WELCOME to
QUEST
EDUCATION, IN ITS TRUEST SENSE, COMES NOT FROM KNOWING THE RIGHT ANSWERS, BUT IN LEARNING HOW TO ASK INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS.
Friends who visit are always amazed by Quest’s culture, community, and campus. Not only are we bordered by the mountains and the sea, but the community that we have created is one of diversity, adventure, opportunity, and collaboration. Quest’s culture is supportive yet pushes us to the limits we didn’t even know existed. I’ve never been so challenged or felt so at home.
ANNA MARIE OBERMEIER 2ND YEAR STUDENT
I realized that, to succeed in today’s world, a broader base of interdisciplinary knowledge would be more useful than specializing right away. I believe Quest exposed me to many different disciplines and perspectives, and allowed me to explore creative, entrepreneurial opportunities in many different fields.
Quest is beautiful because each student has a story. We have adventurers, activists, artists, philosophers, world travellers, scientists - and if you ask the right questions, you can get to know each and every one of them. We have a provincial park in our backyard, a piece of the best coast, and a campus full of friends.
MAWUENA MALLETT QUEST ALUMNUS 2012
EVA SCHIPPER 2ND YEAR STUDENT
At Quest, I felt for the first time that I might have come close to something like experiencing my potential. I have never been so focused, so disciplined, so conscientious, so morally restless, so ready to do the work of change.
CALEB RAIBLE-CLARK 4TH YEAR STUDENT
WHAT MAKES A QUEST STUDENT?
A Quest student is intrigued by possibility and equates adventure with opportunity, learns from challenges and mistakes, and contributes to the lives of the people around them.
MELANIE KOENDERMAN DEAN OF STUDENTS
A Quest student has the curiosity of an eight-year-old, the energy of an eighteenyear-old, and the passionate desire to keep learning for the next eighty years; someone who recognizes the value of precise communication, productive collaboration, and active participation in their learning environment, and is engaged in their local and global communities.
DAVID J. HELFAND PRESIDENT
A Quest student is someone who is never satisfied with somebody else’s answers, and is driven by a relentless need to contribute to society in a more meaningful way. A Quest student is motivated by action, not simply academic understanding, and desires to apply the knowledge they gain here to inspire change in their community.
RICHARD HOSHINO FACULTY, MATHEMATICS
1 CLASS 3 HOURS A DAY 3.5 WEEKS
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU ONLY TOOK ONE CLASS AT A TIME?
The academic rigour of the block plan fosters a love of learning, as it allows students to deepen their understanding of subjects which they already enjoy, while also encouraging them to learn about subjects they might not particularly like. Imagine being able to focus solely on a field of study; there are no distractions, and you can immerse yourself in your studies without worrying about other assignments. Within each block, you read, write and think as professionals of that field, and this allows you start to see the world from a different perspective. KALTRINA KUSARI, QUEST ALUMNA 2012
TODAY’S WORLD DEMANDS LEADERS UNCONSTRAINED BY DISCIPLINARY BOUNDARIES. THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO IDENTIFY THE LINKS BETWEEN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, PREPARING THEM TO DEVELOP CREATIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS TO THE WORLD’S GREAT CHALLENGES.
YEARS 1 & 2
AT QUEST WE DON’T PRIZE WHAT ONE DELIVERS ON THE FIRST TAKE, BUT WHAT ONE GAINS FROM MULTIPLE TAKES. QUESTIONS ALLOW LEARNING TO UNFOLD AS A DIALOGUE WITH A PROBLEM, AND SETTLING TOO QUICKLY ON AN ANSWER STOPS THE CONVERSATION JUST AS IT IS GETTING GOOD. -Ryan Derby-Talbot, Chief Academic Officer
QUESTIONS, NOT MAJORS THE CONCENTRATION PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS THE FREEDOM TO CAPITALIZE ON THEIR CURIOSITY. WE DO NOT HAVE ONE-WORD, PRE -PROGRAMMED MAJORS. INSTEAD, WE REQUIRE ALL STUDENTS TO FORMULATE THEIR OWN MAJORS IN THE FORM OF PERSONALIZED QUESTIONS.
ALANNA’S QUESTION: WHAT IS THE NATURE OF THE MIND?
COURSE PLAN Techniques in Cell and Molecular Biology
Learning and Memory
Sleep and the Brain
Infinity, Certainty, & Knowledge
Cognition
Independent Study: Consciousness
ELECTIVES Hydrological Cycle
Chemistry 1
Theatre Act Direct
Spirit of Calculus
Independent Study: Holocaust
Spanish 1 & 2
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
YEARS 3 & 4
I participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. As a Fellow, I spent ten weeks in the lab of Dr. Amelia Eisch in the Psychiatry Department. I pursued an individual research project, focused around answering a specific, scientific question: What is the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in morphine addiction? The process of answering this question exposed me to the kinds of projects and problems that I would encounter as a postgraduate researcher.
KEYSTONE PROJECT My keystone project has three components: a scientific component, a philosophical component and a musical component. The scientific component is a manuscript in the style of a primary research article that outlines the research project I worked on during my experiential learning. The philosophical component is a paper on phenomenal consciousness. Also included is a literature review, as well as a research proposal for how one might go about studying phenomenal consciousness in humans. Lastly, my musical component is a piano composition used to explore human experience through a non-verbal medium. Ultimately my question is about the nature of the mind, and how by, studying the brain, we can learn more about our own experiences.
OUR CURRICULUM EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING BEYOND THE FOUR WALLS OF A CLASSROOM
ARTS AND CULTURE A SMALL CAMPUS WITH BIG IDEAS JOIN A CLUB START A TRADITION BUILD COMMUNITY PLAY MUSIC MAKE ART DESIGN AN EVENT LEARN A LANGUAGE COOK A MEAL KNIT A SWEATER DRINK TEA GET INVOLVED BE HAPPY
KERMODE SPIRIT
LEAH KIRCHMANN Canadian National Team and Optum Pro-Team
ROZ GROENEWOUD Canadian National Team
MIKE FOLEY La Sportiva Pro-Climbing Team
ELITE ATHLETES THE FLEXIBILITY TO STUDY AND COMPETE
A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS AT THE HEART OF QUEST.
YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME I like living in residence because, unlike other universities, it’s a lot more difficult to slip through the cracks here. Quest students legitimately care about the well-being of their peers. There is a sense of community here that I’ve never felt before. GINA MARKLE 4TH YEAR STUDENT
RED TUSK VILLAGE
NORTH/SOUTH VILLAGE SHARED LIVING
RED TUSK SINGLE
COME AND PLAY DISCOVER WHY SQUAMISH IS THE OUTDOOR RECREATION CAPITAL OF CANADA RUN
SHRED
BY ROAD OR BY TRAIL
WHISTLER/ BLACKCOMB
Take a casual jog around town, or join the Arc’teryx Squamish 50 mile trail race- we have the terrain and the scenery to keep you motivated.
Only 30 minutes North, shredheads will find all the waist deep pow and steep terrain they can edge into. Also, the student discount of 1/3 the regular price ain’t bad either.
THE SPIT
EXPLORE
Squamish comes from the Coast Salish word Skwxwú7mesh, which means “Mother of the Wind”. Living up to the name, people come from across North America to wind surf and kite board here.
STEP OFF CAMPUS AND INTO GARIBALDI PROVINCIAL PARK
PADDLE CANOE, KAYAK, SUP, RAFT, DRAGON RED HEATHER Strap on some skins and avoid the crowd’s at Whistler. With backcountry this good, you’ll forget to renew your season pass.
CLIMB WORLD RENOWNED CLIMBING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Start building your finger-strength now because Squamish has access to more world-class trad, sport, and bouldering routes than most people can climb in a lifetime.
Pick your craft and your body of water; Squamish has plenty of rivers and lakes to choose from, and you can find your way onto the ocean from Howe Sound.
TOFINO Though not in Squamish, Quest students have adopted Tofino as a block break haven
DIVE OUR PROVINCIAL PARKS GO BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS AND INTO THE DEEP From wrecks to reefs, you always have a reason to bust out the dry suit
RIDE SQUAMISH IS HOME TO SOME OF CANADA’S BEST TRAILS
NEXEN BEACH SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO STAND WITH YOUR TOES IN THE OCEAN
LIFE IN SQUAMISH MUSIC
WELCOME TO THE THE PERFECT PLACE TO SPEND YOUR NEXT FOUR YEARS VOLUNTEER GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
THE MOUNTAINS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC The annual Squamish Valley Music Festival brings in the big names, but you can listen to up-and-coming acts in town on weekends.
FOOD
Spend an evening serving dinner at the Helping Hands Society, a day planting eel grass at the Squamish estuary, or drop in at the Howe Sound Women’s Centre.
THE BAG The centre for art in Squamish, The Brackendale Art Gallery (The BAG) offers exhibits, workshops, theatre, concerts, food, and more. Stop in to warm up after a long day of eagle watching.
SQUAMISH FOLKS KNOW HOW TO WORK UP AN APPETITE
BREW HOT CUPS, COLD PINTS FARMER’S MARKET Stock your fridge with local produce and your belly with homemade treats! The Farmer’s Market is always a great way to start your weekend.
NEARBY Take advantage of our ideal location:
SUSHI WORTH THE DRIVE FROM VANCOUVER
-30 minutes south of Whistler/Blackcomb -45 minutes north of Vancouver -4 hours north of Seattle, WA
Start your day with a fresh, local roast from Galileo Coffee Co. and finish off your evening with a refreshing pint from the Howe Sound Brewing Company.
STRETCH Attend a yoga class on campus or become a member of a local studio. We have everything- from Hatha to Bikram!
SHOP BUY LOCAL! Wander along Cleveland Ave and search for hidden gems at cozy thrift shops or pick up a skein of wool while sampling gelato- and never worry about paying for parking!
MORE THAN A DEGREE, EXPERIENCE EDUCATION.
www.questu.ca