Student News – June 2009
Geography Graduates – Spring 2009
On June 2, ten students graduated with a B.A. Major in Geography; ten with a B.A. Minor; and two with a B.Sc. minor in Geography. Geography graduates Maury Scott and Rachel Harris have enrolled in the face-to-face option of the Advanced Diploma in GIS Applications program at VIU this fall. Also accepted into the program is former geography graduate James Salmons.
Accomplishments
Ryan Brown received the Canadian Association of Geographer’s (CAG) undergraduate award for receiving the highest GPA standing of all Geography graduates from Vancouver Island University in 2008-09. Congratulations Ryan!
Ryan has enrolled in a Masters program in the Graduate School of Public Administration at the University of Victoria this fall.
Shari Willmott, a 2009 graduate from the face-to-face ADGISA program, was awarded this year’s Carto Cup by VIU President Ralph Nilson. The cup is awarded to any VIU student who produces a cartographically excellent representation of spatial data. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of effective communication of the intended information, cartographic quality, innovative design, and overall attractiveness of the finished product.
Geography Alumni News
Michelle Geneau graduated from Vancouver Island University (at that time still Malaspina University-College) in 2007, with a B.A. Major in Anthropology and Minor in Geography. Here is what she told us about her education:
"I decided to continue my education with a Masters in Planning, and will graduate in spring 2010 from Dalhousie University. My background in Geography definitely prepared me for my current program. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of planning, students come from a range of backgrounds.
Entering the Planning program, I had the benefit of previous knowledge in spatial systems, GIS, and the physical, social and economic processes that shape landscapes worldwide. Many of my fellow colleagues were not familiar with several of these geographical factors, nor with planning history and theory.
The content and assignments in several of my Geography classes also required me to become familiar with planning processes, issues, and documents throughout Vancouver Island. This prepared me for the summer work term required by my current program, which I completed at the City of Duncan.
VIU's Geography Department, especially with its dedicated faculty members, helped me by fostering interest and providing knowledge in my future career field."
Shawna Carrieres has started her M.A. studies in Human Security and Peace-building at Royal Roads University in Victoria. Here is what she had to tell us:
"Geography is one of those academic discipliness that is able to transcend many fields. I consider myself very lucky to have attended Vancouver Island University and studied Geography. I graduated with a B.A. degree in 2008; my studies focused on Urban Growth Management and I could not be happier with the outcome. I gained an understanding of how humans and the earth interact with one another, often causing degradation to the environment, and how security issues impact people. I attribute much of my success to the extra-ordinary instructors and support staff in the Geography Department at VIU. The faculty always encouraged my academic development, supported my career goals and, when a reference letter for an M.A. program was needed, I had many instructors willing to support my application. I am very grateful for their assistance. My M.A. research is very much related to Geography. Through my research I will be illustrating the importance of environmental concerns to human conflict. My main focus is to determine how we can use environmental education and management programs to reduce conflict that may be motivated by environmental and resource allocation issues. I certainly have used my understanding of the environment gained through my Geography studies to further my research interests and create a great career path for myself."
Katherine Cruikshank's work experience as an urban planner began as a student assistant for the Geography department in 2004-2005, followed by a summer student position at the Parks department at the Cowichan Valley Regional District in 2005, and continued after she graduated in 2006 with her B.A. degree in Geography as a Planning Technician for the Comox-Strathcona Regional District. Katherine has been working as a Senior Community Planner in Thompson, Manitoba since 2007. Here is what she has to say:
"The education I received from the Geography department at Vancouver Island University has directly contributed to my successful career as an Urban Planner. The intimate, hands-on classroom setting and the attention that faculty members give to their students is first class. This paired with the well-rounded series of courses in the Urban Growth Management stream was the key factor in my smooth transition from student to planner just days before my convocation ceremony in June 2006. Although my first professional planning position was entry level, I was immediately named project manager for an Official Community Plan. This was directly related to the education I received at VIU. I am forever thankful to the faculty at VIU who provided me with the tookit I needed to be a successful professional planner." 
Parker Krog, a Geography graduate and winner of the CAG undergraduate award at VIU in 2008 is currently studying Law
at the University of Victoria.
"After just a month of Law school, the usefulness and applicability of my B.A. degree in Geography has become quite apparent. While there are a multitude of varying disciplines represented in my first year class, the foundations I have established through studying Geography have proven invaluable. As boring as it may sound, Law is an immensely interesting and (believe it or not) all-encompassing discipline that touches every aspect of human interaction, both with one another and the natural world. Being an equally all-encompassing discipline, my studies in Geography have given me unique insight into many of the topics I have encountered in my legal studies. If one has an interest in environmental protection and sustainability, the courses covered in the Natural Resource Management stream of Geography provide an excellent basis for continuing studies. Furthermore, those principles learned in Geography can be applied to Law, and there is a surprisingly wide degree of ways one can advance public interest in the environment through legal mechanisms (UVic has worldwide reputation for pioneering the field of Environmental Law). Alternatively, if one's interest lies in Urban Geography, Law is equally applicable in that all forms of urban growth and development are grounded and guided through established legal principles. Finally, all the faculty members in the Geography Department at VIU were very supportive and always willing to help, and I achieved my high GPA (necessary for Law) on their excellent instruction and VIU's small classroom environment. Overall, if you're interested in eventually pursuing legal studies, Geography is an excellent and most suitable discipline to prepare yourself for Law school."
Sarah Marcan, a Geography graduate in urban 
growth management, enrolled in the Masters of Environmental Design (Planning) at the University of Calgary in 2006 and completed her degree in 2009.
She was a employed as a summer work student at the Fraser Valley Regional District in 2007, and was subsequently hired by the FVRD in 2008 as a planning technician.
"The knowledge and range of skills sets taught by the instructors in the Geography program at Vancouver Island University has provided me with a strong foundation for a successful career in the planning profession. The variety of courses offered in the Geography program gave me a background in various aspects of Geography focusing on human interactions with both the natural and built environment. This knowledge together with hands-on labs in Geographic Information Systems provided me with the skills used in the planning profession.
The combined focus of urban growth management and natural resource management has provided me with a strong foundation and understanding of the processes associated with rural and urban planning. The continuation of my education in Calgary and the summer student position in regional planning focused primarily on broader geographic and planning theories and interactions between humans and the built environment. Whereas my current experiences in site planning in a rural setting have focused primarily on human interactions with land and a focus on geotechnical constraints and hydrological processes, including avalanche hazards, rockslides, debris flows, flooding and erosion."
The Geography Department warmly welcomes news from any other graduates. Please drop a note to any faculty member and tell us about yourself –- your career, travels, adventures, family, and anything else of interest.
Research Projects
A reminder that students who undertake research studies or projects that involve human behavior are required to adhere to the Department’s Research Ethics Policy. This policy is outlined on the following website: