Alum of the Month: Kevin Gourlay
December 20, 2021
On the last day of a week-long survey this summer in Strathcona Provincial Park, Vancouver Island University (VIU) alum Kevin Gourlay made a remarkable discovery – a new Vancouver Island marmot colony. The Vancouver Island marmot is Canada’s most endangered mammal. According to the Marmot Recovery Foundation, in 2004 there were fewer than 30 marmots remaining in the wild. Recovery efforts since... Read more
Alum of the Month: J’net Ayayqwayaksheelth
November 24, 2021
VIU alum J’net Ayayqwayaksheelth (One who gives away and still stands tall) recently took on a new, key role with the National Film Board of Canada – as the organization’s Director of Indigenous Relations and Community Engagement. In this role, she will provide leadership and cultural awareness within the NFB to implement organizational change and transformation at all levels of the institution,... Read more
Alum of the Month: Sandipan Debnath
October 25, 2021
Completing school and job hunting during a global pandemic didn’t slow Sandipan Debnath (Master of Business Administration ’21) down one bit. He’s now a Business Development Representative at Wrapbook, a US-based tech startup that is digitizing the entertainment payroll industry. Originally from Bangladesh, Debnath is now based out of Toronto at his current position. He shares more about his... Read more
Alum of the Month: Sara Guzman
September 15, 2021
Sara Guzman has always been fascinated by tiny things you can’t see with the naked eye, from microbes to chemical reactions in cells. It’s the reason Guzman knew she wanted a science career. Her parents encouraged her to pursue higher education. Guzman, originally from Bogota, Colombia, decided to attend university abroad and selected Vancouver Island University (VIU). She graduated from VIU in... Read more
Alum of the Month: Dom Dawson
August 12, 2021
Improving his English, getting a dual master’s degree and gaining valuable work experiences in North America attracted Dom Dawson, originally from Germany, to Vancouver Island University’s Master of Business Administration program. Right after graduation in 2013, Dawson, who played water polo professionally for several years before seeking more education, landed a job with Nike Canada, combining... Read more
Alum of the Month: Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun
July 15, 2021
Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun, graduated with a degree in Liberal Studies and Philosophy from VIU in 2018 with dreams of following his father and other family members into a career in Indigenous law. Right after graduation, he started a full-time job as Project Coordinator with Petroglyph Development Group, the economic development arm of Snuneymuxw First Nation, and soon started pursuing a... Read more
Starting Over and Making a Difference in Canada
July 3, 2021
Alumnus Charlton Mapayi's story Coming to Canada in his mid-40s from Harare, Zimbabwe, where he worked in sales and marketing, Charlton Mapayi found himself looking for a new career after failing to find work in this field. Applying for position after position to no avail, he decided to take temporary work as a janitor, in retail sales and as a package handler. Mapayi found out about Vancouver... Read more
Alum of the Month: Shawn O’Keefe
June 4, 2021
Most Islanders are familiar with artist Shawn O’Keefe’s work on the labels of the popular Phillips Brewery products. O’Keefe, who received his Visual Arts diploma from VIU (then Malaspina College) in 1993, has been working as a graphic artist ever since, building a career he’s passionate about with the right clients and the right friends, the latter of which he started a unique, collaborative art... Read more
Alum of the Month: Amy Pye
April 20, 2021
VIU Graphic Design alum Amy Pye is channelling her creativity into a new medium these days –children’s books. While she is still doing marketing design work during the day – both with her own company, Pye Design, and as Art Director with Real Estate Webmasters – earlier this year, she published two children’s books. G is for Grizzly Bear takes a very Canadian spin on learning the alphabet, and... Read more
Alum of the Month: Chyanne Trenholm
April 9, 2021
When the mountains call, Chyanne Trenholm answers. The outdoor adventure enthusiast likes to go on long hikes and rock climbing adventures in her spare time. Luckily the VIU Bachelor of Tourism Management alum’s job as marketing and social media coordinator for Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours in Campbell River allows her to share her passion for the natural beauty around her Nation with... Read more