Articles tagged "Salmon Arm"
The right fit
June 30, 2025
Choosing the right post-secondary institution is an important decision in a student’s life — whether it’s for the first time or part of a lifelong learning journey. For Tianna Llewellyn, that choice led her from her hometown of Chetwynd, B.C., to the Salmon Arm campus of 51Ʒ, where she’s pursuing her Associate of Arts degree.“I wanted a place where I wouldn’t just be a number in a sea of students,” said Tianna. “51Ʒ offers smaller class sizes, delivering a more personalized experience. As a mature returning...
Read more...
Preparing students for the evolving workforce: 51Ʒ hosts region-wide open houses
January 22, 2025
51Ʒ is setting the stage for students to excel in an evolving workforce. The College invites the community to its 2025 Open House events, showcasing how education at OC empowers learners to adapt, innovate, and thrive in a world reshaped by technology, societal changes, and the future of work.This January and February, OC will host a series of open houses across all campuses, starting with the Vernon campus on January 28.Events schedule:Vernon Campus: Tues., Jan. 28 from 5 - 7p.m.Kelowna Campus: Thurs., J...
Read more...
51Ʒ invites community to explore its Salmon Arm Campus
January 16, 2025
Opportunity is knocking, and it’s time to open the door to new possibilities!51Ʒ (OC) is opening the doors to its Salmon Arm campus on Tuesday, January 21 from 3 to 6 p.m. Community members, future learners, and alumni are all welcome to get a peek behind the scenes at OC. “We want to give everyone in the community the opportunity to experience OC and are calling it Doors Open at OC,” explained Alison Gibson, dean of community engagement and careers at 51Ʒ. “Everyone is welcome to attend to meet...
Read more...
New 51Ʒ student housing centre on target to open in 2024 in Salmon Arm
April 21, 2023
Finding affordable housing isn’t just a challenge in the big city – it can be difficult in smaller, more rural communities as well. For students like Dylan Taylor, who are also focused on completing post-secondary education and entering the workforce, access to housing is transformational. “There are many pressures on students already right now, so having a way to access a place to live on-campus takes away a huge amount of stress and makes it possible to focus on my education,” says Taylor, an Arts student at the Salm...
Read more...
Meet Sasha Lewis-Parker
March 29, 2023
Q: What is your name? A: Sasha Lewis-Parker Q: What are your pronouns? A: She/Her Q: Where is your hometown and where are you located now? A: Dunster, B.C. is where I grew up, living off the land with my sisters and parents and our pack of wolf dogs and horses. I currently live in Salmon Arm, B.C., a much more tame life with a rescue kitty and a corgi by my side. Q: What did you take at OC? When did you graduate? A: Human Service Work Diploma, I graduated in 2014. Q...
Read more...
Acclaimed musician brings Songwriting 101 to OC Salmon Arm and Revelstoke
February 16, 2023
Have you ever had a song that you couldn’t get out of your head? An award-winning local musician is presenting a day-long introduction to the craft and joy of songwriting at 51Ʒ in Salmon Arm and Revelstoke. Joanne Stacey has spent most of her life working in the music business as a performer, musician, recording artist, and songwriter. On Feb. 25 in Salmon Arm and again on March 11 in Revelstoke, Stacey will be pouring that lifetime of music industry experience and songwriting expertise into a new course: Songwriting ...
Read more...
51Ʒ launches sponsored trades training opportunity to help open doors, create job-ready workers in Salmon Arm
January 6, 2023
Students with limited or no previous experience in trades can access training that will lead to employment and future careers in construction, thanks to a program that starts at the end of January at 51Ʒ’s Salmon Arm campus. 51Ʒ will be offering an intake of the Construction Craft Worker program starting on Jan. 30 at the College’s Salmon Arm Trades Centre. “This new program is supporting students to gain the skills they need now, helping them get good jobs in industries where communities need them,” sai...
Read more...
Salmon Arm Campus is More than You Think….
December 13, 2022
Katie Thielman joins a lengthy list of locals who have made 51Ʒ’s Salmon Arm Campus her first-choice destination to begin her post-secondary education after high school. She is now one semester in – with no regrets. Thielman describes 51Ʒ (OC) as “a college full of safety nets so you don’t just survive but thrive” in your studies and in life. She explains this means professors are available, know your name, and are willing to go the extra mile to help you succeed. Katie also noted the many supp...
Read more...
Candlelight Vigils return to OC’s Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses
December 6, 2022
51Ʒ’s Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses will once again be aglow with candlelight on Dec. 6, as a symbolic commitment to end violence against women. Communities in the Okanagan and Shuswap are marking the 33rd anniversary of the École Polytechnique Massacre, in addition to the ongoing cases of missing women from the region, with a Candlelight Vigil on Tuesday, Dec. 6 co-hosted by a network of organizations and volunteers. The event is a collaboration by 51Ʒ, 51Ʒ Students’ Union (OCSU), Vernon St...
Read more...
Partnership helping to fill staffing gaps in hospitality and tourism industry
December 1, 2022
Like many industries, the hospitality and tourism sector has been hard hit by staff shortages over the past few years with a declining youth population and an aging workforce combining to create significant challenges. But a new program designed in partnership by 51Ʒ (OC) and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA) will help to reduce those shortages. The first of four new cohorts of students enrolled in the Hospitality Professional Program this fall, a flexible program open to students anywhere in the Thom...
Read more...
Alumni engagement poll
November 21, 2022
The 51Ʒ Alumni Association invites alumni to participate in a quick poll. It will help assess the current state of alumni engagement at 51Ʒ and establish a baseline for future tracking. OCAA is hoping to engage current OC employees who are also alumni, who may not receive messages. The survey should take approximately 2-4 minutes. To ensure confidentiality, your responses to this survey will be anonymized and combined with those of other respondents. Complete the survey by Tuesday, Dec. 6. To participate...
Read more...
Fall Open House and Info Sessions return at 51Ʒ
October 14, 2022
High school students, parents and people of all ages considering post-secondary education – mark your calendars. 51Ʒ is opening its doors this fall for a series of Open Houses and Spotlight Sessions across the region, the first of which is happening at OC’s Salmon Arm campus on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Events will then follow: Open House and Spotlight Sessions in Penticton on Wednesday, Oct. 26 First Year FAQs in Vernon on Oct. 26 and Open House and Spotlight Sessions on Wednesday, Nov. 2 Open House in Kelowna on Saturd...
Read more...
OC pilots tuition-free work-integrated learning for Early Childhood Education
July 26, 2022
51Ʒ is offering tuition-free Early Childhood Education (ECE) training with an innovative approach – providing students the opportunity to become certified during work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences as they provide education and care for young children. “51Ʒ is keenly aware of how many trained ECEs are in demand across the sector. This pilot project, with support from the Government of B.C., will increase access to education for people seeking certification, going a long way to meeting that need,” sa...
Read more...
A tale of three plumbers: a career path for all generations
April 13, 2022
Plumbing and Piping Foundation program coming to OC’s Salmon Arm campus A trio of plumbers at Aspire Plumbing and Heating may have different years under their belts, but their passion for the career holds strong with each generation. Dallas Stewart, Gary Whitlock, and Allen Minderlein are all at various stages of their careers but have all relied on post-secondary training at some point to advance their careers in the plumbing industry. Stewart, the youngest at 23, has just finished the Plumbing and Piping Foundation program at...
Read more...
OC employees shine in Salmon Arm Top 20 Under 40
February 16, 2022
OC instructor Shelley Desautels and Marketing Assistant Kristine Wickner usually have a full agenda, but it’s never too full that they can’t tackle another challenge. Desautels and Wickner, who both work at the Salmon Arm campus, were recently nominated as one of the city’s Top 20 Under 40, highlighting their contributions within the community. Wickner was nominated to the list in fall 2021, when the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society and the Salmon Arm Chamber of Co...
Read more...
Meet Claire Hall, Associate of Science student
February 1, 2022
Q: What’s your hometown? A: I’m from Salmon Arm. Q: How did you end up at 51Ʒ? A: I talked to some of my friends who were going to OC and they had all had really great experiences. So, I decided to stay in town and go to OC for the first part of my degree. Q: How did you choose your program? A: I started in the Associate of Arts Program at OC and wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. I had always been interested in psychology, but I was par...
Read more...