Murderball's Mvp

For the Alumni and Friends of Vancouver Island University and Malaspina University-College

volume 6 | issue 1 | 2013 spring/summer

MURDERBALL'S MVP

ADULT BASIC EDUCATION: CHANGING LIVES ONE COURSE AT A TIME

ALUMNUS fINDS SUCCESS IN fOODIE APP

Pub. Agreement no. 40063601

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 1 13-02-18 4:47 PM Your donation makes adi erence.

• Scholarships and bursaries for students like Angeline • State-of-the-art equipment in our labs & classrooms • Study abroad and ﬁ eld school opportunities for all students • Modern learning environments • Equipment, travel and funding for Mariner athletes

“The scholarships and awards I received at VIU alleviated the fi nancial burden of being a student and allowed me to focus on my studies and get the most out of my undergraduate experience. I was also able to graduate free of debt which was a great relief. Receiving fi nancial support was positively reinforcing, too. Knowing my hard work was noticed, encouraged me to study even harder. Thank you to all the donors who made this possible – your support made a big diff erence in my life.”

Angeline de Bruyns (BSc ’12) Recipient of prestigious CIHR Master’s Scholarship Masters in Science student at McGill University researching cancer

Give to VIU’s annual fund and make a di erence in the lives of VIU students viu.ca/giving 250.740.6214

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volume 6 | issue 1 | 2013 spring/summer

features

11-13 Changing Lives One Course at a Time Thanks to the vision of VIU’s founders, students like Lelaina Jules (BA in Anthropology and First Nations Studies’07; BEd ’12) are able to transform their lives through the university’s Adult Basic Education program.

14-17 Murderball’s MVP

18 Off the wheelchair rugby court Trevor Hirschfield (Two years BBA ’07) is quiet and self-deprecating; on court he’s a force to be reckoned with and considered one of the sport’s top players.

18-20 International Background Key Ingredient in App Success Michael Peng (BSc in Computing Science ’10) is pursuing a successful career in the cutting-edge world of computer apps thanks to his international perspective. departments

4-5 MESSAgES 6-9 CAMPUS NEwS 10 DONOr PrOFILE 21-23 ALUMNI IN VIEw 24-28 CLASS NOTES 6 30-31 HOME STrETCH

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 3 13-02-18 4:48 PM LAN R IS D U VE N U IV E O R C S

N I T

A Y

A alumni association ALUMNI message Est. 1936

what do you want anyways?

As the President of the Alumni started. You may also have experience we’re making our best guesses, and Association for 2012/13, I’ve asked creating initiatives for other societies or while the guesses may be spot on, it’s myself, “what exactly is it the alumni associations – initiatives that worked unlikely that 10 Board Members will be want from the Association?” I know why really well and you feel would be as creative or diverse as the suggestions perfect for the Alumni Association. If that could come in from all of you. So, I’m active with the Alumni Association so we’d like to hear about those, too. send us your emails, your wall posts, – a chance to remain connected with former schoolmates and an opportunity to give back to a community I value. I LET us knOw wHAT YOu LIkE, wHAT YOu wAnT, also have a desire to support and encourage a more representative And wHAT YOu cAn dO. TOgETHEr, wE cAn sample of age and gender in courses MAKE THIS INTO SOMETHINg AMAzINg. that have historically been divided with respect to those criteria. Increasing the We’d also like your feedback on and your tweets. Let us know what number of women graduating from the the social media profiles we’ve set up you like, what you want, and what Heavy Equipment Operator course? Yes, over the past year on Facebook (www. you can do. Together, we can make let’s do it! More men in the Nursing facebook.com/viuaa) and Twitter (@ VIU's Alumni Association amazing. VIU_Alumni). Is the information we’re program? Hear, hear! providing relevant and interesting or do Jacqualine Johnson So, those are my goals, but what are we need to add something? Cats perhaps? BSc in Computing Science '04 yours? If you have an idea we’d like to The Alumni Association needs your President, VIU Alumni Association hear about it. And if you’re interested feedback – we are here to serve you, in seeing that idea through to fruition so it’s important that you let us know then we’d be happy to help you get what it is you want. Because otherwise

Publisher graphic Design We welcome letters to the editor. Advancement & Alumni Relations Office Nancy Pagé Editor, Journey Vancouver Island University Nancy Pagé Design University Relations www.nancypagedesign.com 900 Fifth Street Executive Editor Nanaimo, BC Julie Keenan Cover Photo V9R 5S5 Director, Advancement & Alumni Relations Feature Image: Steve Gerecke [email protected] www.viu.ca/alumni Managing Editor Journey is published in the spring and fall by David Forrester (Phys Ed ’02, Rec & Sport ’02) VIU’s Advancement & Alumni Relations Office Advertising Inquiries Manager, Advancement & Alumni Relations and is distributed free of charge to alumni and David Forrester friends. All material is copyright © 2013, Van- Manager, Advancement and Alumni Relations Editor & writer couver Island University Advancement &Alumni 900 Fifth Street Janina Stajic Relations, and may be reprinted with written Nanaimo, BC permission. Opinions expressed in the magazine V9R 5S5 Contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of Vancouver 250.740.6214 Adrienne Wanhill (BA in Creative Writing ’01) Island University. [email protected] Rachelle Stein-Wotten (BA ’11) Jacqualine Johnson (BSc in Computing The Vancouver Island University community ac- Canadian Publications Mail Agreement Science ’04) knowledges and thanks the Tla’Amin, Qualicum, #40063601

Snaw Naw As, Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Halalt, place at actual size, no scaling!! Penelakut, Lyackson, Chemainus, and Lake Cowichan First Nations on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge. 4 31.5 x 17.5mm

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Lauren (MacNeill) Dryden (L) takes a break from her volunteer nursing work at Haiti's only Critical Care and Trauma Hospital, to rest with colleagues and some of the Haitian nurses (full story page 22).

In this issue of Journey, I’m proud exist five years ago. Another feature Young alumni to share stories about recent VIU tells of a young Aboriginal woman graduates who are already making a who changed her life around thanks to are making mark in the world. These alumni are VIU’s ABE programs. Then there’s the using their new found knowledge, inspiring story on page 14 of a young their mark man who became a quadriplegic at the wisdom and skills to blaze a path in age of 16 and today is one of the best their chosen careers, make positive wheelchair rugby athletes in the world. changes in their community or, as in the All of the stories demonstrate there case of Lauren Dryden, in communities is a world of opportunities out there, around the world. Dryden is one of and that VIU’s alumni are taking our Alumni in View stories (page 22) advantage of those opportunities to and has recently returned from Haiti better themselves and the world around where she was supporting local staff them. I hope you’ll be inspired by these at a critical care and trauma hospital. alumni – perhaps you’ll even recognize a person who was in one of your classes These young alumni also embody what a few short years ago. Do you have your I believe is one of the principal goals of own inspiring story to share? As always, education - to create citizens who are we’d like to hear from you. Please email capable of dreaming new dreams and me directly at [email protected]. accomplishing new things, rather than simply repeating what the generations Ralph Nilson, PhD before them have done. Turn to page President and Vice-Chancellor 18 and you’ll find a story of a computer Vancouver Island University science whiz who’s making a career for himself in the world of computer apps – a knowledge-based industry that didn’t

2013 SPrINg/SUMMEr 5

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pHOTO: scOTT ruzEskY

TrEK TO THE BOTTOM Ruzesky decided Antarctica would be close enough. OF THE wOrLD On December 9, 2011 Ruzesky and his brother Scott Ruzesky, Amundsen’s an- Jay ruzesky, a professor in VIU’s cestral sons, left for South America. They English department, was raised on travelled from Santiago, through Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Argentina. There they cold Canadian winters and stories of traded hotel rooms for bunk beds aboard his famous ancestor, roald Amund- a 235 foot vessel that could cut through sen, the norwegian explorer who first the ice of the Antarctic Circle. For Ru- discovered the South Pole in Decem- zesky, boarding the ship was a defining ber 1911. ruzesky felt a kinship to moment: Amundsen and hearing tales of polar “It is not a dream, but a dream real- expeditions was impetus to both tell ized. To stand at the tip of South America his own stories and dream of making a waiting to embark on a ship bound for journey to the Pole himself. Antarctica is something I have tried to imagine for thirty years. So now there In the early 1990s Ruzesky began is no more imagining, only being, and exploring how he could make that already I feel a deep connection to this journey a reality, and get to the South place.” Pole for the centennial of Amundsen’s Ruzesky has written a book called own journey. He discovered, for the In Antarctica: An Amundsen Pilgrimage right price, there were companies that that will be published in March 2013 would trek him up Mount Everest, fly by Nightwood Editions. In the mean- him to the edge of Earth’s atmosphere, time you can read about the journey on as well as deliver him safely to the South his blog: http://jayruzesky.blogspot.ca/ Pole, but Ruzesky’s budget wasn’t that search/label/Antarctica 6 luxurious. In 2010, when it became clear he wouldn’t reach the South Pole,

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VIU will be one of the sponsors at a TEDx Talk scheduled for March 18, 2013 at the Haven Institute on gabriola Island.

Jock McKeen, VIU Honorary Doctor- ate of Letters, will be one of the keynote speakers at the event, which will explore the theme of empathy. Rachel Davey, Executive Director of the Haven and one of the organizers of the event, says they felt empathy would be a good theme because, “Empathy…is about learning to see the world in another person’s eyes. Wherever we live that’s a great thing to foster and support.” Other speakers include Mary Gordon, creator of the Roots of Empathy schools program; CBC radio host Shelagh Rogers; musicians Victor Wooten and Mike Stevens; performance artist Megan Daalder; artist Sheila Norgate and community activist Shelagh Huston. www.tedxgabriolaisland.com PHOTO: BOB BUTKUS PHOTO:

\Art On Campus: POwELL rIVEr’S TOTEM POLE Standing proudly at the front of VIU’s Powell river campus is an authentic Coast Salish totem pole, carved by Ivan rosypskye from the Tla’Amin First Nation. The totem pole is called ‘Cheh Cheh Hum’ which means welcome in the Tla’Amin language. Its extended arms demonstrate the traditional First Nations’ formal welcoming gesture usually used by an Elder or honoured person within the First Nations community to welcome visitors. rosypskye carved the figure to welcome all people to Vancouver Island University’s Powell river campus, and to show the university is a ‘community house of learning’.

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VIUAA BOArD MEMBErS 2012-2013 The 10 members of the VIUAA Board are committed to creating an alumni association that will benefit the more than 45,000 graduates of the university. Their vision is to establish a thriving, connected network of alumni who value their continued link to VIU. The Board is doing this by creating numerous alumni FESTIVAL rAISES communications channels through $115,000 FOr magazines, enewsletters and social VIU STUDENTS media, organizing events, and establish- NEw ExECUTIVE ing benefits for all VIu alumni. If you’re Thanks to the generous support of VIU’s interested in getting involved with this DIrECTOr FOr VIU’S Foundation Board Members, sponsors, dynamic group contact David Forrester, ADVANCEMENT community members and student volun- Manager Alumni relations at & ALUMNI rELATIONS teers, the VIU Foundation’s 18th Annual [email protected]. Festival of Trees raised $115,000.

DEPArTMENT Erin Brook, Secretary The funds will support VIU students (BA with a Major in Liberal Studies through newly created bursaries and and a Minor in Philosophy ’04) In September 2012, Dan Hurley became scholarships, as well as help fund state- the Executive Director of VIU’s University of-the-art improvements to the univer- Terry Dolan relations and is taking a leading role sity’s campuses. More than 3,000 people (Assoc. in Commerce Dipl. ’89; Arts attended the various Festival events at & Science Dipl. ’07; BA in Business in shaping VIU advancement, alumni Administration ’10) relations, communications, marketing, Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island Confer- government relations, and stakeholder ence Centre. This year’s Festival Gala Kazue fujiki also provided an invaluable opportunity (PE Dipl. ’90) and community engagement. for current VIU students to get real-life

Terence fitzgerald experience. The emcees for the evening He brings a wealth of experience in com- (Arts ’92) were all current students; Culinary Arts munications and government relations students prepared appetizers, Hospitality Jacqualine Johnson, President to the position having worked in federal students served the guests and Criminol- (BSc in Computing Science ’04) politics and for CBC Radio while living ogy students provided valet parking and a Jennifer Kennedy in Ottawa. He spent many years at the safe ride home to guests. (Assoc. in Comerce Dipl. ’99; BA in University of Winnipeg as Senior Execu- Business ’02) tive Officer and Advisor to the President Dan Lines as well as overseeing the External Affairs (Heavy Duty Mechanics ’75; department. An active community Commercial Transport Mechanics ’88) volunteer, Hurley is on numerous boards and volunteers for a variety of different Tim Mawdsley, Vice-President/Treasurer community organizations. He’s pleased (BA in Finance ’02) to be continuing his career in education. Nathan Thornton “Post-secondary education can em- (BA Transfer ’87-’90) power and inspire people to achieve their Mike Walker dreams, regardless of social or economic (BA in Commerce Transfer ’79) background,” said Hurley.

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MArINErS MAKE IT ON NATIONAL AND INTErNATIONAL STAgE

VIU’s athletes are making their mark in Canada and beyond. Dani Smith (Phys. Ed. Dipl. ’10; BA ’13), the star setter for the Mariner’s volleyball team, earned a spot on Team Canada in June 2012 and spent a month training with 29 other women for four weeks at Team Cana-

da’s training centre in winnipeg. rYn scAmmELL (BA In gEOgrApHY, 3rd YEAr)

TA She plans to try out for Team Canada a p HOTO: second time in June 2013, although athletes who’ve already been chosen are usu- VIU students and Bamfield community ally selected again. If she’s chosen, she’ll FOCUS ON members on a community mapping represent Canada at the International cOmmunITY BAsEd exercise, gathering information for University Sports Federation Games, tak- the Official Community Plan. ing place in Russia during the summer. rESEArCH Over on the soccer field Jared Stephens (BA ’12), former Mariner soccer star and On the fourth floor of VIu’s Library at Anthropology class is working with two-time PACWEST Male Athlete of the nanaimo campus is an office known social agencies in Cowichan on solutions the Year, was asked to join Sheffield FC as the Community Based research to homelessness and students in the Master in Tourism Leisure Management in England, recognized by the Fédération Institute (CBrI). Internationale de Football Association program are working in Costa Rica on as the world’s oldest football club. In It’s a small space where big things are ecotourism initiatives. The CBRI invites November 2012 he was loaned to Belper happening. Director Dr. Robin June inquiries from community members and FC where he’s putting his skills to work Hood nurtures powerful research groups who want to collaborate with and gaining new ones in the key position partnerships between VIU students students and faculty from a variety of of striker. and faculty, as well as community disciplines to develop research projects In other Mariner news, VIU’s athletes organizations, businesses or individuals on issues of concern. “This collaboration continue on their award-winning streak. all with the goal of enhancing the allows community members to define The men’s soccer team won silver at the quality of life and the economic, their own research agendas and provide national championships, taking home environmental and social well-being students with the opportunity for their third national medal in as many of Vancouver Island communities and hands-on experience in interdisciplinary years. The men’s basketball team is beyond. Currently, a fourth-year VIU research,” says Hood. If you have an currently #2 in the national Canadian geography student is looking at models idea for a project please contact Hood Collegiate Athletic Association rankings for measuring the carrying capacity of at [email protected]. and both the men and women’s volleyball the Regional District of Nanaimo, an teams are in second place in the provin- entire VIU Geography class is helping cial standings. Go Mariners, go! with Bamfield’s planning process, an

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Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 9 13-02-18 4:48 PM donor profile A CONVErSATION wITH VIU’S DONOrS

of young women Murphy had coached. The team name? Muffy’s Law. “Erica had this gorgeous curly hair and her nickname was Muffy,” says Walton. The Muffy’s Law team formed an idea to start a bursary in her honour. Walton and Trumbley took the lead and decided to raise funds through a community event. The first one they organized was a Halloween Pumpkin Patch, where people could come and pick their own pumpkin for a donation of any size to the bursary. “Local organizations got on board. Save-on-Foods donated pumpkins, Starbuck’s, hot drinks,” says Walton. “Then the public came to pick pumpkins and started making donations.” It was a moving experience for Walton and Trumbley. Children emptied their piggy banks to donate their pennies; adults HONOUrINg A FrIEND wHILE gave as much as $100. In the end they raised enough to create the bursary. SUPPOrTINg VIU STUDENTS In 2009, they decided to go bigger and focus on the fact that Murphy had been Delea Trumbley (L) when Dawn walton and Delea Trum- passionate about sports. They organized and Dawn Walton. bley decided to establish a bursary in the Muffy’s Classic Golf Tournament. honour of their friend, Erica Murphy In its first year there were 44 golfers; (nee d’Alessandro) it was easy to decide the second year there was 80 golfers. the criteria. Murphy, who passed away Their goal for the 2013 tournament is at age 32 from breast cancer, was an to get 100 golfers and supporters. Since they started fundraising for the bursary avid athlete and mentored countless they’ve raised approximately $7,500. young women as a popular and inspiring Even though it’s a lot of work, fastball coach. The bursary her friends Walton and Trumbley are committed to created, the Erica Murphy Athletic continuing to organize events to honour Bursary, is a $1,000 annual award for a their friend and support VIU’s female female athlete at VIU. athletes. The feedback from the recipients of the award has been great but, says “Erica was an amazing woman and Trumbley, there’s more to it than that. showed everyone what was possible with “It’s heart wrenching to lose someone perseverance and dedication,” explains so special at such a young age but it was Trumbley. “She knew what it meant to an honour and privilege to have known live life to the fullest. Even today, I’m Erica,” says Trumbley. “This award keeps inspired by her spirit.” her memory alive and it’s something True to Murphy’s spirit of inspiring we truly believe in. I know Erica would others to get involved in sports too, if she were still here to say so. That’s and community, the funds for this why we’ll continue our fundraising bursary are raised through sports efforts as long as humanly possible.” tournaments and community events. For more information on awards “It all started when a group of us put contact Susie Caswell, Advancement together a fastball team and played in a Manager at 250.740.6216 or charity tournament in Erica’s memory,” [email protected]. explains Walton. The team was made up 10

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CHANgINg LIVES ONE ABE COUrSE AT A TIME when Lelaina Jules (BA in Anthropol- ogy and First Nations Studies ’07; BEd ’12) left school at 16 to raise her newborn son, her life opportunities suddenly became very limited. Thanks to her perseverance, and VIU’s Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs, she was able to create new opportunities for herself, graduating as valedictorian of her university class and returning to the high-school classroom, this time as a teacher intent on inspiring other students to learn.

It’s a cold, wet, windy morning in November 1992. The sun hasn’t risen yet, but 15-year-old Jules is huddled in a boat, bent against the cold, heading to high school. On a clear, sunny day the trip takes 40 minutes; in stormy weather it can take more than two hours. Her high school is in Ahousaht, a small community on Vancouver Jules celebrates her university graduation with her husband Alex and their son Jackson.

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she’s charged with giving a speech to her fellow students. And not just any speech, but one to inspire, make them laugh and, perhaps, bring tears to their eyes. She manages to do all three by relating the story of the path she took from Hot Springs Cove, baby in hand, to donning the robes of a graduate and valedictorian, a path that would have led somewhere different if it wasn’t for the pivotal moment Island’s west coast, population when she signed up for her ABE. about 1,500. To Jules, who comes More than 20 percent of VIU’s from Hot Springs Cove, population graduates can relate to Jules’ story, 150, it’s practically a metropolis. as they too wouldn’t be where they When she arrives, she’s frozen stiff. are today if it weren’t for ABE. The Sitting in the classroom, she tries to numbers are a vindication of Malaspina’s focus but soon drifts off. The teacher founders who insisted that the college is talking government – federal, must provide opportunities for ‘second- provincial and municipal – but Jules, chance’ education through ABE a member of the Hesquiaht First programs. Don Hubbard, VIU’s 2012 Nation and more familiar with First Distinguished Alumni Award Winner, Nations government, can’t relate. was one of the first students to take “FOr JULES THE ABE PrOgrAM wAS A BrIDgE FrOM BEINg A HIgH SCHOOL DrOPOUT TO BECOMINg A TEACHEr.”

She’s been making the daily trek for advantage of ABE programs in the early three years and, as she enters Grade 1970s. “I’d dropped out of school at 14 11, is tiring of it. The school also has and was working as a heavy equipment another new teacher – they seem to get operator foreman for Hub City Paving in one every year – and Jules can’t relate Nanaimo.” To get a ‘desk job’, he needed to the stream of new faces. Instead, his Grade 12. “I learned firsthand that she daydreams of fishing with her without a proper education opportunities father, preserving blackberries with are limited,” says Hubbard. “But her mother, and her childhood, much once you drop out of high school, it’s of which she spent building forts with difficult to go back. Thanks to ABE other children in her community. In I was able to get my Grade 12 and another year Jules is pregnant. When that opened so many more doors.” her son is born, she drops out of school. For Jules the ABE program was a Flash forward 19 years later. Jules is bridge from being a high school dropout attending the Aboriginal graduation to becoming a teacher. She didn’t stay ceremony at VIU’s Malaspina Theatre. long in Hot Springs Cove. Fleeing an She’s nervous because as valedictorian, unhealthy relationship, she took shelter

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 12 13-02-18 4:48 PM VIU's Adult Basic Education instructors.

at her cousin’s home in Victoria. As the dust settled, Jules realized she wasn’t keen on the work options available to someone with her level of education. But it took her five more years, and the support of her new husband, to get up the nerve to again try her hand at school, signing up for Math 10 and English 11 on VIU’s Nanaimo campus. Within a few months her views on education were radically altered. “For the first time in my life I liked school. I left every class feeling I understood what my instructors were talking about and what they were teaching would benefit me in the real world.” She also felt her ABE teachers treated her like an equal partner, instead of just telling her what to learn. “One of my favourite teachers, Dave Muirhead, told us personal stories, like how he used to ride his motorbike to Gold River. It was a different perspective, picturing Jules thrived in the supportive ABE your teacher on a motorbike. It made environment, getting As and Bs and it seem less like a teacher-student two years later, her Grade 12 diploma. relationship.” Jules felt the emotional She went on to achieve two university support she got from ABE instructors degrees and spent a few months in New and staff was critical. Often they’d check Zealand at a field school. She now has a in with her, listen to her concerns and permanent teaching position at a small make her feel she could keep going. First Nations school in Kyuquot and, Tom Leavitt, VIU’s Chair of Academic using her own experience, inspires her and Career Preparation, says ABE students by bringing an Aboriginal instructors approach teaching with the perspective to the curriculum. In understanding that, “many ABE students fact, her long term career goal is to have negative associations with school. help bring an Aboriginal context For some, it’s so bad they don’t finish. into BC’s education curriculum. This may be due to other events in their For now though, Jules’ day starts life, but it gets wrapped up in their off in front of her home computer. She feelings about school. Even university sips her coffee and sends an email to students who take pre-requisites probably her eldest son, that baby who was born avoided that subject in school because of when Jules was 16. He’s planning to negative associations: for instance, ‘it’s start university in September 2013 at too hard’ or ‘I’m not good at math’.” VIU. Later that morning, after getting To address this, ABE teachers have her two younger children to school, more classroom hours per semester Jules will also be in the classroom, at and strive to make subjects less scary. the front teaching. It’s a life scenario “We also understand adult students are created, in large part, by VIU’s ABE different than high school students. In program which opened the doors for high school when you’re losing students, Jules to take advantage of opportunities they act out. Adults don’t. They’re polite that her 15-year-old self, sitting in the to a fault, almost to the point that if freezing cold on a water taxi, would there are too many heads nodding in never have thought possible. agreement, they probably don’t get it!” 2013 SPrINg/SUMMEr 13

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MUrDErBALL'S MVP

14 : STEVE gErECKE : STEVE PHOTO

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 14 13-02-18 4:48 PM When Trevor hirschfield (ABe ’00; TWo YeArs BBA ’07) WAs 15, he WAs A sTAr plAYer on hockeY And fooTBAll TeAms. AT 16, he WAs lYing on his BAck AT vAncouver generAl hospiTAl Being Told he’d never WAlk AgAin AfTer A devAsTATing AccidenT. ThAnks To The persisTence of duncAn cAmpBell, one of his former recreATionAl TherApisTs, The AccidenT didn’T meAn The end of his involvemenT in sporTs. TodAY hirschfield is The mosT vAluABle plAYer on The cAnAdiAn nATionAl TeAm in one of The ToughesT conTAcT sporTs There is–WheelchAir rugBY, oTherWise knoWn As murderBAll.

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with his boyish good looks, tattooed body and phenomenal sporting ability, Trevor Hirschfield, or as his fellow teammates call him “T-Bone”, is one of the most popular wheelchair rugby players in the world.

After making Canada’s national team Hirschfield’s close friend. “Everywhere shoulder, rolled down the embankment in 2006, he participated in a series of we went they lined up to get his and pinned me underneath.” Because friendly games in Australia. Hirschfield autograph, waiting outside the change they were in a remote location it was pumped to put his skills to the room and our buses.” Hirschfield handled took an hour for help to arrive. test on an international stage. What he the unexpected attention with aplomb, The accident broke Hirschfield’s wasn’t prepared for was the attention he signing autographs and posing for neck and he spent six months at received from hundreds of wheelchair pictures. He also proved he could handle Vancouver’s GF Strong Hospital rugby fans, most of them women. himself just fine on the international learning to live life as a quadriplegic. “It was like he was a rock star,” says stage. Since then he’s been named All Campbell was his recreational Travis Murao, fellow athlete and Star at the 2010 World Wheelchair therapist and believes Hirschfield’s Rugby Championships and awarded attitude, and the unwavering the 2010 Canadian Wheelchair Sports support of his parents, helped him Association Male Athlete of the Year. He through the difficult recovery. was a key reason the Canadian National “Trevor is a real go-getter and boy team brought home medals from two is he stubborn,” says Campbell. “His Paralympics, bronze from Beijing 2008; injury was severe enough that he was silver from London 2012. According offered a motorized wheelchair. I to Campbell, himself a quadriplegic suggested he try a manual wheelchair and one of the founders of wheelchair first. It was tough going, but he stuck it rugby, Hirschfield is the best in the out, even though sometimes he could world in his class. (Players are classified barely push his chair down the hall.” according to their functional level and That determination, or stubbornness, assigned a point value ranging from 0.5, has made Hirschfield one of the the lowest functional level, to 3.5, the top wheelchair rugby players in the highest. Hirschfield is classed as a 1.0.) world. He first tried the sport during Off the court Hirschfield shines too, a ‘Have-a-Go’ day in Victoria, a putting his mischievous side to work as “Bridging the Gap” event organized one of the co-hosts of YouTube show by the BC Wheelchair Sports Trev & Trav Wheelchair Rugby Talk. Association, which gives people the

: KEVIN BOgETTI-SMITH/CANADIAN wHEELCHAIr SPOrTS : KEVIN BOgETTI-SMITH/CANADIAN wHEELCHAIr He’s also starred in two commercials and opportunity to try wheelchair sports.

PHOTO is founding a charity to provide grants “As soon as I rolled onto the court, I to children who can’t afford sporting knew it was for me even though I was Hirschfield with his father, Bob, equipment and fees. Not bad for a guy pretty bad at first,” says Hirschfield. at the opening ceremonies of the just shy of his 30th birthday, especially “Before my accident I loved contact London 2012 Paralympic Games. when you consider a devastating accident sports, and here was a chance to during the August 2000 long weekend get involved again. I also felt I had irrevocably altered the course of his life. something to prove and I knew if “I’d been camping near Sicamous I worked at it, I could be good.” In with friends. We were heading home true Hirschfield style, he set his sights on a logging road and pulled over to high, dedicating himself to making let a truck pass. Our van sunk into the the provincial team. That meant

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PHOTO: KEVIN BOgETTI-SMITH/CANADIAN wHEELCHAIr SPOrTS

travelling from his Parksville home Canada’s national team. His soft-spoken court and felt the energy of the fans, it twice a week to train in Vancouver. demeanor belies a fearless approach and made us want to play that much harder.” His determination paid off as a year competitive edge that’s helped the team Although Hirschfield was disappointed later he met his goal and was part reach the highest level in this demanding to lose the gold to Australia, he of the BC team that went to the sport. “He’s a leader,” says Murao. “He’s recognizes silver is still an achievement. He’s committed four more years to “mY gOAL Is TO BE As gOOd, If nOT BETTEr, THAn Canada’s national team, which means he can use his skills and competitive spirit HIgHEr-funcTIOnIng pLAYErs. durIng THE sEAsOn I to go for gold at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro. Even with that commitment, TrAIn EVErY dAY wHIcH cAn BE mOnOTOnOus And Is he’s making plans for his post-wheelchair ExTrEmELY HArd, BuT fOr mE, IT’s wOrTH IT,” rugby life, fitting studying for his bachelor’s in Business Administration into a grueling training and playing nationals in 2002. In 2004 he made super aggressive on the court and leads schedule which has him on the road for Team Canada’s Development team; by by example, giving his all to every game.” six to eight months a year. One day he 2006 he’d made the Top 12 roster. According to Campbell, Hirschfield plans to go into public relations and, as “My goal is to be as good, if not has an in depth understanding of the he’s newly engaged to Lisa Walker, settle better, than higher-functioning game’s strategies, knowing how to be down and raise a family. According to players. During the season I train in the right place at the right time. Murao it doesn’t matter what Hirschfield every day which can be monotonous “He also has a great understanding does. His determination and strong and is extremely hard, but for me, it’s of his body’s abilities and how to use work ethic will ensure he’s successful worth it,” says Hirschfield. “I’m really those abilities to the best advantage.” whatever he puts his mind to. For now, competitive. When I’m playing, I’m The highlight of 2012 was representing his legions of fans are thankful they’ll get playing to win and focused on doing Canada at the London Paralympics. “It another four years of watching T-bone what it takes to beat the other team.” was an incredible feeling. Everyone was so Hirschfield perfecting his style, both on Today, Hirschfield is a key player on supportive and when we rolled onto the and off the wheelchair rugby court.

2013 SPrINg/SUMMEr 17

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 17 13-02-18 4:48 PM featurecampus news WHAT’S NEW AT VIU?

a Recipe foR app SucceSS

MICHAEL PENg (BSC IN COMPUTINg SCIENCE ’10) HAS COMBINED TwO OF HIS PASSIONS, COMPUTErS AND grEAT FOOD, TO ESTABLISH A CArEEr IN THE CUTTINg-EDgE wOrLD OF SMArTPHONE APPS. OUT OF A SMALL OFFICE IN NANAIMO’S DOwNTOwN COrE, HE AND HIS PArTNErS ANDrEw wALKEr AND MArTA gOLIANEK, HAVE CrEATED BONAPPIE, A HOT NEw App wHIcH ALLOws HungrY smArTpHOnE usErs TO quIckLY pInpOInT THE BEsT pLAcE TO sATIsfY THEIr fOOd crAVIngs.

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Two features set BonAppie apart from struggled to adapt to Canada’s food other foodie apps. First, it focuses on culture, and, of course, there was the independent restaurants. “Chain res- language barrier. “I thought I knew how taurants are easy to find and you know to say ‘cat’ but I was pronouncing it what they’re serving,” explains Peng. ‘kate’, so no one could understand me.” Over the next few years, Peng learned “BonAppie helps people discover great English fluently and decided to continue independent restaurants and helps as an international student at VIU. To those restaurants, which don’t have a this day though, he sees himself with one huge marketing budget, access a wider foot in Taiwan and the other in Canada, market.” The other feature is the app not completely fitting in anywhere. allows people to peruse user-friendly “I’m a fence sitter, not completely online menus. “This is key, because comfortable in either country because most people choose a restaurant based experiences from both affect who on the menu.” I am. I also tend to make friends with others who have international The evidence suggests the team experience. Someone who’s entrenched has a winning recipe for a foodie app. in one culture can’t relate to someone When BonAppie debuted in July 2011 who’s caught between two.” it immediately hit iTunes’ ‘Top 100’ One reason Peng has been so successful list. Online reviews are overwhelmingly in his chosen career, though, is because positive and, in November 2012, the he is a ‘fence sitter’, with experiences BonAppie team won the Innovation from Taiwan and Canada influencing Island Innovative Start-up of the his life’s path. For example, it’s no Year Award. It sounds like a fairy- accident he co-founded a foodie app. tale story of young, computer savvy He’s obsessed with great food, having entrepreneurs, making a splash in a spent his formative years in Taipei new knowledge-based industry. But consuming mouth-watering dishes fairy tales usually involve a long, from around the Asian sub-continent.

“TO THIs dAY THOugH, HE sEEs HImsELf wITH OnE fOOT In TAIwAn And THE OTHEr In cAnAdA, nEVEr cOmpLETELY fITTIng In AnYwHErE.”

sometimes challenging journey, and “Eating out is an important part of our for Peng this one is no exception. culture. Our family got together once His journey started thousands of a week at a local restaurant where we’d miles away in Taipei, Taiwan, where spend the afternoon sharing great food he was born and raised. When he hit and gossip.” His favourite dishes include his teenage years, his parents realized marinated squid and Beef Noodle Soup. their inquisitive son wasn’t conforming “There are so many spices in the soup to Taipei’s rigid school system, which the broth is a deep orange colour; the demanded students sit quietly and learn beef is so tender it melts in your mouth lessons verbatim. They decided to send and the noodles are always fresh, made him abroad, and in 1998, a 14-year-old that day. There’s nothing like it here.” Peng found himself starting Grade 9 His love of computer software also at Lake Cowichan Senior Secondary. has its roots in his childhood. He was It was a shocking experience. Taipei given a personal computer at age 12 was a city of 2.5 million people; Lake and spent hours poring over ‘how- Cowichan had 3,000 residents. Peng to’ books, trying to get the primitive

2013 SPrINg/SUMMEr 19

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“I HAVE TO LIVE wHErE FAILUrE IS AN OPTION BEcAusE In mY IndusTrY, InnOVATIOn Is kEY.”

interface to respond, enjoying the months, they launched BonAppie in June experience so much he decided he wanted 2011. “We realized lots of people have to work with computer software. smartphones, so we redesigned the app The only reason he realized that for them, with the idea of helping small goal was because he moved to Canada. restaurants reach a wider audience.” “The computing industry is innovative. BonAppie was a hit, although success, There are false starts as people try new by design, has been slow and steady. technology. In North America that’s They’ve carefully avoided app design okay – you learn from your mistakes pitfalls like expanding too quickly or and try again. In Taiwan, failure isn’t ‘feature creep’ - stuffing as many features okay so it’s difficult to be innovative. into an app until it’s overwhelming for Taiwan’s approach allows for important users. Instead they’ve listened to their historical and cultural traditions to clients’ feedback and only made changes continue, which is good. But I have to if they fit with BonAppie’s purpose live where failure is an option because – to connect users with great food. in my industry, innovation is key.” The slow and steady approach has Peng speaks from experience. His first paid off. The team has a steady revenue foray into designing apps was a dismal stream in the mobile version and are failure. He and his partners spent seven focusing on launching a web version months designing an iPad app that as part of BonAppie 2.0, in Spring high-end restaurants could use in lieu of 2013. Their success means that for now traditional menus. Market research with Peng’s feet will be mostly in Canada. Vancouver restaurants showed there was But he’ll still go home periodically if interest, but when the team crunched only to reconnect with his Taiwanese numbers they realized it wasn’t viable, roots, his family and friends and with a huge initial investment needed indulge his craving for that unbeatable and only a niche market to support it. Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup. “I was really depressed when we realized it wouldn’t work. I didn’t eat or sleep for 24 hours; didn’t talk to anyone for a week. But, we finally met to figure out what to do and after a lot of brain-storming, had an epiphany.” Working around the clock for three

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 20 13-02-18 4:48 PM alumni Graduates are makinG a difference here, in view there and everywhere.

pHOTO: gEOffrEY knOT

THE VULTUrE vulture named Judge Dredd; JD for the end was attached to JD’s perch. He short. “Turkey vultures,” Ellison said, couldn’t get it from the ground or by wHISPErEr “in addition to being very smart, are reaching down off his perch. He figured also quite social.” To get JD to accept out he could get the meat by pulling For as long as she could remember her as leader, she had to work her way the string up toward him. Ellison said Annie Ellison (BSc ’12) had wanted up from the bottom of the vulture pack, the test shows, intelligence-wise, turkey to be a marine biologist and work almost becoming, in her words, a ‘vulture vultures are in the company of crows with fish. no animals fascinated her whisperer’. Turkey vultures can read and ravens, which are considered highly- more, especially not birds. “I thought body language, so Ellison had to calmly intelligent. In August 2012, Ellison birds were so lame,” she said. But and quickly approach JD and gently presented her research at the North all of that changed when she got a displace him from his perch. When he American Ornithological Conference came back to regain his position, Ellison in Vancouver to high acclaim. summer job at the pacific northwest stood her ground, showing JD that spot In a strange twist of fate, when Ellison raptors, a birds of prey education centre in Duncan, between third and fourth year university. “SHE BECAME THE FIrST PErSON EVEr She dove in, quickly learning how to handle the huge raptors, and eventually TO rEsEArcH A TurkEY VuLTurE’s LEVEL she was given an opportunity to travel to the Vancouver Aquarium OF INTELLIgENCE.” with other handlers to lead a variety of hawks, a bald eagle and a turkey was hers. After a few repetitions, JD graduated from VIU, she was offered vulture in flying demonstrations for conceded and stopped challenging her. two Master’s positions – one at Simon crowds of 400 spectators. It wasn’t long The experience changed Ellison’s Fraser University (SFU) where she before Ellison’s indifference towards life. When she started her final year at could research raptors; the other at the birds turned to sheer enthusiasm. VIU she switched her research focus University of British Columbia (UBC) “When you’re holding a hawk or from fish to raptors and in doing so to do marine-related research. The UBC flying an eagle, it’s so awesome to see this became the first person ever to research offer meant she could fulfill her life-long bird coming towards you, talons out. a turkey vulture’s level of intelligence. dream of becoming a marine biologist, There’s something so incredible about She worked with JD, using a problem- but Ellison chose SFU. JD and the them, you can’t help but get drawn in.” solving strategy to test his vulture raptors had won her over and now her Her personal favourite was a turkey smarts. A string with a piece of meat on dreams lie firmly with the birds.

2013 SPrINg/SUMMEr 21

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 21 13-02-18 4:48 PM alumni in view

as there were gang wars nearby. The emergency room had two battered stretchers in it and medical supplies scattered haphazardly on the counters. Dryden had to learn within hours how to provide the best care with minimal resources, but, thriving in the stressful conditions she rose to the challenge. Through a translator, she also worked closely with the Haitian staff who were eager to learn new diagnostic and treatment techniques from her. There were some situations that she would rarely, if ever, have faced in Canada. “Many children suffered from malnutrition and there were lots of patients with head traumas because they’d fallen off bikes or motorbikes and hadn’t been wearing helmets.” She also had to adapt to cultural PHOTO: NANAIMO & DISTrICT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION differences. Some, like the fact families stayed with patients around the clock, before venturing abroad for work. she found touching. Others were FOr THE LOVE OF “The organizations you travel more difficult to take. “One day an wOrKINg ABrOAD overseas with invest a lot of time and extremely sick infant was brought in. money in their projects, so I wanted It was clear he wasn’t going to make to make sure I could give them my it, but in Canada our instinct is to After graduating from high school Lau- best.” The work experience paid off, do whatever possible to try and save a ren (MacNeill) Dryden (BSc in Nursing not least because she discovered some life. The Haitian staff felt differently. ’08) spent a few years backpacking of her colleagues shared her interest They’re faced with death much more in working abroad. In June 2012 she often than we are in Canada and have around the world, exploring far-flung applied with her colleagues to an aid limited resources so they base decisions countries like Thailand and Borneo. During that time an idea crystalized in her mind that she wanted a career “HAITI's EArTHquAkE wAs OVEr TwO YEArs AgO, that would allow her to work overseas and continue to indulge her passion BuT IT LOOkEd LIkE IT HAppEnEd YEsTErdAY.” for travelling. After she hung up her backpack to pursue post-secondary organization called Project Medishare, on practicality rather than emotion. education she knew exactly what to spend a week in Haiti’s only Critical They knew that even if we could program to take – nursing. Care and Trauma Hospital to provide, resuscitate the baby, they wouldn’t “Nurses are in demand all over “life-saving care to Haiti’s sickest adults, be able to continue treatment.” the world. I also thrive in stressful children and premature infants.” The experience taught her a lot environments so I knew nursing would Dryden wasn’t prepared for what about working in a foreign country and be a great fit for me.” After finishing awaited her. “The earthquake was confirmed that her goal of pursuing a her nursing degree at VIU she took over two years ago, but it looked like career she could take abroad was sound. specialized training in emergency nursing it happened yesterday. There were In fact, she’s already thinking about and then landed a job at Nanaimo ruined buildings everywhere and where else she’d like to go, and the Regional General Hospital’s emergency thousands of people were still displaced only thing she’d change, is that next room where she decided to spend a and living in huge tent cities.” The time, she wants to stay longer. few years getting concrete experience hospital had armed guards outside

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For Litke it’s a dream job. He sees that maybe a dozen people have been BLAzINg A the work as a return to pure science – there in the history of the world.” incorruptible – and that sits well with It doesn’t mean that Litke is finished MEANINgFUL his moral compass. It also helps he gets blazing new careers for himself, though. CArEEr PATH to indulge his penchant for blazing For him the road ahead means fanning of-the-beaten-track trails. The data he the spark started at VIU, firing him needs for his work is gathered at 32 snow up to find new ways to make a positive when he goes on a hike, Tony Litke (BA survey stations scattered around some impact. “When I’m driving home at the in global Studies ’06; Advanced Dipl. in gIS Application ’08) likes to blaze through the woods. “My wife calls this a ‘Tony walk’,” he said. “And the 'Tony walk' isn’t on a trail.”

It’s an approach Litke takes to many aspects in his life. At VIU, he didn’t follow one educational track, preferring to dabble in a breadth of classes including political science, geography, global studies, mathematics and economics. His career path has been similar, with Litke trying his hand in a variety of fields – retail, banking, fish farming, even satiating his passion for cycling at a BMX distribution company. It was all in an attempt to fulfill his desire, honed while taking Global Studies courses at VIU, to pursue work that genuinely contributes to the common good. For a long time he was having trouble finding work that fit. “All of the positions seemed solely concerned with their bottom line, so I decided to return to VIU for the Advanced Diploma in GIS Applications, thinking I might have more options combining my first degree with a marketable technical skill.” His decision paid off as he eventually landed a job as a Snow Networks Technician with BC’s Ministry of Environment. Now he’s responsible for measuring BC’s snow pack and producing data that can be critical to of BC’s highest mountains. To get it, end of the day, I always ask myself, ‘Do keeping people safe by forecasting river he’s helicoptered up to the stations and, I actually believe in what I’m doing?” overflows and floods and producing back- during winter, hops on a snowmobile or, The second the answer to that question is country advisories. He also collects data in true Litke style, snowshoes through ‘no’ Litke will be on the move again. that BC Hydro uses to monitor power some of the most remote places on generation as well as data that builds earth. At one station he and his partner an understanding of climate science. stumbled across a 100-year-old survey “We measure snowfall and rainfall marker for the Alberta/BC border. which allows scientists to examine “You’re in a place no one even hikes how the precipitation changes from to,” Litke said. “At some sites you can year-to-year and season-to-season.” stand there and say with confidence 2013 SPrINg/SUMMEr 23

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 23 13-02-18 4:49 PM LET us knOw ABOuT YOur nEw jOB, prOmOTIOn, class notes wEddIng, fAmILY AddITIOn, TrAVELs Or furTHEr ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AT [email protected].

1970s Ian Douglas (Two Years of Commerce degree ’76) completed his BA in Commerce at UBC in 1980. He’s been an Investment Advisor since 1985 and today is Vice President with Raymond James in Nanaimo. Douglas married his wife Carolyn in 1987 and they have two pHOTO: gArY pETErs children in university taking Commerce and Computer Science. Douglas loves the outdoors and spends his free time hiking, outrigger canoeing and playing tennis.

1990s www.patricephotography.ca | ISLAND wEDDINg PHOTOgrAPHEr : VANCOUVEr

In 2004, after working as a hairdresser PHOTO for many years, Dawn Doiron Travis Rogers (Hairdressing Cert. ’96; BSc in Kairat Ibrayev (ESL Academic Prep Nursing ’07) returned to VIU in V ’05; Post-degree Dipl. in Business 2004 to pursue her nursing degree. Studies ’06) was the first student She now works at Nanaimo Regional from Kazakhstan to attend VIU. He General Hospital. Doiron has one now works in Kazakhstan as a Lead child who is four years old. Analyst for BG-Group, a British oil and gas company. In 2009 he got 2000s married and he and his wife recently Daniel Anderson (BA in Business celebrated the birth of a baby girl. Management ’07) has been working for the city of Calgary in a variety Travis Rogers (One Year Carpentry ’09) of roles most recently in an asset was married on September 22, 2012 management accounting role with the to Kayla Rogers. They are currently water works department. In his spare living in Nanaimo where Rogers owns time he likes playing golf and hockey. his own contracting business called TR Contracting and does hardwood floors. In January 2013 Dale Hunt (BA in First Nation Studies ’02) took on a new Laurel Sliskovic (BA in Tourism position as Aboriginal Coordinator, Management major in Recreation’02; Returning Home Demonstration Project. MA in Sustainable Leisure Management ’12) The project is a Tri-partite agreement was awarded the 2012 Pat Corbett between the Vancouver Island Health Leadership Award, given to individuals Authority, First Nations Health Authority who have demonstrated leadership in and Child Health BC. It’s the first the Tourism and Leisure industries. She PHOTO: VINCENT L. CHAN project of its kind in BC and Hunt will was recognized for her dedication to be helping Aboriginal families, whose the industry through her employment children have been discharged from BC and volunteer work as well as her Children’s Hospital, navigate healthcare enthusiasm and passion for leadership resources after they return home to and tourism. Since 2001 she’s been the central-north Vancouver Island. working at Nanaimo’s Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV Park, but moved to Campbell River in January 2013 to explore opportunities on the north end of the island. 24

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Keri Montgomery (BA Major in Anthropology & Minor in Psychology ’00) has been consumed by wanderlust since she was a child and her studies in Anthropology at VIU fuelled her passion. During the past 15 years she’s travelled to more than 50 countries on six continents. For eight years she was an international tour leader for Adventures Abroad and then worked as Operations Manager for Discover Canada Tours before co- Derek van Pel (BSc ’06) recently founding Finisterra Travel, a company defended his PhD at the University of Keri Montgomery at one of her favourite places on that specializes in providing off-the- British Columbia. His research focused earth, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. beaten-path adventures to global on using the genetics of the budding destinations. www.finisterra.ca yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to identify new anticancer targets and to develop In December of 2012 Josh Nychuk new, broad-spectrum treatments for (Culinary Arts ’02; ITAS Internet cancer. In January 2013, he started a job Essentials Cert ’05; ITAS Digital as a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre Media Technologies Dipl. ’06; Applied for Drug Research and Development in Arts Graphics Dipl. ’08) spent a few Vancouver, where he’ll be developing weeks in Helsinki, Finland after being tools to identify new drugs to combat a chosen to be one of 10 Canadian variety of diseases. designers to participate in the Design and Architecture Trade Program Since graduating, Simon Wainwright with Scandinavian designers. The (Business Management Dipl. program gives Canadian designers and Marketing ’05; BBA ’06) has been architects an opportunity to create focused on real estate appraisal. After professional links with their counterparts articling at a local appraisal firm for in Denmark, Sweden or Finland. a number of years, he received his Nychuk’s program was an exchange commercial appraisal designation with Finnish designers and during the through the Appraisal Institute of three weeks he participated in seminars, Canada. Currently he’s a Partner site and studio visits, networking and Director at Cunningham events and one-on-one meetings. & Rivard Appraisals Ltd.

Dustin van Gerven (BA in English ’05; Jenna Wait (ABT Computing/ BA in Psychology ’10) recently Accounting Assistant Cert. ’05) completed an MSc in Experimental is a Bookkeeper and Office Cognitive Neuropsychology at Administrator at Classic Home UVic. In August 2012 he began Improvements in Nanaimo. his doctoral research at UVic. Van Gerven was married in 2011 and Shira Windecker-Frano (BA in has a 17 month old baby boy. English ’02; BEd ’04) moved to Maple Ridge in June 2012, with her husband Marek Frano (BA in Business ’01) and two year old daughter Yelaina. After working as a teacher in Alberta, Windecker-Frano discovered a passion for writing and photography and now works as a freelancer in both fields (www.shirawindecker.blogspot.com). Frano works for the BC Ambulance PHOTO: SHIrA wINDECKEr-FrANO Service as an Advanced Care Paramedic. 2013 SPrINg/SUMMEr 25

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 25 13-02-18 4:49 PM class notes

2010s James Gibson (Dipl. in fine Arts, Theatre ’12) transferred into the BFA program at UVic in Fall 2012 and is continuing his professional acting career auditioning for and acting in plays whenever he gets the opportunity.

PHOTO: LUANNA BOwEN 2012

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In September 2012, after being awarded a Natural Science and Engineering Research Council scholarship, Megan Willis (BSc in Chemistry ’12) started a PhD at the top Environmental Chemistry program in Canada at the University of Toronto. Her PhD research is examining the fate and distribution of black carbon aerosols (soot particles) in the atmosphere, contaminants that effect climate and human health.

In August 2012 Megan Yim (BA in Rick Merriman (RMOT Natural Psychology ’10) successfully defended Resource Protection Degree ’11) splits her Master’s thesis in experimental his time between two careers. During the neuropsychology which examined how summer he’s a Conservation Technician people learn to navigate in a virtual with the Vancouver Island Marmot environment. In September 2012 she Recovery Program assisting in the started working at Applied Brain and recovery and monitoring of this unique Vision Sciences, an EEG data analysis Canadian species. In the fall and winter company and also started a PhD program he works in the water division of the at UVic, where she’ll be identifying the Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural electrophysiological correlates of decision Resource Operations as a Resource making in regards to spatial navigation Technologist helping with the Dam or, in layman’s terms, researching how Safety Program. He spends his spare people decide which navigation strategy time fishing, hunting and hiking. to use to reach a specific location.

2013 SPrINg/SUMMEr 27

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 27 13-02-18 4:49 PM class notes campus news WHAT’S NEW AT VIU? A ‘pack’ of VIU education grads took a costumed spin on their motorbikes around the Yangtze Delta about 70km southwest of Shanghai in China. The alumni are all teaching at the Sino- Canada High School. from left to right Rory Peffers (BA ’10; BEd ’12) in green; James Dodd (BA ’10; BEd ’12) in green, fellow teacher in panda outfit; Casey Westergaard (BA ’10; BEd ’12) in orange; Ross MacKinnon (BA ’10; BEd ’12) in orange; fellow teacher also in orange.

Support VIU students when buying or selling a house

When VIU alumni, staff, faculty or students buy or sell a home with Nanaimo Realtors and VIU alumni Rob Grey (Arts ‘83) or Dave Hammond (Business ‘72), they’ll donate 25% of their commission to support scholarships and bursaries for VIU students.

For more information contact: David Forrester, Alumni Relations Manager, 250.740.6214 or [email protected]

*This program is not intended to solicit property already listed.

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 28 13-02-18 4:49 PM Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 29

NEW Listing (250) 713-3322|1-800836-3311 View Our Listings www.robgrey.com/mobile If youare consideringBuyingorSellingRealEstatein 5573 NortonRoad,NanaimoBC. producing real estateteams.Robisamemberofthe VIUFoundationBoard, volunteeringtoraisemoney Rob Grey andhisteamare oneofNanaimo’s top Nanaimo thencontactRobGrey andhisteam to supportVIUandit’s students. Rob Grey PersonalRealEstateCorporation Rob Grey of professionals toassistyou. Legal 2Bedroom Suite [email protected] Magnificent Finishing Private Yard Ocean View 13-02-18 4:49PM www.robgrey.com home stretch

DIFFErENT FACES. DIFFErENT VOICES.

THE EVOLUTION OF continue to swirl through the minds actual words in Testament are bleak and of people across Canada and challenge disconcerting. But the play of words A MASTEr POET their perspectives on the world. across the page, the upbeat rhythms One of the first conventions he played and the different voices suggest that Dennis Lee’s poetry – both his adult with was voice, realizing he could affect within that dark vision, Lee harbours a and children’s work – has garnered him the tone, rhythm and meaning of a small belief there’s hope for the future. numerous accolades including the Order poem by using more than one voice. It’s a challenging read, but readers who “At first I used two contrasting voices allow Lee’s poetics – the voices, syntax of Canada and the governor general’s such as a loud stentorian tone with a and rhythms – to weave through them Medal. In 2001 he became Toronto’s soft, more musing voice. Then I started can sense the invitation to come in, come first poet Laureate and in 2012, VIu included more voices, or had them in and experience the creative talents awarded Lee the 2012 gustafson Trust hopping over one another, and discovered of one of Canada’s most iconic poets. Chair of Poetry, an annual trust estab- you could move poetry from place to lished in 1999 with the goal of advanc- place, by going from voice to voice.” ing Canadian poetry and supporting He then played with poetic lines, deserving poets. In October 2012, Lee making them “dance across the page” visited VIU to share the evolution of his by indenting them in different ways and poetics and how he’s spent a lifetime leaving large gaps between words. This creating ways of communicating ideas allowed him to shape the rhythm in new that belie poetic tradition and make ways. He also started paying attention to the words at the end of a line, noting people of all ages sit up and listen. the choice could either pull readers ahead or make them pause. Lee was delighted That evolution began when Lee, as with these new conventions, believing a young, mostly unpublished poet, he’d spend the rest of his life exploring was trying to shoe-horn his ideas into how to use them to communicate ideas. traditional forms of poetry, producing, Then he started writing poems in his words, “awful stuff”. It wasn’t about the environmental destruction until he stopped following tradition he was witnessing and something that something profound happened. frightening happened. “Words started “When I relinquished the colonial splaying open on the page, breaking wrap of writing, I discovered there was an apart and then reforming into new, unexpected energy in the words, I call it unrecognizable words.” It was a shocking an ‘undermusic’. I sat and listened to the experience, but he knew enough to glide and whoosh of the words as they follow the ‘undermusic’ of the words. came through me onto the page.” The It took a few years to understand he difference in Lee’s work was immediate. was channeling the destructive forces His words and ideas took on the life and battling the environment and the meaning he’d been unable to capture words were reacting to that force. using traditional poetic conventions. For some, Testament, the work OPPOSITE PAgE:

The experience opened him up to a that evolved from this experience, is a TAKEN FrOM TESTAMENT: POEMS 2000 – 2011 lifetime of developing poetic conventions depressing lament over environmental BY dEnnIs LEE. pErmIssIOn grAnTEd BY www. HOUSEOFANANSI.COM. ALL rIgHTS rESErVED. that would allow the ‘undermusic’ of the destruction. In reality, it’s a testament to ExcErpT frOm THE IcE crEAm sTOrE. TExT cOpYrIgHT words to flow through him and create a master poet using poetic conventions © 1991 BY dEnnIs LEE. ILLusTrATIOns cOpYrIgHT © award-winning adult and children’s developed over a lifetime to embed 1991 BY dAVId mcpHAIL. puBLIsHEd BY HArpErcOLLIns PUBLISHErS LTD. ALL rIgHTS rESErVED. work, with words and rhythms that layers of meaning in his works. The

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 30 13-02-18 4:49 PM Excerpts from Testament Excerpts from The Ice Cream Store

Home The Ice Cream Store Last call for a trashable planet, Oh, the kids around the block are like an bring it on home. Ice cream store, Bring it on sotto, bring it on ’Cause there’s chocolate, and vanilla, shockabye. Bring it on oil- And there’s maple and there’s more, wise, soilwise, waterwise, methuselah – memory holes in the phyla, and And there’s butterscotch and orange— bring it on home. Yes, there’s flavours by the score; And the kids around the block are like an (If home still Ice cream store! has a home. If roots still grope for rootedness. If butcherama, The Secret Place botcherama, wide-screen There’s a place I go, inside myself, world has not yet where nobody else can be, metamulched what is.) And none of my friends can tell it’s there— Nobody knows but me. And farfew the habitat heroes, bring it on AwOL. It’s hard to explain the way it feels, Bring it on oilwork, soilwork, patchwork, be- Or even where I go. gin again – through It isn’t a place in time or space, plagues of our fathers, blue But once I’m there, I know. culpa. And bring it on, bring it on home. It’s tiny, it’s shiny, it can’t be seen, But it’s big as the sky at night … I try to explain and it hurts my brain, asif But once I’m there, it’s right. As if a day more diurnal, a night more There’s a place I know inside myself, maternal, a planet more And it’s neither big nor small, chockfull of plenum & wonders still dawdled ex And whenever I go, it feels as though mammary/machina/magica, I never left at all. poised for a last-real comeback. 2013 SPrINg/SUMMEr 31

Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 31 13-02-18 4:49 PM Journey_spr13_pr5.indd 32 13-02-18 4:49 PM