65 RedRoses to be shown in Bosa Centre screening room

The story of Eva Markvoort, a young woman from New Westminster with cystic fibrosis who died while waiting for a double lung transplant, has been made into a documentary called 65 RedRoses. This powerful message of life, love and hope will be shown to the public on Thursday, March 8 at 4:30 p.m. in the Nat and Flora Bosa Centre for Film and Animation at Capilano University. The centre is located in the north campus off entrance 2 at 2055 Purcell Way in North Vancouver. Admission is free. Everyone is welcome.

After the showing, Capilano University president, Dr. Kris Bulcroft, members of BC Transplant, and 65 RedRoses co-director, Nimisha Mukerji, will answer questions from the audience. HelloCoolWorld, who runs the campaign for BC Transplant and owns the rights to the film, will be present with assorted products that display the artwork on the poster. The proceeds fund the BC Transplant campaign. 

By opening up her life, Eva started a global campaign for organ donation and CF awareness. In her final days as she was dying in St. Paul’s Hospital, she used a video blog to keep in touch with the many thousands of people moved by her experience. Sadly, her breath ran out on March 27, 2010, while waiting for a second transplant.

65 RedRoses has won numerous awards, been featured on CBC, and is a revision of the original film released in 2009 to incorporate Eva’s death.

The documentary is now owned by Cap’s library and is available for class use. The presentation and film are ideal materials for exploring issues around organ donation and transplants, public health, documentary film making, and public health campaigns.

A number of Cap U employees and students of have had their lives restored by organ transplants. Today, more than 800,000 people in BC have registered for organ donation. In B.C. during the 2011 calendar year, 285 people received organ transplants and 432 remained active on the wait list, hoping for a chance to live. Many more are not quite sick enough to qualify for the active list.

In collaboration with University of British Columbia medical student Cyrus McEachern, Eva Markvoort created the stunning photographs for BC Transplant’s Live Life. The backdrop of the poster is Eva’s own image.

Peace Out makes world debut at VIFF

A year-long labour of love by Capilano University Motion Picture Arts program instructor and movie director, Charles Wilkinson, will be making its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival in October. Peace Out is a story about British Columbia’s magnificent Peace River, a valley and the energy it produces, which many of us consume without fully realizing the impacts our conduct is having on people and places far away. As Canada’s energy consumption grows, scientists, industry and government are making hard choices about how to feed it. Charles Wilkinson’s latest eye-opener is a concentrated look the harrowing costs of our technological affluence. View a trailer of Peace Out here.

Instructor picks up 2011 Gemini Award

Congratulations to Dwayne Beaver, an instructor in Cap’s Indigenous Independent Digital Filmmaking and Communication Studies programs, for winning a 2011 Gemini for Best Direction in a Reality Program or Series for Episode 5 of Conviction Kitchen. Dwayne and co-director, Karen Duthie, picked up their award on August 31 during the second night of the 26th Annual Gemini Awards. Airing on CityTV in Canada, Conviction Kitchen follows Marc Thuet, one of the world’s top chefs, and 24 ex-cons with no culinary experience as they try to open a high-end restaurant in just three weeks.

North Vancouver chess champ takes on the world

The camera caught Mel Laceste and his wife, Maria Teresa, greeting their victorious son, Loren, as he arrives at YVR on July 11 after winning the Canadian Youth Chess Championship held July 6 – 9 in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Contact:  Shelley Kean at 604.983.7596
E:  skean@capilanou.ca

(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.)—Recent Carson Graham Secondary grad, Loren Laceste, is making all the right moves.

The youngster topped the competitors in the Canadian Youth Chess Championship’s under 18 category held in Richmond Hill, Ontario last week. With the Canadian competition firmly in hand, Laceste is off to Brazil in November to participate in the World Youth Chess Championship.

Laceste’s family immigrated to British Columbia from the Philippines in 2009 and has laid down roots in North Vancouver. His proud father, Mel, works in janitorial services at Capilano University.

“My son does not have plans to attend university this coming September,” he said. “Instead, he plans on working full-time after he competes in the championship in Brazil, then serving as a missionary.”

The family is hoping that someone can step forward to help them with travel costs to Brazil and with a laptop for Loren to use for chess game analysis of his opponent. Please contact Mel at melchorlaceste@rocketmail.com.

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Librarian’s sons are Louder Than Love

Louder Than Love with Tony and Paul Lambert, second and third from left.

Rock n’ roll dreams are closer to reality for local progressive rock band Louder Than Love (LTL), which is advancing through the Fox Seeds competition. The band has several connections to Cap, including Paul and Tony Lambert who are sons of librarian, David.

Paul is the lead guitar and tunesmith of LTL. His CD, Dark Days, was a solo project released last fall. Paul completed the Contemporary Music and Technology program at Selkirk College and has a jazz studies degree from McGill University. He learned his chops on cruise ships and playing with a number of indie bands in the Big Apple. 

Bass player, Tony, has an associate degree in Psychology from Capilano University and is currently registered in Medical Radiography at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.  Tony was trained as a drummer, but quickly got up to speed on bass when his brother formed the band to perform the CD.

The CD’s critical acclaim and the band’s growing following is due in no small part to their publicity manager, Nicole McLuckie (also with the Arts Club), who is a grad of Cap’s Theatre Arts and Arts and Entertainment Management programs.

Have a look at and listen to LTL on their website. The FOX Seeds competition is on Wednesday, June 30 at the Bourbon, located at 50 W. Cordova. LTL plays at 9:30 p.m. and admission is free.

Capilano University names new dean of Tourism and Outdoor Recreation

Dr. Chris Bottrill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 19, 2010
Contact: Shelley Kean
Tel: 604.983.7596

(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.)—Dr. Christopher Bottrill has been named the new dean of Capilano University’s Faculty of Tourism and Outdoor Recreation. He will also oversee the University’s Squamish campus and Mt. Currie and Whistler programs. Chris has worked at Capilano as an instructor in both tourism and geography since 1998.

“I love Capilano University because it is a place that all of us – students and employees – can call a home,” Chris says. “We’ve had a student-focussed philosophy for the longest time in the Faculty of Tourism and Outdoor Recreation and we do our best to ensure that each and every student receives personal attention and feels part of a community.”

Chris has more than 15 years teaching experience in tourism and outdoor recreation and has been chair of Capilano’s Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (TREC) programs for the past four years. He holds a PhD from the Faculty of Commerce and School of Management at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, and has strong interests in tourism inter-organizational relations and network development, climate change and environmental stewardship. 

Most recently, Chris chaired the BC Tourism Educators Conference and in 2008, he facilitated a Statement of Commitment amongst tourism educators to take action on climate change. Chris has been working with the NGO Sustainable Cities on sustainable tourism and climate change networks in Dar es Salaam, Dakar, and Durban, Africa, and is also actively involved in developing cMet, the BC consortium to help prepare and deliver training for major events around the globe.

Throughout his career, Chris has had several opportunities to work closely with First Nations communities around the world; experience that should assist him in building relationships in in the Howe Sound Corridor

The North Shore resident and his wife, Meite, are parents to a nine-year-old son and a 13-year-old daughter. He spends his time away from work coaching rugby for mini’s at the Capilano Rugby Club, and is also a very keen downhill/freeride/cross-country mountain biker and telemark skier.

Capilano University is a teaching-focused university that serves the communities of the Lower Mainland, Howe Sound, and the Sunshine Coast through campuses in North Vancouver, Squamish and Sechelt. Enrolment totals 7,500 students in credit programs each term with an additional 7,000 people taking non-credit courses annually. Currently, 573 international students from 47 countries are studying in 43 programs at Capilano. Capilano University offers a complete range of preparatory courses, university-level arts and science courses, business and management studies, creative and applied arts programs, health and human services programs, plus a range of services in support of student learning and success. Credentials awarded include bachelor degrees, associate degrees, post-baccalaureate diplomas, advanced diplomas, diplomas, certificates and statements of completion.

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YWCA Women of Distinction nominee has boundless energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Contacts:        
Sally Livingstone at 604.562.5530
Shelley Kean at 604.983.7596

Sally Livingstone

(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.)—Ever heard the saying, ‘Her energy knows no bounds.’? These words epitomize Sally Livingstone, a recent nominee for a 2010 YWCA Women of Distinction Award.

While the North Vancouver resident humbly brushes the nomination off with the words, “I’m just someone who has lots of energy and passion,” her work has literally changed the lives of hundreds of women in need.

Livingstone initially trained and worked as a pediatric nurse in England, caring for sick newborns and later fostering mentally and physically handicapped children. 

She eventually moved to Canada where, for the past 15 years, she has been a full-time instructor for Capilano University’s Medical Assistant program.

Her medical background, her passion for babies and her compassion for women struggling to make it through the first months of motherhood spurned her to found Spectrum, a non-profit organization that provides support for mothers.

“Seeing new moms barely making it and at risk of losing their children was the catalyst for me to start this organization,” said Livingstone, a new mother herself at age 60 with the recent adoption of a child she had been fostering. “It is just an amazing feeling being able to offer them the support they need to keep their children and turn their lives around.”

Spectrum’s vision is to compassionately support and motivate mothers who courageously care for their children in difficult and challenging life situations. It operates with caregivers, many who also work in Capilano University’s Children’s Centre, and with mentors who volunteer their time offering support services.

As one of 14 nominees in the Non-Profit and Public Service Category, Livingstone’s name was put forward by the Ministry of Children and Family Development and North Shore Community Nurses for mentoring, inspiring and mobilizing others to further issues or causes through her personal commitment.

The winner of the award will be announced on June 1 at an event at the Westin Bayshore however, Livingstone says that the nomination is a win in itself.

“I’m just blown away by it all,” she said. “It’s a great honour and anything that will support Spectrum and, in turn, support these women, that’s what it’s all about.”

Recognized nationally as one of the most prestigious awards for women, the Women of Distinction Awards honours, encourages and recognizes women whose outstanding activities and achievements contribute to the health and future of the community. Since they began in 1984, YWCA Vancouver has honoured more than 200 deserving women and workplaces.

Capilano University is a teaching-focused university that serves the communities of the Lower Mainland, Howe Sound, and the Sunshine Coast through campuses in North Vancouver, Squamish and Sechelt. Enrolment totals 7,000 students in credit programs each term with an additional 7,000 people taking non-credit courses annually. Capilano offers a complete range of preparatory courses, university-level arts and science courses, business and management studies, creative and applied arts programs, health and human services programs, plus a range of services in support of student learning and success. Credentials awarded include bachelor degrees, associate degrees, post-baccalaureate diplomas, advanced diplomas, diplomas, certificates and statements of completion. More information can be found at www.capilanou.ca

For more information, visit:

• Spectrum:     
  www.specmedpro.com
• YWCA Women of Distinction Awards: www.ywcavan.org/content/Women_of_Distinction_Awards/201/30/114
• Capilano University Medical Assistant program: www.capilanou.ca/programs/medical-assistant

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Capilano University music instructor honoured

Capilano University music instructor, Heather Pawsey, is recognized by the Canadian Music Centre.

Heather Pawsey, a private music instructor at Capilano University for the past eight years, is one of 50 outstanding performers and conductors recognized by the Canadian Music Centre. All were singled out for playing an exceptional role in shaping the Canadian music scene over the last 50 years.

Described as an innovative and courageous vocalist, Heather has built a national reputation for championing the works of Canadian composers. She has sung with the Vancouver Opera chorus for many years and also performs in the Cap Classics concert series, and as a soloist with the Cap choirs.

Read more about Heather on her website.

Capilano University Continuing Education director receives community award

John Braithwaite, left, a former long-time North Vancouver City councillor and director of the North Shore Neighbourhood House, presents Lynn Jest with the Heart of the Community Award.

Director of Continuing Education, Lynn Jest, is a recent recipient of the Heart of the Community Award.

This annual award is presented by North Shore Neighbourhood House to people who have provided exemplary service to the community. For the past four years Lynn has offered volunteer service to the Braithwaite Community Centre, including three years as chair of the JBCC’s governance committee. This City-appointed committee is a committed group of citizens who oversee operations at the centre, developing and implementing strategic plans to ensure that community needs are being met.

“John Braithwaite Community Centre is a complex community partnership and Lynn has provided exceptional leadership in developing membership and skill levels on the committee,” said JBCC manager, Richard Gauntlett. “She has successfully negotiated and nurtured understanding and protocols within the partnership, and steered the work of the committee through sometimes difficult issues to a point where it is an effective group.”

Capilano University English instructor a featured poet

Capilano University English instructor, Crystal Hurdle, is a featured CanLit poet on the Canadian Literature website – a  quarterly of criticism and review. CanLit Poets is a freely available, ongoing, online archive geared towards motivating the next generation of Canadian poets. Five of her poems are online, where viewers can read and publish comments.