Special Features - Focus Spring 2013

SPRING 2013 EDITION

Education driving economic growth Central Okanagan in the

INSIDE… UBC Okanagan UNIVERSITY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE • Okanagan College TRAINING STUDENTS FOR NEEDED JOB SKILLS Real Estate CONTINUING TO DIVERSIFY • Agriculture RESEARCH CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES

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FOCUS 2013 Capital News Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Table of Contents Publisher Karen Hill Managing Editor Barry Gerding Writers Tina Campbell Barry Gerding Kevin Parnell Wade Patterson Jennifer Smith Judie Steeves Alistair Waters

Post-secondary education opportunities flourishing .......page 4 UBCO’s arrival a boon for the City of Kelowna ....................page 6 Attracting new business entrepreneurs........................page 8 Lake Country benefits from the proximity of UBCO ..............page 10

Production Director Tessa Ringness

Rental access key issue for students ........................page 10

Production Designers Kiana Haner-Wilk Teresa Huscroft-Brown

A huge investment in the future ........................page 12

Photographer Brent Crozier Advertising Manager Karen Hill Account Executives Dawn Brule Cindy Draper Myrika Godard Colleen Groat Ron Harding Antony Hutton Sheri Jackson Terry Matthews Rick Methot Alan Monk Al Tomiak Wayne Woollett Focus is published by Black Press 2495 Enterprise Way, Kelowna BC V1X 7K2 250-763-3212 adsales@kelownacapnews.com www.kelownacapnews.com Distributed free to select households in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia.

Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.

The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs.

UBC Okanagan enhances development of regional economy.......... page 14, 15 UBCO helps fill the need for future doctors .....................page 18 Kelowna car industry seeing resurgence ..........................page 19 Research dollars for issues of concern to the wine industry ......................page 21 Creative juices flowing at UBCO ..............................page 22 Post secondary growth offers tourism benefits ..................page 24 Okanagan College establishes its own identity ........................page 26 Connecting job skills to jobs .................................page 27 RapidBus one of several ways UBCO has impacted West Kelowna.....................page 28 Affordable housing key for immigrant women .........page 30

www.kelownacapnews.com 3

Economic transformation Is Kelowna evolving into a “college town?”

And are the surrounding communities such as Lake Country and West Kelowna falling under that same umbrella?

Our 2013 Focus edition looks at the impact felt

by UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College on the economic landscape of the Central Okanagan, and how the research capacities created by the growth in post-secondary education enhancement are paying dividends in many ways.

The Central Okanagan is evolving, slowly, out of recessionary period that struck in 2009. The booming real estate market came to a halt and the business community began tightening their belts as consumers here began pulling back on spending.

Often jobs were lost, and local residents resorted in significant numbers to commuting to jobs in other parts of B.C. and Alberta where there the resource development industries continued to thrive to find good paying jobs.

But during that time, the evolution of UBC Okanagan as a satellite campus of UBC began to establish its own identity on the academic side and impact on the Okanagan, with enrolment steadily climbing and new multi-million campus facilities being built. As well, Okanagan College began to expand its vocational programs while complementing the academic programs at UBCO. In an economic study of UBC’s impact on the Lower Mainland economy, the study stated the economic impact of a university is unlike any other organization, as besides just the direct job creation and student enrolment factors, there is a dynamic impact on a community or region generated by knowledge creation and knowledge transmission roles of a university which fundamentally alter and increase the productive capacity of a region.

Sometimes referred to as “the knowledge economy,” it has clearly become a leading factor in the current and future economic growth of the Central Okanagan.

Rutland…where our roots run deep…and the future is all about growth.

• URBA is lobbying for transit improvements such as: bus pullouts, the upgrading of Hwy. 33 which includes resurfacing the road, signage and signals upgraded to current standards, pedestrian safety improvements and creating a more inviting and retail friendly atmosphere.

• URBA is building solid relationships with its members, the City of Kelowna, Provincial and Federal Governments and Community Associations to make Rutland a place where we as a community are proud of.

• URBA cultivates relationships to encourage community pride and togetherness with events such as the Scarecrow Festival, the Christmas Light-Up and participating in May Days, and YMCA Healthy Kids Day. • URBA invites you to come and discover what people who live, work, and play here already know.

For more inFo on Uptown rUtland BUsiness association (UrBa) check oUt www.UptownrUtland.com or call 250-451-9861

4 www.kelownacapnews.com

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

Post-secondary education opportunities flourishing BARRY GERDING EDITOR

If the public education system were an industry, these would be boom times.

With the advent of UBC Okanagan and parallel growth of Okanagan College over the past decade, Central Okanagan School District students have opportunities to advance their education or learn a job skill trade that didn’t exist for their parents.

Hugh Gloster, superintendent of the school district, says the growth of post-secondary education facilities in Kelowna has become beneficial to not only students, but also teachers and administrators.

Gloster said partnerships fostered between local schools and UBCO

and OC are opening up new doors, and perhaps more importantly sending students out into the workforce with job skills or an academic education degree that can garner good paying jobs.

“Traditionally, we have always seen a lag in the number of students right out of high school who move on to post-secondary education programs when compared to the Lower Mainland or even Vancouver Island, but that number is gradually increasing for us now and that has a lot to do both with UBC and Okanagan College,” Gloster said.

“We used to see a much higher exit of high school graduates to Victoria, Vancouver and even Calgary and Edmonton, but that trend is changing as more are staying in town because it

More students are staying in town because it is more affordable to go to university here.

is more affordable to go to university right here.”

Citing the college as an example, he noted the school district has already had a long-running partnership with BCIT to give students an opportunity in Grade 12, for example, to take courses and get dual credits for both high school graduation and that institution’s diploma programs.

“With the college expanding, the opportunity to enhance that kind of partnership with OC has also expanded. We have 55 of our high school students who in January began taking post-secondary programs before graduating high school,” Gloster said.

“They spend the first semester with us, then move on to the college and get dual credits for both schools.”

On the university side, Gloster said the immediate benefits have been seen with the education faculty wanting to work closely with the school district, in particular Pearson Road Elementary and Rutland Middle School, as a teaching aspect of UBCO’s program.

“We’ve always had university students coming to our schools to do their practicums, but what’s taking place as well as they can carry out teacher training initiatives on site, which opens up professional development opportunities for our staff and hear about the latest new teaching methods and research,” he said.

As well, the opportunity for staff to pursue a Masters degree or enhance their undergraduate degrees become a lot more financially accessible.

Gloster cites two other examples of UBCO’s influence, a symposium on genocide which was attended by hundreds of students from across the school district, and the 2014 Canadian Student Leadership Conference next September that will bring the best and brightest students from across Canada to our city.

Going forward, Gloster said those partnerships, those learning opportunities, the access to post-secondary resources bode well for the Central Okanagan’s school system moving forward.

Hugh Gloster, superintendent of the school district

And that kind of positive outlook is significant when considering the economic impact of the school system on the Central Okanagan’s economy.

Including full and part-time staff and noon hour supervisors, the school district employs close to 3,000 people.

“I always have to remind my friends at Rotary and other business groups not to forget the economic impact of the school district,” he said. “Just on my small cul de sac street, there are seven people paying mortgages from their school district jobs.”

Gloster said the overall operating budget for the school district comes in around $188 million—$87 million on teachers’ salaries, $9 million on principals and administrative staff; $10 million for education assistants, $18 million for school district support staffs.

“The employee groups alone within the budget are well over $100 million. That is pretty significant and that puts a lot of money back into the economy. UBCO and Okanagan College have smaller student enrolments and less staff, but there are still huge economic benefits from them being here.”

As for enrolment, Gloster said student numbers for Grades 10 to 12 are reaching 1,200 per grade, but that will drop as the intermediate grade students get older.

“We will see a bit of a lull at one end when those Grade 10s have graduated, but the echo boom is seeing growth at the kindergarten level with classes of 1,300 and 1,400 at the primary levels which will be moving through the system in time,” Gloster said. ■

FOCUS 2013 Capital News Tuesday, April 30, 2013

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

UBCO’s arrival a boon for the City of Kelowna Alistair Waters

called upon to provide areas to study.

Assistant Editor As a result, the city benefits from the work.

Vos pointed to one study that looked at the While infrastructure at the UBC Okanagan city’s underground water pipe system, how it opcampus has gown over the years and the univererates, how long it will likely last before major sity has proven to be a strong selling feature for repairs and upgrades are required and even ways economic development in this area, a major benof preventing and detecting leaks. efit for the city has been the institution’s focus on “That work alone would have cost us thouresearch. sands of dollars if we had hired a consultant,” According to Kelowna’s general manager of said Vos. community services, John Vos, the university’s He said in many cases, the city would not desire to conduct research in a myriad of areas spend the money to hire consultants to do the research the students do because it would just Kelowna teamed up wth UBCO and the province to pay for the prove too costly. flyover that takes northbound traffic on Highway 97 to the Vos said in university’s Kelowna campus. most cases the city benefits at no cost from UBCO’s research because the university often has access to grants to pay for the research.

“It really is a win-win-win situation for everyone involved,” he said.

As a major research institution, with an engineering and a sciences faculty, the breadth of the work tackled has benefited the city greatly and, in some cases, by students and professors at the campus is wide has saved it tens of thousands of dollars. and varied.

“There’s no doubt about it, their research has And it is not just City Hall that has benefited helped us tremendously,” said Vos. from UBCO’s work.

Because the university is constantly looking for The university has also done a great deal of research projects for its students, the city is often work with the Okanagan Basin Water Board,

{ } “It really is a

helping it in win-win situation its endeavfor everyone ours to find ways to coninvolved.” serve water in the John Vos Okanagan.

Vos said the relationship with the UBCO is such that city is more than willing to provide access to its infrastructure and operations when the university comes calling.

In the past, UBCO has conducted research projects that have not only looked at city infrastructure, but also at ways the city does business, suggesting ways to improve a number of its operations — all free of cost.

“Having the university here is a tremendous benefit to us at the city,” said Vos. UBCO also provides a source of future employees of the city, many of whom start out doing practicum and part-time summer work for the city, especially in the engineering fields.

At a recent employment fair at the UBCO, the city had a booth and city officials said they regularly hire students, especially in the engineering and finance fields.

In terms of actual infrastructure construction projects that the city and the university have collaborated on, the biggest has been the Highway 97 traffic flyover.

That project was cost shared by UBCO, the city and the province with each contributing onethird of the cost.

In the past, the city has also sold UBCO land for future expansion of the campus and while most of the internal campus roads have been university projects, not city works, or were in place already when the campus belonged to Okanagan University College prior to 2005, improvement of routes accessing the campus have been made over the years. ■

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First anniversary brings prestigious “PRESIDENT’S AWARD” Only one year old, the new ownership group of Kelowna Hyundai, headed by President and Owner John Kot and General Manager, Guy Lemieux, have just been awarded with the respected President’s Award from Hyundai Canada. This award is only given to the top 10

dealers in Canada that have gone above and beyond their expected forecasts in both sales and service.

Their success has been a combination of many factors, not least the continuing growth of Hyundai as a global leader in automotive technology, and producing vehicles that people want to own and drive – worldwide!

The brand has recently won some major awards such as the Santa Fe has won the 2013 Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year from the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, and the 2013 Elantra received Top Pick in the Compacts segment from Auto.ca as well as the 2013 Best New Small Car

from AJAC, while the 2013 Elantra GT received a 5 Star Crash Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. And don’t forget last years 2012 Hyundai Veloster won the Best New Design from AJAC. So if you are in the market for a car it is time to check out Hyundai and what better than the nation’s top dealership.

Our commitment doesn’t end once you drive off the lot. Our state-of-the-art service department houses some of the most advanced technologies available, designed specifically to service your vehicle. Whether spring maintenance or major mechanical service, our highly trained technicians use only certified genuine parts to keep your vehicle running like brand new all year long.

So maybe your current financial status has been difficult for you at other dealerships, Kelowna Hyundai has so many different options for you. They can APPROVE ANYONE as they can do their own in-house financing, plus they work with many banks to get you the vehicle of your choice at a price you can afford.

Looking for a used vehicle?

Well, their huge lot has the most used inventory of any car dealership in the Central Okanagan, with over 130

pre-owned vehicles on the lot at any one time. Their inventory is priced from a firsttime buyer to those looking for a luxury vehicle. They also have a very unique “Buy Direct” program which allows you to bypass costly premiums on brand new vehicles and purchase an almost new vehicle at very substantial savings.

So, if a new or used vehicle is in your future, please make sure you visit Kelowna Hyundai – proud winners of the 2013 President’s Award – and see the difference in their exceptional sales and service.

The staff at the dealership will make sure you will not be disappointed.

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

Attracting new business entrepreneurs

By Tina Campbell Contributor

Robert Fine says one of the best weapons in his marketing arsenal for drawing business to the Central Okanagan is the existence of UBC Okanagan.

Robert Fine, executive director of the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, says UBCO’s role within the post-secondary education industry in the region plays an important role in attracting potential business owners to the region.

When trying to attract people to move to a different

community, one of the most important tools a city can have is a well respected university, says Fine.

This is why, over the last five years, Kelowna has been able

young entrepreneurs and their families.

“The Okanagan Valley currently has the highest self-employment percentage in the country, with over 50 per cent of all businesses in the Central “Post-secondary Okanagan being plays an important one-person role in attracting operations. It is potential business only possible for this number owners.” to increase, as Robert Fine the university’s expansive engineering and to lead the province in business management population growth, says program will continue Fine. to help local business He says that is develop and grow,” thanks to UBCO, and Fine said. the opportunities it is It is the long-standing providing to talented goal of the COEDC to

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attract people that can create businesses to the Okanagan Valley, Fine says, adding that UBCO plays a very large and important hand in attracting entrepreneurs here.

The role of the COEDC is to not only bring in new investments, but to also work on the existing business base already located in the Central Okanagan.

Fine says the university helps with both of these tasks, by helping to bring in upwards of 200 new families each year to the area.

The university has also created many research partnerships

would have chosen another community that provides the education they require to succeed in their future,” Fine said.

“Without the university, much of the Okanagan’s profits and business developments would leave along with the students.”

Fine says that as the COEDC continues to promote an innovative economy for the Central Okanagan, UBCO will play a very large role in drawing in more residents as well as creating a flow of graduating students that can work with the existing business in the Okanagan to provide them with access to

oldest demographic community in Canada.

As of 2011, the city was the third oldest,” Fine said.

“The dramatic change is due to the arrival of both the working and student population on the UBCO campus.

Because Kelowna has no significant natural population growth, the city has started to rely on the university to bring more people to the area to meet the social and economic needs of the city. “ Fine says the population in Kelowna grew by nearly 11 per cent between 2006 and 2011, thanks to the 5,000 students that

with local companies, and has even provided a significant economic boost in the valley.

“If Kelowna was not home to UBCO, many of the skilled individuals who have chosen to enter the global race for talent

some of the best and brightest minds in the country.

“It is not only important for Kelowna to increase its business profits, but also to increase its overall population. In 2006, Kelowna was the

attend the university but are not originally from the Okanagan.

“Without the university, Kelowna would be a much different place socially, economically, and demographically,” Fine said. ■

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KEVIN PARNELL STAFF REPORTER

As the District of Lake Country’s economic development manager, Ryan Roycroft is charged with planning for the future business success of Lake Country, a community with a population that climbed over 11,000 in the 2011 census.

But not far away from what you may think is the aging District of Lake Country (DLC) is a burgeoning university that appears to be having an impact on Lake Country’s population by keeping young families in the area. And the proximity of UBCO to Lake Country is also allowing Roycroft to plan for UBCO’s impact on the business community there.

“Since 2005 UBC Okanagan has grown so much it’s almost like dropping the whole population of Lake Country on the hill beside us,” said Roycroft.

“When you add students, faculty and staff it’s almost at 10,000. It’s a fantastic asset to our community.”

While UBCO is viewed as a Kelowna university, it truly is a benefit to the entire region and for proof you only need to look at Lake Country, which on the face of things appears to be a retirement community.

But as UBCO has grown from 2,500 students in 2005 when it opened to more than 8,000 today, so too has the population of Lake Country, with the biggest growth in the community in the 20 to 34 age demographic.

Between the 2006 and 2011 Canadian censuses, the population of citizens between the ages of 20 to 34 rose by 53 per cent in Lake Country, the fastest growing demographic in Lake Country by a long shot. That increase also meant Lake Country was one of the rare B.C. communities that actually got younger since 2006.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

Lake Country benefits from the proximity of UBCO

Rental access key issue for students TINA CAMPBELL CONTRIBUTOR

District of Lake Country economic development manager Ryan Roycroft and communications manager Karen Miller at the Lake Country booth, set up at a UBCO trade show, hosted by the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce.

“We’ve always had struggles keeping younger families in town,” said Roycroft. “You hit a certain age and head off. Having the university close to us has been great for keeping young people in town.

It’s having a real impact. It’s a great way to keep young families in the community and to offer graduates from our high schools to take the next step in their lives and stay in the community.”

In terms of the business, Roycroft says it will be important that Lake Country provide an option for graduates from UBCO, entrepreneurs who may be looking for a business start-up after graduation.

“The hope is that we do see businesses start with UBCO graduate students and undergraduates,” he said. “In our economic development plan we’re looking into the feasibility of incubator space, low rent space where up-and-coming businesses would share reception and other costs.

Almost subsidized office space targeting young entrepreneurs.”

Roycroft said the biggest economic development impacts from UBCO will start to be felt as the university produces more graduate students, especially in technology fields. He added once the Southern Medical Program at UBCO starts to graduate doctors in 2015, that could also have a major impact as graduates are already comfortable living in the Okanagan and may choose to stay.

That’s another reason why it’s important that the DLC be ready and willing to work with graduates form UBC Okanagan in the coming years, added Roycroft.

“We probably haven’t done enough with the university,” he admitted. “Partially that’s because they are still growing. It’s certainly going to provide new entrepreneurs, new ideas and a new market as we look to attract businesses to Lake Country. ■

The biggest impact of the post-secondary sector on the real estate market has been felt in the rental housing sector.

Cliff Shillington, the owner/managing broker of Re/Max Kelowna, says UBC Okanagan has a serious impact on the rental market and likely prevented a number of people who invested in condos from losing them when the real estate housing sales market dipped beginning in 2008.

“That’s because the condos could be rented out to students,” Shillington said. “It also brought investors into the market along with parents who purchased properties, primarily condos, for their children to live in while getting their post-secondary education.”

He says the impact of the university opening or the growth of Okanagan College is hard to gauge because the real estate market was already going through a boom phase never before experienced in the Okanagan.

“It’s difficult to say exactly how much of an impact it had but it definitely contributed to the activity such as more sales in the area.”

Today, while he says the younger makeup of Kelowna can be seen by the larger number of post-secondary students coming here, housing sales still follow some traditional economic patterns—most Re/Max buyers (about 60 per cent) are still local people with the largest share of the remaining buyers coming from the rest of B.C. and Alberta. ■

FOCUS 2013 Capital News Tuesday, April 30, 2013

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

A huge investment in the future

TINA CAMPBELL CONTRIBUTOR

The development of the UBC Okanagan campushas had profound economic and social impacts on the Central Okanagan, says the university’s faculty of management administrator.

Carol Zuckerman says capital projects worth around $400 million have been completed on campus—with funding from the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education, the federal government, donors (including people here in the Okanagan) and UBC itself.

“It should be noted that we have added one million square feet of space since 2005. And the most intensive construction on our campus took place during a severe downturn in the local construction industry. It was a great benefit to the region’s economy to have some the Southern Interior’s largest construction projects underway during that time,” Zuckerman said. “We are hugely grateful to the community here and others who have made this possible. It is a huge investment in the future of this region and in BC.” • the expansion of our student body from 3,500 to over 8,300, including 655 graduate students and 684 international students; • increase to now more than 1,100 full-time permanent employees, so on a typical day UBCO has close to 10,000 people on campus; • an increase of programs, including the addi-

accounted for about $79 million. Most of it spent right here in the Central Okanagan.”

Zuckerman says UBCO has also brought more diversity to our community, with students and faculty coming here from 81 countries around the world.

“They share their cultural experiences with us, bringing a diversity of perspectives and experiences that help broaden our understanding of the world.”

But combining the assets of post-secondary institution research and knowledge to the economy will continue to post benefits both now and over the long term.

Over the past eight years, the emergence of UBCO and Okanagan College as important economic drivers only enhances our long-term position in the Central Okanagan. One of the most exciting aspects of what we are doing is the potential for the university to work with communities throughout the Okanagan on economic development,” she said.

We are creating an environment for collaboration and innovation—one in which business and industry help channel the power of university research with ideas and challenges we can pursue together. In some respects, we are still a ‘start-up’ ourselves, but we are well-equipped with enthusiasm, expertise and a strong desire to contribute in meaningful ways to economic progress in the Central Okanagan and throughout this part of British Columbia.” ■

tion of engineering, management and medicine, and the expansion of existing programs to have greater capacity and new offerings; • In 2005 the campus had accommodation for 350 students—today UBCO has nearly 1,700 beds.

Zuckerman says research is another key investment that UBCO is able to make in the local economy, as in the past year the university has secured more than $11.7 million in research funding supporting 480 research projects.

As well, Zuckerman notes the development of the business park adjacent to the university along Innovation Drive has continued to progress as has residential development in the immediate vicinity of the campus.Zuckerman says as of 2010, statistical estimates show salaries for faculty and staff, student spending, campus operations and construction spending represented $1.45 billion in total economic activity.

“Our direct spending alone in the 2009-10 fiscal year was $356 million. To this we can add an additional $52 million in student spending as a direct result of UBC’s presence in the region, for a total of $407 million. In 2010 salaries and benefits

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www.kelownacapnews.com 13

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

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UBC Okanagan enhances development of regional economy

BARRY GERDING EDITOR

When UBC Okanagan was initially unveiled by Premier Gordon Campbell back in 2003, it caught many people by surprise.

Putting the rest the debate between creating a university and a university-college was cause for both jubilation and disappointment, depending on which side of the argument you were on.

But in its infancy, creating UBCO as a satellite campus of the University of B.C. in Vancouver, the thought among many was the new campus was being viewed as primarily an undergraduate liberal arts degree institution.

But it has evolved over the years since to become much more than that, and an increasingly important cog in the Central Okanagan economy, both as an employer and provider of postsecondary research to assist various other economic parts of the Okanagan Valley economic engine.

“I think it’s fair to say there has been an astonishing level of growth at UBCO in the past decade,” said Stephen Toope, president of UBC. “I must say I am really encouraged by how quickly the campus has developed. When the (UBCO) concept was created, which was just before I arrived as president of UBC, I do remember coming up to visit the site and thinking to myself it all felt a little bit fragile at that point.”

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f t r Stephen Toope, President of UBC Okanagan i But Toope recalls very quickly how that In an interview with the Capital News, Toope initial trepidation changed, as a real sense of says the role of UBCO, and of post-secondary momentum began to build for what the university education in general which is significantly could bring to the Okanagan Valley, something he contributed to as well by Okanagan College, is to says was assisted both by the response of valley provide stable employment and good paying jobs communities and the fiscal support of Campbell’s by its very existence and to increasingly use its Liberal government to provide the campus research resources of students and professors to infrastructure. enhance development of the regional economy.

“All that support has made Toope cites as one prime it easier for the university example of the latter for UBCO is the development of the school to succeed,” he said, noting “UNIVERSITY CAN of engineering, which he says UBCO has achieved its building has been more successful than objectives laid out in its initial MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN any other university engineering 10-year build-out plan.

THE ECONOMIC FUTURE school in Canada at securing Toope remembers first OF THE VALLEY.” federal grants to provide meeting then Kelowna mayor research for local industry.

Sharon Shepherd and the Stephen Toope, President “I think that is an incredible message he emphasized to him statement about how well the at the university’s outset.

UBCO campus has done so “What the mayor and the quickly, and how university can make a difference other city councillors I met at the time said to me in the economic future of the valley,” he said. were two things: how excited they were to see Toope says UBCO employs just over 1,000 the creation of UBCO bringing educated people people, which brings a benefit to the Central to community who would put down roots, and Okanagan region, and has met its 10-year student how many will pursue their own entrepreneurial enrolment mandate, which again brings a vibrancy pursuits which will bring economic benefits, and to the area and consumer spenders for the local how the university will bring cultural diversity to the community in new resident moving here of all economy.

Enrolment at UBCO in September 2012 sat ages, backgrounds and ethnic groups from around at 1,933 new first-year students to its campus, the world. The mayor felt that was something that including 1,249 students from B.C. high school. would enliven and enrich the community.”

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FOCUS 2013 Capital News Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Overall enrolment has grown to 8,307 (including 7,652 undergraduates and 655 graduates, up from 7,932 for the previous school year.

With the provincial government’s commitment to UBCO’s infrastructure development now over, Toope says the university has embarked on an ambitious fundraising plan to upgrade both the UBC and UBCO campuses in the years ahead.

UBC has set a target of $1.5 billion for UBC, with $100 million of that targeted specifically to UBCO. So far, the UBCO element sits at $70 million.

“We’ve also set a goal of engaging 50,000 alumni in the life of our university, and we’re now sitting at 47,000 so we are encouraged by that as well,” Toope noted.

Among the short-term needs to be met by those fundraising efforts for UBCO will include expansion of existing student housing, upgrade the library faciiities and to add more classroom space.

Toope says the library is a key ingredient in that mix because in the social media world of today, a university library is about more than rows of books and study carols.

“It’s also a lot about connectivity to the Internet and creating more space for students to work within that environment,” he said.

But beyond the bricks and mortar needs for UBCO, Toope emphasizes that continuing to further integrate the student and research resources to benefit the local economy will be an important objective.

www.kelownacapnews.com 15

“We think moving forward we have the capacity at UBCO to collaboratively work with local industry to help Okanagan industry sectors to up their games in terms of future economic and socio-economic growth,” Toope said.

“We are being asked all the time by business association and valley economic development groups, chambers of commerce and individual industries for our input and support. That’s a need we want to meet. We are not here to tell you what to do, we want to build genuine partnerships within the local economy that can effectively leverage our resources.”

Toope says the notion of Kelowna becoming a “college town” is a pretty nice complement to the importance of post-secondary education in the city and the region as a whole.

“I’ve gone to school in other towns referred to that way and generally they were pretty vibrant places. But they are communities of economic growth as well,” Toope said.

“Those communities become a source for knowledge-based industry growth, such as the high-tech sector…there is a correlation between the existence of a significant university or college infrastructure and the ability for business ideas to grow and succeed. That to me is what is meant to be called a college town.”

UBC Okanagan is planning for its continued expected growth

Toope, the 12th president of the University of British Columbia, will leave office June 30, 2014, to pursue academic and professional interests in international law and international relations. ■

SUPPORT THINKING THAT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD Balancing act.

Economist John Janmaat is studying trade-offs where water is involved, helping communities decide how to share water between agriculture, tourism and recreation, residential uses, and the environment.

His research at UBC’s Okanagan campus is made possible by a funding partnership that includes generous support from the community, UBC, and the Leading Edge Endowment Fund.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

16 www.kelownacapnews.com

FOCUS 2013 Capital News Tuesday, April 30, 2013

UBCO MILESTONES 2013

OFFICIAL OPENING FOR ENGINEERING, MANAGEMENT AND EDUCATION (EME) BUILDING An impressive high-tech building designed to inspire students and produce extraordinary research collaboration was officially opened today at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

At 186,000 square feet, and completed with a budget of $68 million, the Engineering, Management and Education (EME) building is home to four faculties and schools: The School of Engineering, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Management and the College of Graduate Studies. It is the largest single project undertaken as part of the campus master plan.

Students, researchers, and scholars will redefine our notion of the world by challenging concepts and engaging with students and society in new understanding. Together, they will improve our world from within these walls. That is truly exciting,” says UBC president Stephen Toope.

2012

UBC’S OKANAGAN CAMPUS LOCALE TO HOST LIVE THEATRE AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS It may be that all the world’s a stage, but students at UBC’s Okanagan campus finally have a playhouse to call their own.

Students and staff alike are excited that there is now a permanent public performance space on campus. University Theatre, which continues to double as a lecture hall, has been upgraded, renovated and turned over to students in the performance program in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies.

The makeover has been a long time coming and nobody anticipates it more than Neil Cadger, head of the Department of Creative Studies and associate professor of performance (theatre).

“Having University Theatre as a dedicated performance venue on campus is a great resource for our students,” says Cadger. “Our ability to workshop and deliver live theatre productions and entertainment provides students with a first-hand learning experience. They will immerse themselves in every aspect of live staging, from performance, to writing, designing promotional material to managing the theatre itself.”

Cadger expects University Theatre will be a busy and popular attraction among the growing theatre and music crowd in the Okanagan.

“UBC has invested considerable effort and dollars into University Theatre and we will use it to full advantage,” says Cadger. “Our audiences will be thrilled and entertained, while our students will get a chance to show what they can do.”

2011

2010

START AN EVOLUTION COMBINES PHILANTHROPY, ALUMNI, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GOALS The University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus has kicked off an ambitious campaign to raise $100 million. The campaign, start an evolution, is among the biggest ever to be staged in the B.C. Interior.

By combining philanthropic gifts and alumni talents, UBC will enhance student learning, expand research capacity and extend its community engagement initiatives.

“Our campaign is like no other hat has ever been seen in Canada, in that our goal is not simply to raise funds for the University, but als to raise energy in the form of alumni engagement and personal involvement in our broader community,” says Ross Langford, campaign chair. Langford, a UBC alumnus and partner in the law firm Farris, Vaughan, Wills and Murphy LLP in Kelowna, will lead a campaign cabinet representing the Okanagan as well as Calgary.

The financial goal and alumni involvement are the cornerstones that will propel UBC into innovative community partnerships and a fresh phase of development after the initial six-year buildout of the Okanagan campus, Langford says.

ABORIGINAL CENTRE OFFICIAL OPENING The Aboriginal Centre at UBC Okanagan was officially opened on January 22, 2010. The 256-sq.m.

(2,756 sq. ft.) centre, made possible by $600,000 in funding from B.C.’s Ministry of Advanced Education, has been designed as a special space that reflects the cultural characteristics of the Aboriginal students who use it, says Lyle Mueller, Director of Aboriginal Programs and Services.

“UBC Okanagan initiatives such as peer support and entire programs developed for Aboriginal students are proving very successful here,” says Mueller, explaining that the new centre is the new home to a host of academic services, tutorial and peer support, along with study skills and time management workshops.

Last year, 14 Aboriginal students graduated from UBC Okanagan. This year, 158 Aboriginal students are enrolled in programs ranging from Bachelor of Education degrees to interdisciplinary PhDs.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT EVENTS 2012:

RESEARCH INTO BEHAVIOUR TREATMENT AND MEDICATION USE A FIRST IN CANADA A teaching and research clinic for treating mental illness, focused on individual and family mental health and wellbeing, has opened at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

The Interprofessional Clinic is a collaborative venture between the Schools of Social Work and Nursing in the Faculty of Health and Social De-

velopment and the Psychology Department in the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences.

DONORS KEY TO COLLABORATIVE IMAGING FACILITY THAT BENEFITS FACULTY, STUDENTS AND INDUSTRY UBC’S Okanagan campus has officially opened a $3.5-million science lab that allows scientists to measure minute particles, scan them at the atomic level and determine their origin.

The Fipke Laboratory for Trace Element Re-

www.kelownacapnews.com 17

2009

2008

2004

NEW UNIVERSITY CENTRE A HUB FOR STUDENT ACTIVITY Students have more places to relax, study and get together with the addition of the University Centre at UBC Okanagan. Opened this summer, the $33-million building is a hub for student activity—offering everything from fresh food to financial aid.

“We wanted to create a central place for student activity and engagement,” says Ian Cull, Associate Vice President, Students, at UBC Okanagan.

“One of the main things this new building will do is provide a focal point where students can gather and have immediate access to services and activity. It also features some spaces – specifically, three collegia – that provide a home away from home for students who commute.”

Collegia are spaces designed to serve as places to hang out, eat lunch, spend time with classmates, and do school work.

Each collegium has a relaxing lounge-style atmosphere and is outfitted with comfortable furniture, individual and group work spaces, and kitchen facilities.

Included in the 79,000-sq.-ft. building are learning centres, student services offices for several UBC Okanagan departments, UBC Students’ Union Okanagan offices, a sushi bar, student club space, a variety of social and gathering spaces and a pub/restaurant.

FIPKE CENTRE OPENS British Columbia’s advanced research capacity has been expanded by the new $31.5-million Charles E. Fipke Centre for Innovative Research, officially opened today at UBC Okanagan in Kelowna.

Named for Charles Fipke, the Kelowna geologist who discovered North America’s first commercial diamond pipes in Canada’s North, the Fipke Centre is the first new academic building to be completed as part of the UBC Okanagan campus master plan. The facility was made possible through a $5-million gift from Fipke’s foundation (plus $2 million for equipment) and $26.5-million from the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.

“I am very grateful for the education and the experiences I had at UBC as a student,” said Charles Fipke, who received a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in geology from UBC in 1973. “Throughout my career as a geologist I have applied what I learned and it has served me well. I welcomed the opportunity to give back to UBC in a way that will directly help today’s students obtain a great education, and help a new generation of science exploration and research thrive right here in the Okanagan.”

UBC OKANAGAN CAMPUS EXPANSION PLANS APPROVED TO ACCOMMODATE 900 NEW STUDENTS The UBC Board of Governors has approved a $18.4 million (including special equipment) construction plan to accommodate 900 new student spaces when UBC Okanagan opens in September 2005.

With construction set to begin next month, the plan will add one more floor each to the current Okanagan University College (OUC) Arts and Sciences buildings, creating 3,300 and 3,000 square meters respectively of new space on the OUC North Kelowna campus that will become the site of UBC Okanagan.

“The plan is an important first step in our commitment to significantly increase university access for Okanagan students,” said UBC President Martha Piper. “The new space will help us to achieve our vision of a vibrant learning and research environment -- a campus of choice that will attract and serve outstanding students and faculty.”

search (FiLTER), a state-of-the art interdisciplinary research facility, was formally opened with the naming dedicated to Kelowna geologist and alumnus Charles E. Fipke, whose foundation was instrumental in equipping the lab with the world-class imaging equipment.

REICHWALD HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE OFFICIALLY OPENS Premier Christy Clark officially opened the new home of the Southern Medical Program that will see doctors completing their medic-

al training for the first time in the Okanagan -benefiting B.C. students and families.

2010:

THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA’S OKANAGAN CAMPUS WILL SOON DOUBLE ITS LAND AREA. The UBC Board of Governors today approved the $8.78-million purchase of 103.6 ha. (256 acres) of North Glenmore farmland from the City of Kelowna.

“This is an unprecedented and extremely important event in the history of UBC,” says

Brad Bennett, Chair of the Board of Governors. “We’re grateful to the City of Kelowna for being such outstanding partners and for the opportunity to acquire this land. This ensures that UBC’s Okanagan campus can respond to the future needs of our region, our province and the country.”

2004:

KUBC alumnus Irving K. Barber, founding chairman of Slocan Forest Products Ltd., today announced a $10 million boost to the quality of undergraduate learning at UBC Okanagan and throughout British Columbia.

18 www.kelownacapnews.com

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

UBCO helps fill the need for future doctors Alistair Waters Assistant Editor

With a medical school, nursing school, health and exercise sciences school and school of social work, the university is seen as a key component in helping the entire region deal with the shortage of doctors and nurses that B.C. is currently experiencing.

“Every year were are sending hundreds of graduates out into communities across the southern Interior,” said UBCO spokesman Paul Marck.

And according to Dr. Sandy Nash, training doctors and nurses here will help keep them here once they graduate.

Nash, a family physician who helped get the UBCO medical school—known as the Southern Medical Program—up and running here and helped create a program to allow medical graduates to specialize in family medicine, said from now on the university will graduate as many as 32 new doctors per year.

The program’s first class started in 2011 and is now halfway through its training.

Studies have shown that graduates often stay in the areas where they went to school, so that should bode well for addressing future doctor needs, said IH officials here.

The same can be said of nursing, another area

where B.C.— and this region— are in need of more graduates.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the medical training UBCO offers has been Kelowna General Hospital.

While it is now home to the university’s clinical academic campus building, it is also a major teaching hospital in the province and it sees medical school graduates do much of the work at its facility during their last two years of medical school training.

Following the four-years of education students require to get their medical degree, doctors have to then study a specialty in order to practice.

Nash said the university has helped Interior Health, and particularly KGH, grow through the work of its four medical schools and the research they conduct.

While training doctors, nurses, social workers and other health-related program graduates, UBCO also is creating name for itself in the field of health-related research.

Using the highest of high-tech equipment, stu-

Interior Health wants UBC Okanagan medical and health care graduates to know that home is where the work is

dents and professors are examining ways of looking at how the human body works in a myriad of conditions. And that work is getting noticed.

Last year, the university participated in a climb of Mount Everest to included UBCO students and professors monitoring how the human body reacts at great heights with a lack of oxygen.

Back home, in state of the art laboratories in the UBCO campus, students and professors are also able to look at human body reactions in simulated settings that replicate the depth of oceans and even outer space.

In one lab, it is even using machinery it acquired from NASA. ■

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FOCUS 2013 Capital News Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Kelowna car industry seeing resurgence

www.kelownacapnews.com 19

2012: A Record-Breaking Year for

BARRY GERDING

McAuley says he personally looks to his friends in the home building industry and how busy they are as a Optimism is a word that is heard sign of where the local economy is at. around the showrooms of Kelowna’s “What I see right now is they are car dealerships these days. busy again so that’s a good sign. The In the wake of the 2009 reces- funny thing is people I know tell me sionary slump, positive investments they look at our industry as an indiin building upgrades, new luxu- cator of how the economy is doing.” ry brands like Lexus and BMW setMcAuley says automakers are also ting up shop in the city and improv- upping their game in terms of the ing auto sales over the last three years quality of the new cars and meeting are credited for the reasoning behind the increased technology and fuel that optimism. economy deDean McAu- Dean McAulay: things are looking mands of conlay, President of sumers. up for the local car industry the Kelowna Auto “With ChrysDealers Associler, we are seeing ation and ownpotential new er of the Okanadesigns coming gan Chrysler on stream and Jeep Dodge dealseeing that car on ership, says the the market withcar sales indusin two years. That try has reboundkind of turned positively in around was two recent years, although Kelowna sales or three time longer to get that new have probably not met those industry model into production. standards during that time.

“The reaction time to new prod“For us, our dealership has kind uct ideas is much quicker from auof run against the grain of that. Our tomakers and the manufacturing side last three years have been better than is much quicker to respond as well.” the previous year, and 2013 we’re alAnd the better quality of new vehiready up 30 per cent in sales com- cles also is coupled with a drop in the pared to this period last year,” McAu- amount of warranty repair costs beley said. ing seen overall.

Overall, McAuley credits the in“All the (automakers) now have flux of car buyers buying brand the same philosophy, they want to new higher-end trucks and cars has see the new vehicles arrive in perfect been noticably fueled by commuters condition in the showrooms. Some working high-paying jobs in north- of you eliminate the problem with ern Alberta and B.C. flaws that might have occurred in the “They commute back and forth past, you see warranty repair costs but they tend to buy vehicles here dropping like a stone.” and leave them here to drive when McAuley says the KADA is very they’re back in town. There usually aware of their industry’s impact on isn’t a need to drive them to where the local economy—17 dealerships, they are employed,” McAuley said. about 700 direct employees and like“Certainly, many of these work- ly four times that in indirect employers are bringing back a pile of money ment from such interests as automohome with the wages they can earn, tive supply venders and the financial and they’re taking advantage of that community. when it comes to buying a vehicle.”

While experimentation with alterAnd he says people are buying new native fuel options such as hybrids or vehicles, not the pre-owned vehicles electric battery charged engines will that were driving the car sales busi- continue, McAuley says the near funess more in 2008 and 2009. ture will continue to see advances in “I think many people are finding standard fuel engine modifications themselves that there are signs of the that both increase horsepower and economy improving, that things are gas mileage.■ getting better.”

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Research dollars for issues of concern to the

www.kelownacapnews.com 21

2012: A Record-Breaking Year for

wine industry

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BY JUDIE STEEVES STAFF REPORTER

Research at UBC Okanagan into wine and grape industry issues has the potential to be very helpful to the valley’s industry in the long term, says the chairman of the B.C. Wine Grape Council.

Hans Buchler says since the university established a new campus in the valley it’s succeeded in attracting more research dollars for agricultural research into issues of concern and interest to the grape and wine industries.

For instance, research by Cedric Saucier into the impact of particular grape growing conditions on the tannins in red wine, which affect the quality of the resulting wine, will be helpful to growers when it’s completed, he says.

His research is partly funded by the council and partly by the federal agriculture ministry.

He is also looking at chemical markers so growers can more-precisely judge in the field the best time to pick grapes to achieve ideal ripeness.

As well, Susan Murch is doing research on new grape rootstocks created using tissue culture technology which would be more drought tolerant than the ones being currently used.

And Craig Nichol and his team are researching what impact growing woody perennials such as grapes have on greenhouse gas production and what impact different farm management practices have on climate change.

Buchler noted that such research takes time, but in the long-term it will be helpful to industry in the valley.

With UBC-O located here now, there are more faculty spending more time on research into issues of interest to the grape industry, he notes.

The council has applied this year for federal Agri-Innovation Program funding under the Growing Forward Two policy framework, toward three projects at UBC-O in the coming year, including a continuation of the research into tannins in wine and another looking at wild yeast populations in wineries.

“Some of the researchers also collaborate with those working at the Pacific Agri-food Research Centre in Summerland, which is good,” he says.

The council supports the university’s research and Buchler feels it has the potential to be very helpful. “There’s lots of potential for matching funding to be attracted to UBC-O,” he comments.

However, he’s hopeful there will be more collaboration between the researchers at UBC-O and PARC. “It takes time to establish relationships,” he added.

Wine production is the third largest agricultural industry in B.C. with about 7,500 acres of land under cultivation for wine grapes, and 92 per cent of the wine produced in the province comes from the Okanagan Valley. ■

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

Creative juices flowing at UBCO JENNIFER SMITH STAFF REPORTER

If there is an art show where art for art’s sake makes perfect sense, it is the end of year show at UBCO. Converting the fine arts department into a massive installation, the fourth year students take the opportunity to show everyone exactly what their time as a student produced before graduating into a world where some will be artists, others waiters and others may just go on to become accountants.

This is the hub of a cohort of creative minds and it is never dull, particularly when one considers there likely isn’t a person in the class who could visualize this pièce de résistance when art school commenced.

TonyWang is a video-game loving t for medieval armour enthusiast with a talen t put on taking bike chains and bolts one migh make to them using and ane airpl an art instead.

Tony Wang is probably the best example of the radical transformation four years of creative juice and instruction in a university can produce.

He drew a few things to get into art school, he says, but claims he can’t actually draw.

“I just see what I want to make in my mind and then I can make it. But I can’t draw it ,” said Wang, whose intricate metal sculptures of knights in armour give one the sense he must have carefully planned a pattern.

He didn’t. He just takes the old bits of pipes and machine chains, sheet metal and scrap he finds and turns it into an object any little boy would love to play with—and this is likely how he has managed to develop such a talent.

“I always look at the pictures first when I read a book,” he said. “I always have.”

He takes those pictures, and the figures in his video games, and imagines what it would be like if those characters were toys one could use to play.

For parents who fear their violent, video game-addicted children’s brains will go to mush, this phenomenal talent surely make him the knight in shining armour of the show.

And his personal twist on the medieval theme in his work adds the kind of childlike humour everyone would enjoy.

One knight rides a hobby horse, and his raptor sculpture has a marshmallow on a stick in its claw, rather than a flaming baton.

The sculptures are playful in a way that makes one want to pick them up, and his face lights up like a kid in a candy store as he explains the work.

Carla O’Bee’s is somewhat more serious.

Another young student, the intellectual element of her portraits is as important to the work as the image itself, and one can see a young woman shaping the lines in her world through the lines on her canvasses.

She is interested in juxtaposing images of masculinity and femininity, drawing both qualities out of her subjects, and is bravely resurrecting her love of crafts by sewing the hair onto her portraits.

“I wanted to mix the craft into the fine art realm,” she said, aware that, at least traditionally, never the twain shall meet.

Her portraits are of important male figures in her life and the em-

broidery does give them a feminine touch, not to mention a textural quality one probably couldn’t achieve with anything else.

Her father’s beard is particularly striking, and one can see the family resemblance between her father’s eyes and her own.

She has created these canvass portraits with embroidery depicting her boyfriend, her grandfather and her brothersCarla O’Bee showed her father, grandfath er, boyfriend and brother-in-laws in in-law. contribution to the show; their hairher was None of these relatives saw embroidered in the portraits. the images until the night of the show.

The nervous manner in which she an environment which encouraged interapproached the interview, and the action. flush on her neck as she blushed in One can imagine the nest-like obthe photo, lead one to imagine it jects she built would be an attracwould be a very unnerving reveal tion that sucked spectators in, just as on her end, even as awesome as the the cocoon or nest sucks its subject work looked. It took a few years of into to a safe haven connected to naplanning and experimenting to get ture and the outside world in an to this point and she was clearly exethereal sense. cited.

This year’s show featured painting On the opposite end of the scale, and printmaking, Canadiana sculpAngelica Jaeger—artist name aj jaeture and social media elements. And ger—is a seasoned artist with an injust like every other end-of-year home studio who took the ultimate show, was unlike any other—and risk by creating an intuitive, ethereal free to the public. A stellar example sculptural installation. of how the university is contributShe draped cheese cloth into ing to arts within the valley. ■ round objects, leaving one with the impression of a web of cocoons.

“It’s well-planned, but there’s lots of room for openness,” she said just a few days before the opening.

Her interest is always in having a connection with people and she was Angelika Jaegar, aj jaguar , built a cocoon-like install cloth—a medium she has ation out of cheese worknot seen another artist use in the same manner. ing to create

FOCUS 2013 Capital News Tuesday, April 30, 2013

www.kelownacapnews.com 23

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

Post-secondary growth offers tourism benefits

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Thanks to the construction of the University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna has seen a significant increase in tourism in the area says Nancy Cameron with Tourism Kelowna.

“More people have begun choosing Kelowna as a leisure, events and meetings destination, thanks largely in part to the university’s name,” said Cameron.

She cites one specific example of that: “Each fall, as parents bring their first year The city has seen a gradual students to the valley and help get them increase in travel to the city, settled in residence, they are also taking partially due to the university. the opportunity to do some sight-seeing.

This means that every fall many hotels are booked specifically for parents to spend some last minute quality time with their children before sending them off to university. The local businesses are appreciating the abundance of customers, and the surge in city tourism is welcomed with open arms.”

Also increasing the tourism in the area are the sports events and tournaments the university hosts each year. Each event attracts participants from throughout Canada and the U.S., giving the city national exposure and advertising.

Even the growth in research and academic programs has benefited business traffic, as more meetings and conferences are now being held in Kelowna.

These events and conferences help to largely increase profits for local business and hotels, as they host many visitors from all over North America.

Having UBCO located in Kelowna has helped the city to increase its overall tourism revenue, as well as provide national advertising for the beautiful vacation destination.

Along with tourism, air travel in Kelowna has also increased, and Cameron attributes the university’s existence for playing an important role in increasing air traffic.

“With the increased air travel comes more sustainable routes, making Kelowna an ideal place to live or visit. The increased air travel has also been a help in the decision to open a new Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. More traffic in the airport means more people needing a place to stay, and the Four Points hotel will cater to the many different needs of travellers coming in and out of the airport,” she said.

“The hotel will be constructed across Highway 97 from the Kelowna International Airport, and is located just below the university.

The hotel will be in the perfect location to give travellers a place to stay close to the airport, as well as to give residents more choices in lodging and conference centres.

Although the peak tourism season for Kelowna remains May through September, the city has begun to see a gradual increase in travel to the city for both leisure and business purposes since UBCO opened its doors in 2005. ■

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

Okanagan College establishes its own identity TINA CAMPBELL

serves across the valley, while UBCO helps prepare students for a more academically inclined career path.

When it was first debated on “Okanagan College and UBCO whether Kelowna should upgrade now work together in helping stuOkanagan College to a university/ dents achieve their educational goals. college or open a completely new Many students begin their degree by university, there were two complete- taking their first one or two years at ly separate and determined opinions. the college, and then transferring to When the university side won, the university.,” Muskens said.

Jane Muskens, the current registrar at Most of the UBCO college transfers Okanagan College, knew that the cor- come from OC, and the two schools rect choice had been made. have provided many students with “It is difficult the classes, profor post-secondgrams and diary institutions to plomas they “THE COLLEGE WAS provide both vodesire in their ABLE TO BUILD A cational trainchosen job field. ing and academNEW BUILDING IN With the two ic programs, as schools workPENTICTON, AS WELL one group typicaling together, AS KELOWNA.” ly feels disadvanOkanagan Coltaged by the othlege has manJane Muskens er,” said Muskens, aged to remain who is glad to see competitive in today that both post-secondary op- the post-secondary market, Muskens tions are thriving ini the Okanagan. said.

“By opening a separate university, By offering training in technical Kelowna was able to offer proper ed- fields such as engineering and health ucation in both applied and academ- care, OC is providing optimal job opic programs.” portunities for students. The college While OC continued to offer both is currently the largest trade school degree and academic programs, in British Columbia, next to BCIT in Muskens said UBCO began to offer the Lower Mainland, and as such the a much wider variety of degree pro- college is continually enrolling and grams. graduating students through various Muskens said the hands-on knowl- trades programs. edge gained at OC still helps the inMany of the careers that the colstitution to meet the demanding eco- lege trains students for currently nomic needs of the communities it have growth potential, which means CONTRIBUTOR

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The Centre for Learning at the Kelowna campus there is growth in the programs at the school, noted Muskens.

She says there is currently a demand for engineering technology and health care graduates, and the college is able to provide so many of these programs partially because of how much the school has grown since the opening of the university, Muskens adds.

“Without the college to offer the programs, students would not have the advantage in the current economy.”

For the first five years that UBCO was open from 2005 to 2010, OC actually had continual growth, due to the government funding extra seats in most of the programs.

The college was able to build a new building in Penticton, as well as a new

building in Kelowna, due to both government and donor support.

The college is also expanding the trades training facility in Kelowna due to government, industry and donor support. Since the university opening in 2005, OC has added a number of new trades programs, allowing students more choices and more diversity.

“It is safe to say that the opening of the university has, in fact, positively impacted the college. It has allowed the college to offer more programs, open new buildings, and assist students in beginning their post-secondary degrees. With both schools working together in Kelowna, the amount of successful students in both trades and academic careers is sure to increase,” Muskens said. ■

OC Stats Okanagan College had 6,362 at our Central Okanagan campuses and centres (Kelowna, Penno Road, Ackland Road, the airport training centre at Flightcraft). Of those: • 1,110 came from outside the Central Okanagan, but within the Okanagan College region • 730 students came from outside the OC region, but within B.C. • 335 came from Canada, but outside BC and • 490 were international students For the Central Okanagan alone then, approximately 41.8 per cent came from outside the Central Okanagan area For the College as a whole (entire region, all campuses and centres, but again excluding continuing studies general interest students), 9,782 students attended fall 2012 and winter 2013 semesters. Of those • 956 were from B.C. but outside the Okanagan region, • 449 were from Canada but outside B.C. And •521 were international students For the entire College region approximately 19.7 per cent were from outside the Okanagan College region

FOCUS 2013 Capital News Tuesday, April 30, 2013

www.kelownacapnews.com 27

Connecting job skills to jobs BARRY GERDING EDITOR

Learn a job skill to help you go out and find your way in the world. That could well be a marketing trailer for Okanagan College, but more importantly it reflects how the valley-wide college has become a key player in training students to fill job needs in the province’s various economic sectors.

Kathy Butler, executive director of the OC Foundation for the past decade, says the growth and support of the foundation over the years is a reflection of the role the college plays in support of the local economy.

Butler cites U.S. urban studies theorist Richard Florida, who now live in Toronto, and his belief that communities needs arts and education facilities to attract and retain people with talents that can benefit the local economy through their investment and job skills.

Last year, the college gave out more than $700,000 in for some 1,100 scholarships and bursaries to students, and the foundation set a $7 million fundraising target last September.’

Some $5 million of that will go towards OC’s funding of the $33 million trades facility expansion announced by the provincial government, which will kick in $28 million towards that project.

The growth of the trades department at OC is a reflection of the growing shortage of skilled trades people able to work in areas of northern B.C. and northern Alberta with booming resource-based economies at the moment.

“Even in Kelowna, there’s good chance today that the person cooking you dinner in a local restaurant, coming to fix your plumbing or fixing your car, the aircraft maintenance person is a graduate of Okanagan College, “ Butler said.

“We are training people here to work at jobs on a provincial level…we are the second largest trades training institution now in the province. But I think people are also beginning to appreciate the role that post-secondary education, both ourselves and UBC Okanagan, in the local economy.”

Butler says having both post-secondary schools here allows each to complement one another, such as where students can start their degree for nursing by studying for two years ago OC before mov-

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She agrees the health of the foundation today is a reflection of how the business community sees its value and the potential employees and entrepreneurs it can generate.

And as an employer, Okanagan College offers a ‘clean,’ stable industry that employs close to 1,000 people in good paying jobs at its campuses across the Okanagan from Salmon Arm to Penticton, and has graduated more than 30,000 students.

Still, the local economy has not completely sprung back from the recession state it was in three years ago, as Butler says business leaders are a little more cautious about allocating money for donations to non profit causes.

“Individual and company donors are different.

Companies build donations into their operating budgets every year, while individuals look at how their own portfolios, their own investment and their own businesses are doing each year before making those commitments,” Butler said.

“I would say people are still a bit cautious about the economy and are taking a little longer to make those kinds of decisions.” ■

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

RapidBus one of several ways UBCO has impacted West Kelowna

RapidBus Transit will give users quicker access to UBCO from Westbank Centre

By Wade Paterson STAFF REPORTER

West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater can think of several ways the district has benefitted from having the University of British

Columbia Okanagan in the region.

And he’s known such a post-secondary institution could have that type of impact for a number of years.

Findlater says he was first an advocate to

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community—it was student leaders from different high schools in the Kelowna area,” says Findlater.

“We were lobbying for post-secondary education to be brought to the Kelowna area.”

The Westside mayor says the proposal back then was to build an institution in the area known as The Bluff.

The decision went to a referendum throughout the Okanagan. Findlater says a majority of voters were in favour; however, those in favour didn’t exceed the required 60 per cent.

“We wanted postsecondary opportunity so we didn’t have to go somewhere else.

“Now we’re really blessed to have two, quality post-secondary institutions that provide an opportunity for young people to stay in our community instead of migrating out of the community.”

One of the most noticeable changes

will look like when it is implemented next year.

“There’s an eager anticipation for RapidBus Transit,” says de Jong.

“I can see it being well used and well supported.”

The district’s business development officer, John Perrott, says UBCO is a “huge benefit” for West Kelowna’s economy.

“Any time you’ve got an additional institution with a variety “We’re really of programs, it blessed to have enhances training two, quality for businesses,” says Perrott. post-secondary “It (also) institutions…” provides Doug Findlater opportunities for employers to send staff for even just get to Orchard secondary training.”

Along with the Park or downtown transit upgrades and Kelowna.” economic benefits, The mayor adds the Findlater says UBCO new transit service has “transformed” might increase density the community’s arts, near major exchanges. culture and community “It might suit views. commuters or people “The net impact who don’t necessarily of UBCO, because of want to rely on a car as its reputation, is that much.” we’re actually bringing Last November young people into Couns. Rick de Jong the community who and Carol Zanon tested contribute something the local transit system to the community and by riding the buses many may stay. That’s a from their homes to big plus.

UBCO. “A university of De Jong said he had (UBCO’s) calibre an opportunity to chat with other riders about transforms a community.” ■ what RapidBus Transit the university has stimulated is the expansion of RapidBus Transit.

RapidBus Transit, which will extend to West Kelowna in 2014, will give transit users quicker service from Westbank Centre to UBCO, and all the stops between.

“RapidBus is something that will be well used by students and others who need to

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Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Capital News FOCUS 2013

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Affordable housing key for immigrant women Barry Gerding Editor

a graduate of George Elliott Secondary School. Growing up, she saw the Central Okanagan as a predominantly white European immigrant culture, and didn’t appreciate the issues facing non white immigrant women until she began researching her masters paper.

“Generally, I found it surprising the barriers these women encountered Karl recognizes she was fortunate to be able to live at home and pursue her Bachelor of Arts degree in geography followed by her Masters in arts, but even she now faces the prospect of leaving home to find a job.

As a job mecca for immigrant women, Kelowna falls short of drawing that potential employee base to the Okanagan, according to a masters degree thesis by a UBC Okanagan student.

Francisca Karl says her own study found that affordable housing remains a stumbling block to creating more opportunity for immigrant women to the Okanagan.

She says the potential dream to move to Kelowna, find a job or advance their education and start a family is not a readily accessible to ethnic women who don’t have a family connection to help them locally.

Karl says those women need to do their homework before coming to the Okanagan, to understand what opportunities exist to find adequate housing and job of education prospects, and to be able to speak English.

In her thesis, Karl writes: “Having access to affordable housing upon arrival in Kelowna and reducing their financial stress would allow immigrant women to more easily establish roots in Canada and help them to find appropriate jobs, provide better educational opportunities for their kids, and reduce the risk of facing discrimination by landlords in the private sector. Although landlords have the right to ask for some types of personal Francisca Karl, with her and financial information, master’s thesis paper on rental housing (many) felt uncomfortable at times with providing such information feeling that some of it was unnecessary.”

She is relocating this summer to Karl says a better dialogue between Edmonton with the hopes of worklandlords and renters would be a ing for a non-profit agency or in a positive first step in helping immi- socio-economic role capacity. grant women to integrate and develop Karl’s paper can be read by googling better connections to the community. the title of her thesis, “Sorry, already Karl grew up in Lake Country and is rented” on google. ■

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