VIU news and experts: April 24, 2025

April 24, 2025 - 10:07pm

Student hunger, trades careers and saving salmon

On Saturday, May 3, VIU’s annual Trades & Tech Showcase allows people to explore careers in everything from welding to hairstyling to web development and more. This event is open to everyone and features hands-on experiences to help you get a flavour for what each trade and tech program is offering. Highlights:

operate a mini-excavator
flavour your own kettle chips
try a welding simulator
taste liquid nitrogen ice cream
build a wood planter and fill it with strawberry plants

You’ll also get a glimpse of the future as applied technology students showcase some of the innovative tech projects they have created. Learn more.

The day before, 32 Grade 11 and 12 high school students will get a chance to operate some big and small machinery at the Heavy Metal Rocks event. The event provides opportunities for students to control heavy machinery with one-to-one guidance and mentorship from a certified operator. Email Annette.Lucas@viu.ca if you want to come and take photos!

Featured experts

Experts address toxic tire threat during workshop

Vancouver Island University’s Applied Environmental Research Laboratory (AERL) and the British Columbia Conservation Foundation are hosting a Protecting Salmon from Tire Wear Toxicants – 6PPDQ Workshop from May 8 to 9. Vehicle tires release the chemical known as 6PPDQ, which is acutely toxic to salmon at extremely low levels. This chemical can flow into storm drains and urban streams when it rains.

Each day of the workshop will be divided into two sessions. Presentations throughout the two days will be provided by researchers from Vancouver Island University, University of British Columbia, Washington State University, Simon Fraser University, University of Saskatchewan, University of Toronto and more. Learn more about the conference.

General registration for the workshop is closed, however if you would like to attend as a member of the media please email Rachel.Stern@viu.ca.

Looking for an expert for another story? Connect with VIU Experts.

VIU news

Five weeks and $5,000 to solve student hunger

Students from various programs across VIU took on the Hunger Hack challenge and had five weeks and five grand to do something about student hunger on campus. Read more about what they discovered.

Perspectives of feminism

VIU Psychology and Women and Gender studies student Reza Arbabi is exploring the perspectives of Canadian-born people about what they know of feminist solidarity and women’s rights in Iran.

“Human rights, especially women’s rights, have always been a personal passion,” he said. “My mother, Nooshin Zarnani, has contributed significantly to the field of women’s rights, and this has shaped my commitment to the topic. This project serves as a small tribute to her and to the many activists working in this space.” Learn more.

Portal celebrates release of 34th issue

VIU’s student-run literary magazine, Portal, celebrates the release of its 34th issue on April 25. The launch is at Bowen Park Auditorium, 500 Bowen Rd. Doors open at 7 pm with a catered reception and live music, and readings begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 and include a $12 copy of the new issue. The evening will feature short excerpts by most of its 21 authors, followed by the presentation of 18 Creative Writing scholarships. This year’s theme builds on Bailey Bellisolo’s striking art of an outstretched hand on a bright red cover, “To Hold,” which suggests that, in these especially anxious times, there is a pressing need to find commonalities and unity, and to create circles, community and lasting peace on all fronts.

Tickets can be purchased at the door, but advance sales help to confirm numbers. Contact Joy Gugeler at joy.gugeler@viu.ca to arrange a purchase. Read more.

Happening at VIU

Graduating artists share their inner energy

VIU’s View Gallery presents Innergy, the BA major in Visual Art graduating student exhibition. Innergy runs until May 9 at the gallery, which is open Tuesday to Friday, from 10 am to 4 pm during exhibits. It features work by Sarah Alexander, Salma Amr Fargalah, Tarah Dowling, Alyssa MacGougan, Ivy Miller, Isabella Rose, Léa Sapphire and Angela Traynor.

“In the conversations that took place over the last term, we worked together to explore our creative processes and worked to support each other through those processes, offering helpful advice and encouragement when things got challenging as they nearly always do,” says Chai Duncan VIU Visual Art Instructor and View Gallery Curator, about the exhibit. “The reservoirs of inner resources each of our students brought to bear through this process was inspiring and thus the exhibition title Innergy nicely encapsulates the inner energy expressed in the creation and completion of their works that they are sharing.”

Plant sale

Bring home some greenery from the VIU Horticulture department’s annual plant sale on April 26 from 10 am to 1 pm at the G.R. Paine Centre on East Wellington Road. Enjoy a tour of the greenhouses and gardens and have a chat with the students and instructors to learn more about a satisfying career in horticulture. More info.

Media Studies students showcase their work

Join VIU Media Studies students and faculty for a year-end showcase and recognition of graduates. The showcase is April 24 from 4 to 7 pm at Verra Creative, 21 Nicol Street.

At 5 pm, students will share excerpts from their videos to highlight these for guests and curious attendees. The three projects highlighted are Scattered Syntax directed and produced by Kyle Emmerson, Synthetic Tropical: Shattering the Illusion with camera and editing by Kieran Armstrong and music composition and acting by Clara Melsness, and Cable Bay directed and produced by Mick Sweetman. After the presentations people are invited to visit the displays to meet students, ask questions and review projects in this interactive open-house event. Learn more about the showcase.

Save the date: World’s largest Nanaimo bar

On Saturday, May 17 as Baking and Culinary Arts students take on a sweet, record-breaking challenge – creating the world’s largest Nanaimo bar! This family-friendly event includes: