Learning & Programs
OC offers up weekend Trades courses for DIYers and hobbyists
March 10, 2021
DIYers, hobbyists and makers: mark your calendars. ߲Ƶ is offering up a series of safe, distanced but still hands-on courses to help you build some new skills this spring. The College’s Trades and Apprenticeship department is launching two new short courses this month. Auto Master – Women is happening on Sat., March 27. This one-day, all-female workshop introduces the basics of car maintenance. Practical lessons will include learning how to change a tire, the purpose of coolant, oil changes, and what to touch and not touch un...
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Enactus OC’s CANsave program celebrates remarkable reach, new financial literacy resources for youth with diverse needs
March 9, 2021
߲Ƶ Enactus team is marking a memorable milestone this month, having mentored more than 50,000 Canadian children through its CANsave financial literacy program – and the program’s latest focus may be its most inspiring yet. Developed entirely by ߲Ƶ students, CANsave teaches youth important financial literacy skills like saving for tomorrow, differences between good and bad debt, and the importance of saving to help others in need. CANsave launched in 2016 with a focus on teaching students in Grades 1 a...
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߲Ƶ automotive program receives donation from Ford of Canada and Orchard Ford
March 8, 2021
Contribution of a 2020 Ford F-150 will allow students to gain valuable hands-on experience Automotive trades students at ߲Ƶ are getting a big boost for their education with the arrival of a shiny new training tool on which they can hone their skills. Ford of Canada and Orchard Ford are donating a 2020 Ford F-150 to the College to be used by students in its automotive service training programs. The vehicle has arrived at the Kelowna campus and will be put to good use in the shop immediately, notes Dean of Trades Steve Moores....
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Meet Kurt Albrechtsen, Kinesiology student
March 4, 2021
Q: What’s your hometown? A: I’m from Williams Lake, located in the Cariboo region. Q: How did you end up at ߲Ƶ? A: I originally made my choice to come to OC by the recommendation of a friend who had attended previously and had a wonderful experience here. Q: How did you choose your program? A: After playing rugby and soccer all through my life, and having experienced injuries from both, as well as other activities like mountain biking and boxing, I found t...
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College offers summer courses and virtual information sessions to help students get ahead
March 4, 2021
Summer plans uncertain because of COVID? ߲Ƶ is once again offering its summer session courses online and via flexible distance education options to help students get ahead on their studies. The College’s first summer session of online courses will run May 10-June 18 and the second summer session begins on July 5. Distance education courses start on May 10 and run through late August. Current and prospective students can now explore courses and register online at www.okanagan.bc.ca/summer. To check course availability, you c...
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CFUW Kelowna celebrates 60 years of empowering women
February 26, 2021
Before there was ߲Ƶ or the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO), a small group of women met to discuss how they could contribute to their community and promote higher education for women. Today, that group, known as the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Kelowna chapter, are celebrating 60 years of community impact and support for female students. More than $175,000 has been donated to female students at ߲Ƶ over the last 30 years including eight awards for students this year alone. “If we...
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Open education efforts continue to enhance access for OC students
February 25, 2021
Thanks to a grant from BCcampus, over the next several months ߲Ƶ will be adding to its strong track record for promoting and supporting open education practices, including the creation, use and adaptation of open educational resources (OER). The $10,000 grant is empowering project lead Roën Janyk, Web Services Librarian, and a group of OC employees and student union representatives who have been meeting for the past several years, to focus their efforts on honing an open education strategy and action plan for the College. ...
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A date with OC: A Valentine’s dinner surprise
February 9, 2021
Last minute Valentine’s day plans aren’t always the most memorable, but ߲Ƶ restaurant, Infusions, has a solution for you this Saturday that offers an unforgettable dining twist – everything is a surprise. What do we know about this surprise evening? Infusions Restaurant is opening its doors this Saturday, Feb. 13, to offer diners a Valentine’s culinary adventure to remember, where they won’t know what dish is coming out next. Diners will sit down for a five-course dinner menu created by OC Pastry Arts chef Danny Capadouca...
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Meet Aleena Isobe, Criminal Social Justice student
February 9, 2021
Q: What’s your hometown? A: Vernon, B.C. I grew up here and I’ve always been so grateful for the natural beauty that surrounds us. Q: How did you end up at ߲Ƶ? A: I had always planned to do a couple years of college before going to university so I had time to adjust to the differences between high school and post-secondary, so I chose a local college that had courses that interested me. Q: How did you choose your program? A: I’ve always been fascinated by...
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Meet Jordan Boultbee, Kinesiology student
February 9, 2021
Q: What’s your hometown? A: Penticton, British Columbia. Q: How did you end up at ߲Ƶ? A: I first began at ߲Ƶ, back in 2013 the year following my graduation. I was playing junior hockey for the Penticton Vees, but wanted to keep my mind sharp, so I enrolled in a few college-level courses. I returned to ߲Ƶ around 2015 in the Trades program, before finally realizing my passion and enrolling in the Human Kinetics program in 2018. Q: Ho...
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Meet Ty Sideroff, Kinesiology student
February 9, 2021
Q: What’s your hometown? A: I was born and raised in Summerland. Q: How did you end up at ߲Ƶ? A: Exiting high school, I was unsure of what I wanted to do. I felt that the ߲Ƶ in Penticton was a low-risk, high-reward option. Staying local was important to me, but it was also hard to argue with small class sizes, hands-on labs and affordable tuition. Q: How did you choose your program? A: I’ve always been fascinated by the human body and how it w...
Read more...What is community evaluation? Sociology Professor Priscillia Lefebvre explains
February 8, 2021
Sociology Professor Priscillia Lefebvre is one of the instructors involved in OC's new Applied Bachelor of Arts: Community Research and Evaluation. Here, she describes how an inclusive evaluation process brings community and researchers together. Community evaluation helps us to understand how well a social program is working. It involves researching and collecting information about important aspects of a program, such as the e...
Read more...Why is research important? Psychology Professor Stephanie Griffiths explains
February 8, 2021
Psychology Professor Stephanie Griffiths is one of the instructors involved in OC's new Applied Bachelor of Arts: Community Research and Evaluation. Here, she describes how research encourages us to think differently in order to arrive at new perspectives. Research helps us to make sense of the world by testing our predictions about how things work. As a psychologist, I am most interested in how people think, feel a...
Read more...What is community? Professor Olivia Sullivan offers a definition
February 8, 2021
Social Work Professor Olivia Sullivan is one of the instructors involved in OC's new Applied Bachelor of Arts: Community Research and Evaluation. Here, she provides insight into a definition of community that enables acts of solidarity and connection. If we asked any group of people, “What does ‘community’ mean to you?” we would receive many answers. For some, their community is the city in which they live. For others, it is their close ...
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Experience OC takes post-secondary explorations virtual
February 5, 2021
Experience OC, from the safety of home. The College’s premiere participation event for prospective students is making the leap to the online world, with virtual Experience OC sessions launching next month. Starting Feb. 16, College professors will welcome prospective students, parents and employers in for program overviews or a glimpse of what a post-secondary classroom is like. Participants will get a first-hand look at the topics covered in these programs, including sustainability, Indigenous and technological issues facing the world t...
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Giving to the health of the community
January 29, 2021
A retired Kelowna couple are donating $30,000 to ߲Ƶ Health Sciences Centre to support the health of the community. Jim Hodgson and Joy Bianco are supporting the Our Students and Your Health Campaign with a gift they say recognizes their passion for the Okanagan. “Kelowna is a beautiful place. We’ve seen so many changes here for the positive, and it’s feels good to support the community,” says Bianco, who was born in Kelowna but spent her formative years in Vancouver. Bianco adds education has always been central to her f...
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