Canadian student creativity to be recognized at awards gala

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Contact:  Shelley Kean at 604.983.7596

Canadian student creativity to be recognized at awards gala

(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.)—The top Canadian student photographers and illustrators will be recognized Friday, April 20 at the Canadian Association of Professional Image Creators’ (CAPIC) fourth annual awards gala held this year at Capilano University’s North Vancouver campus. Rodeo⁴ is a free event open to the public and starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Library building, room 321.

Rodeo⁴ saw a significant increase in the number of entries from last year and the winning images from students across Canada will represent the best photographers and illustrators in post-secondary programs. The top 50 illustrations and photographs are displayed online at www.capic.org/photography-and-illustration-contest-winners/rodeo-4. Fourteen of the 50 awards will go to Capilano University IDEA students. IDEA students (representing 9 of the top 30 winning pieces) are: Alexandra Gordeyava (2nd year), Alex Tench (2nd year), David McAnsh (3rd year), Katie So (3rd year), Ksenia Kozhevnikova (1st year), and Susan Li (1st year).

The contest was judged by 10 prominent Canadian photographers and illustrators through an online vote to determine the top three photographers and top three illustrators.

CAPIC members create the photographs and illustrations which are reproduced in published materials of all types. This includes editorial, advertising, education, books, brochures and periodicals. The organization was founded in 1978 as a national, not-for-profit association dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the rights and interests of photographers, illustrators and recently, digital artists, working in the communications industry. Starting as a single group in Toronto, CAPIC has grown to six chapters, spanning the country from Halifax to Vancouver, with a membership of more than 1,030.

For more information, please visit www.capic.org/photography-and-illustration-contests.

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Capilano University grad lands role on CBC TV series, Arctic Air

Cap grad, Sera-Lys McArthur, is starring today as Hailey Martin in CBC’s new TV drama series, Arctic Air.

In 2008, Sera-Lys McArthur was an Arts and Science student at Cap with a very exciting future ahead of her. Today, she is Hailey Martin in CBC’s new TV drama series, Arctic Air.

When Sera-Lys left Cap in 2008, she had a $20,000 Premier’s One World Scholarship in her pocket. The then-23-year-old was heading for the UK to attend the MA in Acting programme at East 15 Acting School at the University of Essex.

Graduating at the top of her class, Sera-Lys relocated to Los Angeles and most recently to Toronto to continue her acting pursuits. Prior to her current role, she was thrilled to be cast in Hard Core Logo II (which was shown at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival) and have the opportunity to work with acclaimed director Bruce McDonald.

Sera-Lys McArthur is a mixed-race Canadian actress from Saskatchewan. She began acting at the age of 12 when she was cast in the CBC miniseries Revenge of the Land, directed by John N. Smith. She has pursued her career and acting training around the globe. She studied Musical Theatre at AMDA in New York, and then stayed in the Big Apple to gain experience as a fashion model.

In 2006 she relocated back to Canadian soil to live in Vancouver, where she was cast in another John N. Smith miniseries called The Englishman’s Boy. She was honoured to be cast in this highly dramatic role based on the experience of her Nakota ancestors. She was also responsible for presenting the language for the first time on an indelible form of media such as film.

Whether it’s theatre, musicals, film, TV, commercials, print work, fashion shows or working on her own writing and creative performing projects, Sera-Lys is up for the challenge of gaining new experiences on her international road to success.

Capilano University’s Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal recipient for 2011

Capilano University Legal Administrative Assistant student, Graham Caulfield, is the 2011 recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal.

Capilano University Legal Administrative Assistant student, Graham Caulfied, found the 2011 Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal to be a tasty treat at November’s convocation ceremony.

Established in 1979 by the Ministry of Advanced Education, the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal is awarded to a student in a vocational or career program of less than two years duration who has excelled in his or her studies and who has contributed in a positive way to the life of their post-secondary institution or their community.

In his own words, Graham says:

“I returned full-time to Capilano University back in January after having been away for nearly 15 years. I spent the majority of that time working in the restaurant industry as well as for a ticket broker during the Olympics. It was during these formative years that I gained a wide range of experience in administration, customer service while dealing with the public, and developed strong interpersonal skills through the management of human resources.

After the Olympics concluded, I took an intensive three-week long Career Exploration Program that was instrumental in my realization that a career in the legal world was something that excited me and that I became very committed to undertaking.

The Legal Administrative Assistant Program at Capilano University turned out to be the perfect fit for me. I achieved Dean’s List for both the spring and summer terms and was awarded one of the top scholarships provided by Davis LLP. One of the most appealing aspects of my studies was the variety of areas of practice covered throughout the program and the incredible support and encouragement I received from my instructors. The time I spent at Davis during my two-week practicum at the end of August increased my interest in all aspects of the legal field.

As a result, I am pleased to be continuing my education in legal studies here at Capilano University having been accepted into the two-year Paralegal Diploma program that started in September. I’m very much looking forward to continuing down this path towards a fulfilling and meaningful career in the legal field.”

Capilano University students win B.C. Aboriginal student award

Three Capilano University Aboriginal students are recipients of an Irving K. Barber Aboriginal Student Award from the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society. The Cap recipients are: Sage Birley from Baldonnel in the Peace River District, Sheila Hantan from North Vancouver, and an unnamed recipient from Langley.

The B.C. Aboriginal Student Award is funded from the returns on a $10 million endowment fund established by the province of B.C. in 2007 as part of its strategy to improve Aboriginal achievement and access to education. Awards of $1,000 – $3,500 are given annually to Aboriginal students pursuing post-secondary education in B.C.

“Through the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society, we are supporting Aboriginal learners to take post-secondary education and training so they’re ready to fill the jobs of tomorrow, which is an important part of the BC Jobs Plan,” said Naomi Yamamoto, minister of advanced education. “Congratulations and best wishes to the recipients as they continue their studies.”

The Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society works with the Victoria Foundation to provide scholarships to students attending public post-secondary institutions throughout the province and internationally. To date, the Society has awarded more than $3.8 million from its six scholarship programs.

“Our society board has adopted steps to ensure a stable level of awards each year regardless of market conditions,” said Hugh Gordon, society chair. “It’s part of our commitment to ensuring access to education for deserving students from throughout the province.”

To make a donation or to find out more about the B.C. Aboriginal Student Award and the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society, visit http://www.bcscholarship.ca/web/ or call the Victoria Foundation at 250.381.5532.

 

Capilano University tourism students accept first place award from B.C.’s Minister of Environment

Left to right: MLA for North Vancouver-Seymour Jane Thornthwaite, B.C.’s Minister of Environment Terry Lake, Capilano University tourism degree students Louise Wirtz, Nada Mher Al Saadi, Frankie Aeng and Nic Alder, and Minister of Advanced Education and MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale Naomi Yamamoto are all at Cap on Nov. 25 to see the four students accept awards for their first place finish at the Tourism & Hospitality Case competition held in October. More information can be found on Capilano University’s newsroom blog. Photo by Ken Barbour.

Capilano University Bachelor of Music Therapy student wins national scholarship

Fourth-year Cap U Music Therapy student, Supriya Crocker, is this year's recipient of the Music Therapy Trust Fund Scholarship.

For the third year running, a Capilano University Music Therapy student has won the Canadian Music Therapy Trust Fund Scholarship.

Supriya Crocker learned earlier this year that she was the winner of the $2,500 award, which is given on the basis of leadership, academic excellence, innovation and creativity. The new mother is in her fourth year of the program at Cap and will be completing her internship next year at the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver.

The Trust Fund offers this annual scholarship to the top fourth year student studying Music Therapy in any of the six Canada programs. Its selection committee was impressed with Supriya’s application and noted that the calibre of applications for the scholarship this year was particularly high. 

Supriya was excited to apply for this award and used her background (bachelor of biological sciences), along with her extensive learning in the Bachelor of Music Therapy program, to put forward an excellent submission. 

Last year, Capilano Music Therapy student, Mara Sawchyn, won the Trust Fund Scholarship, and the year before, Sheila Harry, another Capilano Music Therapy student, received the award. 

 

Capilano University students big winners at the B.C. tourism industry conference

Capilano University’s first place team at the fifth annual Tourism & Hospitality Case competition with Lana Denoni, chair of TIABC, are, left to right: Louise Wirtz, Nada Mher Al Saadi, Frankie Aeng, and Nic Alder.

Capilano University Tourism degree students were crowned first place winners and took home a $1,000 prize at the fifth annual Tourism & Hospitality Case competition held in October.

Part of the British Columbia Tourism Industry Conference (TIC), the conference was sponsored by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, go2, the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C., and B.C. Parks.

Teams came from all parts of the province to solve tough cases facing the tourism industry. This year’s questions focused on B.C. parks and tourism – a fitting way to celebrate B.C. Parks’ 100^th birthday.

Almost 40 students competed, representing Camosun College, Capilano University, Douglas College, Okanagan College, Royal Roads University, Selkirk College, and Vancouver Island University. Students are enrolled in diverse tourism-related disciplines including resort and hotel management, golf operations, and tourism management. 

These programs, offered at an additional 12 colleges and universities across the province, are members of LinkBC: the tourism and hospitality education network and coordinators of the competition.

“B.C.’s tourism students are tomorrow’s industry professionals” said LinkBC’s general manager, Terry Hood. “LinkBC’s role is to provide the opportunity for students to connect with potential employers and demonstrate their outstanding skills and abilities. We’re pleased to say they’ve done just that.”

Presenters at the conference included Premier Christy Clark, and Jobs, Tourism and Innovation minster, Pat Bell, in addition to a number of tourism experts from around the world. The conference was coordinated by the Tourism Industry Association of B.C. (TIABC) and was attended by hundreds of delegates from all sectors of the industry.

Seven Capilano University students receive Ike Barber Transfer scholarship

Congratulations to seven Capilano University students who are recipients this year of a $5,000 Ike Barber Transfer Scholarship from the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society. The students are: Emily Hill, Glenn Gravengard, Nathaniel Hers, Jason Newton, James Ross, Bridgett Westenberg, and Joseph Young.

The scholarships are awarded annually to undergraduate students who have completed two years at a public post-secondary institution in B.C. and are transferring to another degree-granting institution in the province to complete their degrees. They are funded from the returns on a $15 million endowment established by the province in 2006. The fund is named after the founder of Slocan Forest Products Ltd. who is a philanthropist who has donated generously to education and research projects in British Columbia.

Undergraduate students must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 or 87.5 per cent for 54 credits completed and have demonstrated service to their school and/or community to receive the $5,000 scholarships.  

“Our society is pleased to support the education goals of deserving young people and at the same time support B.C.’s strong post-secondary education system,” said Hugh Gordon, chair of the scholarship society. “This is truly an investment that benefits all British Columbians.”

The Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society works in partnership with the Victoria Foundation to manage a series of scholarship and education award programs that support B.C. students attending public post-secondary institutions both throughout the province and outside the country. To date, the society has awarded more than $3.5 million in scholarships.

To find out more about this fund, call the Victoria Foundation at 250.381.5532 or visit www.bcscholarship.ca.

 

Cap U students win B.C. Crime Prevention Community Safety Awards for Crime Stoppers project

Congratulations to Capilano University film students Jordan Choo and Jacqui Benson, who have been awarded British Columbia Solicitor General Crime Prevention and Community

Safety Awards in the Youth Leadership category. This award honours positive role models for children or youth in their community and encourages their active participation in crime prevention and community safety projects.

The pair, recent graduates of Rutland Senior Secondary School, and their teacher, Brent Applegath, were involved in a project with Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers to get the message out about anonymous texting of crime information to Crime Stoppers.

In 2009 Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers approached Rutland Senior Secondary School with the idea of students helping students in crime prevention and potentially tying it into the new technology of anonymous texting directly to Crime Stoppers. Rutland Senior Secondary graciously took on the challenge and added this project to their curriculum. Jordan and Jacqui were at the forefront of the work and creation and dedicated a year and a half to this project.

These students, along with many others, were involved in the creation of the storyboards for the three videos made on cyberbullying, drug awareness, and graffiti. Both Jacqui and Jordan are now attending Capilano University in North Vancouver, where they are studying filmmaking.

The award ceremony will take place on Friday, November 4 at the British Columbia Crime Prevention Association’s Annual Crime Prevention Symposium.

Capilano University and Encorp Pacific (Canada) partner to improve recycling habits of students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Contact: Shelley Kean
T: 604.983.7596
E: skean@capilanou.ca

(NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.)–Capilano University and Encorp Pacific (Canada) today announced a pilot program aimed at increasing the use of onsite containers for recyclable beverages at Cap’s North Vancouver campus.

A 2010 Beverage Container Return Study found that single men between the ages of 18 to 34 living in urban areas are the highest discarders of beverage containers. A heavy discarder is defined as those who typically discard at least two containers per week (not recycle). They are likely to work outside the home or are students.

While Cap U has 14 different streams of waste diversion currently in use at its three campuses and is regarded as a leader in post-secondary in managing waste and implementing waste management programs, it views this partnership as a way to become even better. The project will see new recyclable waste bins that are easier to manage and that have better signage for refundables placed around the campus. In addition, the venture will involve close to 100 Cap U students who will be working on the project as part of their coursework.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to participate in a real-life work experience for a cause that is in alignment with the university’s values,” said Mitra Kiamanesh, instructor in Capilano University’s school of business. “It’s also exciting for them to know that they personally are helping to increase awareness of such an important issue.”

Students in Cap’s Environmental Geography program and Tourism and Outdoor Rec program will perform waste audits at the North Vancouver campus on Tuesday, September 20 and Tuesday, November 15. Audit results will then be compiled and recommendations made that will assist Encorp in implementing this project at other post-secondary institutions. Students from the Business faculty’s Leadership in Teams program will prepare promotional and educational materials to market the revamped recycling program to the Cap U community. A final report will be delivered at the end of the project and will be available on Encorp’s website.

“Our partnership with Capilano University students and instructors will enable us to examine perceived barriers to recycling and we can use this information to increase recycling within the province,” said Sandy Sigmund, Encorp’s CMO and director of program development. “The university is a good fit for the pilot because its students come from across the Lower Mainland, allowing us to spread the word more widely about the benefits of recycling.”

ABD Solutions Ltd. will provide on-site collection for beverage container recycling and Smithrite Disposal Ltd. will provide services for the students to conduct the two waste audits. Encorp Pacific (Canada) is funding the pilot project and has installed new beverage container recycling bins around the North Vancouver campus. Capilano University administration is coordinating the various onsite components of the pilot.

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. 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.

Encorp Pacific (Canada) is a federally incorporated not-for-profit stewardship corporation with beverage container management as its core business. They are committed to developing and managing a consumer-friendly and cost-effective system to recover beverage containers from consumers and ensure that they are recycled and not incinerated or land filled. They also provide their stewardship services on a contract basis to the Electronics Industry for the collection and recycling of regulated products, as well as the Dairy Industry to manage their voluntary Milk recycling program. To learn more about Encorp Pacific, visit return-it.ca

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