VIU Students at Beach

Community Cousins

Embracing new opportunities with the Community Cousins Program: Cassidy Caron

Submitted by Jenn McGarrigle on January 29, 2021 - 4:59pm

Vancouver Island University’s ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousins Aboriginal student mentorship program is celebrating its 10th anniversary in September 2021. In honour of this important milestone, we are sharing the stories of 12 people closely connected with the program – one per month – leading up to the anniversary.

From Community Cousin to Canada’s Highest Court: Rebecca Olivia Watmough

Submitted by Jenn McGarrigle on December 21, 2020 - 4:38pm

Vancouver Island University’s ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousins Aboriginal student mentorship program is celebrating its 10th anniversary in September 2021. In honour of this important milestone, we are sharing the stories of 12 people closely connected with the program – one per month – leading up to the anniversary.

Elder-in-Residence Mentors Students Through Storytelling

Submitted by Jenn McGarrigle on October 27, 2020 - 12:28pm

Vancouver Island University’s ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousins Aboriginal student mentorship program is celebrating its 10th anniversary in September 2021. In honour of this important milestone, we are sharing the stories of 12 people closely connected with the program – one per month – leading up to the anniversary.

The ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousins program builds capacity for mentors to gain leadership and employability skills through outreach and mentoring activities. Students hone skills in self-awareness, communication, leadership, self-care and an exploration of personal values, with an emphasis on “telling one’s story” as a path to self-empowerment through outreach to others.