VIU Alumni Magazine - Journey, Fall 2013

For the Alumni and Friends of Vancouver Island University and Malaspina University-College

volume 6 | issue 2 | 2013 fall/winter

TAKING A STAND: VIU’S 2013 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD WINNER CHIEF DOUGLAS WHITE III BECOMING BAT GIRL CHANGING LIVES - $50 AT A TIME

P ub . A greement N o .

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Your donation makes a difference.

• Scholarships and bursaries for students like Angeline • State-of-the-art equipment in our labs & classrooms • Study abroad and field school opportunities for all students • Modern learning environments • Equipment, travel and funding for Mariner athletes

“The scholarships and awards I received at VIU alleviated the financial burden of being a student and allowed me to focus on my studies and get the most out of my undergraduate experience. I was also able to graduate free of debt which was a great relief. Receiving financial support was positively reinforcing, too. Knowing my hard work was noticed, encouraged me to study even harder. Thank you to all the donors who made this possible – your support made a big difference in my life.”

Angeline de Bruyns (BSc ’12) Recipient of prestigious CIHR Master’s Scholarship Masters in Science student at McGill University researching cancer

Give to VIU’s annual fund and make a difference in the lives of VIU students viu.ca/giving

250.740.6214

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volume 6 | issue 2 | 2013 fall/winter

features 11-13 BAT GIRL

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Lynne Burns (BSc in Biology ’04), the 2013 Alumni Horizon Award Winner, gets up close and personal with bats.

14-17 TAKING A STAND

Snuneymuxw Chief and 2013 Distinguished Award Winner, Douglas White the III, on his dedication to advancing the rights of Canada’s Aboriginal people.

18-20 CHANGING LIVES - $50 AT A TIME

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Mike (BA ’09) and Amy Boomer (BSc in Nursing ’07) set up shop in one of the most dangerous countries on earth.

departments 4-5 MESSAGES 6-9 CAMPUS NEWS 10 DONOR PROFILE 21-23 ALUMNI IN VIEW 24-28 CLASS NOTES 30 HOME STRETCH

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Time for reflection ALUMNI

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It’s that time of year where the Alumni Association reflects on what we have accomplished and where Rwe’re going I S L AND U N VE U next. While for many that reflection takes place in the cold winter months as the new year rolls in, for us that ALUMNI A LU M N I reflection occurs in the period of time Est. 1936 between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next.

This has been an amazing year for our VIU Alumni Association! We

in the celebration and welcome new alumni to our growing family.

The coming year promises to be even more exciting. We’re planning a VIU Alumni Social where we will be presenting the VIU Alumni Association Recognition Award. This will happen in the fall in Nanaimo and we hope to see all alumni in the region there – whether you graduated from VIU, Malaspina U/C, or the Vocational Training School.

the VIU Ambassadors during the year to help current students understand what it means to be an alum of VIU even before they graduate. We’re excited about this connection with the Ambassadors and look forward to seeing what we can do together.

As always, we’re eager to hear from you – let us know what you think about what we’re doing and what you would like to see – we’re accessible

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO BUILD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS; WE’VE ROLLED OUT OUR FIRST “MERCH” (VIU ALUMNI T-SHIRT ANYONE?); CREATED A NEW ALUMNI RECOGNITION AWARD; AND PARTICIPATED IN CONVOCATION CEREMONIES. have continued to build community partnerships; we’ve rolled out our first “merch” (VIU Alumni T-shirt anyone? see story on page 6); created a new alumni recognition award; and participated in convocation ceremonies.

It was amazing to see our graduates on those special days; fellow board member Dan Lines and I were honoured to have the opportunity to participate

This will be a great time to visit with your peers from years past and to perhaps meet someone new. More details will be sent out as they are finalized.

We will also work in supporting our current students – the Alumni Association will be a visible presence on campus in the first weeks of September welcoming the new and returning students. We also plan to partner with

through Facebook, Twitter, email, regular mail, telephone, or in person at the fall social! Hope to see you there.

Jacqualine Johnson BSc in Computing Science ’04 President, VIU Alumni Association

Publisher

Graphic Design

We welcome letters to the editor.

Editor, Journey Advancement & Alumni Relations 900 Fifth Street Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5 journey@viu.ca www.viu.ca/alumni

Advancement & Alumni Relations Office Vancouver Island University

Executive Editor

Nancy Pagé Nancy Pagé Design www.nancypagedesign.com

Julie Keenan Director, Advancement & Alumni Relations

Cover Photo

Managing Editor

Journey is published in the spring and fall by VIU’s Advancement & Alumni Relations Office and is distributed free of charge to alumni and friends. All material is copyright © 2013, Vancouver Island University Advancement &Alumni Relations, and may be reprinted with written permission. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of Vancouver Island University.

David Forrester (Phys Ed ’02, Rec & Sport ’02) Manager, Advancement & Alumni Relations

Editor & Writer Janina Stajic

Contributors

Adrienne Wanhill (BA in Creative Writing ’01) Rachelle Stein-Wotten (BA ’11) Jacqualine Johnson (BSc in Computing Science ’04) 4

VIU Communications

The Vancouver Island University community acknowledges and thanks the Tla’Amin, Qualicum, Snaw Naw As, Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Halalt, Penelakut, Lyackson, Chemainus, and Lake Cowichan First Nations on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live, and share knowledge.

Advertising Inquiries David Forrester Alumni Relations Manager 900 Fifth Street Nanaimo, BC V9R 5S5 250.740.6214 david.forrester@viu.ca Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40063601 place at actual size, no scaling!!

31.5 x 17.5mm

president's message

VIU's Culinary students celebrate after hearing celebrity Chef Rob Feenie, Executive Chef of Cactus Club announce new scholarships for their faculty. From (L) to (R) Perry Schmunk, Cactus Club Cafe Director of Marketing; Chef Debbie Shore, Chair of VIU's Culinary program; Bruce Williams, Chair of VIU's Foundation; Chef Rob Feenie, Executive Chef of Cactus Club.

The Power of Many

As an alum you can think of numerous ways VIU has enriched your life. Now imagine being able to give that opportunity to someone else. Perhaps someone who is thinking of going to university but is challenged with the rising costs.

All it takes to help them realize their potential is a small gift.

IN FACT, IF EVERY ALUMNI OF VIU GAVE $10 TO THE UNIVERSITY’S ANNUAL FUND WE WOULD RAISE $400,000 ANNUALLY FOR STUDENTS!

funding provides 43% of the University’s budget and tuition alone does not cover the full cost of a VIU education.

Annual giving has an immediate and meaningful impact on students and ongoing contributions will provide VIU with the funds required to invest in students and their learning environments - the heart of the VIU experience.

Yearly gifts to the University help to keep a VIU education within reach for our students. Your support today will go to work immediately, ensuring that one more student achieves their goal of becoming a VIU graduate. To make your gift to the VIU Annual Fund please visit www.viu.ca/giving/ and join your classmates in making a difference in the life of a VIU student.

As always, we’d like to hear from you. Please email me directly at viewpoint@viu.ca.

Whether providing scholarships and student awards, emergency financial aid or purchasing equipment for classrooms and labs, the annual fund enables VIU to provide resources to enhance the learning experience.

This year, gifts to the annual fund by alumni can be directed to increase the number of student scholarships, Ralph Nilson, PhD awards and bursaries, donate directly President & Vice-Chancellor back to your former program or Vancouver Island University support institutional priorities.

In 1985 government funding covered 85% of VIU’s budget. Today, government

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campus news

VIU ALUMNI CONNECT IN KOREA & CHINA

VIU ALUMNI T-SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE You can now, literally, wear your pride for VIU, thanks to the efforts of a creative group of VIU’s alumni.

In Spring 2013, four generations of VIU graduates - Brent Senini (Fine Arts Program ’75), Terence Fitzgerald (BA in Graphic Design ’92), Sarita Mielke (BA in Graphic Design ’10) and Niel Speirs (BA in Graphic Design ’13) – pooled their talents to create the first ever VIU Alumni merchandise – T-shirts that come in two different styles to appeal to the more than 40,000 alumni who have graduated from the institution since it first started in 1936.

Fitzgerald, a member of VIU’s Alumni Association Board, came up with a design concept and then approached Mielke’s company, Awarewolf Creative, to help finalize the design. Senini, owner of Senini Graphics, and Speirs, his company’s head designer, advised on colour choices and also printed the T-shirts.

The T-shirts are $20 and proceeds go towards developing programs for alumni and scholarships and bursaries for current students.

To purchase, contact VIU’s Alumni Relations office at alumni@viu.ca or 250.740.6215.

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A delegation from VIU, including President Dr. Ralph Nilson; Dean of International Education, Dr. Graham Pike, and Chair of the Board of Governors, Mike Brown, hosted receptions for alumni and partner institutions in Seoul, Korea, and Beijing, China, in March.

More than 40 people attended the evening event held at the Canadian Embassy in Seoul and more than 70 alumni attended the networking reception in Beijing. If you’re interested in organizing an alumni reception in your region please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@viu.ca.

campus news

TO BE OR NOT TO BE… A YUMMY MUMMY Yummy mummy – no it’s not a type of candy. It’s a growing social phenomenon that is defining women by how effortlessly and gracefully they make the transition to motherhood. These ‘yummy mummies’ are well-dressed and –groomed, exceptional multi-taskers, successful in their careers and in their motherhood roles, and sexy to boot.

Gillian Anderson, a professor of sociology at VIU, is delving into this phenomenon, which, her research suggests, has been fueled by pop culture and the media over the last 10 years.

Anderson wants to know if the portrayal of yummy mummies as hip, savvy parents makes mothers feel good about themselves, or if it’s stressful to live up to unrealistic images of what mothers should look like and how they should behave.

“I’m examining how society shapes our views of motherhood, and the impact this has on mothers’ lives,” said Anderson.

In the first stage of her research, Anderson analyzed a parenting magazine and found that many of the stories and ads celebrated attractive women who were both successful in their work life and in their role as mothers.

“The material overwhelmingly suggests that women should be everything to everyone – sexy and smart, successful in their careers and amazing mothers.”

Anderson is now busy interviewing women who have children aged 11 months to teenagers. Some are married; others divorced. Their chosen careers cover a broad spectrum of professions. The results?

“Almost all of the women voiced the general idea that the yummy mummy is largely an ideal type, one that is unrealistic and unattainable for most mothers,” said Anderson.

When asked whether they would describe themselves as a yummy mummy, most said ‘no’.

“Only one woman self-identified with the representation, and only to a point.

She felt that being a mother was only one part of her identity and she didn’t

have to lose other parts - her feminine side for example – just because she was a mother. All the others interviewed felt the term was derogatory, sexist, egocentric and inherently culturally and class biased,” Anderson said.

Anderson has presented her findings in a working paper entitled, “Narratives of Modern Motherhood: ‘Yummy Mummies’ - Fact or Fiction?” at the Evolving Motherhood conference in New York City and co-authored a book chapter with Joseph Moore, also a professor in VIU’s sociology department, called, “Doing it All. . . and Making it Look Easy!”: Yummy Mummies, Mompreneurs and Neoliberal Crises of the Home” to be published in Mothering in the Age of Neoliberalism.

Her research is ongoing and she’s interested in interviewing more mothers to better understand this phenomenon.

If you’d like to participate, contact her at 250.753.3245 ext. 2237 or via email, Gillian.Anderson@viu.ca.

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campus news

VIUAA BOARD MEMBERS 2013-2014 The 10 members of the VIUAA Board are committed to creating an alumni association that will benefit the more than 40,000 graduates of the university.

Their vision is to establish a thriving, connected network of alumni who value their continued link to VIU. The Board is doing this by creating numerous alumni communications channels through magazines, enewsletters and social media, organizing events, and establishing benefits for all VIU alumni. If you’re interested in getting involved with this dynamic group contact David Forrester,

VIU Culinary Arts students including (left to right) Angela Schultz and Alex Billings will be cooking up a storm at the new Farm Table Restaurant at Providence Farm.

Manager, Alumni Relations at david.forrester@viu.ca.

Leif Bogwald (BA ‘02) Erin Brook, Secretary (BA with a Major in Liberal Studies and a Minor in Philosophy ’04)

Terence Fitzgerald (Arts ’92) Jacqualine Johnson, President (BSc in Computing Science ’04) Jennifer Kennedy (Assoc. in Comerce Dipl. ’99; BA in Business ’02) Dan Lines (Heavy Duty Mechanics ’75; Commercial Transport Mechanics ’88) Tim Mawdsley, Vice-President/Treasurer (BA in Finance ’02) Nathan Thornton (BA Transfer ’87-’90) Mike Walker (BA in Commerce Transfer ’79) Curtis Wilson (BA ’03)

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FARM TO TABLE RESTAURANT SERVES A SOCIAL PURPOSE Add a working organic therapeutic farm to VIU’s Culinary Arts Program and what do you get? A restaurant with a social purpose, featuring creative dishes prepared by skilled Chefs and chefs-inthe-making, made with food grown right outside the kitchen door.

Providence Farm is a staple in the Cowichan Valley and for more than 30 years has been working with community partners to develop programs aimed at supporting and creating educational opportunities for adults and seniors with developmental, intellectual, mental health and age-related illnesses.

Through the partnership with VIU’s Culinary Arts, students get the opportunity to train in a beautiful farmto-plate setting, growing, harvesting and preparing many of the ingredients used in the restaurant’s farm fresh menu including Rhubarb Blueberry Tiramisu and Smoked Providence Bacon

with Caramelized Onions, Red Onion Jam, Potato Pancake, Raspberry Jus. Staff, volunteers and program participants are helping to grow the food and also built the tables in the restaurant.

The restaurant opened to rave reviews in April 2013 and is still going strong – so strong reservations are definitely recommended: 250-597-0599.

campus news

VIU's men's basketball team celebrates their win at CCAA National Championships.

MARINERS BEST OF THE PACWEST It’s been a stellar year for VIU’s student athletes and their coaches. For the seventh consecutive year the Mariners were the top overall athletic program in the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST). They were also recognized for their smarts with the most Academic All-Canadian athletes of any school in the association, meaning they had more athletes than any other CCAA School selected as a PACWEST League All-star and maintain a B+ average or higher.

Individual teams also made VIU proud and the highlight of the year was the men’s basketball team winning the CCAA national championship. The final was a nail-biting game that saw each team take the lead numerous times.

In the end the Mariners triumphed, beating the Holland Hurricanes of Holland College, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, 77-70.

Mariner coaches were also recognized for the hard work they put in to producing championship teams.

Women’s volleyball coach Shane Hyde was named PACWEST provincial coach of the year, and CCAA national coach of the year; badminton coach Janice Walker was named PACWEST provincial coach of the year.

Snuneymuxw Chief Doug White (BA in First Nations Studies ’00); Snuneymuxw Councilor Bill Yoachim (BA in First Nations Studies ’04) and President Ralph Nilson share a laugh at VIU's Charity Golf Classic.

FUN IN THE SUN RAISES FUNDS FOR VIU STUDENTS On June 19, 2013, 32 golf teams took to the greens to play in VIU’s annual Charity Golf Classic at Fairwinds Golf Course. Among them were many VIU alumni, donors and community supporters.

Together, the golfers raised more than $30,000 all of which will go directly to supporting students through scholarships, awards and bursaries and helping to fund new student learning environments.

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donor profile

A CONVERSATION WITH VIU’S DONORS

GIVING OUTSIDE THE (TOOL)BOX On June 4, 2013, Susan Moretto (BA ’13) stood proudly with her daughter, Analise Nikole Moretto (BA of Interior Design ’13), on stage at the Port Theatre. Fate had arranged that they would be celebrating the successful completion of their bachelor degrees on the same day.

For Susan, it was a journey inspired by her father, Ofelio “Speed” Moretto – so-

to go back to the garage and just start sweeping up. Eventually they let him stay and at 15 they gave him an old car and let him start restoring it. Later he was employed full time and went on to run a business – Speed & Stan’s – and operate an Esso franchise in Powell River.

“Even though he didn’t go to university himself my dad was a big supporter of young people and of VIU’s automotive program,” says Susan. “He would often encourage young lads in his shop to go and get their training in Nanaimo at VIU. He also played a role in having the program come to Powell River.”

After her father died, the family had a conversation about what to do with the many specialty automotive tools he had in his shop. “Suddenly we thought – wouldn’t it be great to be able to give them to the students in the automotive program which dad had supported so often.” So they did. Appropriately the tools went to the program in Powell River. When Susan was still a student she used to walk by the plaque in the Welcome Centre recognizing her dad’s donation and smile, feeling like he was there with her encouraging her to carry on with her studies.

“He was such an inspiration to me.

Growing up, I remember that he’d go in on a Saturday just to show a young apprentice how to do something. And

“MY DAD ALSO TAUGHT ME THAT THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO GIVE – TIME, EQUIPMENT, BEING A MENTOR.” called as his friends always said he moved pretty slowly unless he was behind the wheel of a car. Speed had never attended university but spent many years of his life encouraging and inspiring others – including his daughter Susan – to go.

“From the age of eight my father wanted to be an auto mechanic. One day his dad told him to go to the garage on the corner and ask to work. He did but they told him he was too young and to go home,” says Susan. Her grandfather would have none of that and told his son 10

he taught me that if I want something bad enough I just have to work for it.”

Susan was also inspired by the experience of donating her dad’s tools to the university and hopes one day to be a donor herself. “It would be great to be able to start a bursary or scholarship but the experience with my dad also taught me that there are many ways to give – time, equipment, being a mentor – and I hope one day to be able to do that too.”

BAT GIRL

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IT’S MIDNIGHT AND LYNNE BURNS (BSC IN BIOLOGY ’04), VIU’S 2013 ALUMNI HORIZON AWARD WINNER, IS IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, WARMING HER HANDS WITH A HOT CUP OF TEA, WAITING PATIENTLY,

FOR THE BATS TO COME OUT.

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WHAT’S NEW AT VIU?

A northern myotis–the second species Burns studied.

Ever since an offhand comment from one of her VIU instructors, Burns has been passionate about these nocturnal critters, spending the past nine years getting up close and personal with them – completing an MA in Bat Ecology and embarking on a PhD examining bat population movement patterns.

It’s a rare field to go in to – there are only a handful of other scientists in Canada who specialize in bats. But bats directly improve all our lives for the better. A single brown bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes an hour.

Farmers are also fond of these critters as each year bats gobble up millions of insects that would otherwise have gobbled up farmers’ crops.

If it wasn’t for a request from Wendy Simms, an instructor in VIU’s biology department, Burns’ career would’ve have taken a very different path, as 12

bats had never been on her radar.

In her third year of biology, Burns made plans to take part in a field school in Belize. Simms, who was interested in bats, asked Burns if she’d like to do an extra research project on bats explaining there was a wide variety of species in Belize. North American bat species feed exclusively on insects; in the tropics bats eat insects, fruit, frogs, even the blood of other animals.

Burns, knowing nothing about bats, could have said ‘no’ but that’s not her style, according to Simms.

“Lynne never sees the barriers – she just sees opportunities. Lots of students wouldn’t have risked researching something they’d never done before, but Lynne jumped in with both feet.”

Burns buried herself in the world of bats, learning everything she could. It wasn’t long before she was hooked.

“There’s so much we don’t know about bats compared with other critters because they’re really hard to study,”

says Burns. “They fly around at night, they’re secretive and there are many myths surrounding them. I thought ‘wow’ these are fascinating creatures.”

After graduating from VIU she did a master’s researching bat movement patterns on Prince Edward Island (PEI). She’s now about to complete her doctorate on bats, studying with Dr. Hugh Broders, an evolutionary ecologist with a specialization in bat biology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

Broders first met Burns when she applied for a position in his lab to do her master’s.

“I had many applicants – even one from a candidate who had funding. But, I had a gut feeling about Lynne that gave me the impression she would be dedicated – no, passionate – about this research. And so I opted for the passion rather than the ‘already-funded’ and I’ve never regretted that decision.”

Broders is also Burns’ PhD supervisor.

He believes she’s a “difference maker”.

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“People like Lynne are key to our future in terms of managing wildlife populations and environmental stewardship,” says Broders. “She’s a true scientist – dedicated to her field, meticulous in her research methods and a mentor for other students. We as a country need to do everything we can to ensure there are opportunities for people like Lynne to pursue their important work in Canada.”

During her master’s research she looked at the movement patterns of PEI’s forest bat population and determined it wasn’t adapting well to its loss of habitat.

“If there’s a forested area at the end of a field and another one at the far side, the bats won’t fly across the field to get to it. They’ll follow hedgerows or fences and try to find a sheltered path.”

After completing her master’s Burns discovered she’d been awarded a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Broders suggested she embark on a broader movement study.

Burns downloads data from tagged bats at an abandoned mine.

“There are a lot of changes happening in the world’s landscape,” says Broders.

BURNS' RESEARCH IS BEING USED TO “For example, in the last 10-15 years we have seen that wind farms can UNDERSTAND A DEADLY NEW DISEASE. kill many bats. Given the need and interest in renewable energy we need to be able to predict and understand populations were like before this disease. bat populations and compared them impacts on bat populations. Lynne’s It means we can better understand the to see if the animals are related. research on demography and movement impact it’s having on bat populations.”

That way I could tell if the bats were dynamics will contribute to our Burns hopes to defend her PhD travelling to different areas. So far understanding of how bats use the in early 2014. After that she’s it looks like they are, in that the landscape and hopefully allow us to open to opportunities although populations in these provinces seem to make informed decisions about some will likely go west again. be one big population genetically.” of the impacts of wind farms.”

Says Tim Goater, another one of Burns’ research is also being used Burns took advantage of the swarming to better understand a deadly new Burns’ biology professors at VIU and season – a time during the fall when today a close friend and one of the disease that is decimating North bats get together to mingle and mate people who nominated Burns for this American bat populations – white– to trap and tag hundreds of bats award, “Lynne has lots of options. nose syndrome. So far it hasn’t been in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick She’s now joined that elite group of detected in western Canada but in with a microchip that she then used scientists who specialize in bats and the east it’s moving through bat to track their movement patterns. her knowledge, skills and work ethic populations rapidly – killing more than She discovered bats were fairly loyal, will ensure she’s in demand whichever 90% of the population and spreading returning to the same site every year province she ends up in.” hundreds of kilometers each year. to swarm. She also used genetics to “I started doing my population determine how far bats were travelling research before white-nose syndrome for the purposes of mating. hit,” says Burns. “My data can be used “I took genetic samples from different as a baseline to tell us what the bat

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TAKING A STAND

ON JANUARY 11, 2013, FIRST NATIONS CHIEFS FROM ACROSS CANADA MET WITH PRIME MINSTER STEPHEN HARPER TO DEMAND HIS GOVERNMENT DO MORE TO ADVANCE THE RIGHTS OF CANADA’S ABORIGINAL PEOPLES. AMONG THEM WAS SNUNEYMUXW CHIEF DOUGLAS WHITE III (BA IN FIRST NATIONS STUDIES ’00), VIU’S 2013 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD WINNER. THE MEETING WAS JUST ONE OF HUNDREDS WHITE HAS PARTICIPATED IN ACROSS CANADA AND AROUND THE WORLD, WITH THE GOAL OF ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF BOTH HIS OWN PEOPLE AND CANADA’S ABORIGINAL PEOPLE AS A WHOLE. It’s not a role for the light-hearted. Even White admits that sometimes his life feels like a ‘circus’ as he tries to balance his many responsibilities. The passion that drives him to continue is rooted deep in his past, when he was a young boy, growing up on the Snuneymuxw reserve lands in south Nanaimo.

One of his favourite childhood memories is of standing on a street corner waiting for his grandfather, Douglas White I, to get home from work. He’d step off the ‘crummy’ -- the loggers’ truck – and White would run up to him, asking if they could go fishing.

His grandfather, tired and aching from a long day at work, would look down at the eager face of the young boy, tousle his hair and say, “Of course, grandson.”

The two of them would head off, raking for urchins and crabs, soaking in the last rays of sunshine. At the time, White didn’t realize he was also soaking in his grandfather’s powerful spirit and words of advice shared through traditional teachings and stories.

With a lifetime of experience between then and now, White wonders in awe where his grandfather found the strength. “He would arrive home exhausted and I didn’t even notice - I just wanted to fish. And he’d take me.”

It’s just one of the lessons White learned from his grandfather, for as Chief of Snuneymuxw, lawyer, member of the BC First Nations Leadership Council of British Columbia, Chair of the BC First Nations Consultation

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feature and Accommodation working group, university lecturer and family man, many people now ask the same of him – where does he find the time and energy to give back so much?

The answer lies in those childhood experiences -- with his grandfather who was always there for him – but also from his beloved grandmother, Dr. Ellen White, who taught him about his peoples’ traditional medicines and spirituality, and from his parents whom, White says, taught him by example that his life should be spent ‘holding his people up’.

“Doug comes from a family that promotes and respects lifelong learning and education, and Doug has continued that legacy,” says Sharon Hobenshield, VIU’s Director of Aboriginal Education.

As a teenager White was inspired by his uncle, Hugh Braker, who was a lawyer and through him began to understand one of the best ways he could serve his people was to equip himself with as much knowledge as possible about the history and relationship of First Nations to the Crown. That’s why he purposefully chose VIU’s BA in First Nations Program.

“The program allowed me to explore different dimensions of the Crown – First Nations relationship including the history and the law,” says White.

“As well, it examined what the issues

dedication instilled in him by his family and an objective mind steeped in Aboriginal law, honed first at UVic’s law program and then under the tutelage of one of Canada’s foremost Aboriginal rights lawyers – Louise Mandell.

“In 2007, Louise, whom I’d met a

DOUG'S VISION IS TO REACH A PLACE WHERE THE RIGHTS OF HIS PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZED AND THE WRONGS OF THE PAST ARE RECONCILED. were and potential solutions.”

White cherished the opportunity to meet Aboriginal people from across Canada, also taking the same program.

“Often you grow up on your reserve not understanding it’s just one facet about what it means to be Aboriginal in Canada. For the first time in my life I heard the in-depth stories of others who were on the same path as me, but had arrived there with different experiences.

It gave me a broader understanding of Aboriginal issues in Canada.”

When White was elected Chief in December 2009 he brought the 16

few times before, invited me for lunch,” explains White. “She told me she was retiring soon and wanted to share her knowledge. She asked if I’d like to work at her firm. I’ve always sought out people who are masters at what they do and Louise absolutely falls into this category. She doesn’t just apply the law, she creates it and gives it shape. For two years I worked across the hall from her, learning everything I could about advancing the rights of First Nations.

It was an amazing experience.”

While at Mandell Pinder tragedy struck the Snuneymuxw when their

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Chief, Viola Wyse, unexpectedly passed away in 2009. As the community came to terms with what had happened a number of people asked White to return home and continue her work. He was torn but everything he’d been taught led him to believe it was the right decision.

“It’s important to understand that Doug has a clarity of vision and the courage of conviction, that allows him to stay focused and use his considerable skills and knowledge to navigate his way through very complex issues,” says Dr. Roshan Danesh, White’s friend and advisor. “That vision is to reach a place where the rights of his people are recognized and the wrongs of the past reconciled.”

It’s a vision that sustained White through a grueling process that led to one of his greatest achievements so far as Chief: advancing Snuneymuxw’s rights as outlined in the Douglas Treaty of 1854 –rights that had been ignored for more than 150 years.

White and council knew implementing their treaty rights was the best way to create transformative opportunities for their people, not least as it would dramatically increase their

land base. Prior to the agreement the Snuneymuxw had one of the smallest reserves in the province at 267 hectares, but one of the largest populations. “We do not even have enough land to live on let alone build an economy,” says White.

On March 27, 2013, after navigating through complicated negotiations with the province, White signed the Reconciliation Agreement that returns a portion of their village site at Departure Bay and about 2,200 acres of forestland in the mountains and establishes a new decision making framework throughout Snuneymuxw territory.

For White it was an important achieve-ment although he didn’t have time to savour it. The morning the agreement was signed a racist letter directed at First Nations was published in a local Nanaimo newspaper. Despite being exhausted from the months long Reconciliation Agreement process, White immediately stood up with other community leaders, including Ralph Nilson, VIU’s president, to condemn the letter and to initiate a series of dialogues aimed at addressing racism in the community.

For White it was an opportunity to pursue an element that is at the heart of the vision he holds for Aboriginal people.

“It’s important to work through the process of law as evident with the Reconciliation Agreement,” says White. “But true reconciliation will only happen if we’re able to engage the broader community and come to a place where everyone – Aboriginal and nonAboriginal – is holding each other up.”

White understands there’s a lot of work to do in order to realize his vision.

Sometimes he wonders how he’ll be able to balance his determination to build a better future for his people and family, with his desire to spend more time with them, too.

In the end, he comes back to the teachings of his Elders and his innate understanding that he must serve his people, for when asked if he’ll run as Chief again there’s no doubt in his reply, “Of course, if people want me to continue this work, I will be there.”

2013 FALL/WINTER 17

campus feature news

TRANSFORMING LIVES $50 AT A TIME 18

feature

career, there are thousands of women and their families who are finding hope for a better life, despite the horror.

To understand how, the story must start in 2006 when Mike and his wife Amy Boomer (BSc in Nursing ’07) were packing for a journey to Uganda. Mike, a youth pastor in Nanaimo, was taking part in a humanitarian trip; Amy was accompanying him. It was the couple’s first time in a third world country and

They contacted Mike, saying they were interested, but needed more details.

Six months and many more details later ERDO agreed to take on the project as a pilot. The Boomers were ecstatic but knew there was lots of hard work ahead, not least deciding which country to run the pilot project in.

“In the end,” says Amy, “we decided to go where the need was the highest and that was clearly the DRC.”

HE COULD SEE MICRO-FINANCE WASN’T ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE A HAND OUT, BUT INSTEAD FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING THEM TO WORK THEMSELVES OUT OF POVERTY.

A

t first glance the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) doesn’t seem like the best place to establish a career.

It has the dubious distinction of being home to one of the longest and most violent conflicts on earth. In the past 20 years more than 5.4 million people have been killed, and millions more tortured and raped. And, the conflict continues to this day.

Thanks to the efforts of Mike Boomer (Bachelor of Arts ’09), who decided the DRC was a good place to pursue a

both were taken aback by the level of poverty. The experience sparked a desire to work in international development addressing issues of global poverty.

Since Amy was almost finished her nursing degree and her skills would be in demand almost anywhere in the world, the couple decided Mike should seek out a new career path that would allow him to help alleviate the terrible poverty they’d witnessed.

His first stop was VIU’s Global Studies program. There he had the opportunity to do a field school in Uganda, working with a non-profit to develop a microfinance program: a system of lending that provides small loans (for example $50) to impoverished people who are denied access to credit though a traditional bank because they don’t have collateral.

The experience inspired Boomer.

He could see micro-finance wasn’t about giving people a hand out, but focused on empowering them to work themselves out of poverty.

“After graduation, I put together a business plan which included how much I’d need to set up a micro-finance pilot project, and the logistics of how it would work, such as how much the loans would be and a system for paying them back,” explains Mike.

He approached a number of organizations about funding the project and the idea caught the eye of Emergency Relief and Development Overseas (ERDO) an organization that supports development projects.

In September 2010 they found themselves in Bukavu, a city of 1.3 million located near the Rwanda border.

“The living conditions were tough,” says Amy. “There was no running water, the power went off everyday, there’s little access to medical care and most people live well below the poverty line in one room mud huts.” They were also working in a conflict zone and took care to make contacts with local organizations before they left, organizations that could help introduce them to the people they’d be working with.

Despite the hardships, the Boomers were excited to be in the DRC, realizing the goal they’d set after their first trip to Uganda.

Mike got busy putting foundations in place for the micro-finance program; Amy supported Mike and also put her skills to work at a nearby clinic.

It took Mike four months to set up his project refining it to fit within the local Swahili culture.

He named the project “Wezesha” meaning ‘empower’ in Swahili.

To introduce the program to the community Mike worked with local churches. In the DRC 85% of the people are Christian and after every church service there’s a 45-minute announcement on community activities.

“The first meeting was hilarious.

Word had got out we were giving away money, so there were a lot of people,” says Mike. “I was standing with a translator in front of this boisterous group of

2013 FALL/WINTER 19

feature

THE PROJECT HAS BEEN UNDENIABLY SUCCESSFUL, TRANSFORMING LIVES SO MUCH ONE FAMILY NAMED THEIR FIRST SON AFTER MIKE.

Congolese women – these are not shy folk. They were laughing and heckling - at one point I thought someone might throw something, especially when they realized I didn’t have money and that in order to get the loan they had to go through a five-day training program.”

The program is just one criterion participants must meet to take part in the program. It’s also only available to women, as numerous aid studies have shown women use money more wisely, 20

and help support their families.

Participants also must have a business already - even if it’s just selling sugar on the street corner. “The idea wasn’t to teach women a trade. The poor are incredibly smart, resilient and creative and often have already found ways to eke out a living,” says Mike. “The goal of Wezesha is to empower women so they can expand that business and improve their lives and those of their families.”

On January 14, 2011, four months after arriving, they gave out the first loans - $50 to 20 women. On April 11, 2013, Wezesha Project reached another milestone granting a loan to the 1,000th woman. The project has been undeniably successful, transforming lives so much one family named their first son after Mike.

Every woman who takes part in the project has a heartbreaking story of a life lived in the direst poverty, of husbands and sons lost to war, of sisters, daughters even themselves experiencing unspeakable violence.

But each of these women, thanks to

Mike, now also has a story of hope. Take Mama Nzigiri. Before becoming involved with Wezesha, she was supporting 14 children and a husband who’d been paralyzed by a stroke, scratching out a living selling a few items on a ramshackle table outside her mud hut. She barely made enough to buy food. Today, her business allows her to send her children to school, get medical help for her husband, and put food on the table.

“I’m so proud and amazed at what Mike’s done,” says Amy, “To build from scratch something that is supporting so many women and making a real difference in their lives. It’s incredible.”

Wezesha now has seven lending posts, and the project employs 17 fulltime Congolese staff. Mike works both in the Congo and at home, raising money to support the project. At the moment he’s focused on implementing a four-year expansion plan to establish even more lending posts, with the goal of reaching, and empowering, thousands more women. www.wezeshaproject.org.

GRADUATES ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.

alumni in view

IN HIS OWN WORDS If Kevin Borserio (University Transfer Program/Associate in Arts and Science Diploma ’81) and the Elders in Skidegate, Haida Gwaii, have their way, tucked into bookstores’ language sections you will find a Haida/English dictionary, complete with recordings to help you get your pronunciation ‘just right’. For the past 15 years Borserio has worked with the Elders to preserve the Skidegate Haida language, once in danger of dying out.

Skidegate is located on the north eastern shores of Haida Gwaii where the Haida have lived here for time immemorial.

Borserio moved to the community in 1984 to take up a teaching position in the high school. An avid basketball player, it wasn’t long before he was shooting hoops after school with the local kids – most of whom were Haida.

“I started to make close connections to the children and through them to their parents.” So close, Borserio was adopted into Ts'aahl Eagle clan and given a Haida name (Luu Gaahlandaay – Wave Spirit) reflecting his love for kayaking instilled in him by his VIU instructor Don Cohen.

A few years later, Borserio was talking to his adopted mother, Diane Brown and she suddenly said, “Don’t forget. Your job interview is tomorrow.” Borserio knew she was referring to the teaching position at the new Skidegate Haida Immersion Program, but he’d never considered taking on the role. Diane felt his gentle demeanor, and connection to the community, its people and Haida Gwaii’s natural surroundings made Borserio the perfect candidate for the position.

He said he needed 24 hours to think about it. That was 15 years ago. Today he can’t imagine doing anything else.

“Everything flows from a language and without it a culture, a way of life, is lost. For many of the Elders this has been a healing process, helping them

recover from the trauma of residential school where their language was taken away,” says Borserio. “To share the work of restoring and revitalizing their language has been an incredible privilege, not least as I’ve been able to witness the Elders’ strength. They’ve grown to be my heroes and family.”

As well as creating a Skidegate Haida dictionary which to date has more than 20,000 words, they’ve taught night classes, identified more than 2,000 place names, created resources for schools, and archived and recorded as many words and stories as possible. They’ve also been working towards ensuring that all the community’s signs are bilingual.

Their next project may be their most ambitious yet. “We’ve received a grant from SSHRC – the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada – to develop iPad Haida language lessons.

It’s a huge undertaking, but it will mean anyone, anywhere can study Haida.”

Borserio and his work is a testament to what can be accomplished with commitment, dedication and focus on a clear mantra. In Borserio’s case it was, ‘Long live the Skidegate Haida language’ and thanks to his work with the Elders, that mantra will now come to pass.

2013 FALL/WINTER 21

alumni in view

SINGING HER PRAISES Wendy Nixon Stothert (MA in Educational Leadership ’10) grew up grooving to ABBA songs, belting out Barbara Streisand tunes, and crooning to Neil Diamond ballads including her favourite, Love on the Rocks. Today, she’s inspiring others to do the same, as a beloved school teacher and community choral conductor even though after high school Nixon thought her career path would lead somewhere very different.

As a small child she would beg her parents to take her to the Vancouver Aquarium so she could watch the whales. That’s why she chose a Bachelor of Science program as her first degree – she’d set her sights on becoming a marine biologist. “Although I was passionate about music too, I figured I could pursue musical endeavours anytime,” says Nixon Stothert.

Fortunately a space in her schedule enabled Nixon Stothert to take a Vocal Jazz course. One day her instructor approached and asked, 22

“What are you doing in sciences?

You’re meant to be a music teacher.”

Deep down Nixon Stothert agreed.

But, her stubborn streak kicked in and she stuck to sciences – until she failed chemistry. That failure changed her life. She applied and was accepted into the music education program at UVic. Since then she’s immersed herself in the life of a music educator.

“Music elevates us to a place where we’re transcending the ordinary,” Nixon Stothert says. “It allows us to really be in the moment – it can almost be meditative. To build a career facilitating opportunities for others to do that has been a real privilege.”

It’s also been hard work. There was a point where she realized she felt limited in her abilities.

“A student quit choir. When I asked him ‘why’ he told me it wasn’t giving him what he wanted. ” Over the next few months students continued to drop out. Eventually, after many sleepless nights, she realized she needed a shift in her perspective, and signed up for VIU’s Master’s in Educational Leadership.

“It was an amazing,” says Nixon Stothert, “giving me insights into how to develop trusting relationships with students and lead from a place of authenticity.” Nixon graduated with a perfect grade point average and was recognized with the Governor General’s Gold Medal.

When she started teaching again her attention turned to building individual connections with students with less rigorous performing schedules, keeping the music room open during breaks, and taking time to share stories and laugh with students.

Today her career is thriving – not only is she enjoying young learners, she’s also the founder and conductor of three successful adult community choirs under the banner of “Just in Time Jazz Choirs”. And, anytime she’s in Vancouver, she visits the aquarium, taking her family to spend a little bit of time with those whales.

alumni campus in news view

INTO THE WILD Thoughts of a career in BC’s wilderness protecting the environment and possibly having to deal with animals such as deer, bears and wayward cougars encouraged Benjamin Cudmore (RMOT ’11/ current BSc – Natural Resource Protection) to enroll in VIU’s Resource Management Technology Program.

But soon after graduation his thoughts turned to, in his words, more ‘worldly aspirations’.

Cudmore began exploring volunteer options which is why he found himself in Africa working with a completely different set of animals and a new approach to resource management.

“I accepted a position at the KisiteMpunguti Marine national park and marine reserve situated on the southern coast of Kenya,” says Cudmore. “Marine life is in abundance there and the park and reserve was developed for dolphin watching, snorkeling and diving” There, he took on the role of supervisor on the marine project, working with biologists who were conducting studies on dolphin behavior and fisheries enhancement for the marine park. His daily routine reads like a dream vacation – getting up with the sun, donning shorts and a T-shirt, and heading out to sea on the morning tide searching for dolphins, which inevitably they’d find.

Cudmore’s job was to photograph and catalog the dorsal fins, which would later be used to identify individual animals. He was also asked to provide education for local residents.

The villagers on the edges of the marine reserve had, prior to the creation of the reserve, relied on fishing for their livelihood. When the reserve was created and they weren’t permitted to fish there any longer their livelihoods changed from fishermen to boat captains, tour guides and servers in hotels. As part of his job Cudmore was involved with an ongoing initiative to educate the local population about marine wildlife and

the natural resource they had access too.

“Kenya manages its natural resources mostly for the purposes of tourism,” said Cudmore. “Unlike in Canada local people don’t really use the parks.

In Kenya, most of them instead work for the parks and reserves.”

It was an eye-opening experience for Cudmore who had originally gone in to resource management because of his life-long love for the outdoors and

a desire to protect the environment.

His experience in Kenya showed him that there was a whole other side to the field he hadn’t anticipated and that he would like to explore it even further.

That’s why he decided to return to VIU where he’s now gaining an even deeper understanding of his chosen field, working towards completing his BA in Natural Resource Management.

2013 FALL/WINTER 23

class notes

Elaine De Rooy

LET US KNOW ABOUT YOUR NEW JOB, PROMOTION, WEDDING, FAMILY ADDITION, TRAVELS OR FURTHER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AT ALUMNI@VIU.CA.

1950 s Frank O’Neill (VTS, Heavy Duty Mechanics ’56) Frank O’Neill, graduated in 1956 from VTS, Heavy Duty Mechanics. He worked many jobs throughout his life including bartender, food vendor and truck driver. He’s been married four times and he and his current wife have been married 30 years. They have 10 grandchildren and five great grandchildren with the sixth expected in September 2013. He remembers his time at the VTS fondly, in particularly then principal Jack Macready.

1980 s Valerie Bob (Associate of Arts & Science ’89) received a BA in Social Work from Seattle University, MA in Education from Antioch University, and is planning to do a PhD in Linguistics, Music and Education at UVic.

24

Elaine De Rooy (Associate of Commerce Degree–Marketing Option ’81) received her Certified General Accountant designation in ’86. For the past 30 years she’s worked as an accountant in the fields of public practice and industry. A few years ago she founded Belly Laughs – a belly dance performance and teaching business.

Dan Higgins (Forest Resources Technology ’86) works as a log trader for Storey Creek Trading Ltd. in Campbell River and is owner of Woodlot W2001.

1990 s Bruce Carlos (Associate of Arts and Science ’92, BEd ’97) received his MA in Counselling from UVic in 2002.

He currently works as the District Principal of Aboriginal Education in School District 71 (Comox Valley). He and his wife Leah have five children.

class notes

Ro Davies

Ro Davies (Recreation Administration ’97, Bachelor of Tourism Management ’00) is Sales Manager at the Whistler Golf Club. He’s passionate about mountain sports and, as well as skiing and snowboarding, he enjoys mountain biking, ski touring and traversing.

Kareen Holyer’s (Associate of Commerce Diploma ’72, BA ’93, BEd ’95) first career was as a legal assistant which she left to raise four children, Michael, Andrew, Anika and Daniel Petersen. In her mid-thirties she returned to post-secondary education to do an education degree and taught in the public school system and on Penelakut Island before retiring in 2005. Since then, Holyer has studied Jin Shin Do® acupressure and Medical Qigong, and currently has a home based practice incorporating both complementary health modalities. She and her husband Gord just returned from a month in South Korea.

Shannon (Chase) Porter (Nursing Diploma ’93) recently graduated from the University of Washington with her BSc in Nursing and has been accepted into the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Washington.

She currently resides in Washington State with her husband of 20 years, two daughters, and two pets.

Jacquelyn Reynolds (Hospitality Management ’90) is a contract instructor in NAIT’s Hospitality Program in Edmonton and a student in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Extension Certificate in Adult & Continuing Education. Reynolds opened her own company called Hospitality Training Experts in 2012, providing skills training for hospitality employees.

2000 s Imad Alouani (MSc/MBA ’11) married Grace Hopcraft (Associates of Arts & Science ’99, BA ’00) on December 12, 2012, at Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria, BC. The reception followed at the Bengal Lounge in the Fairmont Empress.

The newlyweds went to Morocco for three weeks for their honeymoon.

Megan Beauregard (BA in Tourism Management ’05) married Tyler Beauregard (Diploma of Recreation Management ’97) in 2008. They live in Nanaimo with their three-year-old son, Rhys, and are expecting a baby in November 2013. For the past six years, Megan has worked for Tourism Nanaimo. In 2011, her position was transferred to the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation and she now works in a new role in the tourism division. Tyler has worked for Acklands Grainger in sales since 2004.

2013 FALL/WINTER 25

class notes

Drew Burke (BA in English with distinction ’07) received his MA in English ’11 from Simon Fraser University.

Together with Mark Wyatt (University Transfer in Visual Arts ’03; see note page 27), Burke wrote and produced a video for the Central West Coast Forest Society, a registered charity on Vancouver Island that works with a variety of partners to restore forest and stream ecosystem. The video can be found at www.clayoquot.org. Burke is also an instructor for North Island College where he teaches first year English in Ucluelet and Tofino as well as the owner of Language Tofino, a school located in the Tofino Botanical Gardens. He provides ESL learning and continuing education courses in English literature and writing.

After backpacking in Europe during the summer of 2012 with his partner Ember Cathers (BA ’06) and their four-monthold daughter, Chris Cathers (BA ’03) discovered a great business idea – camper van rentals. When they returned they started a new company called Van Ventures Rentals Ltd based out of Nanaimo. The business provides camper van rentals and sales to Vancouver Island and throughout BC. www.vanventures.ca

After graduating from Malaspina University-College, Tristan Clausen (Dipl. Classical ’05) transferred to UVic and graduated with a BEd in Music in 2010 and has been teaching music at St. Margaret’s School, an all-girls K-12 independent school in Victoria since January 2012. Clausen also works with the Canadian Forces as a Cadet Instructor teaching music, citizenship, and leadership to youth and was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He also performs with the Vancouver Island Chamber Choir, an ensemble that was Canada’s top community choir in 2012.

He married in 2009 and he and his wife welcomed their first child in July 2013.

Since graduating, Yvonne Chester (BA ’01, BEd ’01) has taught in many different countries including the States, Canada and China where she’s been for the past four years.

She is currently finishing her MA in Education through UBC and is VicePrincipal at a BC Certified International High School located one hour from Beijing. She has two children, a son and a daughter, and one grandson.

Tristan Clausen with marching band in Victoria.

26

class notes

Mark Wyatt Yu-Tang (Sandy) Huang (ESL ’97, BA-Marketing ’02, MBA ’05) is currently working at Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria as a Marketing Coordinator.

After completing an MBA in Global Leadership from the University of Frederiction Karyn (Perry) Anderson (BSc in Nursing ’03 with Distinction) started working as a nurse on the inpatient oncology ward at Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital. She later moved to the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, and is now the Manager of the Department of Oncology at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre in Peterborough Ontario. She is also a member of the Board of the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology. She’s married and has two teenage daughters.

Mark Wyatt (University Transfer in Visual Arts ’03) completed his Bachelor in Fine Arts in Visual Arts at UVic. Today he provides video production full-time for a variety of design, start-up and non-profit companies throughout Vancouver and Vancouver Island. www.wyattvisuals.com

2010 s Gem Chang-Kue (Fine Arts – Visual Art ’13) is taking her Bachelor of Fine Arts through Thompson Rivers University. She had a short film entitled Open in the 2013 Vancouver Island Short Film Festival and won the Nanaimo Art Gallery Award for Artistic Achievement at the last “Progressions” student exhibit at VIU in April 2013 for a ceramic installation.

Kirsten (Johns) Soder (Tourism Studies diploma ’01, Bachelor of Tourism Management ’04) is the General Manager of Tourism Tofino, the Destination Marketing Organization in Tofino BC. She’s married and has a four-year-old daughter.

2013 FALL/WINTER 27

class notes

Laura Dochtermann (BBA ’12) started a new job in March 2013 at Canada Wide Media Inc. in Burnaby, BC. There she is a Production Coordinator for several publications including: TVW (formerly TV Week Magazine), Tourism Vancouver Official Visitors’ Guide, Burnaby Board of Trade, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Mineral Exploration, Tourism Vancouver Travel Planners Guide & UVic Business Class.

Lisa Manzini (Phys. Ed. ’90, Teacher Leadership Graduate diploma ’12, MA in Educational Leadership ’13) has worked in the Sea to Sky District #48 for the past 18 years and is one of the few elementary physical education specialists left in the province. She’s actively involved in the Physical Education in British Columbia organization and is a regular trainer for Action Schools BC. Through her research she has developed a handbook (Teaching Fundamental Movement Skills to Primary Students with Buddies) which she hopes will become an Action Schools BC Handbook.

Debbie Narver (MBA/MScIB ’10) has her own business consulting company in Nanaimo, focused on helping small and medium sized businesses solve complex problems and manage change.

She is actively involved in Rotary Club of Nanaimo and the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce.

She and her husband just celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a trip to Paris and Prague.

Laura Dochtermann

28

Maryon Paulsen Strugstad (BSc ’11) went to McGill University to do a master’s degree that she completed in 2013. After graduation she moved to Norway for a new job as an associate at Price Waterhouse Coopers in the city of Stavanger.

class notes

On September 8th, 2012, Jordan Worrall (Dental Hygiene Cert. ’11) married Lonny Barr on a beachfront property in Qualicum Beach. They used the talents of two VIU students and two VIU alumnae to help with the big day: Laura Baldwinson (BA Photography) did the photography; Megan Toriglia (BA student) filmed the event; Emileah Gates (Hairdressing Cert. ’12) and her assistant Nina Zurmuehle (Hairdressing Cert. ’12) did the hairstyles.

Support VIU students without spending a dime When VIU alumni, staff, faculty or students buy or sell a home with Nanaimo Realtors and VIU alumni Rob Grey (Arts ‘83) or Dave Hammond (Business ‘72), they’ll donate 25% of their commission to support scholarships and bursaries for VIU students.

For more information contact: David Forrester, Alumni Relations Manager, 250.740.6215 or david.forrester@viu.ca *This program is not intended to solicit property already listed.

2013 FALL/WINTER 29

home

stretch

DIFFERENT FACES. DIFFERENT VOICES. Trina M’Lot (BA in Graphic Design ’13) is an introvert and in our extrovert obssessed culture she sometimes finds it hard to fit in. During her last year at VIU she designed a project aimed at educating people on just what it means – and why it’s okay – to be an introvert.

The introvert: who is this ambiguous being? Our western society has created an unequal environment for introverts who often feel under appreciated, frustrated or out-of-place in our extrovert ideal culture. I believe introverts in university, elementary school and in the workplace aren’t provided the acceptance they need to thrive, often resulting in pressure to change who they are in order to fit in. By removing the negative light upon introversion, introverts can feel truly accepted.

thinking’ skills to find and resolve an issue within society; shortly thereafter, the “Great Minds Think Differently” project came to life.

Leading up to the project, I read Susan Cain’s bestselling book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. I was also interviewed for The Globe and Mail’s feature article on the increasing diagnosis of social anxiety amongst children. Both of these events inspired me to empower introverts and my project was my first attempt at doing that in a tangible way.

I targetted three groups, introverted university students, primary school teachers and workplace managers, designing products to help them better understand themselves or what it means to be an introvert.

For the introverted students, I created

I BELIEVE THAT INTROVERTS IN UNIVERSITY, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND IN THE WORKPLACE ARE NOT PROVIDED THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OR ACCEPTANCE THEY NEED TO THRIVE, OFTEN RESULTING IN PRESSURE TO CHANGE WHO THEY ARE IN ORDER TO FIT IN. Introversion is defined as an “individual’s preference for a minimally stimulating environment in order to perform to their highest potential”.

These stimulations can refer to numerous things – the level of surrounding noise, the number of people around, or the number of tasks at hand. When introverts become overly stimulated, they need time to ‘recharge’, often in solitude.

In comparison, an extrovert excels in a highly stimulating environment where they retain their energy from the abundance of happenings around them.

Not surprisingly, I’m an introvert.

Introversion first peaked my interest in high school when my mom, (an introvert herself), talked to me about personality types and embracing your own strengths.

As I approached my final semester at VIU, my senior design project set out the task of using our ‘design 30

a sticker series of famous introverts; for primary school teachers who needed to understand their introverted students better, I designed an activity to identify introverts and a booklet outlining how to support them; for managers I designed a sticky-note block with tips for supporting introverts in the workplace.

I received a lot of great feedback – from introverts, happy someone was showing this personality type in a positive light and from others who said the project made them think more about how extroverts are often given the highest praise.

Introverts make up 1/3 to 1/2 of the population and these individuals need to realize there is nothing wrong with their introversion -- introverts can be empowered and in doing so, can and will succeed in our extrovert-ideal society. www.greatmindsthinkdifferently.ca.

rob@robgrey.com

If you are considering Buying or Selling Real Estate in Nanaimo then contact Rob Grey and his team of professionals to assist you.

Rob Grey and his team are one of Nanaimo’s top producing real estate teams.

Rob is a member of the VIU Foundation Board, volunteering to raise money to support VIU and it’s students.

JUSTUS EDMUNDSON Personal Real Estate Corporation

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1-5140 Metral Drive Nanaimo, BC V9T 2K8

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Rob Grey Personal Real Estate Corporation

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(250) 713-3322 1-800 836-3311

Which road will you take to your Master’s in Educational Leadership at VIU? The Campus Commuter: Six Friday evenings and six Saturdays per semester and one July residency.

The Scenic Route: Study online and enjoy two brief summer residencies via the Centre for Innovative Educational Leadership at VIU.

The Bike Path: Study full-time at VIU for one year.

Contact us to help you start your journey today.

Dr. Harry Janzen, Dean, Faculty of Education harry.janzen@viu.ca Donna Nelson, donna.nelson@viu.ca

22-05-5105

viu.ca/education

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