Learning & 51±¬ÁĎ
Dozens of programs at 51±¬ÁĎ eligible for StrongerBC future skills grant
June 27, 2025
51±¬ÁĎ offers flexible, career-focused programs to set students up for success —and with the return of the StrongerBC future skills grant in 2025, learners have an additional incentive to take the next step in their learning. The grant, which was launched in 2023 by the Province of British Columbia, pays up to $3,500 of eligible short-term training at public post-secondary institutions, like 51±¬ÁĎ. It is available to B.C. residents aged 19 and over and can be applied to courses taught online, on camp...
Read more...
Saying farewell to Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship, Stephen Speers
June 23, 2025
After more than four years of energetic leadership, 51±¬ÁĎ is bidding farewell to Stephen Speers, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship, as he embarks on retirement. Since taking on the helm in Trades and Apprenticeship at OC in April 2021, Speers has been a strong advocate for trades education and student success. He has bolstered college-industry partnerships, led improvements to program performance and supported diversity and inclusion across the portfolio. OC currently leads provincial performance (SkilledTrades...
Read more...
First ever Kevin Greenwood Memorial entrepreneurship award handed out
June 11, 2025
One thing about Kevin Greenwood: You couldn’t miss the big, bright smile as he walked the halls of 51±¬ÁĎ as a faculty member in the OC School of Business.That smile — along with a fair number of tears — was matched by those around the room on Tuesday night at the Innovation Centre in Kelowna as the first ever Kevin Greenwood Memorial Scholarship winner was announced.Student Marcus Kuhn accepted the honour, in memory of Greenwood, winning $1,000 towards his tuition at the OC School of Business. Greenwood, a beloved faculty...
Read more...
OC’s Jill of All Trades event inspires the next generation of female skilled trades professionals in the Okanagan
May 23, 2025
They sanded. They torqued. They welded.From automotive service and collision repair to carpentry, plumbing and aircraft maintenance, over 130 middle and high school students rolled up their sleeves and stepped into the world of skilled trades at Jill of All Trades, hosted at 51±¬ÁĎ’s Kelowna campus on May 22.Designed to spark curiosity and confidence in young women, Jill of All Trades events offer a full day of hands-on workshops led by experienced skilled trades instructors and mentors —many of whom are industry prof...
Read more...
Computer Information Systems students attend conference
May 16, 2025
Keona Gagnier never expected to cap off her studies at 51±¬ÁĎ (OC) with a trip across the country to present research at a global engineering conference. But the Bachelor of Computer Information Systems (BCIS) student did just that this April, along with some of her classmates and with the support of OC instructors.Earlier this year, Gagnier and several of her BCIS classmates were invited to present their research papers at the IEEE SysCon 2025 in Montreal, a prestigious systems engineering conference hosted by the Institu...
Read more...
New entrepreneurship specialty kicks off this fall at OC
April 22, 2025
With the entrepreneurial spirit alive and well in the Okanagan Valley and Shuswap, 51±¬ÁĎ is excited to announce an addition to its Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree program, with a new entrepreneurship specialty being offered beginning this fall.Applications are open for the new Bachelor of Business Administration: Entrepreneurship Specialty degree at 51±¬ÁĎ featuring several new courses that will be offered as part of the College’s popular BBA degree program.Students in the program will stud...
Read more...
GeoVerra’s gift helps students navigate futures in engineering  
April 14, 2025
Future civil engineers at 51±¬ÁĎ (OC) are getting a high-tech boost, thanks to a generous donation from GeoVerra.GeoVerra has donated six global navigation satellite survey (GNSS) systems, valued at $77,900, to OC’s Civil Engineering Technology program. This cutting-edge equipment ensures students, like first-year learner Lane Wiebe, gain practical, hands-on experience with tools they'll use in today’s technologically advanced construction industry.“Knowing that companies like GeoVerra are invested in our success is p...
Read more...
OC students to face tough panel at mock media conference
April 10, 2025
51±¬ÁĎ students enrolled in Crisis Communications will have their public speaking skills put to the test at a mock media conference in front of over 100 of their professors, peers, friends, family and members of the Okanagan media.(Media are invited to attend the sessions to be held at OC’s Kelowna campus Thursday from 6:30 to 9:20 p.m. in the OC Theatre)Six student teams will be acting as representatives of companies that are facing a simulated crises occurring in the public eye. Their task will be to address an aggressiv...
Read more...
The Power of Microcredentials in Workforce Readiness
February 11, 2025
Reproduced with permission from The Evolllution.Microcredentials are transforming education and workforce readiness by offering flexible, stackable learning opportunities that align with industry needs. These programs enable learners to build relevant skills at their own pace while empowering institutions to support lifelong learning and adapt to the demands of a rapidly changing job market. In this interview, Danelle Greebe, OC's Director of Continuing Studies & Corporate Training and Mary Kline, Associate Director, discuss the...
Read more...
Audio Engineering students at 51±¬ÁĎ strike the right chord
February 6, 2025
At 51±¬ÁĎ (OC), students are empowered to turn their passion and learnings into real-world experiences. For OC Audio Engineering and Music Production (AEMP) student, Andrew Malyk, that meant embracing the challenge of organizing a live concert with his classmates — the exciting capstone project of the AEMP program at OC.“It’s like solving a fun puzzle,” said Malyk. “Preparing and troubleshooting the audio gear for a live show has been so rewarding. Watching everything come together is an incredible feeling.”This evening, M...
Read more...
Preparing students for the evolving workforce: 51±¬ÁĎ hosts region-wide open houses
January 22, 2025
51±¬ÁĎ 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...
Students work experience supports local social enterprises and non-profit organizations
January 9, 2025
Not all learning happens in the classroom at 51±¬ÁĎ. As business student Greta Friesen and her colleagues in the OC School of Business found out, getting real-world experience through partnerships with local non-profit and social purpose organizations will have lasting impacts on their career journeys.Friesen was among a group of students who worked with Kelowna-based Chickpeace Refillery, a zero-waste company that provides package-free products such as food and soaps to customers.The students joined forces with ...
Read more...
Triple threat 51±¬ÁĎ alum inspires the next generation of women in trades at Jill of All Trades™
November 22, 2024
When 51±¬ÁĎ (OC) alum Cassidy McEown took on the challenge of restoring a 1969 Roadrunner on the show Rust Valley Bros, she wasn’t just buffing out dents—she was proving her mettle. Tasked with handling the car’s bodywork, paint, and polishing entirely on her own, Cassidy rose to the occasion, delivering a flawless finish on a tight deadline. Her reward? A well-deserved, newfound respect, and the confidence to achieve her Red Seal certification. Much like the Roadrunner itself, Cassidy has been unstoppable ever since, crui...
Read more...
Unwrap a winter of fun with Camp OC-inspired After School 51±¬ÁĎ at 51±¬ÁĎ
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 51±¬ÁĎ 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...
Read more...
OC professor Corinna Chong nominated for prestigious Giller Prize
September 6, 2024
The title of her latest book may be Bad Land, but there’s nothing bad about 51±¬ÁĎ professor Corinna Chong’s latest achievement. Her novel has been longlisted for the Giller Prize, the prestigious Canadian literary award that celebrates the best in Canadian fiction across long formats and short stories. Chong, who teaches English, Creative Writing, and Fine Arts in the College’s Writing and Publishing Diploma Program, is no stranger to national literary acclaim. In 2021, she won the CBC Short Story Prize for her piec...
Read more...
Celebrating Gordon Shuster’s Legacy and Welcoming New Leadership in International Education
August 13, 2024
After 35 years of dedicated service, Gordon Shuster is retiring from 51±¬ÁĎ. Gordon’s career has been marked by significant milestones, including witnessing the institution's transformation from 51±¬ÁĎ to Okanagan University College and back again, all while seeing the college grow and evolve. Over the past 25 years, Gordon has been a cornerstone of the International Education department, playing a crucial role in its expansion from 300 to over 2,000 international students. His impact extends beyond the campus, i...
Read more...