ǿմý Life

Former ‘Top Chef’ takes the reins at ǿմý’s Infusions restaurant
January 17, 2023
Fans of Canada’s Top Chef will recognize the name of the new Executive Chef at Infusions. Ruth Wigman, whose 20-year career has taken her coast to coast, brings a fresh and exciting perspective to the restaurant at ǿմý staffed by Culinary Arts students. Wigman, who was a contestant on the Food Network’s Canada’s Top Chef program in 2014, most recently worked as the executive sous-chef at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport for over three years. Before that, she worked at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and the Fairmount Sout...
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Salmon Arm Campus is More than You Think….
December 13, 2022
Katie Thielman joins a lengthy list of locals who have made ǿմý’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 ǿմý (ǿմý) 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...
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ǿմý Foundation distributes over $450,000 in student awards in under two weeks
December 6, 2022
The holiday spirit came early for ǿմý students who were the recipients of 426 bursary, scholarship and awards this past month, which totalled over $450,000. Students also had the chance to meet the donors who support the bursaries, scholarships and awards at receptions held at each of ǿմý’s Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton campuses in November. Each event included an Indigenous welcome, student and donor speakers and most significantly, time for all invited guests to connect and celebrate a shared commitment...
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Candlelight Vigils return to ǿմý’s Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses
December 6, 2022
ǿմý’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 ǿմý, ǿմý Students’ Union (ǿմýSU), Vernon St...
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ǿմý Chef stars in House Special docuseries
November 29, 2022
When it comes to comfort food, sometimes the simplest dishes from childhood land closest to the heart. That's the secret behind the recipe Chef Han Lin shared, when he was interviewed for a Telus documentary, House Special Episode 3: Hungry for Home. House Special is a docuseries exploring Chinese-Canadian history through small town restaurants and the families who run them. In episode 3, the host explores secret menus and hidden Chinese supermarkets, and even features a Kelowna driving range. The episode caps off with a lesson fr...
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ǿմý to host Kelowna campus open house, program spotlights this Saturday
November 17, 2022
Soaring careers in aviation. Sustainable building for the future. Life-changing health care roles. The social sciences that help us understand and better our world. The trades that keep our province and country running. Business skills for the leaders of today and tomorrow. Upgrading that opens doors to new career paths. How to apply and finance your education. All this and more will await guests to ǿմý’s Kelowna campus Open House this weekend. ǿմý is opening its doors to the community on Saturday, Nov. 19...
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Enactus ǿմý represents Canada on the world stage, finishes in top four
November 3, 2022
Students from ǿմý represented Canada on the global stage this week, presenting their social enterprise business at a prestigious international competition and finishing in the final four of 32 teams. Enactus ǿմý, comprised of students from the ǿմý School of Business, won the national title in September and earned the right to wear the maple leaf and represent Canada at the Enactus World Cup in Puerto Rico. The final round of competition wrapped up on Nov. 2. “We are so proud of this team and of all Okanaga...
Read more...ǿմý welcomes new member to Board of Governors
October 18, 2022
A local business leader has been appointed to ǿմý’s Board of Governors. Dustyn Baulkham, a Kelowna-based entrepreneur, has been appointed for a one-year term to the Board. “ǿմý is pleased to welcome Dustyn to our Board of Governors,” says Juliette Cunningham, board chair. “He brings experience and skills to the table that will be valuable as we continue in our ǿմý Mission to transform lives and communities.” Baulkham is the founder and CEO of Rebellious Unicorns, an events, broadcasting, and media produ...
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TD gives $85,000 to help kids and newcomers access ǿմý’s Indigenous Garden
October 18, 2022
Hawthorn, wolf willow, and sage are among the traditional plants growing in the garden on the hillside at ǿմý’s Vernon campus, which this year was visited by more than 250 local school children, thanks to generous support from TD Bank Group. TD’s gift, made earlier in 2022, is funding tours of the K'nmaĺka Senqâĺten - Kalamalka Indigenous garden for children and newcomers to Canada. The garden is located on ǿմý’s Vernon campus. ǿմý has already received a portion of the funding; the remainder...
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ǿմý welcomes new Associate Director, Indigenization
October 17, 2022
ǿմý is pleased to welcome Rhea Dupuis, x̌ʷnámx̌ʷnəm, as the College’s first Associate Director, Indigenization. Rhea, from the Syilx Okanagan Nation and a member of the Penticton Indian Band, brings more than 20 years experience to ǿմý, working in both public and Indigenous education systems, as well as with mental health and wellness organizations. Rhea’s traditional name is x̌ʷnámx̌ʷnəm, a Syilx name which means Hummingbird. “I am both thrilled and grateful that Rhea has chosen to share her wisdom, skills and experie...
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Fall Open House and Info Sessions return at ǿմý
October 14, 2022
High school students, parents and people of all ages considering post-secondary education – mark your calendars. ǿմý 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 ǿմý’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...
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Meet Chef Rob Walker
October 12, 2022
Q: What is your name? A: Chef Robert Walker Q: What did you take at ǿմý/OUC? What years did you attend? What campus did you attend? A: I graduate from the Culinary Arts Certificate program at Okanagan University College in 2001. Q: Why did you choose your program at ǿմý? A: I grew up in the Kootenays not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life. But I always loved food. In the back of my head was this question, “How do I become a chef?” I had my eye on the Okanag...
Read more...ǿմý’s 3 Hour Short Story Contest returns to challenge young writers
October 11, 2022
Calling all bloggers, bards and balladists: ǿմý is inviting young wordsmiths to ply their trade under a tight time limit for bragging rights and prizes. The ǿմý 3 Hour Short Story Contest returns in 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to gathering restrictions. Aspiring authors who are up for the challenge will need to make careful use of the 180 minutes they’ll be given to craft a compelling original short story at the contest, which will be held Nov. 5 from 1 – 4 p.m. at each of the College’s campuses in Penticton, Kelo...
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ǿմý’s Red Dot Players return with series of funny folk tales
October 6, 2022
For the first time ever, the Red Dot Players, ǿմý’s community theatre troupe, will present a fall production this year, delving into the world of fables and folk tales. The Red Dot Players will present Folk Tales: Grimm & Otherwise this fall, the first time the community theatre company has produced a show in the fall, in addition to its regular spring-time feature. “This production has been bouncing around in my head for many years,” said Mike Minions, the show’s director and producer, and recently retired Okana...
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Okanagan Enactus team takes top spot at Nationals
October 5, 2022
This past weekend, Enactus ǿմý (ǿմý) travelled to Toronto, Ontario to compete in the Enactus Canada National Exposition final round. They became the first team from Western Canada to be crowned the National champion out of more than 60 teams across Canada. Their award-winning home-grown project is providing nutritious food to people locally and multiple countries around the world. Their win will now see the students travel abroad to share their inspiring idea and compete at the next level. Unusually Good Food Company ...
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Prepare to be scared: ǿմý hosts outdoor Fear Film Fest
October 3, 2022
Eat, drink and be scary with ǿմý’s Fear Film Fest, a series of outdoor film screenings in the Kelowna campus courtyard from Oct. 4 to 6. Hosted by the Communications Department, the open-air screenings were popular events with students before the pandemic, and are returning this year with the goal to make your hair stand on end. “We’re reviving a long-standing department tradition of hosting community building events as a way to increase student engagement. We hope the timing of this film fest will also give students ...
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