Community Support
51Ʒ, City of Kelowna partnership “game-changing”
May 6, 2025
With construction well underway on the new 51Ʒ Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre, the College and the City of Kelowna are announcing a new, game-changing partnership.“We’re so excited for the Centre to open because it will mean students have incredible access to sports leagues, strength and mobility classes, wellness programs and so many other activities that help build connections and contribute to healthy lifestyles,” said Dr. Neil Fassina, OC president. “Working together with the City means we can pr...
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B.C. declares provincial day of remembrance and mourning for victims of tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival
May 1, 2025
The Province of British Columbia has declared Friday, May 2, 2025, an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025. Eleven people were killed and dozens more injured while celebrating Filipino culture and history in a senseless attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver. As people learn more about the victims, they are also learning that the victims’ loss is felt deeply across the province.This tragedy has had profound impact on...
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Thorpe and Friends celebrate 100th student award
April 16, 2025
51Ʒ Foundation is celebrating a significant milestone in philanthropic giving. Two students — Keira Chevallier and Angelina Sebastian — both in the Health Care Assistant program, received awards from Rick and Yasmin Thorpe and friends whose generosity has now supported over 100 students in total.“When we started these awards nearly 20 years ago our goal was to reach 100 students,” shared Rick Thorpe at a ceremony marking the achievement yesterday.“We couldn’t have done this without the support of our friends. Everything...
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Final stretch: $1M left to cross finish line for Thrive Here campaign
March 27, 2025
Kelowna Auto Dealers Association donates $200k in support of Recreation and Wellness CentreThe home stretch is now in sight for the Thrive Here fundraising campaign for a Recreation and Wellness Centre on 51Ʒ’s (OC’s) Kelowna campus.The OC Foundation is celebrating $13 million raised towards the $14 million goal thanks to amazing support from the community including a $200,000 donation from the Kelowna Auto Dealers Association (KADA). “This is a meaningful project for us to support,” says Sam Ghessesow, KADA ...
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Nothing Fishy about Char Donation
March 14, 2025
51Ʒ (OC) culinary students had quite the catch on their hands when a whopping 2,000 pounds of Artic Char arrived in the College’s culinary school, waiting for them to prepare, earlier this year.The generous donation from Road 17 Fish Farms provided the students with a hands-on lesson in large-scale food preparation as well as the benefits of supporting community.The fish were processed and vacuum-sealed by OC student chefs before being delivered to the Kelowna Gospel Mission.“This is a generous donation from Road 17 Fis...
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Sherlock Holmes takes the stage for mystery with modern twist
March 11, 2025
Kelowna theatre-goers, hold onto your detective hats — something fiendish is afoot.This March the Red Dot players are set to transport attendees to London, 1889 in a thrilling new adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles, bringing the legendary detective mystery to life with a fresh twist of humour and a modern sensibility.Join Sherlock Holmes and her colleague Dr. Jane Watson as the dynamic duo investigates a most intriguing mystery.For OC Instructor DeAnna MacArthur portraying Sherlock’s trusty companion Dr. Watson as a wo...
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Doors Open at OC events welcome communities across the region
March 6, 2025
After successfully wrapping up its student-focused Open Houses, 51Ʒ (OC) is keeping its doors open and welcoming the broader community to its campuses through a new series of Doors Open at OC events. These events are designed to welcome everyone — from alumni and families to local businesses and curious community members — offering a behind-the-scenes look at OC’s campuses, programs, and learning spaces.“At OC, we believe that education should be accessible, welcoming and supportive for every learner, no matter the...
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Skills Regionals and Spaghetti Bridge at 51Ʒ February 26, 2025
February 26, 2025
Members of the media are invited to attend the Skills Regionals 2025 event, including the annual Spaghetti Bridge competition, at 51Ʒ’s Kelowna campus this Friday. Over 200 school students from across the Okanagan Valley will take part in skills building events in carpentry, welding, culinary, engineering and architecture, introducing them to the OC community. When: Friday, Feb. 28, 2025Most competitions start at 10 a.m.Spaghetti Bridge: Bridge building 10 a.m. to noon. Judging at noon.Closing ceremony a...
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Camp OC in Penticton: “Safe and supportive” Spring Break edition
February 14, 2025
51Ʒ is thrilled to announce the launch of its first-ever Spring Break kids’ camps in Penticton, bringing innovative and engaging educational experiences to local youth during the upcoming break.For many families, activity camps are more than just a way to keep kids active during the break — they’re an opportunity for growth, learning, and confidence building. For Isabella Tamayo, Camp OC provided exactly that.Last summer in Penticton, Isabella attended the Survivor and Babysitting camps where she discovered new interest...
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Giving Tuesday raises $12K for student food security
December 18, 2024
Thanks to a number of generous donations from OC faculty, staff and our community, the shelves in OC’s student union food banks and the KLO community fridge will be well stocked for the holidays. 51Ʒ Foundation’s Giving Tuesday food drive inspired hundreds of donated food items and cash donations totalling more than $12,000 in support of student food security through November and December. This includes a $5,000 donation from the 51Ʒ Faculty Association (OCFA). Donations made to the Student ...
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OC Foundation distributes over $500,000 in student awards for fall semester
December 4, 2024
For Lucas Weigert, receiving awards was the moment he knew he had made the right choice to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.Weigert, a second year Associate of Science student, was a student speaker at 51Ʒ’s (OC) Kelowna Awards Celebration November 21. The event was one of three held in November that saw more than $550,000 distributed to OC students across the region.Weigert is completing his first two years of his undergraduate degree at OC before pursuing medical school.“When you’re constantly studying you can ha...
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Community rallies for recreation: Thrive Here campaign hits major fundraising milestone
November 27, 2024
Thanks to a number of passionate individuals and organizations, the finish line for the Thrive Here campaign to build a gymnasium at 51Ʒ is now in sight.The 51Ʒ (OC) Foundation is announcing it has raised $12 million towards its $14-million goal to build a Recreation and Wellness Centre on the Kelowna campus.“It is truly a team effort by our community to make this centre a reality,” says Helen Jackman, executive director of the OC Foundation.“We want to thank everyone who has selflessly donated to help us g...
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51Ʒ faculty member Amy Modahl presents Redactions at the Kelowna Art Gallery
November 22, 2024
Art has a way of revealing the unspoken, inviting us to reflect on what lies beneath the surface. On December 5, 51Ʒ instructor and multidisciplinary artist Amy Modahl will present her latest body of work, Redactions, in a captivating talk and guided tour at the Kelowna Art Gallery.This free, public event offers a unique opportunity to engage with Modahl’s creative process and explore how her art bridges the worlds of visual and written language. A collection of paintings on canvas and paper, Redactions delves into the ...
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Vernon community help Sunflower Childcare Centre blossom into reality
November 13, 2024
When Clara Cheung gets ready to travel to 51Ʒ (OC) each morning, she now is able to do so with her two-year-old son Pak Sen in tow.Clara is on her way to attend class at the Vernon campus; Pak Sen is about to enter the campus’s new childcare centre.The Sunflower Childcare Centre / smúkwaʔxn̓ scəcəmalla itskn snmaʔmayaʔtn on OC’s Vernon campus opened at the start of October, creating much-needed new childcare spaces for student parents, faculty and community members.“For me, this centre has made a huge impact on my ...
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51Ʒ alum gives $25K to power of sport
November 8, 2024
‘Sport teaches you to handle any challenge,’ says Kelly LoudounKelly Loudoun has no regrets when he looks back at his decision to attend 51Ʒ (OC) and study business, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration Honours.“You can’t deny the power of the OC business degree,” says Loudoun, who owns Loudoun Construction and Development, now in its fifth year.“Being an entrepreneur is difficult and it’s a lot of hard work. Having been through those challenging experiences and lean years, it becomes quite rewarding as...
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Unwrap a winter of fun with Camp OC-inspired After School 51Ʒ at 51Ʒ
October 31, 2024
Local parent Angie Kunz enrolled her daughter in Camp OC for the first time this past summer and was impressed by the diverse course offerings and incredible staff.Now, Angie and families in Kelowna and Penticton have the opportunity to introduce their kids to education-focused programs with the expansion of Camp OC from summer camps to include After School 51Ʒ beginning in January 2025."I chose Camp OC for my daughter because there were several programs that fit her interests,” shares Angie. “She had such a great experience at...
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