KPU Alumni Magazine - Issue 6

Publisher/Editor: Randall Heidt, Ted Murphy

Production Manager: Nancy Armitage

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

Design by KPU Marketing: Joanne Saunders, Sarah Bolwell

Photography: Lisa King, Geoff Vlcek

Have comments or ideas about KPU Alumni Magazine? Contact Nancy.Armitage@kpu.ca

Want to communicate with your Alumni Affairs office? Contact alumni@kpu.ca

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

I was so grateful this past summer to have an opportunity to get to know three of our outstanding alumni who are featured in this magazine. All three are amazing individuals who received welldeserved recognition during our convocation ceremonies for all they have done to give back to the community.

At our first convocation ceremony, I had the pleasure of talking with Winston Sayson, a retired trial Crown counsel with the B.C. Prosecution Service and recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

Sayson was the first Filipino-Chinese Canadian appointed as Queen’s Counsel in B.C., a designation he received in recognition of “exceptional merit and contribution to the legal profession.”

Sayson attended KPU from 1981 to 1983, which means he was one of our first students, at what was then called Kwantlen College. During his career, Sayson prosecuted significant and highprofile criminal cases and became highly regarded for his expertise in working with children and vulnerable victims and helping them through the criminal justice system with care and compassion. His work earned him many awards, perhaps none more important than the Award of Excellence from the Surrey Women’s Centre for his commitment to justice for women, girls and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Sayson’s work in this area is similar to that of Tiana Sharifi’s, who I was fortunate to present with KPU’s first-ever Alumni Excellence Award this past summer. Sharifi’s work as founder of Sexual Exploitation Education, an agency that works to prevent sexual exploitation and human trafficking through awareness, advocacy, education and consultation, has helped save many lives. Sharifi has provided prevention education to thousands of students, parents and teachers, while also training hundreds of social service providers as well as RCMP.

The final award that I had the privilege of presenting during convocation was the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, which recognizes KPU alumni under 30 years of age who have demonstrated sustained levels of community service while making a significant or innovative impact in their chosen profession.

Gurkirat Singh Nijjar came to KPU in 2015 as an international student pursuing an associate degree in biology. He quickly became instrumental in developing and supporting a number of important community service initiatives, perhaps the most important of which is a non-profit, youth-led organization called Students Overcoming Opioid Use Disorder and Addictions. It has brought lifesaving resources in an effort to overcome the almost 300 per cent increase in opioid overdose deaths in the South Asian community between 2015 and 2018.

It was truly inspiring to talk with these remarkable people and feel their incredible passion for helping others. Please take the time to read about these outstanding alumni who personify KPU’s tagline: “Where thought meets action.”

Thank you

Randall Heidt Vice President, External Affairs and CEO, KPU Foundation

PRESIDENT AND VICE CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE

Thank you once again for taking the time to read our latest issue of the KPU Alumni Magazine. I am particularly excited about this edition as it gives you some insight into the incredible life and journey of Chancellor Kim Baird (Kwuntiltunaat).

Many of you will know Baird as the chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation from 1999 to 2012, during which time she negotiated and implemented B.C.’s first modern urban treaty. An incredible accomplishment for anyone, but even more impressive when you consider that Baird was the youngest woman ever to hold the position of elected chief at the age of 28.

The historic treaty, which was signed in 2009, gave the Tsawwassen First Nation ownership and governance over their land and resources, which created massive employment opportunities and millions in investments. Baird also initiated the Tsawwassen Mills project, which earned the Tsawwassen First Nation recognition as one of the most progressive First Nations in all of Canada. Her work also led to many accolades, such as the Order of British Columbia, the Order of Canada, a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and many others. In 2022, she was recognized by Business in Vancouver as one of the 500 most influential business leaders in B.C.

Her experience, accomplishments and wisdom have made her company, Kim Baird Strategic Consulting, one of the most sought-after firms of advisory services on Indigenous matters to First Nations, businesses and governments in the province.

As vice chancellor of KPU, I am grateful to have learned so much from this incredibly accomplished alum, who constantly reminds us about the importance of giving back to the community.

“I think serving your community is one of the most rewarding things you can do,” she says in her feature story in this magazine.

I couldn’t agree more, and we at KPU are so grateful that Baird has shared her time, knowledge, passion and innovative ideas with our community during such a pivotal time as we all work together towards truth and reconciliation.

Haitchka

ALAN DAVIS, Phd , PRESIDENT AND VICE CHANCELLOR

DEAN OF DESIGN PROUD OF SCHOOL’S REACH

Dean of the Wilson School of Design, Andhra Goundrey has been a member of the KPU community for over 25 years. She grew up in Richmond and attended KPU from 1994 to 1996 before graduating from the fashion and technology degree program.

After a career working with local apparel companies and contributing to KPU’s growth as both a faculty member and an administrator, Goundrey now leads the only seven-program interdisciplinary design school in Western Canada.

“I’m incredibly proud to have been a member of the KPU community for all this time and to work amongst really caring, accomplished and passionate people,” says Goundrey. “I care about the university so much that my daughter is a student here – that’s a

big testament to how much I believe in KPU.”

Goundrey says her own experience as a KPU student provided her with the foundation that helped launch her career and instilled in her a lifelong commitment to personal and intellectual growth. “It provided me with the practical and technical skills to be prepared to grow in all the roles that I’ve had in industry, and at the same time it’s provided me with the framework and confidence to continue my education,” she says.

“I think learning is a continual journey, it never ends. So, it gives me the confidence to say, it’s OK that I don’t know everything, and I can keep learning.”

That willingness to continue learning led her to complete a master of arts in leadership from Trinity Western University after finishing her studies at KPU and pursue a career in technical design, pattern

making and production for companies such as Chloe Angus, Aritzia and Peekaboo Beans. Throughout that time, Goundrey remained deeply connected to KPU. She returned in 2001 as a faculty member and was the coordinator for the fashion and technology program for four years. Then, she was appointed to the position of associate dean in 2017 before being appointed dean of the design school in 2020.

Collaboration and building connections have been themes throughout her career, and her approach has had a significant impact on KPU’s growth. The reputation of KPU’s design programs helped attract funding for the purpose-built Wilson School of Design building that now houses a variety of design programs ranging from bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, certificates and post-baccalaureate. They span fashion and technology, product design, interior design, graphic design for marketing foundations in design, fashion marketing and technical apparel design.

The $36-million facility, named after lululemon founder Chip Wilson and his wife Summer Wilson — who contributed $8 million — opened in 2018 on KPU’s Richmond campus.

Leading the state-of-the-art design school is the ultimate opportunity to elevate the school’s connections to the design industry for Goundrey. With its extensive practicum placements, hands-on experiential learning and advanced technology, the Wilson School of Design is already recognized as one of the top design schools in the world. Goundrey is excited to see students back on campus and for new industry partnerships that are in the pipeline.

“Our connection to industry and the community is what is really distinctive about the Wilson School of Design,” she says.

The school’s connection to a larger university is also a key differentiator that she hopes to leverage by fostering more interdisciplinary collaboration.

“We have faculty that also work in the Melville School of Business and in the physics department in the Faculty of Science and Horticulture,” she explains.

“There are other research collaborations that we’re doing as well. I think there’s a great opportunity for students to take in that whole university experience, which really makes it a unique experience.”

Students will have more opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary, experiential learning thanks to a $1-million research grant the Wilson School of Design recently received from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The grant will help students meet the innovation needs of industry partners through applied research focused on themes like sustainability, addressing climate change and inclusivity.

Ultimately, Goundrey says it is the work KPU students are doing in the design industry that sets the school apart and inspires her most about her job.

“I get excited hearing stories about our students and what they’re doing,” she says. “I’m on LinkedIn constantly because I love to follow where our students have gone and what they’re doing. We have alumni out there performing so well – I think it really is a testament to what the school and the programs offer.”

Goundrey says what impresses her about Wilson School of Design students is their values-driven approach. They want to have a meaningful impact in the world,” she says. “That impresses me so much about the students and why they’re here. When we think about the education we provide, it needs to help them meet those goals and to align with their values as well.”

Taking a holistic approach resonates with Goundrey; it’s been the foundation of her own career journey, she explains.

“I think one of my greatest achievements is continuing to balance my career and my education as a working parent,” she says. “I’m really hopeful that I’m setting an example for my daughter about how you can integrate family, education, career as well as your values. At the same time, I hope that sets an example for the students that we work with here too.” 

“Our connection to industry and the community is what is really distinctive about the Wilson School of Design.”

– Andhra Goundrey

THE SLOW FASHION ADVOCATE

After more than two decades in the fashion industry, Daphne Woo is slowing down. Having spent much of her career working for some of the top global apparel brands, she’s now focused on producing sustainable textile art pieces at a smaller scale – an approach she says is more aligned with her values.

An advocate for slow fashion, Woo founded AMACATA Design Concepts to concentrate on craftsmanship that’s timeless, local and sustainable. Slow fashion is prepared with care and conscience, a process she says is time consuming but rewarding.

“Fast fashion is the second largest polluter in the world next to oil, and I wanted to bring attention to that aspect, in terms of the choices we make around consumerism,” she says.

Working as a natural dye artist, Woo creates decorative works for homes and galleries. She also spends some days naturally dyeing garments for clients, at times transforming wedding dresses into evening gowns. She says there’s a ceremonial aspect to this, refurbishing something old to new, to continue the garment’s legacy of positive experiences.

Woo’s interest in natural dyes traces back to her college days when she was introduced to them by an instructor while attending Capilano College. Later, for her graduation fashion line for the fashion design and technology program at KPU, she created naturally dyed lingerie and lounge wear.

“Working up towards the fashion show was quite an experience, getting it all together and also producing for it,” recalls Woo. “It taught me how to stick to deadlines and the importance of them. So, in that sense, it prepared me for what was to come.”

What followed were 20 years in the speedy-paced world of sportswear product development. After graduating from KPU in 1995, she worked for Vancouver-based Street Sport Manufacturing, which produced garments for Mountain Equipment Co-op and Mark's Work Wearhouse, among others. She moved to the Netherlands in 2003 and worked for Nike at its European headquarters, developing men's sportswear. She also worked at Asics on the 2010 Winter Olympics package. When she moved back to Vancouver in 2012, she took a job at lululemon, again in men’s sportswear. The roles involved overseas travel and collaboration with liaison offices and factories where the brand’s garments are produced.

In 2016, she participated in the social venture mentorship program at Groundswell Community, an alternative business school, where she focused on launching AMACATA as a social business. The name, she explains, is derived from the mirror image of ATACAMA, reflecting the raw, pure, natural properties of the desert. Today, Woo’s transition to a small business owner and artist has reignited her passion for textiles and art that originally drew her to the design program at KPU. She feels she has come full circle in her career.

“After close to 30 years, I've kind of come back to something that spoke to me already back then. It’s everything from working in the garden and being in harmony with nature, to producing art pieces that are aligned with my ethics and values.”

For Woo, providing natural fabric dyeing workshops and lessons in textiles is a way to share her knowledge and experiences with a new generation of enthusiasts. She says the movement towards natural materials and regenerative mindset is part of a bigger need for design students looking to incorporate sustainability and ethics into their education.

“I think the level that students are learning now is a lot more intense than when I was a student,” she says. “They’re very in tune with what's happening currently. The climate emergency is the big aspect right now. I think the biggest thing is that the students are very current, non-traditional, but still able to exercise their creativity.”

Increasingly, Woo is sharing a value-driven approach to fashion with her community. In 2021, she completed a community capacity building program and opened a nature-inspired show at Deer Lake Art Gallery, called Plant Parallels, with two other artists. She’s often asked to speak as a panelist and, most recently, spoke at Burnaby’s PechaKucha event.

She’s also sharing her perspective with the next generation through teaching. She developed a course on globalization and cultural differences for the fashion program at La Salle College that considers topics like ethics and cultural appropriation in fashion and taught a semester of textiles for fashion business students at JCI Institute.

All of this aligns with the intention of her art, which she describes as “advocating a cultural shift toward slowing down life’s pace, thus supporting socially and environmentally conscious living.” 

THE OVERDOSE CRISIS HERO

KPU’s 2022 Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipient had heard about the global overdose epidemic before coming to Canada as an international student in 2015, but Gurkirat Nijjar soon experienced the escalating crisis in B.C. firsthand. One night, while working at his then part-time job at a gas station, a person overdosed in the washroom.

“I felt helpless,” recalls Nijjar. “This was something in my mind that I should have the skills and the proper first aid to be able to help people if they overdose.”

Because of that experience, when he and his friends had the opportunity to receive training on overdose response and prevention through the South Asian Mental Health Alliance, they jumped at the chance.

“We thought, now we know how to respond to an overdose, but people are dying in the Lower Mainland, and people with language barriers and new immigrants do not know what drug supply is in our neighbourhoods. We thought maybe we should carry out informational sessions at different places in our community so that we can inform them and prepare them for emergency situations.”

That was the beginning of Students Overcoming Substance Use Disorder and Addictions Society of Canada, a grassroots initiative Nijjar founded in 2019 to provide outreach and training on overdose response and prevention to the South Asian communities in Surrey and Delta, which have been hit hard by the overdose crisis and drug toxicity.

“On weekends we go to places of worship, community events, speak to media – whatever we can do to spread the word and to end the stigma associated with overdose,” he explains. “We tell people about drug toxicity and provide them hands-on skills: how to use naloxone, how to give breaths, Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act and what to expect when they call 911.”

Nijjar and a team of volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to raise awareness in the community of the overdose crisis, while many were focused on COVID-19. They have offered training in English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. In the coming months, they plan to start offering Spanish and Portuguese programs as well.

“People who use substances, at end of the day, they are our brothers and sisters, and they belong to our own society. I really believe that education is something which could be useful and using it for the betterment of humanity, that's the real meaning of education.”

Nijjar graduated from KPU in 2017 with an associate of science degree in biology and is now in his third year of a bachelor of science at UBC, majoring in

chemistry. He is working on numerous research studies, including one focused on substance use patterns in international students and driving forces that push them into the cycle of addiction. Ultimately, his goal is to use his education to help his community find solutions to the crisis.

“I would like to be a clinical scientist, solving puzzles of addiction by combining neuroscience and chemistry together. That's what I see myself doing in future years.”

On top of his studies and his dedication to the overdose crisis, Nijjar is a coach, group leader and volunteer at Chimo Crisis Line, supporting crisis intervention. During the pandemic, he served as a bridge between KPU International Student Services and the South Asian COVID-19 Task Force to share COVID-19 related information and resources. He was also a Fraser Health SEHAT wellness ambassador and serves as a community outreach director at One Voice Canada. For his extensive volunteer work, Nijjar was recognized as one of Surrey’s Top 25 Under 25 in 2020.

As a relative newcomer to the country, Nijjar has done more to contribute to his community than many have in their lifetime. He says a driving force in his life is his grandmother. “She always pushes me to be a better version of myself. She is a person whom I see whether I'm having a good day, or something is not working in my life. I always ask her for some of her wisdom.”

He also credits the KPU community for having a profound and lasting impact on his life. Nijjar stays in touch with many of his classmates and teachers, and attributes that close relationship to the intimate classroom environments, which he says fostered interaction between students and professors. That ongoing support, he says, makes receiving the Outstanding Young Alumni Award further motivation to do even more to make a difference.

“I am really humbled and thankful that the KPU Alumni Association recognized me,” he says. “Whenever I look at this award, it reminds me that it's a pledge I have given to KPU: that I will strive to work in future to make our communities healthier and safer.”

He also hopes his example motivates others to do their part in the escalating overdose and drug toxicity crisis. “I encourage everyone to save lives by getting trained in overdose response and how to use naloxone,” he says. 

“I would like to be a clinical scientist, solving puzzles of addiction by combining neuroscience and chemistry together.

That’s what I see myself doing in future years.”

– Gurkirat Nijjar

THE MENTAL HEALTH CHAMPION

Since graduating from KPU with a bachelor of arts in psychology in 2019, Gurjot (Joey) Chhina has been using the tools he gained through his education to make a positive impact in his community.

As a volunteer for local organizations, Chhina is committed to helping people who are facing barriers and adversity. Through the Abbotsford Restorative Justice and Advocacy Association, he mentored high-risk youth going through a police-based restorative process or the restorative action process in Abbotsford schools.

The program aims to match young people with a responsible, caring adult to receive support and encouragement. This can increase the likelihood the young person will complete the agreement successfully and will not re-offend.

Chhina also lends his time and expertise as a support worker for the Fraser Health Crisis Line, a role that involves supervising volunteers to manage crisis intervention situations.

On top of his volunteer work, Chhina is currently completing a doctorate in clinical psychology at Adler University and doing a practicum at Matsqui Institution in Abbotsford, a federal medium-security men’s prison. Working with at-risk populations is exactly what drew him into psychology in the first place, he says.

“I went into the program at KPU, and I went into my graduate school program, being passionate about wanting to help people and wanting to create something that was bigger than myself,” he explains.

The son of immigrants whose parents made

significant sacrifices to put him and his sister through university, Chhina sees his education as an avenue to give back to his community. As a person of South Asian origin, he says that barriers to mental health treatment in his community inspired him to enter the field of psychology.

Research has shown higher rates of anxiety and mood disorders for this population compared to immigrants from other parts of the world, primarily due to cultural and socio-economic factors.

Canadians of South Asian origin also have the highest perceived barriers to mental health treatment and are 85 per cent less likely to seek treatment for mental illness than those who identify as white. Chhina hopes to make a difference.

“As a person of South Asian origin, mental health isn't something that's regularly talked about, unfortunately,” he says. “There's a lot of stigma –especially for males. Having the opportunity to help people in my own community – and people outside of my community – through clinical psychology is something that I’m passionate about and look forward to doing.”

Chhina says he chose KPU because of its deep roots in the community and academic rigor, which mirrored his passion for engagement and helped pique his interest in research.

“KPU is academia is given the utmost importance, but the community outreach – the connection with the Indigenous community, the connection with the entire community – is also boundless,” he says. “KPU was just one of those places where they're almost a jack of all trades.”

psychology. And Dr. Bernstein encouraged his interest in research as director of the Lifespan Cognition Lab at KPU, where Chhina was a research assistant.

“They taught me a lot about being passionate about what you're pursuing, holding yourself accountable during periods of success and periods of setbacks and realizing that no matter how skilled you are, there's always more work to be done,” he says. “I contribute a significant chunk of my success to my two mentors.”

Since graduating with honours, Chhina has stayed involved with the psychology community at KPU. As a former volunteer coordinator and treasurer for the Kwantlen Psychology Society, he organized society funds toward conferences and activities that promote the field. As a former editor of the Kwantlen Psychology Student Journal, he provided guidance to students that were looking to publish their research, and he has presented at various research conferences such as the Northwest Memory and Cognition Conference (NOWCAM), Connecting Minds and the KPU Research Symposium. He credits the KPU community with helping him gain the confidence to continue with graduate studies.

“I think being able to be recognized at KPU was the biggest benefit because it really helped me gain confidence to pursue my academics and my life as intensely as I could and really allowed me to sink my teeth into my passions.”

Now, as he prepares to launch his career as a clinical psychologist, Chhina says his parents remain his biggest source of inspiration, and he considers his education his greatest achievement.

There, he found two mentors who helped guide his journey: Dr. Daniel Bernstein and Dr. Evan Lopes. Chhina says that Dr. Lopes, who received the Governor General’s Exemplary Service Medal for his work in federal correctional institutions, inspired him to explore the field of forensic correctional

“Just being in the position that I'm in right now, I think is a blessing, but it's also an achievement in itself,” he says. “Being a child of immigrants and being able to succeed at university, even at the undergraduate level, isn't an easy feat.” 

“I went into the program at KPU, and I went into my graduate school program, being passionate about wanting to help people and wanting to create something that was bigger than myself.”

– Joey Chhina

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST

Kari Michaels was elected as executive vicepresident of the B.C. General Employees' Union (BCGEU) in 2017. Now in her second term in that role, Michaels helps shape the direction of one of the largest and most diverse unions in B.C. – one that represents thousands of members in healthcare, community social services, education, highways maintenance, casinos, credit unions, municipalities, regional districts and other sectors.

Michaels joined BCGEU as a member when she and her co-workers at the Kwantlen Student Association unionized at their worksite. At the time, she was working as a records coordinator and student advocate. Facing what she describes as hostile working conditions, she quickly became active, first as a shop steward and subsequently stepping up as a bargaining committee member.

“We looked to join the BCGEU because the support staff at KPU are also members and so there was an alignment there in terms of being in a common union,” she explains. “We ended up organizing our workplace so that we could have better protections and collectively improve our workplace.”

Because of Michaels’ leadership, employees of the student association are union members to this day. That experience, she says, inspired her to run for election to the provincial executive of BCGEU.

“I ran largely wanting to help other members in our union build power and use the experience that we had in organizing our workplace so that we could have better protections to help support other members doing the same thing in their workplaces,” says Michaels.

Michaels is committed to building workers’ capacity to take action to improve their working conditions through education and training. She has been deeply involved with BCGEU as the young worker representative on both Local 704 and the Component 7 executive, Local 704 first vice-chairperson, a member of the BCGEU Young Workers Committee and member of the joint labour management committee.

“I've been most passionate about helping workers understand their power,” she says. “We don't have to accept things the way they are, we really can change things by working together and collectively resolving issues.”

Michaels’ determination to contribute to positive change was shaped by her early experiences. Growing up, she watched her mother struggle to support her family financially despite being a

relentlessly hard worker. That experience, along with coming of age during a time when 9/11, the Iraq War and the resulting anti-war movements were happening, solidified her passion for social justice.

She cut her teeth in the world of advocacy, helping create the Feminist Collective at KPU, which ran self-defence classes on campus, marched to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women and created a dedicated women’s space on campus. As an employee of the student association, she helped KPU students navigate complaints and appeals processes.

“It was very rewarding to be able to help students through the process and to get some sense of closure in the situation,” she says. “That translated to the work that I'm doing now in terms of supporting workers to organize and get their employers to do what's right.”

As an executive board member for BCGEU, Michaels is assigned to various units within the union, working with their bargaining teams to support them as they negotiate their collective agreements or on initiatives to support their unique situations and needs.

For Michaels, workers’ rights extend beyond workplaces, and she was attracted to working with BCGEU because of its advocacy on various social issues. She is currently working on a number of BCGEU advocacy campaigns on issues such as housing affordability for the working class.

“The BCGEU is very much interested in not just improving our working lives and our workplaces but looking at society around us and seeing how we can create a more just society,” she explains.

Michaels, who graduated with a bachelor of arts in philosophy in 2017, says her time at KPU helped shape her social consciousness. Having spent her time as a student volunteering and advocating for the next generation of learners, she truly embodies the adage: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

This experience was foundational to her career, and now she is using it to help others assert their own rights. For Michaels, her accomplishments only serve as motivation to push harder.

“Whatever rights we have, whatever benefits or entitlements we have, those are fought for, and they can just as easily be taken away if we aren't vigilant about continuing to – not just fight for what we have – but to expand it even further,” she says. 

THE COMMUNITY LEADER

With deep ties to the KPU community as an alum, an employer of KPU students, a former instructor and now as chair of the KPU Foundation, Kelly Finlay aims to create opportunities for others the way she says her education did for her.

Finlay is a partner at Areti, a boutique accounting firm in Vancouver’s Yaletown district that specializes in helping entrepreneurs and start-ups grow. It’s a dream role, she says, that allows her to combine her accounting expertise with her passion for education.

“I’m passionate about my education and just business in general,” says Finlay. “My education opened a lot of doors for me, and I ended up being able to help other entrepreneurs grow their business with the knowledge that I have.”

Finlay has followed a non-traditional career path to becoming a partner at an accounting firm. She was inspired to go into the field by her first-year accounting professor at Vancouver Island University. Not the stereotypical accountant, he drove a motorcycle, was a partner at a firm, an active parent and the mayor of the town he lived in, Finlay recalls. For her, he became a role model for someone who uses their skills to have a positive impact.

“He was just a really cool, unique person and sort of broke the stereotype as to what I thought an accountant would look like and would be,” she recalls. “Since then, I've been like, ‘I can do that, I'm going to do that. I'm going to do all of that.’”

After becoming a parent, Finlay transferred to KPU so she could be closer to family and take courses in the evenings while she worked full-time as a controller at a manufacturing company in Delta. Her professors at KPU further solidified her resolve to use her education to contribute to her community, and through her own experience struggling to make ends meet as a working parent and student, she saw an opportunity to make a difference.

“I worked full-time, so I wasn't eligible for a bursary,” she recalls. “But because I worked full-time, I also wasn't necessarily getting the grades to qualify for scholarships. So, I found myself sort of in the middle of not quite getting a scholarship and not quite needing a bursary but feeling like there was an opportunity for students like me to get additional help because it certainly wasn't easy.”

She graduated from KPU with a diploma in accounting in 2012 and a bachelor of business administration in accounting in 2014. Not long after receiving her accounting designation and

while rising through the ranks in public practice, Finlay made a donation to the KPU Foundation to establish the Amelia Lynn Achievement Award, named after her daughter, for a working parent like Finlay who wouldn’t qualify for other bursaries or scholarships. She says her daughter attends the annual awards banquet to meet the recipients who are proof that dreams can be pursued at any age.

Through that experience, she met Christine Brodie, director of the foundation, who convinced Finlay that her passion towards supporting students would be better served by joining the foundation’s board. After serving in various roles on the board, she recently took on the role of chair, lending her expertise to help fundraise to create quality, life-long learning opportunities for KPU students to achieve personal, social and career success.

“I think the work that the KPU Foundation does is fantastic,” she says. “KPU is a fantastic university – it's really easy to see it in the students that graduate and enter the workforce. I think the education that they get is very practical and they also get significantly more opportunities to put the theory they learn here into use before they step into the workforce. That makes a tangible difference for students leaving KPU and looking to jumpstart their career.”

Beyond her work for the KPU Foundation, Finlay has taught accounting at KPU, hoping to have the same kind of impact that KPU instructors like Brad Sacho, Lindsay Clayton and Ho Yee Low had on her.

“Teaching some introduction and intermediate accounting courses was a highlight for me in terms of coming back into those hallways and being the one that was going to inspire the next generation of accountants. That felt full circle for me.”

Finlay’s passion for lifting others is evident in her approach to her career, community service and family. She’s an employer of KPU students and strives to bring the same values to leading her team that she does in raising her two daughters. With around 20 employees, she says the culture they’ve created at Areti is one of her proudest accomplishments.

“Public practice is notoriously known for being a place where accounting students can come and gain experience when they're getting their CPA designation,” she explains. “So, I get to teach clients and students every day.” 

“I’m passionate about my education and just business in general.” – Kelly Finlay

THE HEALTH AND FITNESS ENTREPRENEUR

Growing up, Markus Kaulius’ family didn’t always have access to nutritional food. During his teen years, he went through a sudden growth spurt and his tall, skinny frame made him an easy target for bullies. Embarrassed of who he was and lacking self-esteem, he turned to the gym and discovered a lifelong passion for health and fitness.

“That was a very tough time in my life,” he says. “But I was so fortunate because through the gym, I transformed very quickly. And I'm not even talking about the physical changes; mentally I gained self-esteem and self-worth, and I recognized at a young age that I’m passionate about helping people live happier and healthier lives through fitness and health.”

Another turning point in his life was when his mom went back to school to support the family. That school was KPU. Years later, he followed in her footsteps and graduated from KPU with a bachelor of business administration focused on entrepreneurial leadership. At KPU, he says, he gained the skills to launch a business helping others attain the same physical and mental results he did by committing to personal health.

Kaulius is founder and CEO of Magnum Nutraceuticals, a company he launched in 2005 with the concept of being dedicated to integrity in producing the highest quality sports nutrition supplements. Understanding the importance of nutrition to his own training, he envisioned creating supplements that would meet his own needs while helping others. But much like his fitness journey, his path to creating Magnum began with baby steps.

The formation of his business began when Kaulius started selling sports nutrition supplements out of his home. “I had like a shop set up in my place and my buddies would come by, learn about supplements, buy some and they'd bring their buddies next time,” he explains. “I'd say I dipped my toe in the business world through that.”

Then came the opportunity to start his first retail location, which was such a success it grew into three outlets. It wasn’t long before Kaulius saw there was a gap in the market for a company that would be known as a premium brand of supplements.

“Here we are almost 18 years later, and we’re focused on exactly what we were on day one: integrity,” he says. “It’s what's given us a great brand name in this industry, and a lot of people trust us because of it.”

Today, Magnum Nutraceuticals has sold more than $100 million of product and can be found in over 100 countries. Magnum’s 30 employees work with several local and international charities, from volunteering in the Cloverdale Community Kitchen to funding the education, medical and dental expenses of 80 school-aged kids in Haiti. Kaulius says his team shares his commitment to seeing the world become a healthier, happier place.

“One of the most remarkable things about this business is our culture,” he says. “Everybody in this building truly cares about our clients. We know a lot of people are suffering from poor health and poor mental health. We truly are a family who cares about each other and cares about the community we live in.”

Kaulius measures his success in the lives he’s impacted as much as through his business’s earnings. A lot of his accomplishments, he says, were made possible through his education and the financial support he received at KPU.

“Receiving my first scholarship was a really spectacular moment,” he recalls. “I don't think a lot of people know how awesome the scholarship programs are at KPU. Because of that, I was able to get my education without debt, and what a leg up that gave me in entering the real world.”

Looking back, he says the small classroom environment and the quality of the professors at KPU also helped bring out his personal best.

“I knew I was getting the best education hands down,” he says. “I had the confidence I needed to start my own business, I learned how to speak to clients more confidently and I got tons of practice speaking in public. I’m very grateful to KPU”

Kaulius is continuing to grow Magnum Nutraceuticals and is taking his message of the importance of physical and mental health out into the world through public speaking engagements and through his mentoring business. He’s writing his first book, which will give readers key tips on how to change their mindset to change their life. His goal, he says, is to inspire and motivate others to become the best versions of themselves.

“That stuff lights me up,” says Kaulius. “I've helped people across the globe lose over two million pounds of fat. There's a lot of people who I’ve watched start living much more incredible lives because they take fitness and health more seriously. That’s a great feeling for me.” 

THE RECONCILIATION TRAILBLAZER

KPU’s chancellor, Kim Baird, is an accomplished leader who advises Indigenous communities, governments, businesses and other organizations on Indigenous matters. She served as the elected chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation from 1999 to 2012, during which time she negotiated and implemented British Columbia’s first modern urban treaty. Her leadership provided unprecedented benefits and opportunities for her community, and now as individuals and organizations across Canada grapple with how to meaningfully advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, Baird continues to be a driver of transformational change.

It’s an issue, Baird says, that every Canadian has a responsibility to understand and act on. “Indigenous

reconciliation is possible, change has happened and is happening,” she says. “I think it’s important that everyone does their part to learn about these issues and then act however they can to help reconciliation in Canada.”

Baird’s own resolve to contribute to positive change for her community was sparked during her time as a student in general arts at KPU. She says meeting new people and taking a wide breadth of subjects, including psychology, history and political science, helped awaken her political consciousness. At the time, the Tsawwassen First Nation reserve she grew up on lacked basic infrastructure and her people faced poor economic conditions. She began applying what she was learning about colonization, land claims processes and Canadian history to a role setting up a land-claim research program in her community.

“I think once my social consciousness woke up, that contributed to my desire to see my community have justice,” she says. “That was a very big driving force for me to advocate for my community to be able to enjoy things others take for granted. That was a big motivation for me.”

doctorate from Simon Fraser University, a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and KPU’s Distinguished Alumni Award. In 2022, she was recognized by Business in Vancouver as one of the 500 most influential business leaders in B.C.

After graduating in 1992, Baird continued working in her home community of Tsawwassen and, by 1999, was elected chief. At just 28 years old, she was the youngest woman to hold that position. She remained chief for over 13 years and in that time laid the groundwork for prosperity and self-sufficiency for her community.

Securing the historic treaty in 2009 was the culmination of many years of negotiations that gave her people ownership and governance over their land and resources, creating employment opportunities and attracting millions of dollars of investment. Baird initiated the Tsawwassen Mills project, a commercial real-estate development valued at $780 million, and her leadership has contributed to the Tsawwassen First Nation being one of the most progressive in the country.

Reflecting on her accomplishments, she considers the level of engagement her community had in voting for the treaty among the biggest in her career.

“There was a 94 per cent participation rate on the treaty vote,” she says. “I’m very proud of being able to get that level of participation. That was critical for planning our future as a community.”

The Tsawwassen First Nation treaty negotiations are recognized as a model throughout Canada and the world and Baird is much sought after as an advisor on Indigenous matters. Through her consulting practice, Kim Baird Strategic Consulting, she provides services related to First Nation policy, governance and economic development, as well as First Nation consultation, communication and engagement issues. Her ultimate goal, she says, is to improve the quality of life for Indigenous people.

Her leadership has been acknowledged in many ways, including the Order of British Columbia, the Order of Canada, an Indspire Award, and honourary

Of this most recent recognition, Baird says: “It’s flattering to still be relevant. After having a long career as chief of Tsawwassen First Nation, I didn’t really have plans as to what my next phase would be. I’ve been consulting for almost 10 years now, and to be successful in that and to be recognized for the work I do is a big honour. I’m grateful.”

In addition to her consulting work, Baird holds a number of board appointments, including with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and the B.C. Indigenous Business Investment Council.

In 2020, Baird was installed as KPU’s third chancellor. As the ceremonial head of the university and an ambassador for KPU, she says she hopes to contribute to the institution’s evolving role with Indigenous reconciliation in Canada. It’s an issue all KPU alumni can contribute to, she says.

“Allowing people to learn about the true history of Canada is an important gap that needs to be filled across the country,” says Baird. “Then, the economic sustainability of Indigenous individuals and families need to be addressed. There are a lot of things you can do to help reconciliation with those things in mind – whether it is through education, hiring or procurements – or other things like that.”

Baird says the close-knit experience at KPU helps develop community-minded individuals and today, as chancellor, she encourages recent graduates to find their unique way to have an impact.

“I think serving your community is one of the most rewarding things you can do,” she says. “Until you actually do some of that work, you don’t realize what an opportunity it is to give back and how it is really fulfilling. I encourage people to give back to the communities because I really do think it’s good for them as well as the community.” 

“Indigenous reconciliation is possible, change has happened and is happening. I think it’s important that everyone does their part to learn about these issues and then act however they can to help reconciliation in Canada.” – Kim Baird

THE SOCIAL INNOVATOR

Washington is the first state in the U.S. to pass legislation and implement an earned benefit to make long-term care affordable for all working people. The WA Cares Fund is an innovative program funded by the state government to address a looming long-term care crisis.

As Provider Network Capacity Program manager under the executive branch of the state government, KPU alum Rimi Afroze is overseeing the statewide provider adequacy building, contract executing and monitoring along with quality control of all types of services provided under the program.

In a state with more than 7.7 million people,

making long-term care affordable for everyone in Washington will be crucial. Seventy per cent of Washingtonians over the age of 65 will need longterm services and supports within their lifetimes. Afroze and her team are working hard to ensure the wide range of long-term services and supports the benefit covers – such as professional care and equipment, meal delivery and transportation –are in place when benefits become available in 2026.

“It's going to be a revolutionary program, but there will be a quite a bit of work to reach that milestone,” she explains. “Implementation of the program will require a lot of out-of-thebox thinking and a lot of cooperation and

collaboration with community organizations and with all the different stakeholders.”

While getting the program off the ground can be tedious work, leading the WA Cares Fund is exactly the kind of social impact Afroze has always hoped to have.

“My passion is supporting communities and working for the population who has been marginalized or disadvantaged,” she explains. “One of the reasons that I took this opportunity is because it's serving all levels of working Washingtonians and it’s really a disruptive innovation, and something that has not been done before.”

Working towards equity in healthcare has been a driving force throughout Afroze’s career. Originally from Bangladesh, she started medical school at the University of Pittsburgh with a goal of helping underserved communities. But in the middle of studies, her daughter was born extremely premature, and Afroze paused her education to care for her child.

While pursuing her studies seemed insurmountable during those years, Afroze never gave up on her dream of a career making a difference for those in need. Motivated by her experiences – as a parent of an ill child and as an immigrant – and after a move to Vancouver to be closer to family, Afroze decided to return to her passion for health and wellness.

“It took quite a bit of time for me to gather courage and come back to my education,” she says. “I wanted something that would give me exposure to the research and to mentors and to have a more interactive education.”

That, she says, attracted her to the health sciences program at KPU, where she found a lifelong mentor in Dr. Karen Davidson.

“Dr. Davidson has been phenomenal in guiding me,” says Afroze. “She supported me and held my hand throughout my journey at KPU and also in

my career, helping me to find ways to make myself more resourceful, more knowledgeable.”

Afroze says the opportunities to participate in research projects helped deepen her understanding of the barriers certain populations face in healthcare and her resolve to do something about it. The awards and support she received from her professors and peers at KPU, she says, were instrumental in motivating her to keep going.

“I think KPU has very much shaped the path toward my career. I have been extremely blessed with having that opportunity to be engaged with so many diverse, talented people there.”

She encourages new students to seek out all the supports available to them and make the most of the opportunities presented to them. “The opportunities at KPU are enormous,” she says. “The curriculum and the fast-paced learning can be challenging. But the education you're going to get is real, and it's going to help you in your career.”

After being the first graduate from the health sciences program, having graduated with honours in 2018, Afroze took a job with Neighbourhood House in the Seattle region, where she oversaw the Medicaid program for almost 1,200 elderly and disabled people in South King County and a team of more than 20 people.

Afroze, who also has a master’s in healthcare leadership from the Western Governors University, is currently preparing for a PhD in healthcare administration. And while she has her sights set on having a greater impact in her career, her original reason for entering her field remains unchanged.

“All of the work that I have done has been grounded in the needs of communities, refugees, new immigrants and people who are historically marginalized or facing racism. Working toward diversity and inclusion has been my passion in building a career all along.” 

“My passion is supporting communities and working for the population who has been marginalized or disadvantaged.”

– Rimi Afroze

THE EXPERT GROWER

As vice-president of cultivation and greenhouse operations at Pure Sunfarms, Canada’s top brand in the recreational cannabis market, Rob Baldwin oversees operations at the company’s 1.65-millionsquare-foot greenhouse space in Delta, B.C. Within the rich agricultural centre of the Fraser Valley, Baldwin guides the Pure Sunfarms’ team in greenhouse care and cannabis cultivation practices with an uncompromising approach to quality.

“My favourite part of my job is that it allows me to share my passion for growing and love of plants by mentoring and guiding a new generation of greenhouse growers in the nascent and ever-changing Canadian cannabis industry — something I thought I could only dream of doing,” he says.

Baldwin, who graduated with a diploma in greenhouse management from KPU in 2000, has more than two decades of experience in the greenhouse industry. His introduction to growing came when he started picking crops and plucking weeds, which eventually led to farming tomatoes. For over a decade, he was the grower and facility manager of Village Farms, in the same greenhouse space where Pure Sunfarms now operates.

Baldwin has extensive knowledge of the land and growing conditions of the Fraser Valley and combines the science of greenhouse growing with his understanding of natural environments. When cannabis was legalized in Canada in 2018, turning his passion and expertise for growing towards becoming one of the leading producers was a natural progression.

Baldwin oversaw and managed the entire greenhouse conversion from tomatoes to cannabis. Under his leadership, Pure Sunfarms’ greenhouse was transformed into a custom-designed site for growing cannabis, utilizing state-of-the art technology. Baldwin began mentoring a new generation of greenhouse growers with pioneering agriculture techniques that blend the best of legacy B.C. cannabis methods with practices from the company’s long farming history. Since helping launch Pure Sunfarms in 2019, Baldwin and his team continue to showcase world-class growing capabilities to deliver high-quality, consistent cannabis to the Canadian market.

With deep farming roots in the area, Baldwin says he is most passionate about growing sustainably. At Pure Sunfarms, he has helped implement

sustainable practices such as collecting rainwater to water the plants and using blackout curtains from dawn to dusk to prevent light pollution and protect local ecosystems.

“As someone who has been growing in the Fraser Valley for over two decades, I recognize the importance of sustaining a healthy ecosystem – without that we wouldn’t be able to produce cannabis or any other crop at the scale we do,” he says. “I care about the environment and the generations to come after us, so this is definitely a focus area for me.”

A recognized leader in the industry, Baldwin is an active advocate and member of the Cannabis Cultivators of B.C., a non-profit industry association dedicated to advocating for the growth of a responsible cannabis industry and advancing a favourable social, economic and business environment for cannabis cultivation in B.C.

Baldwin credits his education at KPU with providing the foundation for connecting his passion for growing with his career.

“I recommend the greenhouse management and pest management programs to anyone who wants to apply their learnings to their career,” he says. “My time at KPU gave me the confidence to have thought-provoking conversations with grow experts and colleagues, while also providing me with practical skills to run trials and experiments that helped me become a better grower and truly understand the plant.”

He also acknowledges his diverse team at Pure Sunfarms for their contributions to the success of the company.

“The knowledge you need to be a grower is only one part of the equation, but the people who work with the plants daily are the ones who ultimately impact the success of your crop,” he says. “Guiding my team of growers is important, but the work that goes on day-to-day by the teams in the nursery and flower rooms is what makes the difference.”

All this hard work has paid off for Baldwin and his team. Pure Sunfarms’ Pink Kush is Ontario’s all-time top-selling strain. Pure Sunfarms’ Jet Fuel Gelato is gaining momentum as the fastest growing strain in Ontario, the number one dried flower SKU in July, and the number two selling strain in the industry overall.

For Baldwin, turning his love of plants into one of the leading cannabis brands has been a dream come true. 

THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION PREVENTION WARRIOR

An international expert in the field of anti-human trafficking and sexual exploitation, Tiana Sharifi is the inaugural recipient of the 2022 KPU Alumni Excellence Award. This new award aims to honour alumni who are having a significant impact.

Sharifi is the founder of Sexual Exploitation Education (SEE), an agency which aims to prevent sexual exploitation and human trafficking through awareness, advocacy, education and consultation. Through her work, Sharifi has provided prevention education to thousands of students, parents and teachers for an increasingly common youth issue.

Sexual exploitation involves someone under the age of 18 exchanging a sexual act for something in return. It is the most common form of human trafficking in Canada, and Sharifi describes it as an epidemic. As SEE continues to expand its outreach, she hopes to raise awareness of the growing prevalence of this issue.

“It happens in every neighbourhood and, because so much of it is online, we don't necessarily hear about it,” she says. “But it is a very crucial issue for us to educate our youth on because they are experiencing various forms of sexual exploitation, especially digitally, these days.”

In addition to working with school districts, Sharifi provides training to social service providers, including law enforcement. She recently provided in-house training to hundreds of RCMP officers across Canada.

She also places importance on Indigenous education and has been an ally to agencies such as the Indigenous Perspective Society to educate workers who deal directly with Indigenous youth, parents and adults. Sharifi has made it a priority to educate groups working with Indigenous populations to prevent an Indigenous child or youth from becoming more vulnerable to exploitation, including running a full-day conference in partnership with Indigenous Training and Consulting Services.

“I feel very grateful for the contracts that I have with various agencies that I highly respect,” she says. “Every time I get a contract that's new where I'm targeting a different group or addressing a certain gap that was there before, I feel incredibly grateful.”

Sharifi became aware of the issues of sexual exploitation and human trafficking while considering her career options after graduating from KPU with a bachelor of arts in psychology in 2013.

“I knew that I wanted to be more than a counselor or to address a social issue and I wasn't sure what that was,” she explains.

Dr. Faith Auton-Cuff, her professor at the time, helped steer her towards a role providing education and facilitating workshops on sexual exploitation and human trafficking. From there she has worked effortlessly to address this topic by focusing specifically

on the root issues versus simply providing basic awareness and knowledge.

Sharifi says her education at KPU helped provide the foundation for her career and credits her professors with helping further her personal growth and understanding of how her strengths could be best harnessed in her professional life.

“It was the best education and schooling environment I could have hoped for, especially for my personality type and my learning style,” she explains. “I was able to build relationships with my professors and engage more interactively in my classes and with my classmates. For me, it was very conducive to learning.”

Sharifi incorporates her knowledge from both her work experience and her educational background in counselling psychology, into new prevention approaches to sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Since founding SEE, Sharifi has been the first in the field to provide presentation "packages," where school districts receive more than just a one-time presentation. These student presentations have been strategically developed for a real shift in perspective in youth, alongside providing tools to address issues like consent, healthy boundaries and grooming — both online and in person.

“Preventing child abuse and sexual exploitation by addressing root causes is the most important for me,” she says. “Addressing our culture, legislation, social media trends, and the normalization of exploitation and contributing to the discourse that makes this issue so prevalent is what I'm most passionate about.”

Because of her consulting services, she is recognized as a reputable resource for research centre advisory as well as non-profit curriculum development. Sharifi previously was the co-executive director for the international non-profit The Breakfree Collective and was the co-author and consultant for first-ever B.C. research on the digital presence of human trafficking, completed in May 2022. Most recently, she released the first app on sexual exploitation prevention, called the SEE-App.

Her work and contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades, including being named a "Change Maker" finalist for BC Business Women of the Year Awards.

She says receiving the 2022 KPU Alumni Excellence Award is particularly meaningful given the impact the KPU community has had on her success.

“I honestly feel incredibly honoured because to me it just shows that KPU values this issue and sees its importance. I feel very supported by the institution that I appreciated so much and that I received my education from. It's incredibly meaningful and, to me, probably the best award that I could receive, period.” 

“It happens in every neighbourhood and, because so much of it is online, we don’t necessarily hear about it.”

– Tiana Sharifi

Since 2007, the KPUAA and KPU have been recognizing exceptional individuals like Winston Sayson, recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award.

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN LEARN MORE ON PAGE 44

THE ADVOCATE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME

Along-time Crown prosecutor known for his work on some of B.C.’s most significant and high-profile criminal cases, Winston Sayson, KC was the recipient of the 2022 KPU Distinguished Alumni Award.

Highly regarded for his expertise in working with children and vulnerable victims and helping them through the criminal justice system with genuine care, Sayson was the first Filipino-Chinese Canadian lawyer given the honourary title of King’s Counsel, which recognizes exceptional merit and contribution to the legal profession.

Sayson, a retired trial Crown counsel with the B.C. Prosecution Service, had a storied, 30-year career during which he received countless accolades and awards. He says receiving the KPU Distinguished Alumni Award is particularly significant because it’s from the institution that gave him his start.

“It is deeply meaningful for me to be recognized with the 2022 KPU Distinguished Alumni Award,” says Sayson. “This brings back good memories of my first two years in Canada in a community college that was just founded. This award affirms the value of an academic education and vocational training from a polytechnic university.”

Sayson attended KPU from 1981 to 1983. At the time, he was a new immigrant from the Philippines. English was his third language, and KPU was instrumental to his adjustment to a new country and culture.

“I’m very grateful to KPU,” he says. “It was a safe place for a new immigrant to get used to and to be immersed in the Canadian way of life and culture.”

After he earned his university transfer courses, Sayson went on to UBC to obtain his bachelor of arts and law degrees. He had already established an exemplary

career as a trial prosecutor when he decided to expand his knowledge so he could do more to help vulnerable victims who had been traumatized by crime. He did this by returning to KPU in 2004 to earn a citation in counselling skills.

“Having the skills that KPU provided to me greatly enhanced and improved my skills as a prosecutor,” explains Sayson. “It enhances your ability and wellroundedness to be a prosecutor with strong empathy and understanding of the trauma that victims of crimes are going through.

“People in my position have that opportunity,” he says. “When we make use of those opportunities, it gives much benefit to our community.”

Sayson’s compassion for others set him apart as a prosecutor and was a powerful example for young lawyers he took the time to mentor. His hope was always for them to surpass him in terms of their impact on the profession.

“When you see people become better than you in the areas of your expertise, it gives you happiness because they will continue to drive up the quality and excellence of the work that we do.”

It’s a sentiment that is evident in Sayson’s legacy in the B.C. criminal justice system. He supported the development of B.C.’s forensic nursing program by advocating for the use of expert evidence in court from forensic nurses. Forensic nursing is now widely recognized for providing compassionate medical care to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and providing valuable forensic evidence for court.

In 2015, he was presented the Vision Award from the International Association of Forensic Nurses in Orlando, Florida for his contribution to the promotion and advancement of the field. He also championed the Courthouse Dog Project, which now allows accredited facility dogs to comfort and support children or vulnerable witnesses as they give testimony in court.

“Thinking out of the box and advocating to make the criminal justice system a better, safer place for children and vulnerable victims are things that are important to me,” he reflects. “The work of the Crown in making people talk about their trauma is, sadly, a form of re-victimization. What we need to do is to think outside the box to find ways to mitigate their suffering.”

For his passionate work on behalf of crime victims and their families, Sayson was awarded the Criminal Justice System Leadership Award by the Police

Victim Services of British Columbia in 2010. In 2018, he received the 30-year Long Service Award from the Attorney General and the inaugural Leadership Award from the B.C. Prosecution Service. In 2019, he was presented the inaugural Lawyer of Distinction Award from the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers Western Chapter.

He is quick to say, however, that any of his achievements were always the result of team effort from victim services workers, police officers, colleagues, support staff, counsellors, sheriffs and more.

“In the work that I do, it is always, always teamwork,” he says. “Everything and anything I accomplished was a result of team effort.”

It’s an ethic he has continued to embrace in his retirement through his work in the community. Today, he is actively involved as a speaker and advocate as well as a volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross and his church. He also continues to mentor and coach law students and new lawyers and shows no signs of slowing down.

“There is no reason why retirement should stop me from continuing to be of help, of assistance, and basically to be a cheerleader for people.”

He is grateful for the opportunities Canada and KPU provided him. He hopes that being recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award will inspire others to give back to their community.

“When I first immigrated to Canada I was determined to do what I can to help make the country that welcomed me and my family, and has offered me many opportunities, a better place. The desire to help other people and make Canada a better place is important to me.”

Over the years, Sayson has made many contributions to B.C. and Canada, saying he is most proud of the work he has done on behalf of victims of crime.

“When I have a small part in the redemption and the rebuilding of the lives of people whose lives have been broken by crimes, that, I believe, is the most important thing.” 

On December 5, 2022 Sayson was one of 15 people awarded the Medal of Good Citizenship by the Province of British Columbia. “This award celebrates British Columbians who have acted in a particularly generous, kind or selfless manner for the common good without expectation of reward.”

ALUMNI PERKS: BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES

The KPU Alumni Association was pleased to expand our alumni benefits and privileges program with the Alumni Perks mobile app and microsite which replaced the plastic benefits cards. The Alumni Affairs office signed on 26 new perks partners, including many alumni owned and operated businesses, providing services and products for KPU Alumni at discounted rates. New products and services include:

• AG Dominion Blue Reprographic

• 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

• EJ Cellphone Repair

• Eyetician

• Fresh Prep

• Hannah T Photography

• Hum Apparel

• Ingrid Brito Life Coaching

• Magic IT Solutions

• Miller & Co.

• RC Railing Experts

• Niecey Glam Studio

• Partopia Digital

• S&A Accounting

• Second Life Apparel

• Thunderbolt Sign

• Vancouver Boat Parties

• Vancouver Canadians

• VanGo Vapes

• Z&R Automotive

In addition, to our existing offerings, this past year we collaborated with a new Affinity Partner, Bell Mobility, who provide discounted services to alumni 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

• KPU Bookstore

• LEAD Benefits – (Legal Extended Assistance Discount)

• TD Insurance

• TD Life

ALUMNI OF KPU

Clipsham came to KPU because he was doing a labour job that he did not enjoy. He always had a passion for journalism and getting his degree was a big goal. Clipsham wanted to go to school where he could have a good work, school and life balance and KPU allowed him to have that. Clipsham had specific interest in sports journalism but left with an interest in all aspects of the industry. KPU laid out the groundwork for Clipsham’s professional life. He still uses some of the critical thinking skills he learned during his courses in his everyday work. After graduating from KPU, Clipsham got married and travelled to 10 countries in Europe on his honeymoon. After that, his wife and him had two children (Leo and Noah) and bought their first house in Abbotsford. Clipsham is currently working for ICBC as a senior support and recovery specialist helping customers after they are injured in an accident. In his free time, he spends a lot of evenings on his Peloton bike or playing golf (when the kids go to bed). BA ’18 JOURNALISM 

Truc had an amazing time at KPU in the learning communities 101 course program, and was sad that it came to an end, as it was a fun experience. She got to meet new friends, go on a fun tour around campus and more. She will miss this so much.

Hale recently completed a master’s degree at Adler University for counselling psychology. He is now employed at Share Family and Community Services as an outreach counselor. BA ’17 PSYCHOLOGY 

Since graduating from KPU in 2020 with a BA in psychology, minor in counselling, Redekopp began working in the social services realm at a women’s addictions recovery centre. After two years supporting women working through their addiction and finding new life, she began teaching them about the different valuable elements of starting a business (i.e., inventory tracking, product development, strategic marketing, photography, staging, customer service and more). Through her own learnings, Redekopp decided to begin her own entrepreneurial journey. In early 2022, she became the co-founder of Jubilee Gifts Ltd., an incorporated gift box business creating unique gifting experiences for corporate environments as well as special occasions. BA ’20

PSYCHOLOGY WITH MINOR IN COUNSELLING 

CC ’17 WORK EXPLORATION 

ANITA TRUC

ALEXANDER CLIPSHAM

ANDREW HALE

BRITTNI REDEKOPP

Lambert chose KPU because it is a local, affordable institution focusing on community and availability of education to all members of society — regardless of gender, age and race. Lambert also enjoyed how the school provided evening courses for a student working during the day. Lambert’s favourite KPU experience was her graduation day. She was very motivated and excited for the next steps and enjoyed seeing alumni and staff in their regalia. KPU has allowed Lambert to move forward in her career as an educator, and has taught her the importance of inclusion, understanding, kindness and equity for all. She is beginning a bachelor of education at UBC as she continues with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.,

BA ’22 GENERAL STUDIES

With a BFA degree from KPU, Leung became a prospective student support specialist in KPU’s Future Students Office. During her time as a student at KPU, Leung gained valuable work/volunteer experience in numerous departments. Through those positions, she was able to support many students through their journey at KPU. Aside from her fine arts courses, Leung took courses in different subjects for her electives. She often shares her experiences in those courses and highly recommends taking a few courses outside of your program. Leung loves the KPU community, and believes it is an institution that can offer students a lot of amazing opportunities. She hopes to give back and show prospective/new students what KPU has to offer.

BFA ’21 VISUAL ARTS 

Since Chaput graduated from the fashion marketing program, she has fluctuated with her career path. Her first job post-graduation was at a distribution agency, where she was working as a Western Canadian sales rep for the vegan accessory brand Matt & Nat. Most recently, she has moved into the E-commerce/marketing side of the fashion industry, managing the business side of the company. She is managing two E-commerce businesses — Noble Gentlemen Trading (a fashion wholesale distribution agency) and Well Seasoned (a gourmet food store). In her spare time, which is few and far between, she is working on expanding her digital branding and design business — @vesscreative. Chaput has always had a passion for digital design, and her time at KPU helped her really focus on and hone her skills.

DIP ’17 FASHION MARKETING 

Since graduating from KPU in 2019 with their BAs in criminology (Palfreyman with honours), Weatherill and Palfreyman found themselves working in the same field of public services and community corrections. Their passion for justice and helping others has since flourished into a relationship that has motivated both to continue striving to make a difference in the world. Weatherill is working as a parole officer, after working in public safety, including management in CRFs in the Lower Mainland. He is completing his master’s in leadership through Royal Roads University. Similarly, Palfreyman began her career in social services working in CRFs and non-profits in the Lower Mainland. She is completing her master’s in counselling at City University Vancouver, recognizing that justice for our communities requires acknowledgement that trauma is often the root cause of the harm, and justice can only be achieved through a holistic and empathetic response and recognition of the innate value of all persons.

JENELLE PALFREYMAN , BA ’19 CRIMINOLOGY & SEAN WEATHERILL , BA ’19 CRIMINOLOGY 

JESSICA LAMBERT

NGA (JESSICA) LEUNG

JENNA CHAPUT



JENELLE PALFREYMAN AND SEAN WEATHERILL

Since Bessette graduated, he has attended the Writer’s Studio and an MFA in creative writing at the University of Guelph. He has published poems, short stories and nonfiction in local and international publications, all since his time taking creative writing and English at KPU. Bessette was recently brought on board at a literary agency and is in the process of trying to publish his first novel. He’s also working as an editor in the marketing industry.

DIP ’13 ARTS 

With a desire to run her own business someday, Rosset embarked on the KPU journey to get her business management diploma. After KPU, Rosset went back to art school for graphic design and web development. She found that a lot of her classmates had a difficult time growing their business because they didn’t really learn that in art school. For Rosset, however, it came naturally from her experience at KPU. By the time she finished her diploma, she had a full queue of clients and a growing business. She is still running her graphic design and marketing company and absolutely loves what she does. Rosset works with clients to ensure they have brand consistency, as well as assists with marketing strategy.

DIP ’16 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

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McGillivray is a registered horticultural therapist and recent KPU graduate. Since graduating, she has started her own business, Gardener Kate Horticultural Therapy, where she offers therapeutic horticulture courses and workshops designed to support people in connecting with nature, themselves and their community. McGillivray would like to thank KPU for supporting her in her academic journey and for allowing her to create her own unique educational pathway that has prepared her for an exciting career in horticultural therapy.

From beauty start-ups to the luxury industry, being a community marketing manager allows Gill to create a brand voice and community for brands that have a mission greater than profits.

BBA ’20 MARKETING MANAGEMENT 

BA

’21

GENERAL

STUDIES

WITH MINOR IN COUNSELLING 

LAURA ROSSET

KAAJAL GILL

JONATHAN BESSETTE

KATHLEEN (KATIE) MCGILLIVRAY

Blomly has been rather busy since her graduation in April 2022 in the best possible way. She has returned to KPU as a full time, permanent staff member. She graduated from the LGLA program with the intention to go into legal administration. Blomly had a change of heart, however, and ended up applying to return to KPU in a full-time administrative role. She worked for the school during her certificate as a student assistant in the Career Development Centre and loved the work environment and making a difference for students. Blomly is so pleased to say she is enjoying her role as the dean’s assistant at Melville School of Business. The best part of her role is her awesome team and getting to make a positive difference for students and faculty. She looks forward to a long, happy career with KPU. Blomly is also a proud alumnus of SFU where she graduated with her bachelor of arts in 2019. She specialized in world politics and macro economics. Post-graduation from KPU, Blomly is also looking forward to her big move to Surrey. She is excited to put down roots in the community where she works.

CERT ’22 LEGAL ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES 

Muchali was born in Namibia, Africa, and came to Canada as a refugee. Currently residing in B.C., he is 25 years old, recently graduated with his diploma in criminology at KPU and last year won his first MMA match, resulting in a ranking of 23rd in Canada and eighth in Western Canada. Muchali had a fight in October in the largest fighting organization (Battlefield Fight League) in Canada. The fight was live-streamed, and the full card was available on UFC fight pass. Muchali aspires to work in the criminal justice system and being a good representation of young African-Canadians. He seeks to inspire those who come from less fortunate upbringings. Muchali was born in a humble village in Africa and is now fighting on the largest stage in Canada. DIP ’22 CRIMINOLOGY 

Gill is an intelligence analyst with 15 years of experience working with Canadian law enforcement, 12 of those with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Gill set up a consulting business providing OpenSource Intelligence (OSINT) training and research to law enforcement and related entities across North America. Gill holds a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University and is actively involved in the OSINT community. AA ’05 GENERAL STUDIES & BA ’07 IN CRIMINOLOGY 

Since graduating in 2013 with a BA in criminology, Pascual has spent the past 10 years working in the private and public sector, focusing on public safety and community service. Currently, Pascual oversees public safety at the Pacific National Exhibition and Playland in Vancouver, and is also a director of Vancouver Operation Cooperation Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting safety and security in Vancouver through partnerships with private and public stakeholders. Most recently, Pascual was awarded the Professional Excellence in Operations Award by the International Parking & Mobility Institute for his work in supporting public safety in downtown Vancouver parking facilities. BA ’13 CRIMINOLOGY 

MULIFE MUCHALI

MADISON BLOMLY

PABLO PASCUAL

RITU GILL

Caines returned to university as a mature student and single mother of young twin daughters. Since graduating from KPU in 2008, she has completed her BEd at UBC, her MHum at Simon Fraser and is completing her MEd administration at Western Washington University which will lead her into the principal or vice principal field in B.C.’s public schools. She has been a teacher-librarian with the Langley School District since 2014, returning to the high school she graduated from to work with teenagers to develop a love of literature and a passion for life-long learning. Caines keeps in touch with many of her peers from her KPU grad cohort as well as her instructors from KPU, and she regularly bounces ideas off them on how to best prepare high school students for the transition to post-secondary school. Most recently, Caines was the recipient of the John and Marilyn Warner Graduate Fellowship in Education for her research in developing a culture of reading for pleasure in high schools. ’09 HISTORY WITH

MINOR IN ENGLISH 

Curry graduated from KPU in 2015 with a bachelor of arts, major in anthropology and minor in sociology degree. As a student, she was an employee and volunteered in different roles at the university. Last year Curry celebrated 10 years as an employee at KPU and is currently a part-time Faculty of Arts degree advisor. Curry values her work with KPU students by helping them achieve their academic and career goals. In the Summer 2022 semester, she completed her associate of arts degree in psychology at KPU. Curry also graduated with her master of counselling psychology degree from Adler University and is in the process of becoming a registered clinical counsellor through the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors. Her primary approach to counselling is to support her clients through their process of healing and resilience. She recently got hired as a part-time associate in a private clinical practice. BA ’15 ANTHROPOLOGY &

Upon finishing her BBA in human resources management in 2019, Chee continued to work in human resources within private education, non-profit and now engineering. Just before the pandemic picked up, she elected to pursue her master of arts at Royal Roads with an Engaged Leadership Project on DEI and Belonging. Forever learning, volunteering for non-profits and her HR association CPHR BC & Yukon, Chee is continuing her growth as a leader of today and is always looking to get creatively involved.

CERT ’13 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, DIP ’15 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT & BBA ’19 HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 

Falkner is enrolled in the master of community and regional planning program with a focus on Indigenous community planning at the University of British Columbia. He is also employed with Pooni Group as a planning assistant, with the hopes of becoming a certified urban planner after graduating in April 2023. BA ’21 APPLIED GEOGRAPHY 

RORAIGH FALKNER

STEPHANIE CHEE

AA ’22 PSYCHOLOGY 

ROBIN CURRY

KATHLEEN (KATIE) CAINES

Since graduating in 2010 with a BA in social science majoring in criminology, Rosier was struck by a drunk driver in 2012 and was told she would never walk again, talk properly or return to work or school. She proved the doctors wrong by making the impossible possible, returning to Kwantlen in 2018 to take a four-year course and achieve a 4.0 GPA; she returned to work and volunteering and even walked on fire with Tony Robbins. Rosier worked as an EAW with B.C. Public Service and is now starting a job as a crisis line coordinator. She also started her own company, Guided Path Wellness, as a pain educator in 2018. Rosier is also a motivational speaker.

BA

After graduating with a BA double minor in counselling psychology and criminology in 2019, Punni got a job as a school counsellor in an independent school. She also completed her master of education (counselling) from Thompson Rivers University in 2021. Punni’s passion lies in promoting students’ mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, to ensure their educational success. BA ’19 COUNSELLING &

Babbar came to KPU as an international student in 2011, completing a diploma in business management in 2013. Working as an assistant manager at Safeway until 2019, Babbar opened an events company named Cre8ive Events. He also launched CanPro Consulting which provides recruitment and staffing services. In 2022, Babbar received his regulated Canadian immigration consultant licence and now operates V Global Immigration. DIP ’13 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 

After completing her BA in psychology in 2016 at KPU, Said worked at KPU until March 2019 in various roles. She then pursued her clinical master of social work: specialty in mental health and addictions at the University of Calgary in 2019, which she completed in 2021. Said is now a registered social worker with authorization to perform restricted psychosocial interventions. She presently works as a mental health therapist with vulnerable youth in Calgary. BA ’17 PSYCHOLOGY 

’10 CRIMINOLOGY 

TANIA ROSIER

VISHAL BABBAR

YUSRA SAID

CRIMINOLOGY 

HIMMAT PUNNI

MEET THE TEAM

KPU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022 – 2023

Back row (L-R): David Dryden, past chair, Scott McInnes, Henry Flowers, treasurer, Sukh Rai, Lovepreet Kaur

Front row (L-R): Jangir Bains, Deepak Gill, Mohammad Kallas, vice chair, Gabby Gill, chair, Nancy Armitage, executive director, Hayley Woodin, Jacqueline Tarantino

Absent: James Grange, Ayesha Khan

The KPU Alumni Association (KPUAA) became a registered society in 2008. Founders and directors are KPU alumni who volunteer and support the growth of KPU by creating engagement opportunities for our alumni. The board follows a governance model and is responsible for providing the strategic vision to achieve our mission and mandate of engaging a population of over 67,000 KPU alumni.

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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 alumni. The KPU Alumni Association is pleased to provide seed funding, and the KPU Alumni Affairs office is there to provide support for new alumni 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.

MESSAGE FROM THE KPUAA CHAIR

Dear KPU Alumni,

I hope you enjoy this sixth issue of the KPU Alumni Magazine. In these pages you will learn how KPU alumni are having a real impact on our communities as well as how the KPU Alumni Association (KPUAA) continues to build on several initiatives to enhance our engagement with you, our valued alumni. One key way we learn about and engage our alumni is through our annual Distinguished Alumni Awards. We were pleased to introduce a third award this past year - the Alumni Excellence Award - which was conferred for the first time in 2022. 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 alumni through our Affinity Partnerships and Alumni Perks benefits. The benefits and privileges our alumni 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.

Now more than ever, the KPUAA recognizes the importance of supporting students, our future alumni. To this end, we are very pleased to be playing an integral role with both the KPU Giving Tuesday initiative and the KPU Legacy Gala with a Platinum Sponsorship in support of raising much-needed funds for KPU students in need. We also continue to build on our $50,000 endowment by fulfilling our annual pledge of $5,000 to the KPU Foundation. This continued support means access to education and a brighter future for our students. Finally, the KPUAA board always welcomes applications from KPU alumni to apply for positions on the board. Joining the KPUAA board of directors allows you to play a pivotal role in the governance of our ever-growing alumni base. Please reach out with your interest by contacting alumni@kpu.ca.

If you have any questions about the many benefits of being KPU alumni 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.

Gabby Gill (BBA ’15) Chair, KPU Alumni Association

KPU LEGACY SOCIETY

the power to plan for the future

WAYS TO GIVE

Kwantlen Polytechnic University is dedicated to helping students create a bright future for themselves and in turn for our communities. Planned giving is a meaningful way to foster the power and potential of a new generation of leaders.

GIFT IN YOUR WILL

An outright bequest of cash or a percentage of your estate gifted to the university in your will can be directed to benefit students or programs in a specific faculty or program, or directed to the area of greatest need at KPU.

*The charitable tax receipt can offset up to 100% of net income, and any unused credit can be carried back one year to reduce taxes paid the preceding year.

SECURITIES

Significant tax benefits may be achieved by donating to the university investments that have grown or decreased in value.

*Publicly traded securities (including common shares, preferred shares and mutual funds) are eligible.

RRSP/RRIF

An opportunity to leave a future gift to the university without jeopardizing future income.

*Your estate receives a charitable tax receipt to offset some or all income tax payable, and is not subject to probate fees when given directly to the university.

REAL ESTATE

Ideal for those with modest cash flow or few liquid assets who would like to leave a meaningful legacy.

*Principal residences.

*Land or recreational property.

LIFE INSURANCE

Life insurance offers various ways to donate and to receive a charitable tax receipt. Some donors simply name the KPU Foundation as the ultimate beneficiary of a life insurance policy and the estate receives a tax receipt for the proceeds, for example.

PLEASE JOIN THE KPU LEGACY SOCIETY

KPU Legacy Society brings together like-minded individuals who support Kwantlen Polytechnic University and support what is possible for our future leaders. VISIT US AND LEARN MORE: give.kpu.ca

LEGAL NAME: Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation ADDRESS: 12666 72 Ave, Surrey BC, V3W 2M8

CHARITABLE REGISTRATION #: 861562924 RR0001

BEQUEST MAKES A BIG IMPACT FOR TRADES STUDENTS AT KPU

Darlene Joyce Reppenhagen (nee Holden) was a long-time resident of Tsawwassen and a former social worker at George Derby Centre. In 2021, KPU received notice that Reppenhagen had passed away in January and that KPU would be receiving a bequest from her estate.

Among several other charities in her community, KPU received a generous gift of over $107,000, which has been endowed by the KPU Foundation to fulfill Reppenhagen’s desire to support students in the trades.

Reppenhagen will always be remembered for her kindness to others, and the legacy

that she has created at KPU will encourage and recognize outstanding achievers in all trades. Each year, interest income from the endowment will provide $2,000 to each program chair in the faculty to designate two $1,000 scholarships among the Dean’s Prize recipients from the foundation program cohorts.

The students are recognized for success in their programs combined with stellar attendance and attitude, the important qualities that employers are looking for, and that reflect Reppenhagen’s values.

"As a child, I saw my great-grandmother making and designing regalia; often she would sew on the strawberry flower. The strawberry flower represented growth and new beginnings; when the berry would form, we would harvest it and freeze it, make jam or can it for the winter. The wild strawberry is a resilient plant that grows low to the ground. Considered the heart fruit that nourishes, it is one of the first fruit we would harvest for the year. When designing this image, I thought about how I have always been in awe of the random flower that would grow in an unexpected area, and this reminds me of resilience. In the strawberry leaf, you will see the salmon egg, another representation of strength, stability, growth and resilience. The background is stone representing harsh conditions, but the flower is still growing."

ARTIST: KPU Fine Arts Indigenous Student Sylvia Simpson

TITLE: Resilience

MEDIUM: Digital Art

CELEBRATING RESILIENCE

KPU GIVING TUESDAY, NOV. 29, 2022

In a powerful statement of KPU’s true commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people, the KPU Foundation focused fundraising efforts for its third annual Giving Tuesday (givingtuesday.ca) campaign on support for Indigenous students, celebrating their resilience and growth. The campaign raised $148,594 for student awards, including $10,704 for a new fund: KPU Indigenous Student Support and Wellness Programs.

“We are truly thankful to our donors for providing gifts that will help Indigenous students with the financial means to achieve their dreams and celebrate their successes. Your support ensures that there are awards available to them. hay cxʷ q̓ə,” says Gayle Bedard, associate vice president of Indigenous Leadership, Innovations and Partnerships at KPU, finishing with the Coast Salish word for thank you.

A key feature of last year’s campaign is digital art, which was commissioned from a KPU Indigenous student artist. Sylvia Simpson called her piece “Resilience.”

Philanthropist Jim Bennett donated $60,000 to last year’s Giving Tuesday campaign. This gift will provide a $3,000 entrance scholarship each year in perpetuity.

“Giving Tuesday is the perfect time to give this gift. It will help high school students start their post-secondary journey at Kwantlen Polytechnic University,” says Bennett.

The KPU Foundation is grateful to Bennett and his family for their generous support.

Over the last three years, KPU Foundation raised over $378,000 through Giving Tuesday, which includes KPU matching dollars, for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and students who have faced barriers, such as students with a disability, students of colour, Indigenous students, LGBTQ+ students and mature students. The money raised is helping hundreds of students with much-needed awards and bursaries.

If you would like to support KPU

Indigenous students and missed the Giving Tuesday campaign, you can donate at any time of the year by visiting give.kpu.ca. Every gift makes a difference and helps to ensure that KPU alumni of tomorrow are prepared to join you in taking on the issues and opportunities which lead us collectively to a better future together.

2022 FUTURE ALUMNI AWARD

This past year we were pleased to confer the Future Alumni Award on Maimoona Rahman, an exceptional student who has excelled in her studies while also dedicating countless hours of support through volunteering. While Rahman pursues a BA in criminology and creative writing, she also volunteers as the vice-president, social media manager and content creator, of KPU’s Muslim Student Association, a club that welcomes students from all backgrounds while promoting diversity and unity in a valuable effort to help build a KPU community free of judgement. Rahman has stood as president of the Darul Quran Academy Student Chapter board, an organization focused on providing philanthropy and charitable services for the community. Currently, as she pursues her dream of becoming an elementary teacher, Rahman is actively volunteering and completing her teaching practicum at Traditional Learning Academy, a provincial school based in British Columbia. We are incredibly proud of Rahman and we look forward to following Rahman’s successes as she transitions from student to KPU alumna.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

KPU Alumni 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.

Maimoona Rahman

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