Community planning student finds wealth of knowledge at VIU
Nanaimo, as I have learned, means “gathering place”. It truly has the perfect name for a gem hidden between mountains and the Georgia Straight. Vancouver Island University is such a remarkable university glittered with rabbits and stairs, with an interesting combination of architecture and natural...
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QEII Scholar Showcase: The Return of the Scholars
QEII Scholar Showcase: The Return of the Scholars Thursday, November 3, 10 am Grab your lightsaber and join QEII Scholars from Canada and Belize as they “strike back” into their studies at VIU and tell stories of their intergalactic (and intercultural!) experiences living and learning across...
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Applications now open!
Applications for VIU’s Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship program are now being accepted. Apply today to pursue internships, research or project work related to the program theme of Building Resilience in Coastal Communities in the areas of:Sustainable TourismEconomic DevelopmentWater...
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VIU student encourages youth to get proactive in Dangriga, Belize
Working with a vulnerable ethnic group in the Caribbean has put my problem-solving skills, commitment to human development and competency to the test. Travelling to Belize as a scholar rather than a gallivanting backpacker was much more insightful than I had anticipated. One of the biggest...
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Returned VIU student sees home through new eyes
I have been struggling to decide what to write about since returning from my internship in Belize. I have spent days brainstorming and writing drafts, but nothing seemed quite right. I wanted to focus on something from which anyone reading the post could learn, but I couldn’t think of a good topic...
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VIU welcomes first cohort of Belizean QEII Scholars
Celebrating cross-cultural learning with QEII scholars from VIU and Belize. From left: Aaron Wong, Stacey Cayetano, Teunesha Evertse, Shirley Humes, Darren Lucas, Stephanie Govier, Kala Mackintosh, Kenny Williams, Eric Sanchez, Alfred Cal, Devan Cronshaw. Shirley Humes is keen to help communities...
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Seeing ourselves in the resiliency of others: VIU student reflects on lessons learned from Belizean field research
PHOTO: Downtown Vancouver looking from Kits Beach Park. Photographed by the author while reflecting on how the residents in our own communities may individually or collectively respond to an extreme event. Since returning to Canada I have become more confident in my own limitations as well as my...
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VIU student learns that opportunities and issues with community engagement are universal
“Community engagement requires a lot of passion, dedication, commitment, and working well beyond the call of the clock.” -Dr. Joseph Francis, Director of the Institute of Rural Development, University of Venda My research into community engagement in land use issues in Belize has taught me a lot...
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VIU student uses place-based learning to help Belizean youth understand resiliency issues
TIDE summer camp participants walk towards a sustainable farm visit in San Miguel, Toledo District, Belize. My main role during my Education and Outreach Internship at TIDE has been the planning and implementation of TIDE’s annual environmental summer camp. This was also the aspect of the...
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Living through Hurricane Earl puts research experience in perspective for VIU student
Having just experienced Hurricane Earl, I consider myself very fortunate to be writing this blog post today. During the storm, I was lucky enough to be in San Ignacio, which was relatively unaffected by the initial force of the hurricane, although there was and continues to be (as the above photo...
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