Community Support
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 humor 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 wom...
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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, Ƶ (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 Ƶ 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 Ƶ’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
Ƶ 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. Ƶ 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 Ƶ 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 Ƶ’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 Ƶ is now in sight.The Ƶ (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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Ƶ 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, Ƶ 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 Ƶ (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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Ƶ 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 Ƶ (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 Ƶ at Ƶ
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 Ƶ 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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Ƶ students lead the charge with EnactusOC’s project on renewable energy education
October 28, 2024
For Ƶ students Reece LeGuilloux and Kayla Warner, their involvement with the student business club Enactus Ƶ (EnactusOC) is about more than just extracurricular activities, it’s about making a real difference.The two second-year business students recently achieved a major milestone when the EnactusOC project, “Revive,” was awarded $4,300 in funding by 100 Women Who Care in the South Okanagan/Similkameen area. This funding will help expand their renewable energy education program to middle schools a...
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Award-Winning Chef Shucks Up Fun at Upcoming Tasting Festival
October 23, 2024
Infusions Restaurant at Ƶ has been one of Kelowna’s best-kept culinary secrets, but word is getting out as diners are going public, serving up excellent reviews. The restaurant, led by former Top Chef contestant Ruth Wigman, received OpenTable’s 2024 Diner’s Choice award, which recognizes outstanding restaurants based on feedback from local diners.Chef Wigman, who competed on Food Network’s Canada’s Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay, noted the impressive achievement is a testament to the student chefs who prepar...
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Tom Dyck joins OC Foundation Board of Directors
August 20, 2024
The Ƶ Foundation is pleased to welcome Tom Dyck, who is joining its Board of Directors for a four-year term. Tom is a retired senior executive who has worked in banking at a national and international level for a large part of his career. We asked Tom to share what motivated him to volunteer his time and how education has transformed his own life.What inspired you to join the Ƶ Foundation board of directors?The types of skills people learn at Ƶ are in such demand and are just not pro...
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Camp OC: Where Summer Fun Meets Support
July 29, 2024
Summer is in full swing at Ƶ campuses across Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Salmon Arm, where Camp OC has opened its doors once again. Running throughout the summer, Camp OC aims to engage children in a variety of interests from engineering and arts to music, science, culinary arts, trades, and computers. With hundreds of children expected weekly, the campuses are buzzing with laughter and excitement as kids dive into their passions.For families like the Smiths, Camp OC isn't just a summer camp—it's a vital sup...
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Paddle fundraiser raises over $29,000 for Sunflower Childcare Centre
July 25, 2024
On July 20th, Kristin (Postill) Holomis and her team paddled the length of Kalamalka Lake (18km) in support of the Ƶ Foundation’s Sunflower childcare campaign, raising more than $29,000 in just a few weeks.“Stand Up For” is an annual local fundraising effort by Kristin Holomis and Brittney Page where they paddleboard the length of Kalamalka Lake in support of a chosen charity. This year they paddled for OC’s new Sunflower Childcare Centre, located on the Vernon campus. Scheduled to open in September, The Sunflower Chi...
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