“2017 has been a remarkable year for North Island College and the communities we serve,” said NIC President, John Bowman. “I’m incredibly proud of the hard work that has been put in by the entire college community to support students across the region.”
Here are a few highlights from 2017:
- January 2017: NIC received funding from the federal and provincial to transform its Campbell River campus into a more student-focused campus. The work includes new heavy duty, aircraft structures and professional cook facilities, as well as a new library and learning commons and renovations to Timberline Secondary School classrooms, shops and administrative offices.
- February 2017: NIC welcomed almost 1,000 Grade 11 students to its Comox Valley and Port Alberni campuses to explore post-secondary classes and life. NIC student Taylor Parsons was on hand to demonstrate chemistry in Port Alberni.
- March 2017: NIC received funding for health care assistant, aquaculture TV and Film Crew Training programs across the region, with the first class of TV and Film Crew Training students graduating in December 2017.
- April 2017: NIC and the Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD) announced a new fine arts degree partnership to provide NIC fine arts students the opportunity to transfer directly from an NIC diploma into Year 3 of a degree at ACAD.
- May 2017: NIC’s Centre for Applied Research, Technology and Innovation (CARTI) announces the return of robotics camps for students, aged 9-12. Almost 290 students from Port Hardy to Ucluelet participated this year, learning vital science, technology, engineering and math skills with the help of Lego robots.
- June 2017: NIC graduates Sara Baxandall and Kelsey Anglin launched a new alumni association to connect NIC graduates from all program areas.
- July 2017: Registration opened for a new Awi’nakola Land Based Learning program at NIC’s regional campus in Port Hardy. The pilot Adult Basic Education program was developed in response to the calls to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, allowing students in the Mount Waddington region to study Kwak’wala while upgrading English and math and learning culture and language from local elders.
- August 2017: The Canadian Nurses Association honoured three NIC nurses (Elder-in-Residence Evelyn Voyageur, alumna Dawn Tisdale and instructor Joanna Fraser) as being among its top 150 nurses in Canada.
- September 2017: NIC Social Services student Megan Lawrence was one of hundreds of NIC students who shared a record $290,000 in scholarships and bursaries distributed by the NIC Foundation this year. The funds include 15 recipients of the Aitken legacy scholarships, who received $2,500 each.
- October 2017: NIC Carpentry students donate a custom-built greenhouse built for the Prime Chophouse and Wine Bar in Courtenay.
- November 2017: NIC launched a first-of-its kind on Vancouver Island McDonald’s to NIC business degree pathway, which provides NIC degree credit to McDonald’s employees who have completed management training courses.
- December 2017: NIC recognized a millennium of service to NIC with its Retirements and Service Awards. The annual awards acknowledge the many staff and faculty who work hard to ensure students succeed each year.
As NIC looks ahead to 2018, it remains committed to providing quality, affordable education and skills training, collaborating with community partners to create pathways to learning and empowering individuals to achieve their full potential.
For more information and news stories throughout the year, visit www.nic.bc.ca/life-at-nic/nic-news.
Media Contact
Christiana Wiens
Media Liaison, North Island College
O. 250-334-5280 | M. 250-218-4097
christiana.wiens@nic.bc.ca
