Vancouver on the eve of the Winter Olympics
February 5, 2010 by mark · Leave a Comment
As the countdown for the Winter Olympics went from weeks to days, Kwantlen journalism students spent Wednesday on the streets of Vancouver, capturing images of the city. They went out to explore four different themes: display, excitement, disruption and dissent. The results — more than 80 photos — are presented in the following four slideshows.
Benefit raises funds, First Nation awareness
November 20, 2009 by Justin Langille · Leave a Comment
You read it, hear it and speak it every day if you’re a student here, but you might not know what Kwantlen means.
The name of the university is also the name of the Kwantlen First Nation, which was the largest first nation in the Fraser Valley in the mid-19th century, according to the Kwantlen First Nation website.
In the Halq’emeylem language, spoken by the Sto:lo people, the larger band council that it belongs to, Kwantlen means Tireless Runner. That’s also the title of a scholarship given to Kwantlen First Nations students who display financial need, but also contribute to their local First Nations communities.
On Friday, Nov. 13, Kwantlen’s First Nations co-ordinators office hosted a silent auction and dinner benefit to raise scholarship funds for the  award and celebrate First Nations culture. Reporter Justin Langille was there to talk to event organizers and watch attendees bid for a variety of literature, crafts and fine art donated by supporters.
“We’re very pleased with how it turned out. I was overwhelmed with the silent auction,†said Barb Gorman, administrative assistant for educational transitions and aboriginal initiatives. Almost 100 people gathered for the event and nearly $ 5,000 was raised from bidding wars for carved masks, prints, paintings and weavings, according to Gorman.
Approximately 150 students identify themselves as aboriginal at Kwantlen, but about 360 students are enrolled at all Kwantlen campuses, according to Marylin Waithman, director of educational transitions and aboriginal initiatives at Kwantlen. “Our goal is to significantly increase the number of aboriginal students who attend school here,†Waithman said.
A bidder contemplates competing for a drum with a painted eagle design, donated by Emily Carr University.
Along with the auction, patrons were treated to traditional dancing and a gourmet meal of aboriginal foods. The event was the first fundraiser for the Tireless Runner award since 2006. Every year, the award provides three $750 scholarships to aboriginal students who are in financial need and are active in First Nations communities.
“Our people stand so proud, just for the mere fact that we have survived for so long,†Lekeyton Antone, a member of the Kwantlen First Nation, told the crowd before a dinner of smoked salmon began.“ We’re also trying to make sure that our next generations coming have a better way than we did. It’s all about people working together and it’s all about who we are and what our beliefs are.â€
Students down milk for haunted house tickets
October 14, 2009 by Jacob Zinn · Leave a Comment
Three Kwantlen students from the Cloverdale campus got more than enough calcium Tuesday in the school’s third milk-drinking competition.
Bryan Barker, Jeremy Johnson and Mike Kloeble each drank a two-litre carton of skim milk, competing for two tickets to the Potter’s House of Horrors in Surrey.
A small crowd of students cheered them on outside the cafeteria as the contest took place during the lunch hour..
While drinking milk as fast as they could, Mike Kloeble, Jeremy Johnson and Bryan Barker wore garbage bags to keep from spilling on themselves. (Jacob Zinn photo)
It was bottoms up for Kloeble as he tilted the carton back and chugged to keep up with the contestants next to him. (Jacob Zinn photo)
Johnson had some trouble stomaching the milk. He later dropped out of the competition. (Jacob Zinn photo)
For finishing his carton first, Barker received two tickets to the Potter’s House of Horrors. (Jacob Zinn photo)
Kloeble, who placed second, won a four-litre jug of chocolate milk. All three received KSA water bottles. (Jacob Zinn photo)
Green-thumbed students give back through toil and soil
October 8, 2009 by Mitch Thompson · 4 Comments
Taking inspiration from the popular show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” Kwantlen Horticulture students remodeled the yards of a deserving Coquitlam family, the Yules. The students were just one part of the renovations, with a group called the Home Team completely remodeling the inside of the house.
This is the third year that the department has partnered with the Home Team. See the full story in Abby Wiseman’s article, which follows the photos.
Jared White puts down a piece of sod in the backyard. Sod is a strip of grass and soil used to quickly create lawns. (Mitch Thompson photo)
Emily Balzer and Sam Keefer carry in a piece of the new swing set. (Mitch Thompson photo)
Keefer secures the ladder that will lead up to a new wooden playhouse for the children. The house was donated to the family by the Vancouver Golf Club. (Mitch Thompson photo)
With barely half an hour to go before the reveal, Alyssa Chuback and Kasia Kilner quickly plant one of two new trees for the backyard. (Mitch Thompson photo)
Adam Graham lends a hand to the carpenter by hammering the final section of fence into place. (Mitch Thompson photo)
The littlest Yule takes her first ride on her new swing set. The entire family was stunned by the work of the Kwantlen Horticulture students. (Mitch Thompson photo)
By Abby Wiseman
Kwantlen horticulture students got the opportunity to get out of the classroom and put their lessons to practical use last weekend.
While Cornerstone Community Church members were renovating the home of the Yule family in Coquitlam, Kwantlen’s students designed and landscaped the backyard.
This is the third year Kwantlen students have worked with the church and the second time student Alyssa Chuback has been part of the church’s Home Team project.
“Giving back to someone who has given a lot is very rewarding, and it makes you feel good about yourself,†Chuback said.
Stan Kazymerchyk, turfgrass management instructor, feels the project is good for the students, who not only get to put their knowledge to practical use, but also get a rewarding experience, saying the students learn how “to help people, how to be people.â€
The 13 students worked for two days to create a yard for the Yule family. Sunday the renovated house and yard was revealed to the family.
Homeowner Brian Yule was overwhelmed by the changes, saying that he was lost for words.
“Thank you all so much. Beautiful people, beautiful people,†Yule said.
Kazymerchyk hopes to continue getting his students involved in The Home Project for years to come.
“It would be tough to turn down,†Kazymerchyk said.
Each year, the church chooses a family in need and carries out a complete home renovation.
Getting a career boost
March 4, 2009 by Keira Simmons · Leave a Comment
Wednesday it was Richmond and Thursday it’s the turn of Surrey as employers ranging from health care centres to Canada’s intelligence agency set up shop for the annual Career Fair. Here’s what it looked like at Richmond, earlier this week.
Students and employers gather in the Richmond campus rotunda for Career Day on Wednesday March 4.
The YMCA was one of the many employers that visited the Richmond campus for Career Day, looking for students interested in both full-time and volunteer positions.
Sue Sparlin gives Daniel Lin information on the Boucher Institute for Natropathic Medacine.
Kwantlen students Crishna Delleva and Shirley Chan explore their career options in the Kwantlen Richmond campus rotunda.
Mike Babcock from the Canadian Navy, recruits Kwantlen students in the Conference Center at the Richmond campus
Peter Chan looks into employment with the Canadian Security Intelligence Services. Chan graduated from Kwantlen five years ago and is now the owner of a small business.
Opening the doors
March 2, 2009 by Nick Major · Leave a Comment
Kwantlen Polytechnic University put its Surrey campus and its programs on shows for two days (Feb. 27 and 28), allowing the community to take a look and potential students to sound our instructors in the full range of the university’s programs. Reporter Nick Major snapped some photos of the event.
Two masonry students show off their craft in the Trades tent at Kwantlen's Big Big Open House.
Nursing instructors demonstrate one of the robots used to train student nurses. The robots are designed to be as life-like as possible, with a simulated breath, pulse and bowel sounds.
The Big Big Open House, held at Kwantlen's Surrey campus, was advertised with much fanfare.
The School of Horticulture was giving away free organic cucumbers and lettuce during the Open House.
Watch the birdies
November 18, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Reporters Rachelle Ashe and Alexander Nkrumah spent part of their weekend watching Kwantlen’s best badminton players face-off against collegiate competition from through the weekend. The slideshow below captures some of the action; their coverage is here.
Scenes from a tournament
October 20, 2008 by Sandy Buemann · 1 Comment
The Kwantlen eagles men’s basketball team, in anticipation of the latest college season, has been sharpening its skills in tournaments. Reporter/photographer Sandy Buemann was at Douglas College Saturday, Oct. 18, as the Eagles took on Camosun College (they lost, 75-59) and brought back these images.
Omid Davani gets tangled with a teammate as he leaps for the ball as the Kwantlen Eagles play Camosun College on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Players' eyes are glued to the ball as a lone fan watches from the bleachers.
Guard Omid Davani dribbles the ball up the court before being challenged by Kamal Vaid, a forward for the Camosun Chargers.
Devon Carney, a first-year Eagles guard, meets his number match as both battle for possession for the ball during Saturday’s game.
The Kwantlen Eagles convene and listen to head coach Bernie Love during a time-out.
Taking it to the streets
October 8, 2008 by David Pires · Leave a Comment
Reporter David Pires was on his way to a soccer game when something else broke out — an exuberant, street-smart demonstration in favour of public play in public spaces.
Jammin’
September 28, 2008 by Alicia-Rae Light · Leave a Comment
They ripped it up in Cloverdale Friday, at one of the biggest KSA-sponsored events of the semester. Kwantlen students and other music fans turned out for headliners Sloan, Daniel Wesley and Ten Second Epic — and other bands — at the all-ages event. We’ll be adding to our coverage over the next few days. To start, here’s a photographic look at some what happened.
Ten Second Epic's guitarist rocks out on stage for the band's final song of the evening. (Alicia-Rae Light photo)
The crowd screams as Sloan finally arrives on stage. (Alicia-Rae Light photo)
Nick Goy, lead vocalist of alternative rock band Exit 200, sings his heart out for fans. (Cori Alfreds photo)
Twelve-year-old Mishel Salum of Childsplay assures the crowd that the future of rock’n’roll most definitely isn’t at stake. (Cori Alfreds photo)
Sloan plays the final act of the evening, concluding a successful third annual Cram Jam. (Nick Major photo)
Local twin sisters from Cloverdale celebrate their birthday at Cram Jam 2008. (Alicia-Rae Light photo)
Local favourite Daniel Wesley drew one of the biggest crowds of the event. (Nick Major photo)
By the time the headliners hit the stage, the Cram Jam crowd was at its peak (Nick Major photo)
Diehard fans fire up their lighters in support of up-and-coming Vancouver based artist, Daniel Wesley. (Cori Alfreds photo)
Bassist Jason Scannell of Surrey's Verses the Nothing, during the band's ominous set. (Alicia-Rae Light photo)
Dan, guitarist for headlining band Ten Second Epic, rocks the stage of Cram Jam Friday night. (Cori Alfreds)
