Season's Greetings

December 2013 Update

UVic supports Bear Wear

The Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island is hosting its 13th annual Bear Wear event until Jan. 2 at the Hotel Grand Pacific. Sandra Crowe of UVic Community Relations has dressed up a UVic 'Romeo and Juliet' bear for this annual fundraiser, which features cuddly bears sponsored by local business and organizations. The display, which won this year's Team Spirit Award, complements the UVic-community collaboration, Shakespeare Onstage-Offstage. Many thanks to the generous on- and off-campus sponsors of this year's display.

Admission is free. For a $2 donation, you can enter a draw to win your favourite bear plus a package of sponsors' gifts. Enter at the Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville Street.

http://www.uvic.ca/home/announcements/general/current/bear-wear-2013.php

 

Urban Tracking

The Greater Victoria Dog Obedience Training Club hosted an urban tracking test on campus for their dog trainees on Sunday, November 10th. UVic approved access for this special project and then stayed clear of the search routes. Congratulations canines.

 

From the left: Allyson Fennell (handler), Golden (Juno), JoAnne McLeod (judge) Lynn Kendell (track-layer)
 

German Shepherd Orrin and his handler Maureen Fielding

 
Tuba Christmas turns 35
 

The euphonious tones of massed, low-brass instruments can be heard again on Dec. 7 when tubas unite in Victoria for the 35th annual Tuba Christmas. Jointly sponsored by Market Square and UVic’s School of Music, the Victoria Tuba Christmas Ensemble will play your favorite carols while raising donations for the Times-Colonist Christmas Fund.

When: Saturday, Dec. 7 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Where: Market Square, 560 Johnson St, Victoria
Donations accepted for the Times-Colonist Christmas Fund

On Dec. 8, enjoy even more Tuba Christmas listening at the School of Music with the Tuba Christmas Reprise recital, featuring tuba and euphonium students from Gene Dowling’s studio. Admission is by donation with proceeds assisting tuba and euphonium projects within the school.

When: Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m.

Where: Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, B-Wing, MacLaurin Building, UVic
Admission is by donation.
For more info about Tuba Christmas events worldwide: http://www.tubachristmas.com/.


UVic’s Faculty of Science presents the next Café Scientifique

UVic adjunct professor Dr. Wayne Beckham of the Vancouver Island Cancer Clinic will talk about medical physics and medical imaging in his talk “When is a cancer clinical trial not a clinical trial; what the heck has it got to do with physics?”

When: Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Where: Hermann's Jazz Club, 753 View St., Victoria
http://www.uvic.ca/science/physics/home/home/news/current/cafe-scientifique1.php

Victoria Symphony presents Handel’s Messiah at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium:

When: Friday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2:30 p.m.

Where: Farquhar Auditorium, University Centre
Info: http://www.uvic.ca/auditorium or  www.victoriasymphony.ca

For a calendar of other UVic events see http://events.uvic.ca/

November 2013 Update

UVic Tops Maclean's Rankings
 

The University of Victoria is the top comprehensive university in Canada in the 2014 university rankings by Maclean’s magazine, a return to the position it has held several times since the annual rankings began. See: http://communications.uvic.ca/releases/tip.php?date=31102013#1519

Poet, Chemist to Get Honorary Degrees

Poet Patrick Lane and Harvard University chemist George Whitesides will receive honorary degrees from the University of Victoria at Fall 2013 convocation ceremonies in the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium.

In all, 1,293 degrees, diplomas and certificates will be granted on Nov. 12 and 13 during ceremonies to be webcast live at uvic.ca/convocation.

A ceremony to install Professor Jamie Cassels, QC, as UVic’s seventh president will be part of the student convocation ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m.

 

Victoria's Links to First World War Come Alive Online

A new web-based project, A City Goes to War, created by six history students with guidance from John Lutz, has been officially launched in time for Remembrance Day. See http://acitygoestowar.ca/

 

United Way Campaign

UVic is a proud supporter of the United Way through donations from faculty, staff and students and through events that are open to the whole community. Don’t miss:

·         Hearts and Hands Craft Fair: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the University Centre lobby

·         UVic Libraries Book Sale: November 19-21, 2013, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. in the Michele Pujol Room, Student Union Building.

·         That Chemistry Show:  Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Bob Wright Centre, room A150. Tickets ($10) are available in advance at the UVic Ticket Centre (tickets.uvic.ca) or at the door, with all proceeds to United Way Greater Victoria

Details at http://www.uvic.ca/unitedway/

 

A Fundraising Performance of Duke Ellington's Sacred Music

Saturday, November 16th 8 p.m. University Centre Farquhar Auditorium. UVic is supporting this event, which will benefit Our Place Society. Featuring: Dee Daniels • Fred Stride Orchestra • Marcus Mosely • Alex Dugdale • Louise Rose • Sacred Music Gospel Choir 

Tickets at https://tickets.uvic.ca

 

For a calendar of other UVic events see http://events.uvic.ca/

October 2013 Update

Ted Grant book launch: 60 years of legendary photojournalism

From his iconic shot of Pierre Trudeau jubilantly sliding down a bannister to an uncharacteristically charming image of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan sharing an inside joke, Ted Grant has made a career of being in the right place at the right time. 

Grant will discuss his career and show some of his famous photographs as part of the launch of a new biography, Ted Grant: Sixty Years of Legendary Photojournalism (Heritage House). Written by Department of Writing alumna Thelma Fayle, with a foreword by the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark and Maureen McTeer, Ted Grant: Sixty Years is both an iconic and intimate portrait of Canada’s coming of age, and the man who saw it all through the lens of his camera.

When: Sunday, Oct. 27 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Where: David Lam Auditorium, Room A144, MacLaurin Building, UVic

Paradox – UVic’s Visual Arts faculty exhibit

The notion of paradox provides an apt means of curating seven divergent artists—all permanent teaching faculty in the University of Victoria’s Department of Visual Arts—nationally and internationally known and represented by some of Canada’s leading contemporary galleries. Their pieces will now be on display for all to enjoy for free in an exhibit opening Oct. 31 at UVic’s downtown art gallery.

Curated by Director Mary Jo Hughes, Paradox at the Legacy Downtown presents new and recent works by seven faculty members: Vikky Alexander, Lynda Gammon, Daniel Laskarin, Sandra Meigs, Jennifer Stillwell, Paul Walde and Robert Youds.

When: Oct. 31, 2013 through Jan. 11, 2014

Opening reception: Nov. 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the gallery
Where: Legacy Art Gallery Downtown, 630 Yates Street, Victoria
Gallery hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is always free at UVic’s downtown art gallery and everyone is welcome. http://uvac.uvic.ca/

Students set to scare up food donations

Hundreds of university students are preparing to haunt Victoria’s streets, looking for food for the hungry rather than sweet treats by going door-to-door in costume later this month. The UVic effort supports the Mustard Seed Food Bank as part of the Meal Exchange’s annual national Trick or Eat campaign. http://trickoreat.ca/

Syrian Crisis Public Lecture with Dr. Saren Azer

Dr. Azer will talk about the humanitarian crisis in Syria and what can be done to alleviate the suffering. He will talk about his time volunteering at a Syrian refugee camp and the current program to send medical supplies to that camp. Dr. Azer is the president of the International Society of Peace and Human Rights http://www.peaceandhumanrights.org/).

Admission is free, although donations to buy medical supplies for a Syrian refugee camp will be gladly accepted. No registration required.

When: Monday, November 4, 2013. 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where: UVic Medical Sciences Building Rooms 150 and 160

United Way Campaign

UVic is a proud supporter of the United Way through donations from faculty, staff and students and through events that are open to the whole community. Don’t miss the Hearts and Hands Craft Fair: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the University Centre lobby and then head on over to the UVic Libraries Book Sale: November 19-21, 2013, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. in the Michele Pujol Room, Student Union Building. Details at http://www.uvic.ca/unitedway/

 

Vikes Athletics Games are open to the community.

Come and cheer for the Vikes. See http://www.govikesgo.com

For a calendar of other UVic events see http://events.uvic.ca/

UVic Programs for the Community!

For a great overview of UVic programs for the community see:

http://ring.uvic.ca/news/ten-days-talking-town-borrow-brain

September 2013 Update

Welcome back!

Welcome back students to your university. This year we have a 13 per cent increase in new full-time students for the fall semester, out of more than 20,000 full- and part-time studying at the undergrad and graduate levels. UVic's economic impact study estimates that students contribute about $177 million per year in direct spending in Greater Victoria. Thanks for being part of our community!

 

Open House – Continuing Studies Building proposed addition

A drop-in Open House has been scheduled from 3:00 - 7:00 pm in the Student Union Building, Michele Pujol Room, on Tuesday, October 8th to discuss the Continuing Studies Building proposed addition. Representatives from Campus Planning, Facilities Management and Continuing Studies, along with the consultants, HCMA Architects, will be in attendance, with display material and information on the project. Open to all campus and community members. See https://www.uvic.ca/campusplanning/current-projects/continuingstudiesbuildingaddition/index.php

 

Latin American and Spanish Film Week

The 4th Annual Latin American and Spanish Film Week will be held at Cinecenta from September 17 to 22. The event features some of the most exciting films produced today in the Hispanic world. Last year we had a great response from the community. We are glad this event is becoming a tradition in our city. All films are shown with English subtitles. Regular prices apply, and tickets will be available at the box office at the screening of each film. See the titles and videos at http://www.cinecenta.com.

"Fizzics" & the Chemistry of Drink

Free. The Vifor Pharma Distinguished Speaker Series presents Dr. Richard Zare  discussing Chemical "Fizzics" & the Chemistry of Drink.

Chemistry is all around us, not just in a laboratory. Some great examples are the drinks we consume. This lecture is about drinks; alcoholic, carbonated, or otherwise. Join us as we ponder such questions as why James Bond prefers to have his vodka Martini shaken, but not stirred. Dr. Zare--with his unique ability to translate complex science into every-day examples--will fill his lecture with demonstrations illustrating the world of bubbles.

 When: Tuesday, September 17th. 7:30 p.m.

Where: Farquhar Auditorium

It is recommended that tickets are booked in advance as seating is reserved. Tickets are free of charge and will be mailed if ordered up to one week prior to event. See https://tickets.uvic.ca

 

Workshop on Aging, Developmental Disabilities and Dementia

A free workshop on aging, developmental disabilities and dementia will cover issues including: the changing nature of Canada's population and the emerging "grey wave"; fundamentals of how people with lifelong neurodevelopmental disabilities are affected by aging; and how assessment is carried out with older adults with neurodevelopmental conditions who experience functional decline. 

There will also be a dialogue on the nature of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and how communities and the support system can prepare for their growing impact. Technologies directed at increasing the independence and quality of life of those living with disabilities will also be discussed.

When: Friday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Room C122, David Strong Building, UVic

Admission is free. An e-mail indicating attendance would be appreciated. Dr. Roy Brown at royibrown@shaw.ca

 

New Exhibit at the Legacy Gallery

The Shakespeare First Folio (First Collected edition of his plays) is one of the Western world’s best-known and most iconic books. Discover why these folios have held people’s fascination through the centuries and enjoy and opportunity to see all four 17th century folios together for the first time in BC. Free and open to the public.

This exhibit runs from: September 21 to October 23 at the Legacy Art Gallery (630 Yates Street). Wednesday – Saturday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. See http://uvac.uvic.ca/

For a calendar of UVic events see http://events.uvic.ca/

August 2013 Update

UVic supports Symphony Splash

 

UVic supported Symphony Splash once again this year as a member of the Band of Heroes. Eugene Dowling represented UVic in the group photo and on the “barge”. For twenty-five years, Dowling was Principal Tubist with the Victoria Symphony and has been a faculty member of the UVic School of Music for over thirty years.

 

Photo credit Victor Chong. More photos at https://www.facebook.com/victoriasymphony

 

UVic’s efforts to help people with learning and memory problems

A UVic post-doctoral student’s efforts to help people with learning and memory problems related to Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive disorders have earned her a $50,000 award. Celina Berg will also have access to office and lab space in San Francisco for up to six months at the Canadian Technology Accelerator, a startup incubator supported by the Consulate General of Canada. The consulate partnered with Johnson & Johnson Innovation to create the “Cognition Challenge.” It asked for submissions from Canadian researchers to help deal with unmet medical needs caused by Alzheimer’s and cognitive disorders. Berg is one of two winners chosen from 45 entries. Her submission, “CanDo: A Smart App for Cognition”, proposed a series of apps to help people with cognitive challenges do everything from mastering daily tasks to travelling independently. She has been working on the apps with CanAssist at UVic.

 

 

For a calendar of UVic events see http://events.uvic.ca/

July 2013 Update

UVic Helped to Host BC Heritage Fairs

Sixty-five student participants, representing twelve regions of British Columbia were hosted at UVic as part of their BC Provincial Heritage Fairs experience.  They toured campus, met with UVic historian Dr. John Lutz, and were welcomed in a special ceremony at UVic’s First Peoples House. The students also exhibited their history projects about important aspects of British Columbia and Canadian history to the public at the Royal B.C. Museum on Sunday, July 7th.

 

Strengthening BC’s Agriculture Sector in the face of Climate Change

Climate change will make it even harder to put locally sourced food on our tables if steps are not taken to strengthen the British Columbia agriculture sector, according to a Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) white paper. See “Strengthening BC’s Agriculture Sector in the face of Climate Change,” at:

http://communications.uvic.ca/releases/release.php?display=release&id=1374

 

Tech ‘Toys’ Boost Children’s Literacy by Enhancing Summer Reading

Tablets, e-Readers and other digital devices are increasing the options for maintaining children’s literacy level over the summer, or even drawing in reluctant readers. “The technology that’s available, whether it’s e-Readers or iPads or other tablets, is expanding our notions of what reading is and each device offers something different in terms of how it supports literacy and the reading experience offered,” says Dr. James Nahachewsky, a UVic assistant professor researching the impact and contributions of evolving technologies on the ongoing transformation of literacy. For more information see http://communications.uvic.ca/releases/tip.php?date=17062013#1487

 

Vikes Athletics and Recreation for the Summer!

Vikes Athletics and Recreation is your campus starting point for fun, fitness, and recreation for students, staff, faculty and community members. Check out the informal and drop-in recreation opportunities and great events throughout the year. See https://onlineca.activecommunities.com/VikesReg/Start/Start.asp

 

For a calendar of free community events see http://events.uvic.ca/

 

June 2013 Update

Congress of the Humanities

From June 1 to 8, the University of Victoria hosted Canada’s largest academic gathering, Congress 2013, and welcomed more than 7,700 delegates from 70 academic associations to campus. Municipalities of Victoria, Oak Bay and Saanich were onsite and provided information about their communities. Many community members also attended the special lectures, concerts and exhibitions.

 

 City of Victoria

 



 District of Saanich

 

 Oak Bay Beach Hotel

 

Oak Bay Tourism

 

 

Convocations begin June 10th

Thousands of University of Victoria students from around the world will formally conclude years of studies next week when they cross the stage of the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium during nine Spring Convocation ceremonies, from June 10 – 14. The university will confer 3,434 degrees, diplomas and certificates upon students from the capital region, across Canada, and 47 other countries. Ceremonies begin at 2:30 p.m. Monday followed by twice-daily ceremonies, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., through the week. All of the ceremonies will be webcast live at uvic.ca/convocation.

 

New inter-faculty research centre opens

The Institute for Studies and Innovation in Community-University Engagement (ISICUE) has opened at UVic.   It will study and practice community-university engagement with the aim of creating solutions to community issues, such as sustainability, housing, Indigenous knowledge and health, food security and community mapping.  See

http://ring.uvic.ca/news/new-institute-support-community-university-engagement

 

New Exhibit opens June 19 - Core Samples: Visual Arts Faculty 1963-1985

This exhibition at the Legacy Gallery presents an overview of the University of Victoria's Visual Arts department from its earliest days as a breakaway department from the Faculty of Education to the individually and collectively earned reputations for innovation in painting, printmaking, drawing, photography and sculpture.  See http://www.uvac.uvic.ca/#section0-11

 

Freshwater at issue

UVic’s POLIS Project on Ecological Governance and UVic’s Centre for Global Studies are co-hosting a day-long event this month to explore the complex challenges facing freshwater ecosystem health in the Capital Regional District (CRD). The June 17 event will combine presentations from leading researchers with an on-the-ground tour of the urban water cycle in the CRD. To secure a spot for the day, please RSVP to Jesse Baltutis at water@polisproject.org. (To cover incremental transportation and catering costs for the field trip, participants are required to pay a $25 registration fee; this fee is payable upon arrival at the morning public talk. The afternoon speaker series is free, with no RSVP required.) For more details, including the full event agenda, please visit 2013/05/POLIS-Workshop-2v1.pdf on the POLIS website (www.polisproject.org).

 

For a calendar of more free community events see http://events.uvic.ca/