Caylee Donovan
September 1, 2022
"I found out I’d received the Marcia J. Aitkens Memorial Bursary in Practical Nursing in the middle of lab. I was so shocked I pretty much dropped to the floor. At the time, I was a full-time student in À¦°óSM’s Practical Nursing program, and I was working up to five days a week. The workload was just too much to handle, especially as a mother of a child with special needs. My eleven-year-old had recently been diagnosed with autism and needed more of my tim...
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New ‘Step into Steel Toes’ course invites women to try carpentry
August 29, 2022
À¦°óSM renovations on your to-do list? Curious about power tools and considering a project? À¦°óSM is launching a new trades exploratory program this fall – exclusively for women. “More and more women are expressing an interest in learning skills related to carpentry, electrical, plumbing, automotive and sheet metal projects,†says Teresa Kisilevich, associate dean, Trades and Apprenticeship at À¦°óSM. “Step into Steel Toes is designed to make it easier for women of all ages to feel comfortable trying out vario...
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
August 5, 2022
À¦°óSM will once again honour and acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, 2022. All OC campuses will be closed on that day. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in 2021 to honour and remember the lives impacted by residential schools in Canada, including the lost children, residential school survivors, their families and communities. Marking this day and acknowledging the ongoing impacts of residential schools is an important part of reconciliation. The B.C. Gover...
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À¦°óSM launches Apprentice Hiring Project
August 3, 2022
Hiring and training first year apprentices in the skilled trades is now easier and more affordable for regional employers. Launching this month, the À¦°óSM Apprentice Hiring Project received over $3 million in funding and will be using that money to support small and medium sized enterprises who hire first-year apprentices, helping the businesses offset costs that come with onboarding new skilled workers. The project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service. Under the project, employers are eligi...
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Meet Karl Heldt, Collision Repair student
July 27, 2022
Q: How did you hear about À¦°óSM’s program? A: I found the program on À¦°óSM’s website while browsing training possibilities for a new career. I applied because I felt like trying something new. Q: Why did you want to pursue this career? A: I chose this career because I’ve always been interested in vehicles. Before I enrolled in the program, a friend of mine was in a car accident and wrecked his car. He knew I was interested in cars so he gave it to me ...
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À¦°óSM welcomes new Dean, Arts and Foundational Programs
July 27, 2022
À¦°óSM is welcoming an award-winning Arts educator and researcher to its academic leadership team. Dr. Judith Anderson will be joining À¦°óSM as Dean, Arts and Foundation Programs, which offers a wide array of arts university studies programming, including a new applied Arts degree, along with multiple levels of Adult Upgrading, English Language and Adult Special Education for students at all four campuses. “Judith brings a breadth of experience to À¦°óSM. She taught extensively while offering insight...
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OC pilots tuition-free work-integrated learning for Early Childhood Education
July 26, 2022
À¦°óSM is offering tuition-free 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. “À¦°óSM is keenly aware of how many trained ECEs are in demand across the sector. This pilot project, with support from the Government of B.C., will increase access to education for people seeking certification, going a long way to meeting that need,†sa...
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Meet Tony Yang, RV Service Technician Foundation
July 12, 2022
Q: How did you hear about À¦°óSM’s program? A: I attended a Career Fair and learned about the entry-level foundation program. Q: Why did you want to pursue this career? A: I own a campground and wanted to learn more about trailers to expand my knowledge and business opportunities. Q: Do you have a favourite learning experience or project while taking the program? A: I really liked the electric, plumbing and appliance lessons. It was a practical knowledge an...
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Meet Helen Pleavin, RV Service Technician Foundation
July 12, 2022
Q: How did you hear about À¦°óSM’s program? A: I looked up the program online when I heard about the RV Tech career and was thrilled to find a local post-secondary institute offering the training so I could take it close to home! Q: Why did you want to pursue this career? A: I worked in the tourism industry for 20 years and wanted a career that was more practical and hands-on. I felt like being an RV Service Technician would be a good fit to my previous experienc...
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Meet Josh Lang, RV Service Technician Foundation
July 12, 2022
Q: How did you hear about À¦°óSM’s program? A: I heard about the program at the Abbotsford RV show, I applied because of the wide variety of areas we learn about. Q: Why did you want to pursue this career? A: I love the outdoors and repairing things so I thought it would be a great fit for me to learn how to repair RVs. Also, a lot of the skills I am learning transfer to other aspects of my life. Q: Do you have a favourite learning experience or project whi...
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