Community Support
Kofoed family celebrates the role of nurses
June 10, 2020
A $60,000 gift from the Kofoed family will honour a very special nurse in their life, and a generation of new nurses entering the field. Jack Kofoed, and his children Jacqueline, Leah, Jillian and Jeremy are giving to the Our Students, Your Health campaign to help complete construction on a new Health Sciences Centre at 69Ƶ’s Kelowna campus. Jack’s wife Leona was a nurse. She passed away in 2017, and this gift recognizes her life’s work and the special care she received during her final days, according to her family. ...
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Kelowna Mayor, WFN Chief shave their heads for health care
May 29, 2020
With their wives wielding clippers, Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran and Westbank First Nation Chief Christopher Derickson expressed a hint of apprehension for the looming buzz cuts they’d committed to, but not an ounce of regret for the profile they’ve been able to raise for a cause near and dear to their hearts. Both leaders were able to raise more than $10,000 each for 69Ƶ’s Haircuts for Health Care campaign and, having met their fundraising goals, met up in the College’s courtyard recently for a physically-distanced buzz...
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Kelowna Chevrolet invests in health professionals
May 28, 2020
Kelowna Chevrolet is investing in future health care professionals, with a $50,000 donation to the Our Students, Your Health campaign for a new Health Sciences Centre at 69Ƶ. Kelowna Chevrolet Dealer Partner Ian Speckman says he felt a responsibility to support the state-of-the-art Health Sciences Centre that will train health care professionals for the region. “As we’re all realizing, health care professionals are essential for our community,” says Speckman. “This is about supporting students so they can get the rig...
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Contest winner inspired to help others
May 26, 2020
When Brittani Sali answered the phone and learned she was the winner of a $5,000 tuition giveaway contest, she thought she might be dreaming. The 22-year old was just waking up, and she hadn’t been expecting the call from local radio announcer B Mack. Lucky for Sali, winning the tuition giveaway towards any health program at 69Ƶ wasn’t a dream. The 22-year old was among one of 80 people who entered the contest, which was sponsored by the Payton and Dillon Budd Memorial Fund, in partnership with Virgin Radio and the Ok...
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College’s Camp OC cancelled for 2020
May 25, 2020
COVID-19 concerns are leading 69Ƶ to cancel its Camp OC summer camp offerings for 2020. “We have been closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation,” said Dr. Dennis Silvestrone, director of Continuing Studies and Corporate Training for 69Ƶ. “And given what we understand about safety and limitations, we have made the decision to cancel Camp OC this summer.” “It is a very difficult decision for us, and one made with the best interests of all our campers, students, staff and our surrounding communities...
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Haircuts fundraiser grows new support
May 12, 2020
Kelowna Mayor and WFN Chief shaving their heads for a cause In dire need of a haircut and wanting to support the training of future health care professionals, some big names are joining the 69Ƶ Foundation’s Haircuts for Health Care initiative. Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran and Westbank First Nation Chief Christopher Derickson are committing to dealing with their unruly self-isolation hair by shaving their heads, and in doing so, raising vital funds to help open the doors to a state-of-the-art new Health Sciences Centre a...
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The Gathering Place
April 30, 2020
The moment you walk through the doors to the Gathering Place, everything seems to change: the light softens, the noise of the day fades away, and you are most likely greeted by a friendly face. Caroline Chartier is the Indigenous Transitions Planner at the Salmon Arm campus, and OC Life caught up with her to get the scoop on what makes the Gathering Place so special. Q: What was intent behind the Gathering Place when it was created? A: To provide a space for Indigenous ...
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Stober family invests in the future of health care in the Okanagan
April 29, 2020
The 69Ƶ Foundation has received a landmark gift to the Our Students, Your Health campaign, which will help support the training of the Okanagan’s frontline health care professionals for generations to come. The Stober Foundation is committing $500,000 over the next five years to support the development of a state-of-the-art Health Sciences Centre at 69Ƶ’s Kelowna campus, which will train 450 students per year over the next 40 years. In recognition of this leadership gift, 69Ƶ Foundation is ...
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Postcard Project raises funds and connects others by mail
April 28, 2020
A new initiative from an 69Ƶ staff member is not only stamping out quarantine blues, but raising funds for much-needed mental health resources. Katie Maryschuk works in the Public Affairs department, tasked with updating the Okanagan community about news and events happening at the College. In her spare time, she collaborates on creative projects with two friends, and the trio had been discussing earlier this year new ways of sharing their work with the online community. That’s when the idea struck of how she could ma...
Read more...Haircuts for Health Care launches
April 24, 2020
College president steps up with 5k incentive Shaggy beards and untamed locks are an inevitable consequence of almost six weeks of physical distancing and the closure of all non-essential businesses, including our community’s beloved salons. However, as people take the necessary steps to flatten the curve, many will be tempted (required!) to take their unkempt hair into their own hands. A new community fundraiser launched by the 69Ƶ Foundation is encouraging those who want to take matters into their own hands, to do s...
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College responds with free professional development offerings during COVID-19
April 17, 2020
With organizations of all sizes in our communities facing uncertainty and disruption or adaptation to the way they conduct business in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, 69Ƶ is stepping up with resources to help individuals and employers tap into professional development offerings. The College’s Continuing Studies and Corporate Training department has published a new online Professional Development Resource page on its website to help people tap into free OC courses, webinars and panels. It will also point them in the ...
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Million dollar idea: OC alumnus creates a charitable gala in time of need
April 14, 2020
OC alumnus, Drew Vincent knew he wanted to bring the community together during a global quarantine. His challenge: how to hold an in-person online and still generate the kind of participation needed. His ingenuity and the community’s generosity yielded results that surpassed expectations. In just five days, his idea turned into a $20,000 donation to help the Okanagan community during COVID-19. The event also laid the groundwork for an even bigger charitable effort on May 2. A graduate of the College’s Bachelor of Business Administ...
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Families and community at the heart of Enactus GreenScreen technology initiative
April 9, 2020
GreenScreen is bigger than just a technology recycling program. It’s about people and helping build connections. An initiative launched by 69Ƶ’s Enactus team in 2019, the project works to repurpose technology such as phones, laptops and tablets, saving them from the landfill and connecting them with families in need. The team consists of students Isaac Hossmann, Emily Pilon, Rachel Wehrmann and Maya Samaddar, and aided by College professor Devin Rubadeau. Working alongside Kelowna Cell Repair, Columbia Bottle Depot an...
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Nurses inspire nurses: OC health care students step up during time of crisis
April 8, 2020
“The community needs us.” It’s a statement that has become a rallying cry for a class of 69Ƶ practical nursing students who are only weeks away from completing their studies and joining their teachers on the front line. And like many other OC health care students and grads, their actions are speaking even louder than their words in the face of COVID-19. Jodi Kemp is one of those students who is stepping up in a big way to support her community, her profession and the nurses she is training alongside at Kelowna Gener...
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OC student and printshop owner supports business community
March 26, 2020
People helping others is a sign of the times, especially if 69Ƶ student Bryan Carlton has anything to say about it. In addition to studying part-time for his BBA, Carlton owns Snap Printing in Kelowna. Since the pandemic landed in North America, he found his clients in education, event management and business have either reduced hours, put projects on hold or cancelled events. “I have a few clients who let me know how slow it was and wanted to see If I can do anything to possibly help them out. I figured banners were...
Read more...Tom Budd sponsors health care tuition
March 26, 2020
Local businessman and philanthropist Tom Budd is giving residents an opportunity to win free tuition toward a health care career at 69Ƶ. Budd, along with local radio stations Virgin Radio and Sun FM, are offering the contest called Wishin for Tuition across the Valley until April 12. Residents can win up to $5,000 toward their tuition to one of any 10 Health Sciences programs at 69Ƶ. The programs offered range from nursing to Early Childhood Education and Pharmacy Technician. The prize money is coming ...
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