Advancement & Alumni Relations News
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Vancouver Island Botanical Garden Society Donates $30,000 to Milner Gardens & Woodland
The Vancouver Island Botanical Garden Society has generously donated $30,000 to VIU's Milner Gardens & Woodland. This donation brings the Milner Gardens & Woodlands one step closer to expanding their community programming and establishing an annual scholarship for VIU's Horticultural students. The donation was matched by VIU's Foundation with $0.50 on the dollar, bringing the total amount of funds to $45,000.
Full details on the donation and Milner Gardens & Woodlands goals can be found at VIU News.
Photo: From (L) to (R) Geoff Ball, Executive Director of Milner Gardens; Lynn Wilby and Ian Seal, both from CVI Botanical Garden Society and Michael Girard, program Chair, VIU's Horticultural Program.
Local Philanthropist Donates $350,000 to VIU’S New Nursing Simulation Lab
Thanks to the generous support of local philanthropist Sidney Sharman, VIU nursing students will now be able to get critical hands-on experience in a state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab to be built on the Nanaimo campus. Sharman’s donation of $350,000 combined with initial funding from Windsor Plywood Foundation ensures the funds are now secure to complete this critical project.
Photo: Philanthropist Sidney Sharman and former VIU nursing student Aiyaz Asmin Nisha (Practical Nursing Cert. ’05; BSc in Nursing ’11) enjoy the annual Excellence in Nursing Award luncheon, held for recipients of Sharman’s annual nursing scholarships.
BMO Invests $50,000 in VIU's Aboriginal Gathering Place
Shelly Jensen, Vice President, Vancouver Island, BMO Bank of Montreal, and Bruce Williams, Chair of VIU’s Foundation, were on hand to recognize BMO Financial Group’s $50,000 donation to the second building phase of Shq’apthut, VIU’s Aboriginal Gathering Place. The Aboriginal Gathering Place addresses the education gap between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals and increases opportunities for positive interactions through cultural sharing. The first phase of the building is complete and donations such as BMO’s will support the completion of the second phase of the building which will include offices for VIU’s Elders and a ceremonial space.
Photo: From (L) to (R): Dr. Steve Lane, VIU’s Associate Vice-President Academic Planning and Aboriginal Initiatives; Shelly Jensen, Vice President, Vancouver Island, BMO Bank of Montreal; Bruce Williams, Chair of VIU’s Foundation; Jeff Brown, Personal Banking Area Manager, BMO Bank of Montreal; Doug Bourque, Director, Aboriginal Banking British Columbia & Yukon, BMO Bank of Montreal; Margaret Sloan, VIU Elder; Sylvia Scow, VIU’s Aboriginal Projects Coordinator and Elder Support; Stephen Gardner, Commercial Banking Area Manager, BMO Bank of Montreal; Jennifer Christoffersen, VIU’s Services for Aboriginal Students Liaison.