Community Support
Families and community at the heart of Enactus GreenScreen technology initiative
April 9, 2020
GreenScreen is bigger than just a technology recycling program. It’s about people and helping build connections. An initiative launched by Okanagan College’s Enactus team in 2019, the project works to repurpose technology such as phones, laptops and tablets, saving them from the landfill and connecting them with families in need. The team consists of students Isaac Hossmann, Emily Pilon, Rachel Wehrmann and Maya Samaddar, and aided by College professor Devin Rubadeau. Working alongside Kelowna Cell Repair, Columbia Bottle Depot and Go ReC...
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Nurses inspire nurses: OC health care students step up during time of crisis
April 8, 2020
“The community needs us.” It’s a statement that has become a rallying cry for a class of Okanagan College practical nursing students who are only weeks away from completing their studies and joining their teachers on the front line. And like many other OC health care students and grads, their actions are speaking even louder than their words in the face of COVID-19. Jodi Kemp is one of those students who is stepping up in a big way to support her community, her profession and the nurses she is training alongside at Kelowna General Hospi...
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OC student and printshop owner supports business community
March 26, 2020
People helping others is a sign of the times, especially if Okanagan College student Bryan Carlton has anything to say about it. In addition to studying part-time for his BBA, Carlton owns Snap Printing in Kelowna. Since the pandemic landed in North America, he found his clients in education, event management and business have either reduced hours, put projects on hold or cancelled events. “I have a few clients who let me know how slow it was and wanted to see If I can do anything to possibly help them out. I figured banners were a quick...
Read more...Tom Budd sponsors health care tuition
March 26, 2020
Local businessman and philanthropist Tom Budd is giving residents an opportunity to win free tuition toward a health care career at Okanagan College. Budd, along with local radio stations Virgin Radio and Sun FM, are offering the contest called Wishin for Tuition across the Valley until April 12. Residents can win up to $5,000 toward their tuition to one of any 10 Health Sciences programs at Okanagan College. The programs offered range from nursing to Early Childhood Education and Pharmacy Technician. The prize money is coming from a n...
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College Culinary Arts program drops off donation to food bank
March 24, 2020
See a need, fill a need. This is exactly what Okanagan College’s Culinary Arts department did earlier this week as culinary classes came to an unexpected halt in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tallying the vast amount of ingredients that would have been utilized in student labs and cafeteria plates, instructors gathered as much as they could and delivered it to the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank. Initiated by Ross Derrick, interim Culinary Arts instructor and chef at Cod Fathers Market and Kelsey Oudendag, Culinary Arts in...
Read more...Campus-to-Campus half marathon cancelled
March 15, 2020
Sunday, March 15 – Today, Okanagan College and the University of British Columbia Okanagan announce that the campus-to-campus half marathon and celebration scheduled for Saturday, April 4 has been cancelled. This decision follows the recommendations made by the B.C. Ministry of Health on March 12, which advise event organizers to cancel all events and gatherings of 250 people or more, in order to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the province. “While we are saddened to have to delay the resurgence of the run, it’s absolutely paramount ...
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Redmond family inspires future dental assistants
March 11, 2020
After spending more than 40 years working as a Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Jean Redmond knows first-hand it is a rewarding career. Now, she and her husband Bill are choosing to inspire the next generation of CDAs by pledging $40,000 toward the construction of a new Health Sciences Centre at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus. The new Centre will feature a modern dental clinic to train CDAs, which are in-demand locally and across the province. The clinic will mirror a modern dental office, with a reception room, state-of-the-art opera...
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Mother's values recognized with large gift to College
February 24, 2020
A $50,000 donation to the Our ɫɫɫƬ, Your Health campaign will recognize a mother who survived and found lessons in the horrors of Germany's concentration camps. John Sokolowski has donated $50,000 towards an Early Childhood Education classroom in the College’s new Health Sciences Centre, currently under construction on its Kelowna campus. The donation is made in memory of his mother, Janina Sokolowski. “My mom was a champion of education for as long as I can recall,” says John. “The gift to the College will help educate future Early C...
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Councillor gives from the heart
February 12, 2020
Kelowna City Councillor and local community champion Maxine DeHart is giving a gift from the heart this Valentine’s Day. DeHart is donating to the Our ɫɫɫƬ, Your Health campaign, which is raising funds to build a new Health Sciences Centre at Okanagan College and create scholarships and bursaries for health care students. DeHart is the Campaign Ambassador for the fundraising campaign and is spearheading the media campaign encouraging others to get involved. She says the project’s goals touched her heartstrings and inspired her to give...
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Pushor Mitchell invests in mental health
January 28, 2020
Pushor Mitchell is donating $30,000 to aid Okanagan College students who in their careers will support people facing mental health issues, homelessness and community isolation. The law firm that has been serving the Okanagan for more than 45 years is creating two annual awards valued at $2,000 each for students taking the College’s Human Service Work program. Human Service Work professionals help people navigate through crisis or chronic situations where the person feels they need external help and guidance to move forward with their life...
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Enjoy spirited learning at charity fundraiser
January 27, 2020
Ward off the winter weather while learning to pick up the finer flavours of scotch as part of an upcoming whisky tasting to benefit Okanagan College students. Held by the Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo, the 11th annual charity whisky tasting will test participants’ noses and taste buds as they learn to pick up notes of crème brulee or ripple bananas from seven mystery scotches. Tasty appetizers and buttery short bread will cap off the event, which typically sells out each year. “What people enjoy about this event is the opportunity to tas...
Read more...Runners, mark your calendars and take your marks: Campus to campus run returns in 2020
January 22, 2020
For the first time in a decade, runners will have a chance to lace up and enjoy a scenic run between the University of British Columbia Okanagan and Okanagan College, thanks to the return of the popular campus-to-campus half marathon and relay race. The run will commence at UBCO at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. From there, runners will follow a scenic 21.1 km route down the Okanagan Rail Trail to the Waterfront Trail, before finishing up at the College’s Kelowna campus on KLO Rd. Registration is now open at www.okanagan.bc.ca/campustocampus...
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Bannock taco day fundraiser returns to fuel student success at OC Salmon Arm Campus
January 20, 2020
A popular fundraiser that provides emergency aid for students at Okanagan College’s Salmon Arm campus is this week. Community members are invited to join students and staff for a delicious lunch for a good cause. Bannock tacos will be served in the Gathering Place on campus, 2552 10th Ave NE, Salmon Arm, from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22. The lunch is by donation. The event is led by Caroline Chartier, Indigenous Transition Planner for the campus and ingredients are supplied by the College’s Indigenous Services department. Do...
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Future caregivers given boost by Central Okanagan Foundation
January 14, 2020
An organization that helps to inspire and facilitate a great deal of philanthropy in the Okanagan is supporting future caregivers by donating to the new Health Sciences Centre currently being built at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus. The Central Okanagan Foundation is donating $28,000 from the Kelowna Home Support Society Fund towards the construction of the new Centre, which will educate Health Care Assistants, Nurses and Therapist Assistants, among other professions. Marliss Magas sat on the board of Kelowna Home Support Society that...
Read more...OC Foundation launches Our ɫɫɫƬ, Your Health campaign
October 30, 2019
Fundraising campaign kicks off for College’s State-of-the-Art new Health Sciences Centre The Okanagan College Foundation has launched its largest fundraising effort in Kelowna in more than five years, with a new campaign aimed at benefitting students and transforming the health of our communities for decades to come. Our ɫɫɫƬ, Your Health is a $5-million campaign to support the completion of the new $18.9-million Health Sciences Centre under construction at the Kelowna campus. College students, staff and community members gathered on...
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OC student learns and leads as part of Launch-a-Preneur
March 8, 2019
The student has become a teacher in Shuswap Launch-a-Preneur. The Salmon Arm-based business competition has helped propel Laureen Shannon, a fourth-year Business student at Okanagan College, on a business development trajectory fuelled by community connections. "I love this program. Once you’re in a launch, you’re in it for life,” Shannon explains. "We always follow up how they are doing, cross-promoting their business." She began her studies in Office Administration, which capped off with a six-week practicum working with the Salmon Arm...
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