November 21, 2013

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SPECIAL ISSUE NOVEMBER 2013

COLLEGE CONNECTION TOP STORIES Young, trades-focused and ready to learn 2

FINE ARTS & DESIGN 3

TOURISM Seeking out Sonora

4

KEY FEATURES Industrial Automation .... 2 Landscape Horticulture .. 2 Fine Arts Courses.............. 3 Professional Potter ........... 3 Adventure Guiding.......... 4 Hire an Intern.................... 4

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QUOTE OF THE MONTH Getting a job offer six weeks into the program says a lot about the quality of NIC’s program. Sanjel hired a graduate from last year’s class and they’re confident I’ll have the skills they need.”

Misko Valent, 2013 Industrial Automation student

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ENGINEERED TO SUCCEED From Indonesia to Comox, first-year engineering students say college is their key to success Alexander Julianto travelled halfway around the world to take engineering at North Island College.

Instructor Dennis Lightfoot explains how to measure the speed of sound to engineering students Alexander Julianto and Queen Esther Nankabirwa.

The 19-year-old left his family behind in Bandung, the third largest city in Indonesia for the relatively tiny Comox Valley last summer, looking for a quiet place to start his degree.

As a result, more students are starting their engineering degrees at NIC with the support they need.

The move was part of a long-term plan to study engineering in Canada that started more than three years ago, when he applied for his permanent resident status while he was still in junior high.

“I was looking online for a good college and found NIC,” Alexander said. “I think Comox is a good environment and NIC has a strong engineering program.”

Next year, after his sister graduates from high school in Indonesia, his family will join him in Vancouver when he hopes to study engineering at UBC. North Island College has been working with BC’s top universities in recent years to help students move easily from college to university. This year, it improved course transferability to UBC and, in 2010, the college created the UVic Engineering Pathway.

“We’ve had a good batch of students over the last two years who are making better adjustments to university programs,” said Dennis Lightfoot, an instructor in the Math and Sciences department.

“When I got to UVic I felt more prepared and I was really ready to do well,” said Nolan Dewitt, who transferred to UVic this fall.

“If I had gone to a university first, instead of starting at NIC, I probably wouldn’t have passed. I didn’t have to worry about living arrangements and commuting through traffic to school in my first year.”

Now that he’s at university, he appreciates NIC’s focus on teaching and smaller class size even more.

“It’s easier to learn at NIC,” said Dewitt. “The instructors focus on teaching and are all really good at it. Plus, it’s more personal. At NIC they know your name.”

INSTITUTE OF WAR & PEACE Three North Island College instructors have joined together to offer the Institute of War and Peace this spring.

This May, Anne Cumming, Dan HinmanSmith, and Jeff Lawrence will offer three linked second-year university transfer courses, including: • War, Memory, Myth and History (HIS-220) • Selected Topics in Literature (ENG-230) • Contemporary Moral Issues (PHI-230) Students can register for one, two, or three courses, which feature two independent classes per week and a joint plenary session.

Every Wednesday, students get together for wide ranging discussions, guest speakers, and films.

Extracurricular movies, art shows, and dance performances are also planned.

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/artssciences

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/artssciences PAGE 1

NORTH ISLAND COLLEGE | COLLEGE CONNECTION | SPECIAL ISSUE NOVEMBER 2013

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

TECH JOBS WAITING FOR NIC AUTOMATION STUDENTS Misko Valent has eight months left to go before he graduates from North Island College’s Industrial Automation Technician program, but he’s not worried about finding a job on graduation.

Just six weeks into the program he’s already received one job offer from Alberta-based Sanjel Corporation, and he expects more to come.

PLUMBING & PIPING

YOUNG, TRADES-FOCUSED AND READY TO LEARN

“Getting a job offer six weeks into the program says a lot about the quality of NIC’s program,” said Valent. “Sanjel hired a graduate from last year’s class and they’re confident I’ll have the skills they need.”

Instructors Cory Batch and Brad Harsell aren’t surprised. “There is an on-going skills shortage for technicians; we have several employers a year contact us looking for graduates,” said Harsell.

As Vancouver Island’s only Industrial Automation Technician diploma program, NIC draws students from across BC. Every year, more students arrive from the BC Mainland, choosing NIC for quality skills training, reputation, and competitive tuition.

“NIC students know they’ll graduate with the skills and confidence to work anywhere,” said Batch.

Students learn to build, program, and maintain automated systems in a variety of industries including oil and gas, and food and beverage manufacturing. They are also employed with the Canadian Forces, which pays student tuition and wages while they study.

Watch the video: www.nic.bc.ca/trades

LANDSCAPE HORTICULTURE

LOVE WORKING IN THE GARDEN? Learn the art of landscape maintenance and design with North Island College’s Landscape Horticulture programs.

Whether you want to gain employable skills or explore your passion and give your garden a professional look, NIC can get you there.

Study plant health, identification, and garden design while you gain industry recognized horticulture skills in just 12 weeks. Classes run evenings and weekends, with students graduating just in time for spring planting season.

Landscape Horticulture Fundamentals certificate graduates learn skills to work for garden centres private landscapers, parks, and golf courses.

Already employed in the industry? Advance your skills and qualify to write the Level 1 exam toward your Interprovincial (Red Seal) with NIC’s Landscape Horticulture Apprenticeship Training.

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/trades Or, call Julia at 250-923-9724 PAGE 2

Hartley Matthews shapes a pipe in NIC’s plumbing and piping workshop at the Comox Valley campus. Matthews is taking NIC’s Plumbing and Piping Foundation program, en route to becoming a gas fitter, steam fitter or plumber.

Seventeen-year-old North Island College student says skills training will take him far

school is an acceptable option for students today. I would have hated being pushed into university. It’s not how I learn and it’s not what I’m good at.”

certificate program that allows students to gain technical training credit and 375 workbased hours toward the steamfitting, sprinkler fitting, plumbing, and gasfitting trades.

He moved to the Comox Valley to stay with his uncle in the Comox Valley and earn plumbing credentials.

“I haven’t decided which specialty I wanted to focus on yet,” said Hartley. “Gas fitting and plumbing give me a few more options.”

“I definitely caught the construction bug when I built my cabin in Creston, but when At 17, the plumbing and piping foundation it came time to pick a program — I thought student has already built his own micro-house, I’d try plumbing. It seems like the skills are travelled to South America and Turkey, and in demand, and I can earn enough money to travel as much as possible. Once I get my Red worked construction and roofing jobs.

Seal I can work all over the world.”

After graduating from high school, he moved to the Comox Valley from Creston, BC to fulfill WorkBC, the provincial employment services another goal: learn a trade to work anywhere agency, estimates the average salary for plumbers ranges from $44,000 to $53,000 and raise funds to keep travelling.

Though smart and goal-oriented, he knew per year depending on experience, with the largest demand being in BC’s North Coast / early on he wasn’t destined for university.

Nechako region.

“I’ve always been better at trades and more practical skills than traditional academics,” North Island College offers four levels of he said. “I’m so happy that going to trades Plumbing Apprenticeship Training as well as Plumbing and Piping Foundation, a 26-week

The programs offer a mix of hands-on training and classroom study. “There’s pretty much a 50-50 balance of workshop and in class time,” said instructor Rob Hughes.

Hartley Matthews has a better sense of his goals and learning style than many students twice his age.

Hartley is part of a demographic shift in plumbing training this year. His classroom includes Dual Credit high school students and a mix of older students retraining for a new career. “This year I would say the average age of students is about 23,” Hughes adds.

NIC’s next Plumbing & Piping Foundation program starts in February. Check the website for additional schedules and admission for the Apprenticeship Training program.

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/trades WWW.NIC.BC.CA

NORTH ISLAND COLLEGE | COLLEGE CONNECTION | SPECIAL ISSUE NOVEMBER 2013

FINE ARTS COURSES

FINE ARTS & DESIGN

COAST TO COAST FINE ARTS EDUCATION NIC printmaking experience gives fine arts student a head start in Halifax

term compete for juried shows. Tyler’s show will feature intaglio and lithographic prints and small sculptures. He is now applying to residencies and grad schools in Canada, the United States, and England. “I can’t wait to see where I go next,” he said.

Tyler Cannon travelled from Comox to Halifax to follow his love of printmaking across Canada.

NIC’s Fine Arts diploma introduces a wide range of skills from welding and clay, to painting, printmaking, digital media and art history. Students gain confidence and experience curating student-run bi-annual Art Events, graduation exhibitions and some, will work co-op positions at local art galleries.

The Fine Arts diploma graduate is studying printmaking at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD University), one of Canada’s oldest independent fine arts schools.

DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS & ADD VARIETY TO YOUR PORTFOLIO Choose from a variety of studio and interactive media courses this winter, including: Screen Printing (FIN-217) Explore various methods and techniques of screen printing as an artistic process, including full colour photographic stencil making. Get hands-on experience printing multi-colour images and work on a commercial parallel press.

Sculpture II (FIN-231) Express yourself through contemporary and traditional sculpture methods, including construction and welding, modeling and casting.

Explore three-dimensional design concepts and experiment with wood, clay, plaster and metal in Shadbolt Studio’s large sculpture space.

Introduction to Photography (FIN-145) Introduce yourself to the basic use and application of photographic equipment and design techniques as you create photographic images. This studio course also includes basic darkroom and print development techniques. Single lens reflex cameras are available for student use.

He credits NIC’s challenging and well-rounded program for giving him the technical skills, “The Fine Arts diploma is designed to provide conceptual foundation for art making, and students with an opportunity to try a lot of focused work ethic to build a portfolio that different media,” said Linda Perron, NIC Fine would see him accepted into third year at Art and Design department chair. “We want to inspire creativity and confidence in art making NSCAD University.

“I found the small class sizes at NIC allowed and develop studio practice skills so students me the opportunity to get a lot of one-on-one can leave the diploma and establish their time with my instructors,” Tyler said. “They artistic practice or advance their education were always willing to help and I wanted to and pursue a degree.” Many graduates have attend a university that offered the same successfully continued their education in experience. NSCAD has proven to be the best fine art degree programs in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, BC and Nova Scotia. choice possible.”

While at NSCAD University, Tyler founded the NSCAD Print Club, organized an international printmaking portfolio exchange, worked as an assistant printmaking technician, and will be having a solo show in the student gallery this March. Every semester, students in their last

NIC is developing new programming in screen printing to enhance technical skills for studio artists and exploring a Print Club for students, alumni, and community artists who want to continue their printmaking practice.

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/finearts

Introduction to Ceramics (FIN-135) Explore clay as an expressive medium for utilitarian and aesthetic purposes. Learn the hand construction techniques, introduce yourself to the potter’s wheel, and discover various glazing and decorating methods.

Tyler Cannon helps printmaking students during NIC’s High School Open House. He is now applying to residencies and grad schools in Canada, the United States, and England.

PROFESSIONAL POTTER ADVANCED DIPLOMA

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS, POTTERS DRAWN TO PRO POTTER PROGRAM

Instructor and celebrated potter Alan Burgess in NIC’s Shadbolt Studios.

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Join international potters and students for a one of a kind ceramics education this spring.

advanced throwing techniques at NIC in August.

Applications are coming in for North Island College’s 10-month program designed for students who want to improve their techniques and make a living as a practicing professional potter.

The program combines skill building studio practice, business education, and a two-month practicum, at either Medalta International in Medicine Hat, Alberta or an approved internship with a practicing potter.

Noted artist-instructors to date include NIC’s own Alan Burgess and Gordon Hutchens, as well as Tony Clennell, who teaches ceramics at Sheridan College of Art and Design, the Ontario College of Art and Design, and the University of Toronto. Clennell will teach

Students access NIC’s 4,000-square foot Shadbolt Studios as well as Gordon Hutchens’ rare Tozan-style Anagama wood-fired kiln on Denman Island during the program.

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/finearts

Communication Design I (IMG-105) Discover contemporary practices in Communication Design. Integrate design principles and theories of visual perception into projects that cover identity design, advertising, web design and the design process. Discuss historical and contemporary concepts and ideas.

For a complete list of courses and programs visit: www.nic.bc.ca/programs

NOW SHOWING! Chris Hadfield at the Raven Hall Gallery Ever wonder what astronaut Chris Hadfield would look like on a Canadian stamp?

First-year interactive media student Brennan Maloney did, and created one for the Computer Graphics I (IMG-102) class. The stamp, is on display in Raven Hall and can now be found on Facebook.

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NORTH ISLAND COLLEGE | COLLEGE CONNECTION | SPECIAL ISSUE NOVEMBER 2013

ADVENTURE GUIDING

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY

SEEKING OUT SONORA

LEARNING FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS NIC Adventure Guiding students are used to learning from the best.

Tourism and Hospitality Management students tour Canada’s top luxury wilderness resort

Instructor and West Coast Expeditions managing owner Dave Pinel has been actively involved in the industry since 1985, and has been featured in numerous newspapers, and magazines across Canada. This fall, his business earned a new accolade. His company was endorsed by the Canadian Tourism Commission as a once in a lifetime Canadian travel experience.

NIC’s Tourism and Hospitality Management diploma students took their classroom to the ocean this month, as part of a class field trip to the remote Sonora Resort.

Students spent the day on a 35-foot boat exploring isolated ocean passages north of Campbell River and getting a behind the scenes tour of one of Canada’s top-rated luxury wilderness destinations.

At NIC, Pinel is just as passionate about leading the Adventure Guiding certificate, an eight-month program that trains guides to work in amazing settings.

“You can watch phenomenal video of sea otters or whales but to be there, lying in your tent at night listening to whales or to float and pause with sea otters, that’s the wow factor,” said Pinel. “With students I share that, combine it with an appreciation for nature, and the skills to manage people in new situations.”

Located on Sonora Island at the mouth of Bute Inlet, the resort is a 75-minute scenic water taxi ride from Campbell River.

The opportunity was made possible by instructor Harley Elias who organizes three field trips for tourism and hospitality management students throughout their program.

“Sonora is a member of one of the most exclusive resorts and small boutique hotels affiliations around the world,” said Elias. “It’s at the top end of the top end. If there were a seven- or eight-star resort, this would be it.”

Only three other BC resorts have the Relais and Chateaux affiliation, including the Wickaninnish Inn, the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, and the Hastings House Country House Hotel on Saltspring Island.

The resort’s wilderness experience and services have become a favourite vacation spot for some of the world’s top influencers.

“A resort like this is a real eye-opener for students,” said Elias. “Especially those with some experience who know what it takes to logistically truck, ferry, or helicopter in everything from food to guests.”

“My instructors were always telling me ‘You should make each and every moment

memorable for guests so they are forced to come back’,” said Hardev Ahluwalia, who wants to focus on human resources management. “I learned how to do that on this trip.”

For general manager Sean Ross, working with NIC students is a great way to show the resort in full operation.

professional students with well-thought out questions often stand out when their name reappears on an application.

North Island College business and tourism students complete co-op placements at Sonora, as well as resorts and businesses here and across Canada. The hands-on, paid work experience gives them industry connections, working knowledge, and job-ready skills they can include in their résumé.

“Most students haven’t had the opportunity to work in a hotel or resort,” said Ross. “When you operate a resort in a remote location Students can be a great asset to a luxury with five-star service you have to have resort operation like Sonora. everything in place when the guest wants it. “They understand the ins and outs of getting It makes operating a hotel in Vancouver look to places, that there is ferry traffic and water like a cakewalk.” taxis and float planes, and they can talk The trip was also an opportunity for Ross to about the area,” said Ross. meet future employees.

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/tourism “We want to get them interested in coming to work for us,” said Ross, adding that

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/tourism

GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

HIRE A BUSINESS INTERN Are you looking for educated employees to help with special business projects or busy periods this year? North Island College’s new internship program is looking for you.

This year, 28 post-degree diploma students in Global Business Management are looking for four-month internships to help with your business’ marketing, finance, project management, human resources, or sales needs.

Find out more: www.nic.bc.ca/business Or, call Avry at 250-334-5000 ext 4125

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For students, the trip brings their classroom learning to life.

North Island College instructors Harley Elias and Murray Erickson travel with first-year tourism students to Sonora Resort for a behind the scenes tour of resort operations.

Applications are now being accepted for September. Students graduate in May just in time for peak guiding season.