Desolation Sound in the summers and enjoy winters in Palm Springs. He plans to keep tutoring and further his studies in Behavioral Economics.

To obtain more information on how you can support Langara College, please contact collegeadvancement@langara.bc.ca

www.langara.bc.ca

33

Envision the Future

The Bottom Line Source of Funds 46%

Ministry Grant $42,027,000

16%

Tuition $14,456,000

8%

International Education Tuition $6,995,000

11%

Continuing Education Fees $9,820,000

16%

Contracts/Ancillary/Capital $14,236,000

4%

Other $3,590,000

100%

Total $91,124,000

Use of Funds 58%

Instruction $53,098,000

5%

Student Support $4,584,000

5%

Administration $4,893,000

7%

Logistics & Facilities $6,722,000

16%

Contracts/Ancillary/Capital $14,169,000

6%

Capital Reserve $5,512,000

2%

Other $2,146,000

100%

34

Community Report 2009

Total $91,124,000

www.langara.bc.ca

35

Envision the Future

™ © 2004, VANOC. Used under License.

100 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver B.C. Canada V5Y 2Z6 tel 604.323.5686 fax 604.323.5555 email geninfo@langara.bc.ca Copyright © 2009 Langara College Edited, designed, and produced by Langara College Communications and Marketing Services (CMS)

36

Community Report 2009

Front Cover Photo Credit: Shai Gill

www.langara.bc.ca