2022 year in review
Stats in 2022
Okanagan College...
Welcomed 17,000 students from all corners of the region, province and globe, including 1,670 students who are Indigenous Was B.C.’s second largest institution providing skilled trades training after BCIT, and the largest outside of the Lower Mainland
Appreciated our 50,000+ alumni whose skills and talents power our local, regional and provincial economy and beyond
Strengthened connections with industry through 28 program advisory committees region-wide and collaboration with more than 1,300 co-op employers
Highlights in 2022
This past year at OC…
94 percent of students this year said attending the College has been a positive experience
We launched the Inspire strategic plan, our roadmap to a bright, inclusive and sustainable future
We helped establish over 40 new apprenticeships in the Okanagan, through the Apprentice Hiring Project, which provides regional employers funding to hire first year apprentices in 39 red seal trades
We congratulated and celebrated over 2,000 job-ready graduates, each with the awesome potential to transform lives and communities
We disbursed more than $1 million to students in awards thanks to the generosity of donors
OKANAGAN COLLEGE
year in review
New Program Apprentice Hiring Project
Hiring and training first year apprentices in the skilled trades became easier and more affordable for regional employers thanks to a new OC initiative. In August, Okanagan College launched the Apprentice Hiring Project, made possible by $3 million in funding from the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service. That funding is supporting small and medium sized enterprises to hire first-year apprentices, helping the businesses offset costs that come with onboarding new skilled workers. To date, over 40 employers have joined the program in the Okanagan, with the opportunity for over 200 more to be added in 2023.
New Program Hospitality Professional Program
Like many industries, the hospitality and tourism sector has been hard hit by staff shortages. A new program designed in partnership by Okanagan College and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) is helping address this challenge. The first of four cohorts of students began their studies in the Hospitality Professional Program this fall and will be ready to join the workforce in just 17 weeks. This program is designed around flexible learning and can be completed by students online from anywhere in the Thompson-Okanagan-Shuswap regions.
New Program Vineyard Establishment and Sustainability Micro-Credential
In addition to grapes, vineyard operators grew their skills this year, with OC’s new microcredential devoted to planning, developing and maintaining vineyards. The micro-credential explored the fundamentals of “vine to wine” concept, focusing on canopy establishment, integrated pest management, irrigation and water technology – while learning cutting-edge sustainable practices within commercial vineyards. The program was offered online, providing students with an opportunity to learn at their own pace, in addition to Okanagan-based labs to give learners hands-on experiences.
Arts Accolades
OC English professor Hannah Calder and local filmmaker Curtis Emde hosted the popular Why We Write: Poets of Vernon event in April. The event showcased the thriving writing community in the North Okanagan community – poets who were born in Vernon, who have chosen to live their lives in the valley and the Syilx storytellers who have long been on this land. Poets, publishers and public also joined current students, professors and alumni in Vernon to mark the 15th anniversary of the Writing and Publishing Diploma at OC.
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year in review
Work-Integrated Learning
Okanagan College piloted tuitionfree Early Childhood Education (ECE) training with an innovative approach – providing students the opportunity to become certified during work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences as they provide education and care for young children. Funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training, the program welcomed students in September who will complete up to six work-integrated learning modules through the program. ECE-WIL provides options for studenteducators to complete the Okanagan College ECE Diploma in addition to the ECE Infant-Toddler Certificate, as well as apply for certification with ECE registry, while continuing to work in the field, where skilled workers are in high demand across the province.
Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Doing
OC’s new Inspire strategic plan carries a pledge: “We pledge to weave Indigenous world views into all aspects of College life as part of our journey toward reconciliation.” One of the most powerful celebrations of Indigenous knowledge and culture came in September, with OC’s 13th annual Youth Exhibition Powwow, which once again brought together hundreds of people – Elders, youth, community members, students and team members – to appreciate Indigenous dance, music, artwork and more.
The following week, the College gathered again across all campuses at a range of events to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. In Salmon Arm, this included a powerful panel discussion for students, staff and others to hear from local survivors of residential schools who shared their stories and perspectives.
Also in 2022, Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie gave a guest lecture in March at the OC Penticton campus on his new book Rez Rules: My Indictment of Canada’s and America’s Systemic Racism Against Indigenous People. The lecture, which was open to the public, was soldout and provided all attendees an opportunity to hear directly from Chief Louie as he shared stories, insights and truths.
Applied Research
OC was once again ‘RIPE for research’ in 2022. RIPE, the annual Research Innovation and Partnerships Expo returned to the Kelowna campus in May. This year’s theme was Imagining the Future, and keynote presenter Jesse Lipscombe spoke about the path to ensuring an inclusive future. Other presentations covered a range of topics, from podcasting and applied research innovation, supporting inclusive workplaces, microplastics in Okanagan Lake, engaging in education with young-adult cannabis consumers, and culturally responsive wellness initiatives through virtual reality. The event showcased just a snapshot of the diverse and dynamic portfolio of Applied Research projects underway and recently completed at OC. The burgeoning beverage industry has more quality assurance equipment at its disposal thanks to Okanagan College’s British Columbia Beverage Technology Access Centre (BC BTAC). The BC BTAC acquired a reverse osmosis (RO) system for use at its Penticton-based facility, in support of research and development among beverage manufacturers.
Student Success
Enactus Okanagan College represented Canada and shone on the global stage in November. After winning the national title earlier in the fall, the OC team presented their Unusually Good Food Co. social enterprise at the Enactus World Cup in Puerto Rico, finishing in the final four of 32 teams (out of more than 2,045 Enactus teams around the world!). Their project has made a positive impact to food insecurity – feeding thousands of people locally and internationally by rescuing “unwanted apples” – and has diverted 35,000 pounds of food waste.
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year in review
New student housing progressing, more childcare coming to Vernon
Construction is underway on the new student housing project in Kelowna, while preparations for construction continue in Vernon and Salmon Arm. When completed, the three projects will add a total of 375 accommodations for students across the region, bringing much-needed affordable housing.
In addition to addressing needs of students in Vernon, the housing project will include a new childcare centre, made possible in part by a $500,000 donation by long-time Vernon residents Lloyd Davies and his wife Janet Armstrong. Lloyd’s ties to OC are strong – although now retired, he worked for many years as an adult upgrading instructor at Okanagan College.
Advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice
Through the Inspire strategic plan, OC has committed to advancing the principles of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Justice (EDISJ) and to work towards being a leader in the implementation of fair, just, respectful and equitable practices throughout the College and in our local communities. Over the past year, the project group continued to build awareness across the college and established an EDISJ Ambassador group which now includes more than 65 employees and students. These groups continue to move forward this vital work in various ways all across OC, from our learning spaces to our digital spaces, and everywhere in between.
Celebrating Graduates
After a two-year hiatus, 2022 saw the return of in-person convocation and commencement ceremonies. All told, more than 2,000 graduates received credentials at eight ceremonies in 2022. Grads, families and OC team members were elated to see students cross the stage in person again! As Canadians prepared to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Okanagan College recognized Indigenous graduates in a new and special way. This year for the first time, Indigenous students who crossed the stage at convocation and commencement ceremonies received a specially designed convocation stole, embroidered with Syilx and Secwepemc pictographs.
2022 Honorary Fellows
Okanagan College bestowed its highest honour – that of Honorary Fellow - upon three notable residents in 2022, each of whom has made unique and meaningful contributions through education, public service, mentorship and philanthropy. Dennis Gabelhouse, Clifford Serwa and Howard Soon were invested as Honorary Fellows at OC’s convocation ceremonies in June and July.
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year in review
Collaboration fuels innovation
Okanagan College joined forces with Kanaka Bar Indian Band, SAIT, Foresight Canada and Seko Construction to provide innovative, resilient housing solutions and assist with the rebuild of the fire-ravaged Lytton area. OC Water Engineering Technology students and instructors poured their skills into a unique research project studying microplastics in Okanagan Lake with Okanagan Basin Water Board, Okanagan WaterWise, Okanagan Nation Alliance, Fresh Outlook Foundation, the Institute for Underwater Research and City of Kelowna. OC and UBC Okanagan, together with Wilden’s Blenk Development Corp., AuthenTech Homes and FortisBC, cut the ribbon on the Wilden Living Lab Phase 2 Home, a highly sustainable house built by OC Trades students and with input from the College’s Sustainable Building Technology program.
Alumni honoured
OC’s tens of thousands of alumni continue to make contributions to the social and economic fabric of our world, near and far. Among them is renowned Chef Rob Walker, who was named the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award by the Okanagan College Alumni Association (OCAA) at an event in October.
Alumnist Danielle Walker received the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation in 2022. Walker graduated in June with honours from the Bachelor of Business Administration program at OC, as well as being named Valedictorian and Enactus student leader of the year for all of Canada.
Finally, OCAA Young Alumni Award recipient (2018) Brea Lake, CEO of Accelerate Okanagan, was named Business Leader of the Year by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.
Sustainable health training
A global perspective
Global perspectives and experiences give students an edge in today’s connected world. More than 1,500 international students from 60 countries studied at Okanagan College’s four campuses over the 2021-22 academic year. Our students also continued to seize opportunities to learn around the world, enriching their educational experience with a one- or two-semester student exchange and through the short-term mobility program. In total, OC has 37 partner schools in 18 countries, as well as access to additional exchange programs in over 35 countries through our membership in UMAP.
Okanagan College’s leadership as a champion of sustainability continues after receiving LEED gold certification for the new Health Sciences Centre (HSC), which officially opened at the Kelowna campus in October 2021. The HSC joins several other OC LEED-certified buildings: Penticton’s Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence (platinum) and Welding Building (gold); Vernon’s Trades Training Centre (gold); and Kelowna’s Trades Complex (platinum) and the Centre for Learning (gold).
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inspire
Okanagan College continues to inspire and be inspired by the region we serve
In January 2022, Inspire, Okanagan College’s new strategic plan was unveiled. The moment marked the culmination of months of consultation: hundreds of conversations, thousands of invaluable insights from our learning community and the communities we serve. The resulting plan, which re-affirms our mission and outlines our new vision and commitments, represents the roadmap to a bright, inclusive and sustainable future for OC.
Since the plan was approved by the Board of Governors in January, work began immediately across the College to make good on those commitments. Fittingly to the plan’s title, the progress to date has been nothing short of inspiring. We look forward to sharing updates with you in 2023 – a year that holds deep significance for OC.
Next year, Okanagan College will mark our 60th anniversary here in the region. We cannot wait to share with you – our community – the opportunity to honour
the people, places, events, partnerships, projects and successes that have defined Okanagan College as a first choice destination for lifelong learning throughout the past six decades. From the South OkanaganSimilkameen, to Shuswap-Revelstoke, OC has been part of the lives of over 50,000 students – and our collective impact is something to celebrate!
As we reflect on how far we’ve come, we are also incredibly excited to share where we are going, thanks to the transformative efforts of our students, team members, Indigenous communities, alumni, donors, industry partners and supporters.
In the meantime, our deepest thanks and admiration goes out to the people of OC and to our friends and partners across the region continued involvement and support. You inspire us. And we hope you find the stories in this year-in-review as inspiring as we do.
Juliette Cunningham Chair, Okanagan College Board of Governors
Dr. Neil Fassina President, Okanagan College
