KPU Alumni Magazine - Issue 7

Shayla Chalifoux KPU Alum

inside issue 07

/ 6 Amy Robinson

Demonstrating the Impact of Local Businesses

/ 8 Miguel Molina

Crafting Success, One Brew at a Time

/ 10

/ 18 Jeremy Senko

Designing Spaces that Support Well-Being

/ 20 Dylan Van Rooyen

Making Surrey a Stronger Community

/ 10 Charles Shima

Reimagining African Tourism

/ 12 Jennifer Cudlipp

Inspiring Excellence in Healthcare

/ 16 Kayla Garvin

Advocating for the 2SLGBTQ+ Community

/ 22 Kyle Taggart

Opening Doors to a Global Career

/ 24 Tate Tham

Driving Impact Through Lifelong Learning

/ 26 Kat King and Jason Faria

Breaking Down Barriers

/

story

Learning From the Land

/

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Contributors

Publisher: Randall Heidt

Editor: Ted Murphy

Producer: Nancy Armitage

Production Coordinator: Helen Hughes

Writers: Julia Waring, Nancy Armitage, Randall Heidt, Alan Davis, Steve Lewarne

Design by KPU Marketing: Joanne Saunders, Sarah Bolwell

Photography: Lisa King

Have comments or ideas about KPU Alumni Magazine?

Contact Nancy.Armitage@kpu.ca

Want to

with the Alumni Affairs office or the KPU Alumni Association? Contact alumni@kpu.ca

Publisher’s message

The beginning of this new academic year brings a lot of positive change to KPU that many alumni ask me about on a routine basis.

So, I thought I would use this space to share these exciting initiatives with you, including student housing, a day care, a new nursing lab and the official launch of our Indigenous studies department.

STUDENT HOUSING

I am excited to tell you that KPU is working on developing a business case to support an application to the provincial government for our first-ever housing project to be built at the Surrey Newton campus. The initiative comes after a survey we conducted with students last year that showed just over one-in-five students had “temporary or crowded living arrangements.” This, coupled with the fact that rental vacancy rates are below one per cent in Richmond, Surrey and Langley, proves there has never been a more relevant time for KPU to look at student housing.

DAY CARE

We are currently in the process of designing a 61-space child care facility at the Surrey Newton campus. The initiative is supported by the provincial government and the Métis Nation British Columbia and will provide support to 36 infant-toddler spaces and 25 spaces for children from two-and-a-half to kindergarten age. The facility will also be used as a learning lab for students in our new early childhood care and education diploma, which is currently being offered in partnership with Capilano University.

NEW NURSING LAB

Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation, helped us to officially open our nursing lab at the Langley campus recently. The government’s investment in the lab and 115 new seats have increased our nursing capacity by almost 50 per cent. That means KPU now offers 364 seats annually across four programs, including bachelor of psychiatric nursing, bachelor of science in nursing advanced entry program, the graduate nurse internationally educated re-entry program and our bachelor of science in nursing program. I was delighted to see how full the new lab was recently with positive energy and students from all health programs supporting each other as they learn to master new skills and techniques.

INDIGENOUS STUDIES DEPARTMENT

We also recently launched our Indigenous studies department, which will strengthen our ability to support Indigenous people and students, while also advancing Indigenization and decolonization. Students will be able to take several courses which will help them learn about the histories, cultures and contemporary situations of Indigenous people in North America, with special attention to Indigenous people in Canada and locally.

Thank you to all of our alumni and the KPU Alumni Association for always challenging and supporting us and helping take KPU to the next level. Your ideas are always welcome and please continue to share your personal journeys with me when I see you in the community as I am always interested in hearing how KPU helped you become the person you are today.

Randall Heidt KPU Vice President External Affairs

President’s message

As I write this welcome to you, the world is enduring significant turbulence, and if ever the local and global were connected, it is now, and will likely be increasingly more so.

I feel I need to add “foreign affairs” to my professional development as we are impacted by geopolitical issues around the world. You can add to this the ongoing matters of global climate change, the threat posed by rampant international cybersecurity attacks, and what appears to be a growing effort to roll back many of the strides we have made in recent decades in social justice and inclusivity.

Never before has education become so important in providing the competencies (both individual and collective) that we will need to cope with constant change and to build a better world. KPU is doing its part to provide a safe environment to address all manner of thorny issues, and to integrate an understanding of these and other challenges into all our programs. Here are a few examples:

We have appointed a new vice president for equity and inclusive communities, Dr. Asma Sayed, who is leading a wide array of offices devoted to reconciliation through decolonization, anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion, and accessibility. Look her up on the KPU website, as well as the hugely important xéʔelɬ-Pathways document.

We are continuing the development of a global strategy for KPU, focusing not only on “bringing the world to KPU” via international education, but also “taking KPU to the world” through studies abroad and exchanges, building research partnerships and opportunities, and becoming a centre of knowledge and scholarship in global education.

We have renewed our commitment to environmental sustainability in Vision 2026, especially with the work of campus and community planning led by associate vice president Brent Elliott and a new sustainability specialist Alicia Gowan; facilities services, led by David Stewart; and all our faculties where all aspects of sustainability are taught and researched.

I could go on, but you can find out more by watching my videos (there is a link on the President’s web page), checking out Vision 2026 with its new theme of Justice, and by scanning the reports to the board of governors that come out three times a year. In the meantime, we never cease to be amazed by the talent and achievement of our alumni. You represent the best of what KPU is all about.

Alan Davis President and Vice Chancellor

Demonstrating the Impact of Local Businesses

Distinguished Alumni Award winner Amy Robinson is a business professional who is committed to building stronger communities by promoting local and independent businesses.

An environmental protection technology graduate in 1998, Robinson also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and serves as a sessional economics instructor at Simon Fraser University. In 2009, she founded LOCO BC, a not-for-profit that supports independent businesses through research, engagement and consumer campaigns.

Her research focuses on the impact of small businesses on their communities, their employees and on the environment. Through LOCO BC, she seeks opportunities to share the benefits of supporting the local economy.

“Local businesses have such a different impact than big, multinational corporations,” she says. “I am passionate about doing research that proves that and then helping businesses tell their stories and hopefully the work that we do helps them thrive.”

It’s a passion Robinson discovered early in life. Growing up visiting and hearing stories of the farms her parents and extended family were raised on in southwestern Ontario, she remembers her relatives going out of their way to support other local businesses.

“My parents were passionate about supporting local farmers,” she recalls.

“There was a sense that the communities that they grew up in wouldn't survive if they didn't support the farmers or support the businesses that provided jobs there. I think they instilled that value in me at an early age.”

While a student at KPU, Robinson began thinking about the environmental impact of local purchasing. At the time, corporate social responsibility was becoming a buzzword, and the role of corporations in driving climate change was getting more attention. Robinson says the only research available on the benefit of buying local was based in the United States.

“There were organizations like LOCO BC in the U.S., but there wasn’t anything like that in B.C. or elsewhere in Canada,” she explains. “That gave me the idea to start one up here.”

Since then, LOCO has contributed significantly to the body of research on the economic, social and environmental impact of independent businesses. Its data is used across B.C. and the rest of Canada to promote buying local and to justify policy changes.

For example, research recently produced by LOCO BC shows that purchasing local products from local businesses has a reduced greenhouse gas and waste impact.

In 2021, LOCO BC partnered with Vancity to study the greenhouse gas impacts of purchasing local products

from local businesses and found that it has a huge climate change benefit – up to 66 per cent less emissions.

“One of my goals was to provide Canadian research because I could see that it's not always convincing when we use the U.S. data,” says Robinson. “When I hear our numbers and our statistics being quoted across Canada,

Amy Robinson KPU Alum

“Local businesses have such a different impact than big, multinational corporations.”

– Amy Robinson

I’m really proud. Not many other people are producing that type of research.”

LOCO BC also shares its research widely by leading the buy local movement in B.C. through the #BCBuyLocal campaign. The popular consumer campaign showcases local companies and products in partnership with municipalities, businesses, chambers

of commerce, economic development groups, business improvement areas and other partners. Robinson has become a spokesperson for the movement, promoting the benefits of supporting local businesses and products.

She credits KPU with helping her build her confidence in public

speaking as well as providing the academic rigour that gave her a strong foundation as a researcher.

“Every project we did — every paper — we had to do a presentation,” she recalls. “And that mortified me in the beginning. But it’s important to employers, and I feel like that's something that I grew my skillset in through the program.”

Robinson says that is just one example of how KPU adapts its programs to be relevant for employers.

“KPU does such a good job at continuous improvements to the curriculum to make sure that its graduates are ready for the workforce,” she says. “I don't know another program where people would be as prepared to transition into the working world as KPU graduates.”

Recognized as an expert, Robinson is regularly featured as a speaker on the local economy. She says receiving the 2023 KPU Distinguished Alumni Award confirms that her work on behalf of B.C. businesses is having an impact.

“To be recognized for the work that I do feels really validating,” she says. “It's really made me feel quite grounded that the work I do is important and for others to see that means a lot.”

Crafting Success, One Brew at a Time

For Miguel Molina, head brewer at PoCo Brothers Brewing in Port Coquitlam, discovering a passion for craft beer not only led to a career change but a move to the Lower Mainland from Quito, Ecuador.

Molina was studying sound and acoustics engineering when he discovered Quito’s burgeoning craft beer scene.

“At that time, I had only tried more like regular mainstream beers,” he recalls. “And when I tried craft beer, it just blew my mind.”

Taken by the creativity that goes into craft beer and the community that formed around it, Molina began experimenting with brewing his own. What began as a passion eventually transitioned into a business, and he launched HoppingCat Microbrewing in Quito. As he delved deeper into the science of beer, his appetite to learn more about it grew.

“The fact of having different ingredients, flavours and stuff that you can put together to come up with something, I think that's basically what created the path where I'm going right now,” he explains. “Basically, everything started with a lot of passion and a lot of interest in beer, in general.”

That passion would eventually lead him to the Pacific Northwest to study at KPU — one of the top brewing schools in North America. While the move initially seemed daunting, the opportunity to gain the technical

expertise to turn his love of craft beer into a fulfilling career was too big to pass up.

“It was a big deal,” says Molina, who graduated in 2021 with a diploma in brewing and brewery operations.

“When I was back in Ecuador, I had my own business, and I had to let everything go just to follow something

else. And I'm very proud that I followed through with that.”

He says the expertise of the faculty and the accomplishments of alum of the award-winning brewing school attracted him to KPU. The opportunity to learn from and with other students and instructors who shared his love of beer far exceeded his expectations.

“When I was back in Ecuador, I had my own business, and I had to let everything go just to follow something else. And I’m very proud that I followed through with that.” – Miguel Molina

Two of his instructors — Nancy Moore and Martina Solano — had a particularly big impact on him.

“The way Nancy shows you the science behind beer, it's awesome,” he says. “You really fall in love with beer science. You don’t just have to be there; you want to be there every day.”

“And then Martina showed us a lot of really cool things in the lab and became a good friend. She's also very knowledgeable.”

So far, he says the move from Ecuador has paid off and he has advanced his knowledge of craft beer much faster than when he was learning through running his own business.

“I really learned a lot of things about how to be more methodical, technical with the process, and in general, how to make great beer,” says Molina.

“KPU has top-notch labs and equipment,” he says. “If you work for a small brewery, you probably will not have the ability to use that kind of equipment. Studying at KPU gives you that chance to learn more and advance your career faster.”

That technical knowledge allowed him to start working in breweries like 33 Acres and Boardwalk Brewing as soon as he graduated and quickly progress to his current role as head brewer at PoCo Brothers Brewing. At KPU, he also learned a lot about the rapidly growing craft beer industry.

“Once I went to school, it really opened my mind to the whole industry,” says Molina. “I had a panoramic view of the different aspects of brewing — not only working in a brewery — but also things like the licences and permits you need to open a brewery in B.C.”

With his eyes on one day opening his own brewery, he says he is continuing to perfect his craft and learn more

about all aspects of the business. He credits the hands-on experience and practical skills gained through the program with helping him take his beer to the next level.

“Right now, I really enjoy taking care with the finesse of my beer,” he says. “It doesn't matter what type of beer, it doesn't matter where I'm brewing, it doesn't matter who I'm brewing for. If people say, ‘Hey, this is so good’— that's enough for me.”

Reflecting on a journey that brought him far from home to learn the science of brewing, Molina says that it all comes back to what drew him to craft beer in the first place.

“For me, brewing is a process that, at the end of the day, it only matters that people are enjoying themselves and being in a community and sharing together something that you made,” he says. “That's why I'm so passionate about brewing.”

KPU Alum

Miguel Molina

Reimagining African Tourism

Charles Shima (BBA Accounting ’17) is the CEO of ZaNiheza, an online travel platform he founded in 2019 that provides curated, authentic Afrocentric experiences that go beyond the conventional safaris that are often associated with tourism on the continent.

The name combines words from the Rwandan language of Kinyarwanda: murakaza neza (welcome) and niheza (it’s beautiful). Shima describes ZaNiheza as the leading travel marketplace in Africa, where you’ll find local curators and immersive experiences.

Shima, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and grew up in Rwanda, inherited his love of travel from his parents. His father worked for the United Nations and ran his own accounting firm, and his family travelled around the region and once to Europe.

He says the experience of travelling on a plane as a small child was formative, and he would often return to the Kigali International Airport to meet travellers — from all over the world. Some became good friends.

“We didn't have Facebook then,” Shima recalls. “So where else did you meet people in a small country? One of my favourite things to do was to go to the airport to meet travellers, and I made many friends from all over the world.”

Those connections became increasingly important to him when he

later faced unimaginable adversity in his life. Tragically, Shima was orphaned as a teenager, losing both parents within four years to illness. Then, just three years after losing his parents, the genocide against the Tutsi began, and he was forced to flee Rwanda, eventually settling in Vancouver. There, living halfway across the world from his hometown, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue accounting. The intimate class sizes at KPU helped him feel comfortable. Through group work, he learned from peers with different perspectives – not unlike his experience at the Kigali airport as a child.

One group project he worked on for a marketing class stands out from his time there:

“We were working at night in the library. I was one of the oldest in the group, and another member was from Japan,” he recalls. “So, we had a very nice diverse group in age and as well as where we came from.”

Shortly after graduating, Shima returned to Rwanda to help manage his father’s estate. Nearly 30 years after he left his home, he found a different country: a safe, vibrant and beautiful place that he was proud to share with travellers from around the world. It was on his second trip that he was inspired to start ZaNiheza.

With a presence in over 14 destinations in Africa and an eye on expanding across all 54 countries, the platform

KPU Alum

Charles Shima

connects travellers to local curators who can share the hidden gems of the continent. From experiencing the diverse landscapes, warm hospitality and different cultures of South Africa to attending the leading African tech and start-up event in Kigali or a cultural biking tour of Marrakesh, ZaNiheza helps travellers experience Africa’s diverse culture.

“It’s a very diverse continent,” says Shima. “We have way more to give and to show than the wildlife and safari.

“One thing that drives me is to change people’s perception and all the negative narratives about African countries in the media,” he says. “Those things are not lived on a day-today basis.”

What sets ZaNiheza apart even further is its commitment to empowering local youth. When global travel came to a standstill during the pandemic, Shima remained steadfast in his dedication to supporting vulnerable young women and men by creating employment opportunities through his start-up.

“My greatest achievement is to have built a start-up that has created opportunities for the youth during the most challenging time in our lives, the pandemic,” he says. “It is going to continue to have a positive impact in Canada as well in my community.”

A proud KPU alum, Shima credits his education with fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and providing a foundation of business skills that

“One thing that drives me is to change people’s perception and all the negative narratives about African countries in the media. Those things are not lived on a day-to-day basis.”

– Charles Shima

empowered him to navigate the complexities of launching a start-up.

“The courses help foster an entrepreneurial mind versus preparing you to go work for a company,” he says. “That's the future. I think KPU prepares you to think above and beyond.”

In his business pursuits, his father remains his greatest inspiration. He was one of the first people in his country to own a computer, recalls Shima, and taught him to always look towards the future. And while his father had opportunities to work in Europe, he never left Africa, and remained dedicated to giving back to his community his entire life.

“My father is always at the forefront of everything I do,” he says. “He showed me that in life, once you have passion, you just have to work hard.”

With ZaNiheza, Shima continues to redefine the future of African travel. Through his venture, he is inspiring travellers to experience cultures in Africa through the eyes of locals, empowering youth and leaving an indelible mark on African tourism.

Inspiring Excellence in Healthcare

KPU Alum

With over two decades of experience in the healthcare industry, Jennifer Cudlipp, CPA, CGA, has made a significant impact – not only at LifeLabs, where she guides a team of over 6,000 employees as the chief operating officer, but also within the communities she serves.

"It is incredibly rewarding to have a career in healthcare,” says Cudlipp. “I feel fortunate to support Canadians in their healthcare journey, and it is exciting to see technology and science pushing the limits of what we thought possible.”

A proud alum of KPU, Cudlipp was still an accounting student when she began working in the healthcare sector at BC Biomedical Laboratories. After graduating with a BBA in accounting in 2005, she pursued her accounting designation, all while rising through the ranks in her career.

Ten years ago, she joined LifeLabs as director of finance and has held several senior leadership roles in the organization since. As COO, she oversees every aspect of operations — from logistics and supply chain to quality management and sustainability — and leads a diverse team of employees across B.C., Saskatchewan and Ontario. Reflecting on her impact on the organization, she says it is the relationships and culture she’s built with her team that makes her most proud.

"I am dedicated to fostering a culture of collaboration and trust in all that

I do,” she says. “I have the privilege of working with fantastic teams that are engaged, not just involved. I am continuously inspired by their passion, collaborative spirit, and dedication and pride in their work. So, the fact that I have made a positive impact on people and my teams is what I consider my greatest achievement.”

Building strong relationships has been a common thread across her career, and Cudlipp credits her success to the influence of strong mentors, her team at LifeLabs and her upbringing.

"I've been lucky to have really exceptional mentors in my life,” she says. “They have played such a role in shaping my perspective and values, in challenging me to think bigger, and encouraging me along the way." Those lessons came to the forefront during the COVID-19 global pandemic, when Cudlipp and her team at LifeLabs were suddenly on the frontlines of the public health crisis. While at the helm of LifeLab’s COVID-19 response program, she and her team worked closely with government partners to support essential testing while also maintaining regular operations.

“I have led organizations through tough times, always guided by innovation, ethics and integrity, but none of us had a playbook for how to operate through a global pandemic,” she explains. “Keeping our doors open to continue to serve the community while ensuring our customers and employees stayed safe were our top

Jennifer Cudlipp

priorities. Through it all, we were also able to rapidly deliver new products and services. I am tremendously proud that our team helped reopen borders by supporting testing, allowing people to reconnect with their families, friends and loved ones.”

In addition to her achievements at work, Cudlipp has volunteered with

“I’ve been lucky to have really exceptional mentors in my life,” she says. “They have played such a role in shaping my perspective and values, in challenging me to think bigger, and encouraging me along the way.” – Jennifer Cudlipp, CPA, CGA

several community organizations over the years, serving on the boards of RainCity Housing, the United Way of the Lower Mainland and the Justice Institute of B.C. She is currently serving on the board at LifeSciences BC and Canada’s Digital Technology Supercluster.

Cudlipp says her KPU education set

her on the path for her career and community contributions.

“KPU provided me a top-notch education, and you could also feel the commitment to community engagement as being part of it,” she adds. “I'm certainly grateful for the education that I received there.”

For Cudlipp, the small class sizes at KPU allowed her to connect with her peers and professors, who helped shape her career path. As she was working fulltime during her studies, she says the flexibility of her courses and hands-on learning helped her progress quickly in her career.

“When I think about my time at KPU, it provided that really practical toolkit applicable to real-world situations. I am grateful for the innovative and transformative education I was able to receive.”

Reflecting on her time at KPU, she says it helped motivate her at a pivotal time in her leadership journey. For Cudlipp, that makes her KPU graduation an unforgettable moment.

“I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in my accomplishments,” she recalls. “I was already seeing how my education was shaping my career and being able to share that celebration with my peers that I had worked alongside throughout my time at KPU was unforgettable. The future was ours to shape.”

Learning From the Land

Shayla Chalifoux found her calling at the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and botanical science. The recent KPU graduate (B.Hort/Sci ’23) is working with the Coast Salish Plant Nursery, which operates within the Maplewood Flats Conservation Area in North Vancouver on the unceded lands and waters of the Tsleil-Waututh and Coast Salish people.

“I’m doing a lot of work with native plants right now,” she explains. “That’s been rewarding because I want to be able to blend my Indigenous ancestry with this Western horticulture knowledge that I’ve gained at KPU.

“An Indigenous plant is a plant that has coevolved with the habitat it is native to for thousands of years,” she says. “Reintroducing native plants into the ecosystem will increase local biodiversity, add to the urban tree canopy, sequester carbon and ultimately be appreciated by Tákem nsnekwnúkw7a (All Our Relations).”

Chalifoux, who is Sekw’el’was, Cree and mixed European, grew up in Edmonton on Treaty 6 Territory and says her passion for plants and nature came from a childhood spent exploring the outdoors.

“It was ignited by spending a lot of time out on the land with my family,” she recalls. “I got to do plenty of camping with my dad and my sister. I’ve always been in love with the landscapes, plants and wildlife.”

KPU Alum

Initially, she didn’t plan to pursue a career path that integrated her love for the land. But working as an insulator on a refinery in Edmonton, she was struck by how much environmental destruction she saw.

“That didn’t align with my values,” she explains. “It took me doing a job like that to see that money isn’t everything.”

Realizing that she didn’t want to continue in the trade, she turned to her culture in search of an occupation that would honour her Indigenous ancestry and her reverence for the natural world.

“I realized that what I’m most passionate about is the land — All Our Relations,” she says. “That’s the water, insects, animals, rocks, mountains. It’s

Shayla Chalifoux

“I realized that what I’m most passionate about is the land — All Our Relations. That’s the water, insects, animals, rocks, mountains. It’s everything. So how can I be of service to All Our Relations?” – Shayla Chalifoux

everything. So how can I be of service to All Our Relations?”

That’s when she came upon the horticulture program at KPU. As she learned more in her courses that piqued her interest, Chalifoux changed the focus of her diploma from sustainable crop development to plant health. Then, when it came time

to decide on a research project, one option called out to her: native plants.

She says professor Kathy Dunster encouraged her to do a research project on the native plants of her community.

“Kathy was open to talking to me about it, supporting me and sharing any resources that she came across,” says Chalifoux. “She became a mentor to me.”

The Indigenous community at KPU also became a support system while she was a student. She often went to the Aboriginal Gathering Place on the Surrey campus and took elective courses including Introduction to Indigenous Studies, Introduction to Cree Language and Culture, and others. Those supports became even more important when she faced a family emergency during her studies. At one point, she considered dropping out and moving home. Chalifoux says that persevering and finishing her degree is one of her greatest accomplishments.

“I’m really proud that I was able to finish my degree,” she says. “I’m happy to be working with plants and this is a way that I hope to be able to give back to the land, my family and my community with this knowledge that I’m acquiring.”

She says the skills she gained at KPU, like the ability to identify plants, their needs and give presentations, gave her the confidence to immediately start working in the field after graduation.

The connections she formed with her peers, instructors and mentors continue to provide support in her work at the Coast Salish Plant Nursery and horticulture endeavours after graduation.

She’s recently started the St át imcets Language Fluency Program to learn the language of her nation. She says the St át imcets language will help her learn the names and stories of native plants in the interior of B.C. and Coast Salish territory. With those teachings, she plans to continue to pass on that knowledge to her family and future generations.

“Right now, my passion is connecting Indigenous ways of being and my career path,” she says. “I’m relearning this Indigenous knowledge that has been taken from my family due to colonization and the aftereffects of intergenerational trauma.”

Advocating for the 2SLGBTQ+ Community

KPU 2023 Future Alumni Award winner Kayla Garvin is a tireless advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ students and has helped make KPU a more welcoming community. The recent psychology graduate founded the KPU Pride Society, a student-run collective that aims to foster a safe community for 2SLGBTQ+ people on campus.

Garvin’s desire to help 2SLGBTQ+ students have a positive educational experience is deeply personal as she struggled with her mental health after realizing she was queer while attending another university.

“That's when things really started downhill,” she recalls. “I already didn't feel the sense of community at that university, and I felt entirely alone. My grades slipped and eventually I was required to withdraw.”

As challenging as that time was, Garvin didn’t let the setback stop her. She was eventually admitted to KPU, where she developed a community of friends and volunteered, ultimately serving as president of the Kwantlen Psychology Society. She also joined the Student Advisory Committee for the Arts Faculty Council, providing a student voice to the council and its standing committees.

She also found ways to contribute to the queer community on campus. While completing her studies, Garvin volunteered with the Pride Advocacy Group and as a research assistant

with faculty member Tara Lyons on a research project looking at the lived experience of 2SLGBTQ+ students. As a result of her research experience, she founded the KPU Pride Society and served as president.

“I just remember being that first-year young queer student who didn't know who to go to, didn't know what to do and eventually ended up dropping out,” she says. “So, I wanted to be sure that, at least at KPU, the resources and the structures were in place that would help those young queer students succeed where I originally failed.”

Garvin credits the support of her instructors, peers, friends and family with motivating her to continue her studies and her advocacy work. She remains a strong ambassador for KPU and has been working there as an assistant in the admissions office since graduating.

“KPU provided me a second chance after I flunked out of that first university,” says Garvin.

“It changed my life.”

She says the way the university works with prospective students to make studying there accessible through its open intake programs inspires her.

Garvin also continues to work as a research assistant at KPU and plans to pursue graduate studies. She says the strong focus on research and the hands-on learning experiences gives KPU students a leg up.

For Garvin, founding the KPU Pride Society is one of her biggest accomplishments to date. It provides a formal way for queer students to connect and find resources on campus and she hopes it will continue to grow and contribute to building the queer community at KPU.

“KPU gave me that feeling of inclusion and community and that is something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life,” she says. “I will try my best to extend that same feeling to other people who might also need it.”

Garvin says she hopes to continue her advocacy work for queer university students. Being recognized for her significant impact to KPU with the 2023 Future Alumni Award, she says, is further motivation to keep going.

“It feels like a culmination of everything that I've worked towards,” she says. “It’s a really good feeling that all my hard work is having an actual external impact that people cared about.”

“KPU gave me that feeling of inclusion and community and that is something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life. I will try my best to extend that same feeling to other people who might also need it.”

– Kayla Garvin

Kayla Garvin

KPU Alum

Designing Spaces that Support Well-Being

KPU Distinguished Alumni Award winner Jeremy Senko is an acclaimed Vancouver-based interior designer who believes that design is the cornerstone to all facets of a life well-lived.

The 2013 graduate of the Wilson School of Design at KPU leads creative development for residential and commercial projects, from conception to realization. Senko has designed many spaces, from high-end condo buildings to entry-level rental homes. In his work, Senko’s focus is not just making things beautiful, but doing what he can to help communities in the process.

“I’m most passionate about contributing to making spaces better for people,” he says. “At the end of the day, people live in these spaces, they have families in these spaces, they work in these spaces, and we need to treat every design we touch with this in mind.”

It’s a mantra that has carried Senko far in his career. Upon graduation, he honed his skills at BYU Design, a company which has grown to become one of Canada’s most well respected and sought-after interior design studios.

Recently, he joined Canadian firm Ste. Marie as an associate. The opportunity has allowed Senko to broaden his focus to include mixeduse development, hospitality and retail projects across North America. No matter what the project is, he says his motivation remains the same.

“It's not about the prestige of the job for me, it's about making sure that the space is benefiting people’s lives or it's benefiting the neighbourhood or the community that it's a part of. That is the main reason I do what I do.”

That commitment is evident in Senko’s community work. When the pandemic hit, he volunteered his expertise to the American Society of Interior Designers, which formed a task force to study design and construction issues related to the pandemic. That research led to positive insights for the future of interior design.

Known for mentoring new designers and students entering the field, Senko says that encouraging junior staff to not lose sight of what drove them to study design is one of the most rewarding aspects of his career.

“Some of my favourite achievements have been seeing people that I mentored go on to design beautiful spaces and have success in their own careers. Honestly, there's nothing better than seeing someone you've worked with go on and do fantastic stuff.”

He is also dedicated to advancing the profession and is actively involved in several committees, including with Interior Designers of Canada and the Wilson School of Design.

He says he is consistently impressed with the calibre of work from KPU graduates.

“Anyone that's come through the KPU system is well-rounded,” he

says. “They’ve been pushed hard in a rigorous program. They're ready to hit the ground running and are really strong employees the minute they get through the door.

“I think the way that KPU and the Wilson School of Design focuses on teaching students to think critically benefits how graduates are able to

“At the end of the day, people live in these spaces, they have families in these spaces, they work in these spaces, and we need to treat every design we touch with this in mind.”

– Jeremy Senko

move into a career of design and move up through that career faster.”

For Senko, career advancements have always gone together with mentoring and volunteering work. Those experiences, he says, have helped him grow as a person, which has in turn shaped his design work.

“I never set out to say, ‘I'm going to chase this title, I'm going to go work at this place, or I'm going to make this much money,’” he explains. “Growing in my career has always happened organically based on how I've grown through the other endeavours I've taken on.”

Senko’s impact on the profession and the community has not gone unnoticed. He has won several awards during his career, including Canada’s Top 40 Emerging Professional Interior Designers by Interior Designers of Canada in 2015 and an IDIBC Excellence Award for his Presentation Centre design at Brentwood Town Centre.

He says receiving the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award from KPU was particularly meaningful given his ongoing connection to KPU.

“KPU is my place. I'm very proud of the school and grateful to my classmates and teachers who got me through it.”

KPU

Jeremy Senko

Alum

Making Surrey a Stronger Community

Dylan Van Rooyen, vice president of the Surrey Fire Fighters Association and the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society, studied business management at KPU before becoming a firefighter. A recognized community leader who has volunteered countless hours to various causes in his hometown of Surrey, Van Rooyen received KPU’s Honorary Alumni designation in 2023.

Now in his 13th year as a firefighter, Van Rooyen represents his fellow members of the Surrey Fire Service in a leadership role at the Surrey Fire Fighters Association. In addition to his work, he is actively involved in the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society, a team of off-duty Surrey firefighters who volunteer and fundraise for more than 80 charities that help Surrey’s children, youth and families.

Each year at a charitable gala, the society raises funds for local high school students in need to attend KPU through the “Ignite a Dream” program. Last year’s event raised more than $45,000 for KPU scholarships for students who have shown resilience in overcoming adversity.

Van Rooyen says they’ll try to surpass that this year. “We're fundraising right now, and I was looking at the numbers yesterday. We should be over $50,000 this year.”

He also helps spearhead another impactful event – the society’s

annual golf tournament – which has raised over $950,000 for healthcare initiatives in Surrey in the last 12 years, including donations to the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, the Centre for Child Development, Surrey Hospital Foundation, BC Cancer Society, Phoenix Society and others.

Van Rooyen’s deep community roots are initially what led him to firefighting. Born and raised in Surrey, he volunteered for the Special Olympics at the former North Surrey swimming pool as a teen. That led to becoming a lifeguard at the YMCA and working his way up to become director of aquatic operations at Tong Louie Family YMCA, where he met many local firefighters.

“Volunteering in the community has always been something that has been a passion, but it has also led me to meet a lot of great people,” he explains. “Surrey firefighters often came through the door at the YMCA and suggested, 'Hey, have you ever thought about firefighting?’ They kind of guided me through that process.”

He says following in the footsteps of those early mentors to achieve his goal of becoming a firefighter has been a career highlight. For Van Rooyen, helping people – whether it’s as a first responder or through the charities he’s involved in – is what he’s most passionate about.

“The Surrey firefighters work with so many organizations,” he says. “You see young kids who come to school

without food, and we get to provide snacks for them. You see youth who can't participate in sports, and we get to provide funding for that. We hear a lot about mental health struggles, and we see that on a day-to-day basis as firefighters, and now we get to provide programs that support youth mental health.”

“Volunteering in the community has always been something that has been a passion, but it has also led me to meet a lot of great people.”

– Dylan Van Rooyen

In addition to his community work through firefighting, he has been actively involved in several community organizations in his own time. He is currently the chair of the board of directors for the Centre for Child Development, an organization that helps children with special needs reach their potential that Van

Rooyen has volunteered with for nearly 20 years.

He sees KPU as another important community institution in Surrey and has stayed in touch with many of his peers and instructors. While he left his studies to pursue firefighting, Van Rooyen has stayed connected to the university through Ignite a Dream.

He says KPU’s ties to the community and the connections he met there continue to aid the work he does.

“I see my role as a connector,” he says. “I'm trying to connect the people I've met over the years that would relate to what we're trying to do.”

While he was surprised to receive an Honorary Alumni designation nearly 15 years after he was a student at KPU, he says that being officially recognized as an alum is incredibly important to him.

“I was shocked,” he recalls. “I never thought that it would come full circle and I would get the honour of being a KPU alum. It was humbling and just a big honour.”

KPU Alum

Dylan Van Rooyen

Opening Doors to a Global Career

Since graduating from KPU with a diploma in turf management in 2000, Kyle Taggart has travelled the globe working in operations, maintenance, tournaments and construction in the golf and sports turf industries.

His work has brought him to Australia for the World Match Play Championships and England for the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and now, as a project executive at Qiddiya Investment Company, Taggart and his team are developing two signature golf districts and an equestrian district near the Saudi Arabian capital city of Riyadh.

“Qiddiya is planned as a vibrant and livable destination city that will be Saudi Arabia’s capital of entertainment, sports and culture,” explains Taggart. “Our projects are strategically placed within a master plan of 20-plus districts covering a total land area of 334 square kilometres.

“We’re building a city from scratch that will accommodate 600,000 residents and upwards of 40 million visitors annually,” he adds. “There is currently a Six Flags theme park and the region’s largest water park under construction next door to our golf projects.”

Taggart discovered his love for golf early in life, thanks to his parents who were golfers, and began working at Myrtle Point Golf Course in his hometown of Powell River at just 12 years old.

“I progressed from working general operations in the clubhouse to turf maintenance on the golf course in the summers,” he explains. “That led to enrolling at KPU. Following graduation, it became my passion to travel globally and keep developing my career and experiences along the way.”

He says that his KPU education opened doors to working in sports turf internationally. After graduating, he worked in Australia and, through contacts he met there, he landed an opportunity to work at Wimbledon. That led to a dream role working for European Golf Design, the Londonbased design company of the European Tour Group. For the past 15 years, he has been working in the Middle East. For Taggart, networking has been vital to his success.

“It’s a small industry at the end of the day,” he says. “It’s quite a niche market — golf development and construction. So, networking and liaising with developers, architects, consultants and construction firms globally is very important.”

He also has remained in touch with members of his graduating class from KPU. He says that the small class sizes helped build comradery with his classmates and instructors, and he maintains those connections despite living across the world.

“KPU was a great place to study at. It led to some lifelong friendships and was an excellent environment for the

years I was there, having that small, tight-knit group that we had,” he says.

Taggart credits KPU with helping launch a career that blends his two biggest passions: travel and golf.

“Golf is my world,” he says. “It’s my work and it’s also recreational, with golf trips, attending tournaments and managing the occasional golf pool. It’s what my world revolves around, outside of my family.”

Taggart runs the Straight Outta Bushwood Golf Society in Saudi Arabia in his spare time and is a member at a local club. He often incorporates golf into his travel plans and has travelled extensively for golf tournaments, bringing his six-year-old son along for the journey. Last year, they were paired with five-time major winner Brooks Koepka in the LIV Golf pro-am in Jeddah, he says.

Working in Saudi Arabia, with its budding golf infrastructure and push to become a tourist destination, presents a unique opportunity and challenge for the golf enthusiast.

“There’s heaps of diversity in the terrains and landscapes that we’re working with here from Red Sea beachfront to snowy mountains in the north to vast desert expanses and urban settings around the major cities,” he says. “It’s not a global golf destination yet, but there are definitely plans to put it on the map in the future.”

Taggart, who has visited 35 countries

Kyle Taggart

KPU Alum

“We’re building a city from scratch that will accommodate 600,000 residents and upwards of 40 million visitors annually.”

– Kyle Taggart

and counting, says he’s proud that he and his wife are raising their son in a global environment.

“Wylee has become quite a traveler himself now with 13 stamps in his Canadian passport,” he says. “He was born in Dubai and knows no limitations when it comes to multiculturalism, religious beliefs and everything else that goes along with living abroad.

I think that’s one of my greatest achievements, is raising our son in this environment.”

Driving Impact Through Lifelong Learning

Tate Tham, the 2023 KPU Outstanding Young Alumni Award winner, has established himself as a leader in his field of marketing and in serving his community.

Since graduating in 2020 with a bachelor of business administration, marketing management, Tham has quickly advanced through various marketing roles. Most recently, he has put his expertise to use at Envisio, a company that helps public sector organizations become more transparent and trusted. As a growth marketing operations specialist, Tham orchestrates data organization and automations, enhancing the efficiency of sales, marketing and customer service.

Elizabeth Steward, vice-president, marketing at Envisio, who nominated Tham for the award, describes him as “a true visionary” in marketing.

“With his exceptional ability to lead projects and find innovative solutions, Tham has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the industry,” Steward says.

Recently, Tham helped the Envisio team migrate automation tools to a new software. He says helping set everything up from scratch was one of his biggest career achievements so far. “It will create more efficiency within the company,” explains Tham. “For example, migrating to a better tool gives an organization more insight into

the analytics of email campaigns.”

Tham credits the practical, handson experience he received at KPU with providing him the tools to navigate a technological change of this magnitude. Through close-knit interactions with professors and realworld projects, he developed a wellrounded skill set and gained valuable insights into various industries.

“You get the opportunity to become close acquaintances and have the mentorship relationship with your professors,” says Tham. “I highly recommend KPU to anyone because my professors really helped me make connections with different industries.”

For Tham, the biggest benefit of his time at KPU was the relationships he built. “The community I had in KPU really made it for me.”

Reflecting on his journey, Tham says mentorship and a commitment to lifelong learning have been driving forces.

“I’ve had a few mentors in my life who really pushed me to strive for more, not just in self-interest, but to help others as well,” he says. “The success of other people was really important to me, especially giving back in some sort of way.”

Beyond his career, Tham has volunteered in his community for more than 12 years, including serving as the director of marketing and events for the KPU Marketing Association during his time as a student at KPU.

Since graduating, he has served as a guest speaker and mentor with KPUMA and Ten Thousand Coffees, an online mentoring and networking platform, helping countless individuals develop their skills and reach their full potential.

Tate also brought his passion for marketing to U.S.-based charity Global Synergy Group, volunteering

“The success of other people was really important to me, especially giving back in some sort of way.”

– Tate Tham

many hours to provide vital marketing operations support to fundraising efforts for Ukraine, contributing to a collective effort that raised over $100,000 in humanitarian aid.

“As the situation in Ukraine began to unravel, being able to take action relatively quickly was a really big achievement,” says Tham. “It feels

good knowing that I'm supporting a cause that is affecting so many people around the world.”

For both his volunteer and career pursuits, he says several of his KPU professors have helped him along the way, providing advice and sharing marketing best practices. He also has a voracious appetite for learning and

says reading has helped him grow as a person.

“I feel a responsibility to keep learning,” he says. “Books are essentially mentors. Reading and applying what I’ve learned in real life has helped me in my growth, whether it be leadership traits, soft skills or technical skills.”

A highly dedicated and passionate individual, Tham hopes to inspire a love of learning in others and aspires to teach one day.

“I get really inspired by stories, which is why I'd really like to teach later on,” he says. “Transferring stories and knowledge through generations has been the thing that I've felt most passionate about.”

Tham says he is incredibly proud and honoured to be recognized as the 2023 Outstanding Young Alumni. The award came at a particularly meaningful time in his life as his father just had openheart surgery and he was able to watch him receive the award. As well, Tham had just purchased his first home.

“It was a really pivotal time in my life,” he recalls. “The recovery of my dad just kind of illuminated everything — all the other achievements. So that was kind of like the cherry on top, winning the award.”

Tate

KPU Alum

Tham

Breaking Down Barriers

For a couple that met working in the mobile food industry, launching a business that operates food trucks at the PNE, the Calgary Stampede and other events seems like a natural progression.

But for KPU alum, business partners, and wife and husband, Kat King and Jason Faria, the path to becoming co-owners of Next Gen Concessions and the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival was anything but linear.

Faria (BBA, Enterpreneurial Leadership ’15) grew up working at his family’s mobile food business, and his first job was at the annual summer fair, scooping ice cream. Years later, he met King (BBA, HR Management ’16), who had taken a job with him shortly after moving from Alberta in 2010.

At the time, neither planned on pursuing careers in the industry. Faria hoped to go to law school and King was becoming a yoga instructor when they decided to shift their focus and study business at KPU.

“A lot of my life has happened at the PNE,” explains Faria. “It's funny how things kind of changed, and this is my livelihood now.”

When an illness in his family led to Faria taking over the operations of the business, King says they saw an opportunity to fill a void in the industry.

“We looked at things and thought, this is a really awesome opportunity for us to continue and jump right into business,” she recalls. “Then as soon

as we graduated, we just went full tilt into this.”

Although Faria says the day-to-day of operating a food truck business was not a lifelong passion, the opportunity to shape an industry and create an innovative new model for small business operators is what drives him.

“I’m most passionate about breaking down barriers and business development,” he says. “I love creating and being a part of new things.”

The couple now runs a thriving business that started with two food trucks and has grown to 167 operating at events that draw crowds of more than 20,000 around the

Kat King and Jason Faria

KPU Alum

“I was very much challenged to create what I wanted to do and knowing that I had to create that path myself.” – Jason Faria

across the country like K-Days in Edmonton and the Calgary Stampede. King says her degree in HR has allowed her to handle the technical and legal aspects of hiring for events in different provinces.

“We're hiring upwards to 50, 60 people in each city we’re going through,” she explains. “It's definitely heavily supported by my degree to create these job ads, go through all the hiring and help with the payroll.”

She says that her skills and Faria’s entrepreneurship specialization complement their roles in both of their businesses.

“Jason is definitely the sales guy,” she says. “He loves talking to people and finding those opportunities for a mutual benefit. We're kind of like a yin and yang partnership — he's more of the face of it and I'm more of the behind the scenes, making sure that the dots are all connected.”

For Faria, being someone who has always questioned the status quo and been willing to push the envelope has been instrumental in driving innovation in an industry that has been stunted by red tape and regulations.

have those conversations, there's never going to be progression. Nothing's ever going to change.”

That mindset became particularly helpful for their business at the height of social distancing and other restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As restaurants and events were shutting down, they saw an opportunity to pivot their operations to create drive-through food truck events. The events were a resounding success and provided a lifeline for local business operators. King says the experience, while challenging, helped them grow as entrepreneurs.

“We were one of the only event operators operating at that time, and we were able to establish really cool new partnerships that really helped excel our business,” she says. “It also personally made us stronger, knowing that not every obstacle is going to be the end. You have to really look forward and figure out the solution while you're in the thick of it.”

They also run Next Gen Concessions, which operates food trucks at events

“Food trucks, the mobile food industry was very much black and white," says Faria. “We have stood in front of many municipal, provincial and federal bodies, and challenged the notion of why we are told to do things a certain way. Without somebody advocating, without somebody being willing to

Both King and Faria say that creating the ability for small business owners to grow continues to be their driving force. King has launched BC Shop Local to showcase local artists, jewelry makers, eco-friendly products and other vendors at Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival events. During the pandemic, they created an online directory and grew their social media engagement to help promote local businesses.

Lower Mainland. Through the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Festival, King and Faria run events that showcase local businesses and have contributed to a vibrant new food scene in Vancouver, Surrey, Langley and other communities.

“I had mentors at KPU that helped mold me and guide me on the path to entrepreneurship and really embracing it versus trying to shy away from it.”

– Jason Faria

“It allowed us to really look at how can we provide value to people and how can we make sure that what we're building has a lasting impact,” says King. “Supporting these small businesses is what really keeps me going.”

As they’ve grown their businesses, they’ve also grown their family. The couple has two children, a five- and seven-year-old, and say giving back to their community is increasingly important to them. Faria runs an online coaching and consulting company called Food Truck Dad and works with several non-profits. He says he hopes to help others find their career path the way he was helped by mentors he met throughout his life.

“I had mentors at KPU that helped mold me and guide me on the path to entrepreneurship and really embracing it versus trying to shy away from it,” says Faria. “I was very much challenged to create what I wanted to do and knowing that I had to create that path myself.”

King also says her time as a KPU student was transformative and the university continues to have a big role in their lives.

“I think KPU really invests in the individual success of each person,” she says. “And that just comes down to, I think, the smaller class sizes and the quality of the instructors as well.”

Hoping to give back to the community they say has helped launch their

ventures; they held the Greater Vancouver Food Truck Wars Festival on KPU’s Langley campus in 2023, donating some of the proceeds to the KPU Alumni Association’s endowment in support of students in need.

“KPU has done a lot for my life and maybe at the time I didn't really see it that way, but looking back at things, I wouldn't have traded that time in for anything,” says Faria. “It got me to where I am today by helping me shift my mindset and focus on things that I was passionate about versus things I was told to do.”

King and Faria plan to host the event again this year in Langley. They hope other alum will attend and see it as a chance to reconnect with the KPU community and give back.

“KPU has been a great partner to us,” says King. “Even though we are no longer students, there was still the support for us and the encouragement for us to be successful.

“We really want to give those opportunities to other students too and help get the support they need to be able to accomplish the cool things that they might have in their minds as well.”

Alumni Perks: Benefits And Privileges

The KPU Alumni Association was pleased to expand our benefits and privileges program with the launch of Alumni Perks mobile app and microsite in 2021. Our perks partners, including many alum owned and operated businesses, provide services and products to KPU alum at discounted rates:

» Altitude Media Co.

» Arafat Kalam Notary Public

» Best Coast Bonsai Inc.

» Black Bird Holistic

» Broadway Across Canada (Eagle Eye Entertainment Inc.)

» Coach Hector Wong

» Conscious Works

» AG Dominion Blue Reprographics

» EJ Cellphone Repair

» Eyetician

» Fresh Prep

» Hannah T Photography

» Hum Apparel

» Ingrid Brito Life Coach

» Magic IT Solutions

» Miller & Co.

» RC Railing Experts

» S&A Accounting

» Second Life Apparel

» Thunderbolt Sign

» Vancouver Boat Parties

» Vancouver Canadians

» VanGo Vapes

» Z&R Automotive

In addition to our Perks benefits and privileges program, we offer a variety of Affinity Programs for KPU alums. Our Affinity partners provide discounted services to our alums, while also generating revenue for the Alumni Association. Our Affinity Partners include:

» All Purpose Realty

» Artona Group

» Bell Mobility

» Convocation Flowers

» Canucks Sport and Entertainment

»

»

»

»

Alumni of KPU

Josh Roesler

DIP, GENERAL STUDIES ’21

Roesler is a human resources coordinator with protective coating company Corrcoat Services Inc. The company did not have an HR department, which allowed him to bring his experience and knowledge to help grow it to its full potential and to build an HR department from the ground up.

Kim Paris BA, PSYCHOLOGY ’14

Paris works as an emerging talent manager at Industrial Light and Magic, a visual effects company which is part of Disney. In her role, Paris works with elementary, high school and university/ college students to inspire and support their passion for art and careers in visual effects. She supports an internal training program, the Jedi Academy, for emerging talent and interns. Paris started her professional career supporting students transitioning into university and now she supports new professionals transitioning into their careers.

Ikjyot Rehal BA, PSYCHOLOGY ’16

As Rehal was studying for an M.E.d in counselling at SFU, she returned to KPU to work as an academic advisor for arts and completed her practicum at KPU Counselling. She enjoyed giving back to the KPU community. Rehal is a registered clinical counsellor with a private practice, Thriving Hearts Therapy Clinic. She supports people experiencing mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness and family conflicts. Rehal also gained more training in couples therapy as she recognized how relationships are integral in our lives. She has had many young adults come to her and says it’s an honour to provide them with a space where they feel seen, heard and validated. She sees people learn coping skills and transform their lives, which is the best part of her job.

Irvin Akopov

DIP, MARKETING MANAGEMENT ’09

One of Akopov’s favourite memories of KPU is the student council foosball tournaments held on pub days. KPU provided Akopov with the foundational learnings and experience, alongside the practical instruction, to help him determine what his career path should be. Today, he is part of the leadership team for a Fortune 500 international technology company.

Gaurav Bhulla

DIP, ACCOUNTING ’13

After KPU, Bhulla started working at RBC, Royal Bank. Currently, he works as a mortgage specialist with RBC, Royal Bank. It has been eight years working in the banking industry, and his education at KPU has continually helped him grow his career.

Alysa Batmagnai

BBA, HR MANAGEMENT ’19

Thanks to KPU's excellent business program and its emphasis on handson experiences, Batmagnai was able to secure a job immediately upon graduation. KPU's program provided her with valuable real-life scenarios, which helped her develop practical skills and knowledge that she could apply in the workplace. As a result, Batmagnai felt well prepared to enter the job market and succeed in her chosen field. She is currently advancing her career in human resources and, in a few years, plans to pursue a master's degree in finance to expand her knowledge and skills in that area.

Alumni of KPU

Roraigh Falkner

BA, APPLIED GEOGRAPHY ’21

KPU taught Falkner discipline and the value of hard work and perseverance. He was fortunate to connect with a good network of students and faculty before graduating. Falkner met some of the most amazing people at KPU and is happy they are all still a part of his life. Falkner is a project coordinator for Wood Buffalo Strategy Group and the Hogan’s Alley Society. He also works as an Indigenous planning consultant at Alderhill Planning, while working towards his master of community and regional planning degree at UBC.

Katie Caines

BA, HISTORY ’09

KPU set Caines up for future educational pursuits (BEd, MHum, MEd). She just finished her master of educational administration at Western Washington University and is currently the teacherlibrarian at a high school in Langley.

Mona Thakar

POST-BAC DIP, ACCOUNTING ’23

Because of what she learned at KPU, Thakar got a job as head of accounting in a company. She is working for Terus Construction (Colas Canada) as the accounts payable/accounts receivable lead where she manages receivables and payables. Thakar is working towards her CPA designation and goal to become a CFO.

Pooja Pawar — POST-BAC DIP, OPERATIONS & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT ’22

Pawar’s time at KPU was a fantastic roller coaster journey, full of friends for life, a motivating mentor and constant support. KPU acted as a catalyst for selfdiscovery, highlighting Pawar’s abilities and inspiring confidence in her ability to succeed. The wonderful community at KPU will always have a special place in Pawar’s heart. She is employed at the Surrey Board of Trade, where she actively contributes her expertise and skills. Fridays are dedicated to yoga practice as part of Pawar’s weekly routine, allowing her to achieve balance and recuperation amidst her responsibilities.

Tania Rosier

BA, CRIMINOLOGY ’10

Rosier is currently a program coordinator for Chimo Community Services. She is a public speaker, showing others how to make the impossible possible by finding possibility in everything. She has been on international podcasts and stages and is a proud supporter of improving literacy among all ages through music, among other programs that work towards promoting mental wellness in our society.

Karim Chaggani BTECH, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ’13

KPU was an excellent experience. Chaggani proudly mentions his KPU degree which, along with his experience and other training after graduation, has helped him advance his career in the Government of Canada. Chaggani works in Shared Services Canada, supporting government departments that provide services to Canadians.

Ashveen Gill

BA, CRIMINOLOGY AND MATHEMATICS ’22

Since graduating, Gill has obtained a position at Sylvan Learning Centre in Langley. She tutors/teaches students from grades 2 - 12 in math and reading. She has also started an e-commerce business where she promotes the United Nations’ sustainable development goals and gives a percentage of proceeds to non-profit organizations (www. longitudexlatitude.com).

Alumni of KPU

Abhinandan Batra GRADUATE DIP, GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT ’23

KPU was an unforgettable experience, and Batra will carry those memories with him. The education and coaching he received during his two years at KPU gave Batra a direction to build the career he always wanted. He is currently working as a project execution merchandiser and developing a career in the marketing field which is his area of interest.

Ryan Gil Parungao POST BAC DIP, OPERATIONS & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT ’22

KPU had a significant impact on Parungao’s life because the things he learned helped him with his work. He works as an operations manager for Concentrix Corporation at its Chilliwack site. He is also pursuing a professional certification in data analytics.

Shonel Kumar BA, PSYCHOLOGY ’21

KPU helped to lay a foundation of education for which Kumar is genuinely grateful. He learned to think for himself with an arts degree. Kumar’s experience with business and psychology helped him start a wellness brand fittingly named Well With Shonel. He is certified in aromatherapy, sound healing and reflexology. Every day, he is learning something new.

Ruth Baldiconza – CERT, HEALTH UNIT COORDINATOR ’17

Baldiconza came to KPU to follow her passion for building relationships with people. Having completed the health unit coordinator program in 2017, she returned to KPU in 2020 in the public relations diploma program, which has helped her gain skills and knowledge to support her passion. Baldiconza credits KPU for helping to shape her career. She is now working in the BC Government communications and engagement team as a community information officer. She is working on one of the most significant projects in B.C.: the Highway 99 Tunnel Program that will replace the George Massey Tunnel between Richmond and Delta.

Jaynny Aguilar CERT, HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT ’15

Aguilar changed programs from arts to health, and the teachers and coworkers she met have guided her through her experience at KPU. Aguilar graduated as a healthcare assistant in 2015. During the summer, she was able to find work and, by the end of the year, get a permanent position, which she still holds today.

Maliha Huda

AA, CRIMINOLOGY ’12

KPU has opened many opportunities for Huda. She completed her legal admin assistant certificate and an associate degree in criminology and subsequently found employment in multiple private law firms, some of them being large national firms. Recently, she was able to secure a job in the BC Prosecution Services department as a legal assistant, where she could use both her certificate and associate degree education. Huda is also enrolled in a paralegal certificate program and will complete her certificate soon.

Lindsey Neill

BA, ANTHROPOLOGY ’14

KPU has had a significant impact on Neill’s life. She received an excellent education and made some lifelong friends while there. She was also influenced by many instructors, who taught her to be passionate about her work, never stop seizing the opportunity to learn and always continue to grow. Neill is a project manager and permit holding archaeologist with an Indigenous-owned consultant company in the Kootenay region.

About the KPU Alumni Association

The KPU Alumni Association (KPUAA) became a registered society in 2008. Founders and directors are KPU alum who volunteer and support the growth of KPU by envisioning engagement opportunities for our alum. The board follows a governance model and is responsible for providing the strategic vision to achieve its mission and mandate of engaging a population of over 70,000 KPU alum.

Armitage

Absent: Past chair Gabby Gill, Scott McInnes, Deepak Gill, Colby Davidson

Meet the Alumni Affairs team

The KPU Office of Alumni Affairs is thrilled to be expanding to offer KPU alum more opportunities to engage with us.

The office of Alumni Affairs supports the strategic vision of the KPU Alumni

Nancy Armitage Manager, Alumni Affairs and Executive Director KPU Alumni Association

Jasmine Bassi Alumni Affairs officer

Helen Hughes Alumni Affairs coordinator

Dilraj Singh Alumni Affairs assistant

Association.

Back row (L-R): Taylor Todd, Hayley Woodin, Sukh Rai, chair James Grange, treasurer Henry Flowers

Front row (L-R): Lovepreet Kaur, Damanpreet Garcha, Ayesha Khan, Jangir Bains, Mohammad Kallas, vice chair Jacqueline Tarantino, executive director Nancy

KPU

Message from the KPU Alumni Association Chair

We are very pleased to present the seventh issue of the KPU Alumni Magazine. We hope you enjoy the many inspiring stories of how KPU alum are impacting our communities as well as how the KPU Alumni Association (KPUAA) continues to meet its mandate of engaging its alumni.

One key way we achieve our goals of engaging alumni is through our annual Distinguished Alumni Awards. In these pages you will find the stories of our most recent award winners, including our two Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, Jeremy Senko and Amy Robinson, and our Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient, Tate Tham. If you know of an exceptional KPU alum, I encourage you to nominate them for one of our three awards. More details can be found at alumni. kpu.ca/awards.

We also continue to build on our special offers for alum through our Alumni Perks benefits and Affinity Partnerships. The benefits and privileges KPU alum enjoy are ever more accessible through a mobile app and microsite called KPU Alumni Perks and we continue to grow our offerings each year. More details can be found on page 30-31.

As always, the KPUAA recognizes the importance of supporting students, our future alum. To this end, we are very pleased to support the KPU Giving Tuesday initiative through which we build on our $50,000 endowment and fulfill our annual pledge of $5,000 to the KPU Foundation in support of KPU students in need.

If you have any questions about the many benefits of being KPU alum, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Alumni Affairs office and if you want to share your story for the next issue of the magazine, I encourage you to connect with us at alumni@kpu.ca.

James Grange (BA Crim ’14) Chair, KPU Alumni Association

Keep in touch with what’s happening at KPU and with our active alumni community.

James Grange

Alumni chapters

Alumni chapters are a way to stay connected with your special group of former classmates, meet new people and be involved with KPU in a way that is meaningful to you. Chapters can organize events and activities that promote the interests of your particular group of alum. The KPU Alumni Association is pleased to provide seed funding, and the KPU Alumni Affairs office is there to provide support for new alum chapters. If this interests you, be sure to check out the Chapter Handbook at alumni.kpu.ca/chapters or contact the Alumni Affairs office at alumni@kpu.ca or call 604.599.3137.

Call for nominations

Alumni Awards

KPU alum are doing amazing things! Since 2007, the KPUAA and KPU have been recognizing these exceptional individuals. If you know of someone who has either enhanced the reputation of the university, or made contributions through their outstanding career, public or community service, athletic, arts and culture, or academic achievements, you are encouraged to nominate them for one of our three awards! More details can be found at alumni.kpu.ca/awards

2023 Future Alumni Award

bestowed upon Kayla Garvin

This past year we were pleased to confer the Future Alumni Award upon Kayla Garvin, an exceptional student who has excelled in her studies while also dedicating countless hours of support through volunteering. Garvin is an exceptional student, volunteer and advocate. While completing her bachelor of applied arts in psychology, Garvin served terms as treasurer, events and volunteer coordinator, and president of the Kwantlen Psychology Society. She also joined the Student Advisory Committee for the Arts Faculty Council, providing a student voice to the council and its standing committees. Garvin has been a strong voice for the 2SLGBTQ+ community on campus, working with faculty member Tara Lyons on a research project looking at the lived experience of 2SLGBTQ+ students. Garvin was recruited to this project through the Pride Advocacy Group, and as a result of her research experience, founded the KPU Pride Society, serving as president. KPU Pride now has over 100 members, and is Garvin’s proudest achievement. After graduation, she hopes to continue her work supporting queer university students, hopefully at KPU.

KPU Alumni Association Affinity Partner’s investment in KPU Farm to open doors to community

TD Bank is not only a valuable partner of the KPU Alumni Association, but it is also a generous donor to Kwantlen Polytechnic University and the KPU Foundation.

A $300,000 grant from TD Bank Group will boost community engagement opportunities at a Richmond teaching and research farm operated by KPU. Site enhancement projects, art installation activities and enhanced programming are all part of a new threeyear program at the KPU Farm.

"We're so proud to support the KPU Farm as it expands its work to tackle food insecurity, advance reconciliation and foster environmental stewardship," says Tony Mauro, district vice president for Richmond-South Vancouver-South Delta, TD Bank Group. "Through the

TD Ready Commitment, our corporate citizenship platform, we're investing in organizations focused on enhancing and activating green spaces that help build stronger, more resilient communities."

The donation from the TD Ready Commitment will kickstart a number of initiatives at the KPU Farm, including a volunteer program, the formation of a KPU Learning Gardens Community Board, an Indigenous voices self-guided tour, the development of a publiclyaccessible food forest, an outdoor demonstration kitchen, a farmers market stand, accessible resting spots, and a willow dome and children’s wildflower garden.

Improving local food security is a particular focus of the projects, which aim to promote awareness around

sustainable food production, and increase access to affordable, healthy food for residents.

“This funding will allow us to create engaging public green spaces at KPU Farm and facilitate dialogue with the community about the importance of sustainable agriculture and ecological land stewardship. We are appreciative of TD's investment in our programs that foster community resilience and food security through education, dialogue and regional food production,” says Rebecca Harbut, chair of the sustainable agriculture and food systems program at KPU.

The KPU Farm, located on the Garden City Lands near the KPU Richmond campus, is a unique urban agricultural learning space that began operation in

2018 to foster a shared vision between KPU’s department of sustainable agriculture and the City of Richmond. KPU leases eight hectares (20 acres) of the Garden City Lands from the City of Richmond for the certified organic farm. Students study and practice at the farm while working toward their bachelor of applied science in sustainable agriculture.

The KPU Farm also features a Learning Garden – a space created to facilitate community engagement while opening the land to the wider community of Richmond. The farm also provides industry partners with opportunities to collaborate on research and demonstration projects.

“This funding will allow us to create engaging public green spaces at KPU Farm and facilitate dialogue with the community about the importance of sustainable agriculture and ecological land stewardship.”

– Rebecca Harbut

Alumni impact on KPU Foundation board of directors

KPU alum continue to have an impact and a voice with the KPU Foundation.

At the September 2023 annual general meeting of the KPU Foundation board of directors, the KPU Foundation added two new directors who are alum of KPU. Joining the KPU Foundation board is Krista Moye, who is the director of Accounting and Treasury for BCAA and an alum of KPU’s accounting program.

Also added to the KPU Foundation board is Mohammad Kallas, a senior partner of talent acquisition for CIBC.

Kallas is an alum of KPU’s criminology program and human resources management program. Kallas joins the KPU Foundation board having just completed his term on the KPU Alumni Association board of directors.

These two strengthen the voice of alum with the KPU Foundation by joining fellow alum Kelly Finlay, Balraj Mann, Dilsharn Mokha, and Vikram Bubber on the KPU Foundation board of directors. No one knows or understands the needs of KPU students better than members of the alum community.

The KPU Foundation’s mandate is to raise funds and reduce barriers to create quality, life-long learning opportunities for KPU students to achieve personal, social and career success. The KPU Foundation is fortunate to be able to have alum representation in achieving its mandate.

KELLY FINLAY

MOHAMMAD KALLAS

VIKRAM BUBBER

BALRAJ MANN

DILSHARN MOKHA

KRISTA MOYE

KPU Connects

A virtual networking platform by Ten Thousand Coffees

KPU Connects is a community built with you in mind! Find your perfect mentor or mentee and start connecting with other members to accelerate your personal and professional development.

LEARN MORE alumni.kpu.ca/TenKCoffees