Student Stories

Did you know that Vancouver Island University is one of four post-secondary institutions across Canada partnering on an educational initiative for Indigenous youth called EleV? This program, supported by the Mastercard Foundation and co-created with our Indigenous partners, aims to boost success by providing scholarships and wrap-around supports and removing barriers to accessing education.

Vancouver Island University’s ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousins Aboriginal student mentorship program is celebrating its 10^th 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.

Every summer, students in Vancouver Island University’s ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousins Aboriginal mentorship program organize free summer camps for Indigenous youth. Called Thuy’she’num Tu Smun’eem: Building a Foundation for our Youth, these camps aim to encourage Indigenous youth to consider post-secondary by giving them that important first introduction to university life and showcasing the supports VIU offers all students.

Vancouver Island University’s ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousins Aboriginal student mentorship program is celebrating its 10^th 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.

Vancouver Island University’s ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousins Aboriginal student mentorship program is celebrating its 10^th 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.