Life

Meet André Bertram, Computer Information Systems student
November 1, 2021
Q: What’s your hometown? A: Kingston, Jamaica. Q: How did you end up at Okanagan College? A: My immediate family settled in the Okanagan Valley for some time now, and I wanted to join them. After some thinking, I thought going to school and contributing to the Canada would be a good approach. I just had to figure out which school. With research, and with some assistance from my older sister and mom, I found that Okanagan College was an excellent ...
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Okanagan College Coyotes win the Canadian College Baseball Conference
October 15, 2021
The Okanagan College Coyotes baseball team pulled out all the stops this past weekend, taking home first place in the Fall Championship of the 2021 Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC) league. All eight teams in the CCBC came to play for the first time since May 2019. “It was really nice to see all the eight teams competing again after such a tough time due to COVID,” says Head Coach Geoff White. “I applaud all the student athletes from all the programs for sticking with it to get back to this point.” The Coyotes’ weekend ...
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Culinary Arts students serve Thanksgiving meals to students in need
October 8, 2021
Okanagan College Culinary students and instructors helped to spread Thanksgiving gratitude to students on Friday with a holiday inspired meal. Students pulled out all the stops to prepare a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings for students in need as part of the innovative Serves Up program. The program was launched in the middle of the pandemic last year to combat food insecurity and has just relaunched this past week for the new academic year. “Culinary Arts students serve 50 meals a day to students in need as part o...
Read more...Why We Write: Poets of Vernon
September 10, 2021
The writing community of Vernon is taking centre stage in a new film produced by English Professor and self-proclaimed budding filmmaker Hannah Calder. For the last four years, Calder has been collaborating with Curtis and Silmara Emde on Why We Write: Poets of Vernon, a film project originally sparked in 2017. Curtis, an OUC alumnus, has stayed in touch with his first-year English professor, Tom Wayman, since completing his studies. When Wayman released his collection ...
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#WelcomeHomeOC Campaign Kicks Off
September 3, 2021
We’re ready to celebrate the return to student life at OC! As we come back together, let’s share some kindness and support each other as our community grows. Visit the WelcomeHomeweb page to view the growing gallery of social media content that is being shared to celebrate the return to campus and support our strong connections. While you’re on the page, you’ll get to know more about professors and instructors, staff, students, alumni and others in the broader community. Join in and share content tagged #WelcomeHomeOC. We...
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Jillian Harris sets up award fund to support underrepresented students
August 20, 2021
A much-coveted subscription box from Canadian influencer and Kelowna local Jillian Harris will open up more than just surprises for recipients, but opportunities to support a generation of historically excluded students at Okanagan College with every subscription sold. Jillian Harris, through her fall Jilly Box, is raising $50,000 to create awards for Indigenous students, Black students and students of Colour at The Jilly Box is seeding the fund with $15,000 and subsequently, will match donations up t...
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New Central Okanagan health orders from Interior Health
August 6, 2021
Interior Health has announced new restrictions for the Central Okanagan aimed at reducing the transmission of COVID-19 within the region. Watch the press conference online and read the Interior Health news bulletin with details. For the Okanagan College context, the restrictions are relevant to the Kelowna campus and training centres within the Central Okanagan. Masks remain mandatory for all people age 12 and older in indoor public areas throughout the Central Okanagan - this includes at facilities (view the current m...
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Meet Louise Trenholm, Automotive Collision and Refinishing student
August 5, 2021
Q: Why did you choose a career in Collision Repair? A: I’ve always had an interest in vehicles ever since I was a child. In high school, I hung out at the local Speedway in Penticton, making my love for vehicles grow even more. I wanted a career that worked on vehicles, so I decided to choose the Entry-Level Automotive Collision Repair Foundation program to help start my career as an Automotive Refinisher. Q: How did your training with help prepare you for your c...
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Employee mental health tips for the transition back to campus
July 20, 2021
Just as none of us had ever lived through a pandemic before COVID-19, none of us have ever emerged from one either. OC’s Counselling Services team has compiled these tips to help you prepare for the transitions that lie ahead. Don’t compare yourself. Not with other people and not with where you think you ‘should be’ at this point. We just lived through a global pandemic! If you had times of feeling not so productive or you’re feeling tired now, you’re not alone and that’s...
Read more...Meet Bryan White, Biology Professor
July 6, 2021
Q: What is your education and background? A: I have an undergraduate degree with honours in biochemistry, a masters degree in post-secondary Education, a PhD degree in Medicine (Focus on reproduction and the signals that initiate labour), and postdoctoral research in animal reproduction and vascular (blood vessel) development. Q: What is your area of interest? A: Although I started in Biochemistry, as time went on I seemed to transition over to Anatomy and Ph...
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Our deepest sympathies go out to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc
May 31, 2021
Okanagan College respectfully acknowledges that our Salmon Arm campus is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwepemc and our Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon campuses are located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan people. On Thursday, May 27, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc confirmed the discovery of the remains of 215 children buried in unmarked graves on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, which was once the largest in Canada’s residential school system. On behalf ...
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Animation Industry Night paints picture of student success
May 14, 2021
Local animation studios had the opportunity to canvas the next generation of talent from Okanagan College’s Animation Diploma program at the third-annual Industry Night, which showcased students’ artwork, demo reels and professional portfolios. On May 13, Okanagan College opened its doors – albeit virtually – for the popular art-and-network event which brought together industry partners, community, students, faculty, mentors and supporters in celebration of the program’s 2021 graduating class and first-year students who have now cr...
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professor Corinna Chong national winner of CBC Short Story Prize
April 30, 2021
Corinna Chong has been named the winner of the 2021 CBC Short Story Prize, for her piece “Kids in Kindergarten.” “I’m thrilled to receive this incredible honour,” said Chong. “I was so impressed by the other four shortlisted stories that to hear mine was chosen as the winner was a total shock.” Writing by the Okanagan College professor has received renewed attention this week, after she was shortlisted in the prestigious competition. Her piece explores themes of pregnancy loss and the trials of conception, and how women often suff...
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professor Corinna Chong’s writing shortlisted for prestigious CBC Short Story Prize
April 27, 2021
Writing by an Okanagan College Writing professor is receiving national attention, after being shortlisted in the CBC Short Story Prize this week. Corinna Chong, who teaches in OC’s English Department, was among the five finalists named Wednesday in the prestigious writing competition. “Kids in Kindergarten” explores themes of pregnancy loss and the trials of conception. “I think that miscarriages, while incredibly common, remain a kind of taboo subject. It wasn't until I was trying to conceive that I began to hear so many storie...
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Meet Corinna Chong, English and Fine Arts Professor
April 27, 2021
Q: What is your education and background? A: I was born and raised in Calgary, AB. I have a BA in English (Creative Writing) and a BFA in Visual Art (Photography) from the University of Calgary, as well as an MA in English (Creative Writing) from the University of New Brunswick. I’ve been teaching in the English department since 2011. Q: What is your area of interest? A: I like to juggle a few disciplines in both the literary and visual arts. I teach courses in compos...
Read more...Meet Andrew Klingel, Business Administration Professor
April 27, 2021
Q: What is your education and background? A: I have a Bachelor of Commerce and a Master's of Business Administration from Queen’s University. Q: What is your area of interest? A: Prior to joining Okanagan College, I consulted for major corporations such as Telus, TD and General Motors — but my true passion is entrepreneurship. I have been involved with many new ventures as an operator, investor and advisor. For example, I joined a software start up that grew f...
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