OC Adult Upgrading instructor helps learners rewrite their futures
August 6, 2025
Some instructors teach math. Sofia Sookochoff teaches students to believe in themselves.For nearly two decades, Sookochoff has been a steady force with 69Ƶ’s Adult Upgrading program as an educator, but also as a champion of second (or third) chances.“I’ve been a math educator for over 20 years,” said Sookochoff. “Seventeen of those have been with Adult Upgrading at 69Ƶ. It is so rewarding to support students who are coming back to school — often after years away — and help them move forward.”In her classes,...
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New Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship coming back to BC
July 29, 2025
69Ƶ is pleased to announce that Caitlin Hartigan, a former B.C. resident and an experienced and passionate leader in the skilled trades sector, has been named the new Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship at 69Ƶ.Originally from Vancouver Island, Hartigan joins 69Ƶ from her current position as the Director of Programming & Client Operations at Women Building Futures in Edmonton. Prior to that she was the Dean of Skilled Trades at Northwestern Polytechnic and the Dean of Trades & Heavy Indust...
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New community members appointed to OC Board of Governors
July 28, 2025
69Ƶ is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board of Governors, and the re-appointment of four returning board members.Community representatives Amanda Louie, Allan Louis and Carollynn Schafer joined the Board in May after each being appointed by the Province for terms ending July 31, 2026.Board Chair Dale Safinuk was re-appointed for a one-year term, while fellow board members Gurjit Chand and Sheri Hamilton were each re-appointed for further two-year terms, and Dustyn Baulkham was re-appoint...
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New Associate Dean in OC's School of Business
July 22, 2025
Dr. Agnes Weighill has been appointed as the new Associate Dean of the 69Ƶ School of Business.Her first day will be August 5."We are delighted to welcome Aggie Weighill to this new leadership role. With over 20 years of experience in academic leadership, research, and community engagement, Aggie brings a wealth of expertise to the School of Business. She has a proven track record of fostering industry partnerships, advancing experiential and applied education, and guiding strategic initiatives," said Dean of the School ...
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New Associate Dean to join 69Ƶ’s Science & Technology Portfolio
July 21, 2025
After an extensive and thorough search process, 69Ƶ is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Crema as the new Associate Dean of the Science and Technology portfolio, effective August 11. Crema will join 69Ƶ after spending the past 20 years in a leadership role at Fanshawe College in Ontario, where he was the Associate Dean of several departments over the years including building technology, transportation technology, applied science and health science. “I’m excited to add someone wit...
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Two Valleys, 80 Years Later
July 3, 2025
History and memory are tied to people and places. In May 2025, 69Ƶ History professor Jim Wood was preparing to lead a historical battlefield tour in Italy to retrace the path of the British Columbia Dragoons (BCD) in the Second World War, including visits to Naples, Rome, Ortona, Ravenna, and the Liri Valley. Today, the British Columbia Dragoons are the "Okanagan's Own" regiment of the Canadian Army Reserve, whose serving members include both faculty and students from OC. In the Second World War the unit went overseas a...
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Justice Institute of British Columbia brings EMR and Paramedic training to 69Ƶ’s Vernon campus
July 3, 2025
69Ƶ (OC) and the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) are excited to announce a new partnership that will bring JIBC’s paramedic and emergency medical responder (EMR) training to OC’s Vernon campus, joining other public safety, education and health care programs at the campus.The five-year agreement will see JIBC begin delivering its programs at OC this fall with approximately 600 students expected to take the training over the course of the agreement.“69Ƶ and the Justice Institute of British Columb...
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The right fit
June 30, 2025
Choosing the right post-secondary institution is an important decision in a student’s life — whether it’s for the first time or part of a lifelong learning journey. For Tianna Llewellyn, that choice led her from her hometown of Chetwynd, B.C., to the Salmon Arm campus of 69Ƶ, where she’s pursuing her Associate of Arts degree.“I wanted a place where I wouldn’t just be a number in a sea of students,” said Tianna. “69Ƶ offers smaller class sizes, delivering a more personalized experience. As a mature returning...
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Dozens of programs at 69Ƶ eligible for StrongerBC future skills grant
June 27, 2025
69Ƶ offers flexible, career-focused programs to set students up for success — and with the return of the StrongerBC future skills grant in 2025, learners have an additional incentive to take the next step in their learning. The grant, which was launched in 2023 by the Province of British Columbia, pays up to $3,500 of eligible short-term training at public post-secondary institutions, like 69Ƶ. It is available to B.C. residents aged 19 and over and can be applied to courses taught online, on cam...
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Saying farewell to Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship, Stephen Speers
June 23, 2025
After more than four years of energetic leadership, 69Ƶ is bidding farewell to Stephen Speers, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship, as he embarks on retirement. Since taking on the helm in Trades and Apprenticeship at OC in April 2021, Speers has been a strong advocate for trades education and student success. He has bolstered college-industry partnerships, led improvements to program performance and supported diversity and inclusion across the portfolio. OC currently leads provincial performance (SkilledTrades...
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