Current Students

I arrived in Nelson, New Zealand at the end of June, eager and excited for my internship to begin at the Brook Waimarama Ecosanctuary. For the first time, I was combining my passions for community development and the Earth. When I was searching for internship placements, stumbling upon “the Brook” was a complete accident. I now know I couldn’t have picked a better placement for what I was hoping to both give and get out of this internship.

About the Brook

To understand what the Brook is all about, you first need to understand a bit about the ecology of New Zealand.

On the journey towards truth and reconciliation in Canada, allies play a critical role. It is key for allies to bear a large share of the work of the truth and reconciliation process, including supporting, sharing, bearing witness and holding members of their own communities to account.

In True Reconciliation: How to Be a Force for Change, Jody Wilson-Raybould writes that we are in a “critical moment of transition and transformation”:

Saturday, September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. VIU is organizing activities this week to commemorate this day. And a reminder that VIU will be closed on Saturday, September 30 and Monday, October 2 to observe this day. The Nanaimo campus library is always open and accessible with your student card.

Also in this issue:

Early morning classes can be challenging when you’re not a morning person. It’s not always easy to wake up and make it to class on time, especially if you didn’t get enough sleep the night before. But do not worry! With some creative thinking and a few clever techniques, you can learn how to master those early morning classes.

Read on for some tips that will help you make it through the week without missing an assignment or showing up late.

VIU’s main campus is in the harbourside city of Nanaimo. If you’re new to the area, it’s a good idea to spend some time exploring the city. One of the most helpful ways I dealt with homesickness as a new, international student was by familiarizing myself with the places around me. Even simply learning the names of a few key streets or taking long, aimless walks helped me better understand my new environment and feel a little less lost. Here are a few places to explore in Nanaimo.

Are you looking for part-time work this semester? Polish up your resume and head to two career fairs happening this week, one for on-campus jobs and one for off-campus work. To help you prepare, Ariann Sigsworth, a Career Practitioner Student, has some advice on how to stand out at a career fair.

In this issue:

My first year of college was the worst year of my life. During the time of lockdowns and restrictions in the middle of the pandemic, I was isolated and away from everything I had known. I tried to get involved on campus and in the community, but there was nothing to do. In my second year, I became a student ambassador which led to immense personal and professional growth, becoming valedictorian and securing a job here at VIU.

As we start a new school year, many students will be moving into new off-campus rental housing. There can be a lot of unfamiliar language to navigate so it pays to know the basics. This is especially true when vacancy rates are low and we see an increase in unfortunate cases of malpractice. Last year, The Tenants Advice and Advisory Centre stated that about 7 per cent of their inquiries were about no written agreements, illegal fees or breaking leases. Here’s a quick run-down of some common issues VIU’s Off-Campus Housing office offers support for.