Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo VIU’s first chancellor is at the forefront of cultural shifts CANADA’S TOP BADMINTON UMPIRE CHEF TAKES ON THE WORLD’S BEST PHYSICS PROFESSOR WINS SPORTS EMMY Pub. Agreement No. 40063601 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 1 • SPRING/SUMMER 2009
32
Embed
Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo - VIU Alumni · University Development and Alumni, and may be reprinted with written permission. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Chief Shawn A-in-chut AtleoVIU’s first chancellor is at the forefront ofcultural shifts
CANADA’S TOP BADMINTON UMPIRE
CHEF TAKES ON THE WORLD’S BEST
PHYSICS PROFESSORWINS SPORTS EMMY
Pu
b. A
gree
men
t N
o. 4
00
63
60
1
VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 1 • SPRING/SUMMER 2009
Keep in touch with your fellow VIU graduates and rediscover the spirit of living and learning on the West Coast.
Update your contact information at www.viu.ca/alumni and stay informed about relevant news, reunions, and events.
Have you purchased your Alumni Privilege Card?VIU alumni can purchase an Alumni Privilege Card for an annual fee of 10 and receive discounts from:
Purchase your Alumni Privilege Card from the Development and Alumni Office, 114-59 Wharf Street,Nanaimo, or the VIU Welcome Centre, Nanaimo campus.
VIU’s new Hospitality Managementdegree is at your serviceThe number of resorts, hotels, and restaurants worldwide is increasing,
and with it comes a growing need for skilled workers. In British Columbia
alone, the tourism industry is forecasting a need for 84,000 more skilled
workers in the next decade. To respond to the shortage, VIU has developed
a new Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree.
Students gain experience in strategic revenue management, entrepre-
neurship, conference and event management, and advanced resort man-
agement while learning about the changing nature of the hospitality
sector, said Hospitality program chair Stephen Burr.
“The focus of resort and hotel managers can’t solely be on profits anymore,”
Burr said. “Hospitality professionals must have a better understanding of
human resource management and environmental impacts. The curriculum of
the degree program addresses these issues.”
The degree combines study and
paid experience through three co-
operative education work place-
ments throughout the four-year
program. For people already work-
ing within the industry, the flexi-
bility of the new degree program
allows students to enter directly
into year three on a full-time or
part-time basis.
f For more information on the
program, visit www.viu.ca/hospitality
h Hospitality students recommend abeverage to Hospitality chair StephenBurr (seated, right) and Co-operativeEducation coordinator Micki McCartney(seated, centre).
VIU’s nauticaltraining expandswith new marineinstituteThe Western Maritime Institute (WMI) has joined
h (L-R) Libby McGrattan (BA ’94) and Pam Botterill (Microcomputer App. ’90)
Recognizing Campus Alumni
8 Journey Spring/Summer 2009 PHOTOS: MATT CARTER
S T E P S
The first
employee of
Malaspina College was
Secretary-Treasurer
Oliver E. Neaves, from
Burns Lake. His first
day on the job was
January 1, 1969.
At the Olympics of cooking, David Wong
(Cook Training ’98) did Canada proud, fin-
ishing ninth at the prestigious Bocuse d’Or,
in Lyon, France in January 2009.
“The Bocuse d’Or competition was the
single greatest moment of my professional
life,” Wong said. “I have been a fan of this
competition since finishing cooking school
at VIU.”
Wong’s apprentice, Grace Pineda, was
named top assistant. Norway won the com-
petition, with Sweden and France also
earning spots on the podium.
In front of a raucous, flag-waving crowd,
Wong and Pineda competed against teams
from 23 other countries to produce two
dishes in five and half hours. Required
ingredients included Norwegian cod, king-
sized diver scallops, wild prawns, and
Aberdeen Angus Scotch beef.
Getting to the competition was no easy
task. After earning the right to represent
Canada at a national qualifier in 2007,
Wong was faced with the need to raise
thousands of dollars to pay for two years
worth of full-time preparation and practice.
The Culinary Institute of Vancouver
Island and VIU Alumni Relations supported
Wong’s training by hosting a fundraiser in
October 2008. Distinguished culinary arts
alumni, including Wong, returned to cam-
pus and treated guests to tasters prepared
at 12 different stations.
Food offerings ranged from raspberry bal-
samic gelée with vanilla Bavarian cream
and green apple compote to alligator cakes
with mandarin saffron aioli and fried fen-
nel. The event raised $5,200 for Wong and
also created scholarships, awards, and bur-
saries for VIU culinary students.
“It was like coming full circle, having the
Culinary program at VIU hold a fundraiser
for my Bocuse d’Or bid. The chef instruc-
tors gave me the foundation on which to
build. I cannot say enough about the expe-
rience I had at VIU.”
PHOTO: MATT CARTER; (INSET) COURTESY DAVID WONG Journey Spring/Summer 2009 9
S T E P S
h Culinary Instructor Debbie Shore: “He’s a great ambassador for theschool, the profession, and the country.” INSET: Cool as a cucumber:Wong in his competition kitchen at Bocuse d’Or
Putting Your Best Food ForwardCulinary alumni support David Wong (Cook Training ’98) on his
way to a top 10 finish at the world’s biggest culinary competition
Culinary alumni thatrallied in support ofDavid Wong:
for our fans and athletes.” h VIU guard Blake Mansbridge defendsagainst Pacific’s Terrell Smith
Bring It On, World
h VIU power hitter Lindsay McLoughlin firesa spike against a great defensive wall
h Mariner alumni Liam Sullivan (BA ’98), Erik “Big E” Johnson (Marketing ’94),and Wayne Clouthier (BEd ’95)
h In October 2008, The Mariner men’s alumni basketball team defeated the current squad,103-100, in an overtime game. The alumni team (L-R): Wayne Clouthier (BEd ’95), MattKazanowski (Arts), Erik Johnson (Marketing ’94), Liam Sullivan (BA ’98), Rory Peffers (Arts),Dave Bains (Recreation ’04), Jason Hubbs (Marine Tech. ’05), Graham Giske (BA ’08), BrianWood, Colin Novak (Science)
In April, VIU Athletics announced the first inductees into the Mariner Wall of Fame. The inaugural class included
four-time All-Canadian volleyball player Danielle (Gaudet) Hyde (BTM ’03), basketball coach and national
champion Mark Simpson, sport administrator and creator of the Mariner moniker George Macpherson, and VIU’s
first national champions, the 1983 men’s soccer team.
h Atleo presents a cedar paddle to (L-R) James Bowen, Students Union; RobinKenyon, VIU Board of Governors; Ralph Nilson, President and Vice-Chancellor; DanMacDonald, VIU Faculty Assocation; Stu Seifert, BCGEU; and Pam Botterill, CUPE
16 Journey Spring/Summer 2009 PHOTO: COURTESY MIKE WALKER
A L U M N I I N V I E W
When it comes to varsity athletics, badminton is
often overshadowed by other sports, even
though it boasts an estimated participation rate
of 200 million people around the world, second only to soc-
cer. While many North Americans view it as a gentle net
and racket game, often brought out at family reunions, it’s
an incredibly demanding professional sport, requiring a sub-
lime mix of skill, power, and tactics, all necessary to track
down a flying shuttle that can come at you at speeds
exceeding 300 kilometers per hour. Fans take the game as
seriously as the athletes do. Indeed fan devotion in Asia is
akin to hockey in Canada.
No one knows this better than Mike Walker (Arts and
Science, Commerce ’79), the only Canadian of the 46
Badminton World Federation (BWF) certificated umpires. In
matches in Europe, Scandinavia, and Asia, Walker and his
colleagues are routinely booed, heckled, and jeered by
overly zealous fans, who let the umpires know when they
are not pleased.
“It took a lot to get used to the crowd response in these
countries where the culture surrounding the sport is very
different,” Walker said. “In North America, badminton
crowds tend to sit on their hands, but not the rest of the
world. I umpired a Thomas Cup men’s singles match
Raising a RacketMike Walker makes net gains, following badminton
from the VIU gym to the Olympic Games. BY MATT CARTER
h Walker (seated on the #5 chair) umpires amatch at the 2006 World Junior BadmintonChampionships in Incheon, South Korea
PHOTO: MATT CARTER Journey Spring/Summer 2009 17
between Indonesia and Denmark’s top players in Jakarta,
where the crowds are the most vociferous, badminton-
crazy crowds in the world. Every time the Danish player hit
the bird, it was ‘boo,’ and every time the Indonesian player
hit the bird, it was ‘yay.’ It went back and forth, ‘boo, yay,
boo, yay’—and this was just in warm-ups.”
A commerce graduate, Walker played badminton at VIU
from 1977 to 1979. One of his teammates was Janice
Tissington (Phys Ed ’84), a talented doubles player who
earned two silver medals at the national college badminton
championships and was named the university’s female ath-
lete of the year in her final year at VIU. They married soon
after graduation, and moved to Shearwater, Nova Scotia,
and later, Edmonton.
In Edmonton, a serious back injury forced Walker away
from badminton for nearly a year. To alleviate the frustra-
tion from his injury, he signed up for a badminton umpiring
clinic, and started umpiring matches in northern Alberta.
“I was just looking for a way to stay involved in badminton,
and this was something fresh and new,” Walker said.
Walker improved quickly and switched his focus from
playing to officiating, aspiring to umpire games at the
national level.
His goal was realized six years later when was asked to
umpire at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria. What
he didn’t know was that international badminton officials
were watching him.
“After the Games, I was approached by a senior official
from Malaysia who asked if I would be interested in umpir-
ing at the international level,” Walker said. “I looked at him
and said ‘Sorry, there’s an international level?’”
Despite Walker’s initial
naivety about international
badminton, the Malaysian
official recommended him to
the BWF. After eight years of
accreditation and certifica-
tion assessments, he became
an internationally certifi-
cated umpire—the top level
of badminton umpires in the
world.
Even with his new creden-
tials, he lacked the experi-
ence necessary to be invited
to the biggest international
events. He paid his own way
to travel from Nanaimo to as many overseas tournaments as
possible, eventually reaching the pinnacle of international
umpiring—the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 and again
in Beijing in 2008.
“Athens was fantastic because it was my first Olympics.
Many of the venues didn’t sell out, so I got to attend virtu-
ally any event I wanted to.”
While he thought that the badminton competition in
Beijing was much more exciting because of the large, vocal
crowds, Athens provided him with the biggest thrill of his
umpiring career. He was selected to umpire the women’s
doubles bronze medal match between China and Korea.
“Being assigned to a medal match is a great honour,”
Walker said. “Korea won in three sets, and it was the most
amazing match I had ever been involved in. It featured sev-
eral rallies that went on for over 100 shots. The players
received standing ovations during the action, and even
when the applause ended, the rally kept going.”
Back at home in Nanaimo, Walker is president of the law
firm Mont & Walker Law Corp. A world map adorns his
office wall and miniature flags mark the international tour-
naments he’s officiated,
including the Masters Super
Series, Thomas and Uber
Cups, Commonwealth
Games, Pan Am Games, and
Olympic Games.
Walker’s most recent over-
seas trip was also badminton
related. He travelled to
Hawaii, where he met up
with his wife, who is now
VIU’s head coach. Janice
took her team to the 2009
Honolulu Open tournament,
where the players and
coaches not only performed
well against top-ranked Canadian and American opponents,
but they hiked up the Diamond Head volcano, bodysurfed
and snorkeled, and made a trek to Pearl Harbor.
“These team-building experiences are a major reason why
playing varsity sports is so valuable,” Walker said. “They’ll
have strong memories and friendships that they’ll keep for
the rest of their lives—just as I have.” J
h Smashing success: Mariner Mike Clark (centre)receives a scholarship thanks to an endowmentcreated by Janice and Mike Walker
Badminton endowment
Mike and Janice’s emotional attachment to VIU badminton led
them to establish an endowment, matched by the VIU
Foundation, which will award a yearly scholarship to a member of
the VIU badminton team. The first scholarship was recently
awarded to fourth-year business student and 2008 BCCAA mixed
doubles silver medalist Mike Clark.
“Janice and I figured it was a great way to give back to the uni-
versity and support the game that gave so much to our lives,”
Mike said. “The fact that we met on the badminton team just
adds to how near and dear the sport is to our hearts. It’s a sport
that we’ll continue to play for the rest of our lives, and hopefully
this endowment will reward VIU badminton players for many
years after that.”
18 Journey Spring/Summer 2009 PHOTO: COURTESY PAMELA YORK
A L U M N I I N V I E W
Eighty-Eight Keys to HNow living in Houston, Texas, the pianist, vocalist,
composer, and teacher has performed at the
Jacksonville Jazz Festival, won the Great American Jazz
Piano competition in 2007, played with world class
musicians such as Jeff Hamilton and John Clayton, and
released two highly acclaimed CDs. Even with all of this
success in the United States, a hometown return puts
her in a sentimental mood. BY MATT CARTER
Add Pamela York’s (Jazz ’89) name to Nanaimo’s list of homegrown jazz royalty.
For someone who might weigh 100 pounds on a rainy
day, Pamela (Butchart) York (Jazz ’89) pounded out
the Duke Ellington favourite, “Caravan,” with the
force and rhythm of a racing steam train at a recent per-
formance at VIU. After the final note rang from the piano,
students in the choral room exploded with applause.
“Inspiring,” said jazz student Keesha Roden. “Seeing a
concert like this by someone who graduated from your
school makes the dream of becoming a professional musi-
cian so much more realistic.”
York’s music career has been full of notable achievements in
the United States, including winning the Great American
Jazz Piano Competition in 2007. Previous finalists in the
competition included Harry Connick Jr. and Brad Mehldau.
But for York, coming back to VIU and playing in familiar
rooms for new students and old teachers was just as special.
“Everything I did in Nanaimo, whether in high school, pri-
vate lessons, or college, contributed to my success,” she
said, over a cup of coffee at a sun-drenched café in down-
town Nanaimo.
York’s love of music grew out of the discovery of an aging
upright piano in her grandmother’s basement. Classical
piano training and country rock jams led to high school
band classes where she drove herself to learn jazz.
“She was forward, but never in a nasty way,” said Bryan
Stovell, her teacher at Nanaimo District Secondary School
(NDSS). “She’d ask, ‘Can I get another solo? Can I get
another arrangement?’ But it was never to the detriment of
anyone else in the band.”
One of York’s mentors was a young Diana Krall.
“Diana would drop by NDSS and we’d play,” York said.
“She was very helpful, and didn’t beat around the bush. She
got me to start playing bass lines so I could play in duo set-
tings without a bassist and drilled in that I needed to know
jazz standards. All of that helped to get work.”
At VIU, she was impressed that her instructors were also
professional, practicing musicians. Steve Jones’s jazz his-
tory and arranging classes struck a particularly sweet chord
with her.
“He expected a lot, encouraged us and treated everyone
with respect,” York said. “Twenty years later, I still refer to
his handouts.”
After VIU, York earned a bachelor’s degree from the
Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., and a master’s
degree in jazz from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
In Tennessee, she met her future husband, Adam.
“He came from a musical family—his mother was a violinist
in the Memphis Symphony Orchestra—but was not overly
musical himself,” York said. “I knew our relationship was
getting serious when he enrolled in a jazz history course.”
The couple moved to San Diego, Calif., in 1996. In 2001,
York released her first recording, Blue York. Joining her on
the album were jazz giants John Clayton, bass, and Jeff
Hamilton, drums. It was the same rhythm section that
backed up Diana Krall on her debut recording, Stepping Out.
York had met Clayton and Hamilton while subbing in for
their Grammy-nominated big band, the Clayton-Hamilton
Jazz Orchestra. It took a while to build up the courage to ask
them to record with her.
“At first, I felt like I was at the kid’s table. But after one
rehearsal, it felt like we were peers,” she beamed. “I had
Monty Alexander’s rhythm section.”
Jazz media trumpeted the album. Jazz Improv Magazine
called Blue York a “very impressive debut,” Jazz Times wrote
that York was “blessed with a real sense of grace at the key-
board,” and Jazzreview.com said "Canadian-born Pamela
York is the ultimate pianist."
After moving to Houston, Texas, York released her second
album, The Way of Time. Many of the songs were inspired by
the birth of her first child, Anna. York gave birth to her sec-
ond child, Jonathan, in March 2009, and now plans to record
an album of hymns and spirituals, redone in a jazz style.
This exploration of musical diversity, York said, was born
out of her early classical piano and country jam experiences
in Nanaimo.
“Musicians need to play all styles. The tools that you use in
a Mozart sonata can be used in any jazz tune. Don’t turn
down a gig because it’s not exactly what you had in mind,
or where it might lead to. You might end up being really
good at something you never thought of.”
She finished her coffee and placed the cup neatly onto the
saucer. “As Duke Ellington said, there are only two types of
music: good and bad.” J
f More information on Pamela York at www.pamelayork.com
PHOTO: MATT CARTER Journey Spring/Summer 2009 19
appiness“Canadian-born Pamela York
is the ultimate pianist.”
– Jazzreview.com
h York (seated at the piano) and bassist Kristin Korb (seated on thestool) shared their thoughts on being professional jazz musicianswith VIU music students
in the first place, and only a small percentage of
people considered going. I didn’t subscribe to the
notion that you had to go to university.”
It took 50 years to change her mind.
In 2007, June donned a black cap and robe and
walked across the stage of the Port Theatre in
Nanaimo to accept her bachelor’s degree in
Liberal Studies and Visual Arts. She had watched
incendiary bombs tear London apart, raised four
children almost entirely on her own, dealt with
London’s worst criminals and troubled youths
for 22 years as a probation officer, and moved
from Europe to North America before registering
for her first university class at the age of 65.
It's an experience that appears at odds with
typical university student demographics.
According to a 2007 report from the
Association of Universities and Colleges of
Canada, only 2.5 per cent of full time under-
graduate students were 35 years of age or older,
and two-thirds of master’s students were
younger than 30. But even if higher education
is largely a pursuit of young people, the award-
ing of a Bachelor of Arts degree to 75-year-old
June Jefferies proves that youth is not a prereq-
uisite to academic success.
In the audience for June’s convocation were
her son and daughter-in-law, Merv Jefferies
(BTM ’02) and Mary O’Neill.
“I think getting her degree from VIU was the
best thing my mom has ever done for herself,”
The liberalstudiesscholarship
To celebrate the
Liberal Studies
department, June
established the June
Jefferies Liberal
Studies Scholarship, a
yearly award of $600
that she funds by
putting aside $50 per
month.
“I feel an obligation
to help out a bright
youngster who is
dedicated to Liberal
Studies,” June said.
“It’s easy to put a bit
of money away, and
it all adds up.”
20 Journey Spring/Summer 2009 PHOTO: MATT CARTER
A L U M N I I N V I E W
Family FueledMeet three members of the Jefferies family who went back to school at
the same time as mature students, refuting misconceptions that you
have to be young to thrive at university. BY MATT CARTER
Merv said. “After living through challenging circumstances
and raising four children, it’s a significant accomplishment.”
Merv, who had gone to cooking school as a teenager in
England and moved to Canada in 1974 to work in the culi-
nary industry, invited June to make the same move across
the Atlantic upon her retirement. In 1992, she joined Merv
and Mary in Nanaimo. June, an avid reader, painter, and
pianist, immediately got involved with Literacy Nanaimo
and the Nanaimo Arts Council.
“June is very social, active, and loves learning,” Merv said.
“She’s not interested in sitting on the couch and watching
daytime TV. She looks for any opportunity to be around peo-
ple and have meaningful conversations.”
Mary, a professor in VIU’s Education department, sug-
gested that June sign up for Fine Arts classes at VIU at very
little cost, as the university waives tuition fees for students
65 and older. June enrolled, despite feeling a bit apprehen-
sive at the thought of studying alongside students that were
nearly 50 years younger than her.
“In the beginning, I was nervous about how I might fit in,”
June said, “but it turned out that I paid more attention to
my age than anyone else did.”
In addition to art and literature courses, June embraced
the Liberal Studies program. “It was exactly my kind of
learning,” she said. “I took every Liberal Studies class that I
could. Every professor brought so much of themselves to
the classroom.”
While June was enjoying her first year of university studies,
Merv was becoming increasingly burnt out from running an
independent cookware store in downtown Nanaimo. “It was
hard to compete with the larger companies,” he said. “I
went on a sabbatical and realized that I was tired of the retail
grind and didn’t want to do it anymore.”
Mary, who had started her career by studying applied com-
munications at Camosun College, had seen first-hand how
university studies had improved students’ fortunes and urged
Merv to follow his mother’s lead and go back to school.
“Working at VIU showed me
that higher education is a gift,”
Mary said. “I thought Merv
had a lot to contribute in an
academic setting.”
Seeing tourism as a growing part of the world economy and
buoyed by the opportunity to complete co-operative work
placements, Merv applied to VIU’s Tourism and Recreation
department. He walked into his first class at the age of 46.
Instead of feeling out of place surrounded by younger stu-
dents, he fed off of their optimism and positive energy. It was
a complete switch from the chronic stress of retail sales.
“Besides emigrating to Canada and marrying Mary, going
to VIU was the best decision I ever made,” said Merv, who
graduated with a Bachelor of Tourism Management degree
less than a month before his 50th birthday. “It gave me self
confidence. I got involved in things I never would have
done otherwise, such as finding myself in an outdoor recre-
ation class, upside down in a canoe.”
Fueled by his success, Merv looked to add to his education.
At the same time, Mary wanted to upgrade her position at
VIU. So, both enrolled in master’s programs, and they called
on VIU professors Rick Rollins and Marshall Soules to serve
as their MA advisors. Mary completed her master’s degree in
2003 and Merv finished in 2005.
Merv now works with Tourism
Vancouver Island as an industry
services research coordinator,
and Mary lectures on classroom
technology applications and digi-
tal portfolio design.
June has finished her under-
graduate education, but she has
not lost her zest for learning.
She remains active with the VIU
Liberal Studies Alumni Club,
where she continues to discuss
art, literature, philosophy,
music, politics—anything to
keep the academic fires burn-
ing. Her spirit left a lasting
impression on everyone that
she met at VIU.
“Good students inspire
their peers, but great stu-
dents inspire their teachers,”
said Liberal Studies professor
Russell McNeil. “June loved
ideas, music, art and conver-
sation, and she always com-
municated her enthusiasm
with clear intelligence and
infectious humour. She
showed us that education is a
never-ending, life-long
process.”
Sixty years after June
started her first job, you can
still find her in a library, flipping
through books, learning and dis-
covering. J
Keeping in touch
In addition to teaching,
Mary produces a regular
newsletter for VIU
Education alumni,
Alumni ED, which details
the accomplishments of
VIU Education alumni
and lists teaching
opportunities at schools
in B.C. and around the
world. Graduates
appreciate Mary’s
efforts to keep them
connected.
“It’s great to read
about fellow colleagues
and the successes
they’re experiencing in
their new endeavours,”
said Trish Bogle (BEd ’07).
“Mary has always
made her students and
alumni feel like they
were important,” added
Erin Behnsen (BEd ’07).
“She always finds the
time to help us.”
f To see current and
past issues, visit
www.viu.ca/
education/alumni/
newsletter/
PHOTO: (LEFT) MATT CARTER; (RIGHT) COURTESY MARY O’NEILL Journey Spring/Summer 2009 21
h Teachers just want to have fun: Mary O’Neill (centre)with 2008 Education alumni (L-R) Kris Isenor, Chris Sheasby, Katie Stafford, Simmy Mukhija, and Teresa Fayant
h A beaming June Jefferies standsin the Diana Krall Plaza with herson Merv after his VIUgraduation ceremony in 2002
28 Journey Spring/Summer 2009 PHOTO: COURTESY ANN HOLROYD
When we travelled to Nepal, we
were aware there were differ-
ences between our cultures,
but no amount of class work could have
prepared us for the cultural diversity of
this country. The experience was the
greatest teacher we could have to
advance our own cultural sensitivity.
A common mantra within the group
was to be open, let things happen, and
relinquish control, thereby recognizing
the path to a new inner vitality.
Students had to gain comfort against
the limits of their own tolerance, and
seeing beyond the commonly held
assumption that other cultures should
strive to be like us was a valuable lesson.
While globalization has brought the
marketization of many things, includ-
ing health, the people of Nepal seem to
have resisted a global model of health
care based on “think alike, look alike”
principles. Regional beliefs and super-
stitions still influence health care prac-
tices. Cow dung, thought to be a
healing agent, is rubbed on the navels
of newborn infants, and babies are
rubbed daily with mustard seed oil to
promote strength as an adult. Nurses,
in facilities without ventilation, mix
toxic chemotherapy drugs in full view
of patients and their families.
Everywhere the students turned, in
hospitals or communities, they were
presented with adventures of ideas and
new shades of thought. Most impor-
tantly, they began to see the Nepalese
beyond an “us versus them” mindset.
Spending a long period of time in a
different culture helped the students
see the value of cultural diversity on a
personal level. Their identities were
being challenged. Being part of a large
group and working in a foreign country
truly offset any desires they may have
had to safely remain the same person
they had always been.
I wish that all students could partici-
pate in at least one international
learning experience during their
under grad uate program. The learning
that takes place outside of a classroom
is a necessary complement to class-
room work. Our time in Nepal taught
us to savour the differences that exist
between cultures and people, a worth-
while value that we can bring to the
world of health and illness care.
Mother Teresa said “I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbour. Do you
know your next door neighbour?”
In a global village, citizens on opposite sides of the planet are neighbours. They might
have different habits or beliefs, but exploring that sense of diversity can be life-changing,
as 12 Bachelor of Science in Nursing students and two VIU instructors discovered in Nepal
during a four week field school in September 2008.
Beginning their journey in the ancient city of Bhaktapur, the students travelled to
Scheer Memorial Hospital in Banepa and learned about the health and social issues in the
Kathmandu Valley region. They shared a nursing residence and tasted local food, includ-
ing a national dish of dahl bhat (lentil soup and rice) at every meal. The group also visited
the Royal Chitwan Park wildlife reserve, attended a traditional Hindu wedding, faced the
aftermath of a landslide on the way to Thulo Syabru, crossed mountains, donated money
to The Mountain Fund, a poverty eradication non-profit that targets mountain regions,
and provided communities with medical supplies. VIU nursing professor Ann Holroyd
reflected on the value of these cross-cultural explorations for the students.
Going to KathmanduCultural Comparisons in the Heart of the Himalayas. BY ANN HOLROYD
h VIU students in Nepal: (L-R) Kamiko Tomiyama, Alison Graham, Kala Fitton,Laura Fyfe, Mandy Parmar, Kristy Wareham, Pamela Browett, Jenny Patton, andHeather Maitland. (Missing: Eva Andres, Christie Kay, Jaycille Zart)
VIU Alumni Mean BusinessAccounting firm celebrates its relationships with
VIU Business graduates
The Nanaimo branch of accounting firm Meyers Norris Penny cre-
ated a $40,000 endowment fund for VIU, establishing the MNP
Nanaimo Founders Award. It will be given annually to a student in
VIU’s Bachelor of Business Administration program.
“We are very proud to provide this award and recognize the local
impact of VIU
accounting stu-
dents,” said Lucie
Gosselin, MNP
Nanaimo’s man-
aging partner.
“The quality of
their work is very
high. We cur-
rently employ
graduates at all of
MNP’s Vancouver
Island locations.”
h VIU alumni at MNP’s Nanaimo office include (L-R)Jennifer Farr (BA ’05), Leif Bogwald (BA ’02), MikeBonkowski (’88), Mike Furnell (’06), SeanDougherty (BBA ’08), Kali Meyer (BBA ’08), MerylChahley (’85), Sally Bethinger (’77), Lynne Pankratz(’89), Traci Pogson (BA ’05)
What was the most importantrelationship you forged during yourtime at VIU?
Bonnie Bill (Social Services ’06) I had some struggles
in the social services program, but Professor Patrick
Konkin was extremely supportive. He emphasized the
importance of being flexible to learning styles, which
I’m mindful of when I work with school children. I
also admired instructor Anne Spilker, an incredible
woman who made sure everyone was heard.
Carrie Friend (BA ’02) Professors John Black, Janina
Hornosty, and Lisa MacLean were brilliant facilitators
and fabulous human beings. Our 18-person liberal
studies seminar group was a special unit that cared
about education and each other—and we kept it lively!
Aran Gough (BSc ’96) Ecology instructor Ed van
Zinderen Bakker was integral in guiding me into a
career in ecology. I constantly apply techniques that I
learned from Ed in my projects. He continues to pro-
vide me with support, even though I now live in Peru.
Tom Guy (BA ’07) My professors were very giving of
their time—in classrooms, forums, field trips, clubs,
and in sharing music. These experiences helped me
generate a respect and fondness for dedicated peo-
ple doing good work.
Carrie Johns (BA ’05) I met Jason Parsley (BA ’06) in
English 215. We were put in a group and instructed to
read our essays aloud to each other. I wrote some
drivel on my obsession with the TV show MASH. Jason
wrote about building birdhouses with his grandfa-
ther. For some reason, I asked Jason if he’d build me
a birdhouse, and for some reason, he agreed. In June
2008, we were married. For a wedding present, we
received the complete MASH collection and watched
all eleven seasons in six months. I’m still waiting for
my birdhouse.
Hannah King (BTM ’03) I met my husband at VIU. He
was two years ahead of me in the Recreation and
Tourism program but we shared a class together and
the rest is history. Professor John Plantinga had the
biggest impact; you have to appreciate somebody so
straight forward and non-fluffy!
Paul Langereis (BEd ’01) I was fortunate enough to
take visual arts classes from Fran Benton and Gregory
Ball. Fran was a wonderful person to talk to about the
arts, and Gregory provided me with great inspiration.
As well, Education advisor John Boland had a great
sense of humour and provided me with support
through the program.
PHOTOS: MATT CARTER Journey Spring/Summer 2009 29
G I V I N G B A C K
h Six VIU nursing students received $5,000 scholarships as a result of theSharmans’ million dollar donation. (L-R) Dean of Health and Human ServicesLaureen Styles, Sidney Sharman, Sarah Gibson, Jennifer Peters, Kellie Connelly,Jennifer Steele, Jennie Taylor, Jennifer van Barneveld, and President Ralph Nilson
Wealth Care for Health CareNursing students benefit from a one million
dollar donation—the largest in VIU’s history
In January 2009, Nanaimo philanthropists Sidney and Gladys
Sharman donated one million dollars to VIU, the largest personal
donation in the university’s history. The money will go into an
endowment fund to provide up to six awards each year for fourth-
year students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
“We need doctors and surgeons,” Sidney Sharman said, “but
when you’re in the hospital, it’s the nurses you see. I want to sup-
port the nursing program and nurses in the Nanaimo area.”