Speak Up Speak Out Week!

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At BCIT, we recognize students’ struggle with mental health. School is difficult and can sometimes be overwhelming. Especially if you’re just starting out – a first-year student at BCIT, with seven to eight courses per term. It can be overwhelming. You’re thinking about getting satisfactory grades, so you study hard, forget about sleeping, eating, and … Read more

Interpreting serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) patterns

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Following my rotation in Anatomical Pathology, I spent one week on accessioning review and another three in Chemistry. BCIT students get their phlebotomy competencies signed off during a two-week placement in Level 1, so whether you collect blood during the long block practicum is very much dependent on the practicum site. In Kelowna I had … Read more

BCIT organized a record-breaking pancake breakfast fundraiser

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BCIT fundraiser

The charitable Halloween Pancake Breakfast is an annual tradition for the community at BCIT. Organized by the School of Construction and the Environment (SOCE), the 2018 Halloween Pancake Breakfast fundraiser was Harry Potter-themed with a record-breaking $5,060 raised in support of the United Way of the Lower Mainland (UWLM).      New this year, Chartwells made this the … Read more

Lisa Chu appointed Dean, School of Health Sciences

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BCIT is pleased to announce that Lisa Chu has been appointed Dean, School of Health Sciences. Lisa has more than 20 years’ experience in academic and healthcare leadership, including a decade with the Fraser Health Authority in various roles including Director, Clinical Programs, Older Adult Programs and Director, Site Operations, Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery … Read more

Annual Civil Engineering Pumpkin Carving Contest

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Every Halloween in civil engineering we pause for an hour during the height of the crazy mid-term season and compete to see who can carve the best pumpkin. Fuelled by Michael Jackson’s Thriller on repeat, bite-sized trick or treater candy, and prizes generously donated by the School of Construction and the Environment, we have 30 … Read more

Faculty feature: How a love of tech and writing led one BCIT instructor to a dream career

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Business Communication & Web Writing Instructor Geraldine Eliot shares her personal journey into the tech sector that has spanned two continents. How did you get into tech? My journey into the tech sector has had some twists and turns. In many ways I tumbled into it, as I’ve followed a path of both writing and … Read more

Future of green buildings on display November 9 at BCIT High Performance Building Lab

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Members of the public and the BCIT community will get a rare peek at the future of green buildings when the BCIT High Performance Building Lab opens its doors on November 9, 2018 as part of International Passive House Open House Days. BCIT High Performance Building Lab The Lab – one of only three facilities … Read more

Managing a healthy work school life balance

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Managing a healthy school to work life balance can be challenging, especially when you’re in a full-time program at BCIT. There will be points throughout the semester when you will feel like the world is crumbling around, but don’t worry, take a deep breath.  Everything will be okay. The program I am enrolled in is … Read more

Care for Self-care

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By now students should have realized what they have gotten themselves into, however, rest assured that BCIT does indeed care about the overall well-being of its students. That was why for the month of October, financial and psychological well-being were highlighted. Furthermore, to relieve some of the stress, anxiety, and depression that comes with a double-digit course load, BCIT visited all five campuses throughout the month with self-care stations/booths.

Hosted by our very own Student Life Ambassadors, these stations created a zen zone, free from test scores and filled with positivity, along with information on free BCIT services that can improve psychological health:

  • Professional counselling
  • Sun stations
  • Zen lounge
  • Mindfulness sessions
  • Contemplation rooms
  • Doggy de-stress

Stations included a colouring page for students who wanted to stop by, hang out and colour. The following picture was the result. I like to think that this poster represents the internal mind of the every day BCIT student – misplaced crazy colours all over the place, but just enough between the lines to look like we have it together. This poster will be posted on BCIT’s social media to represent the collective effort to enhance every students’ psychological well-being.

Free tea, aromatherapy oils, and fidget toys also set the mood for a stress-free zone. However, if you were one of those students who didn’t have time to say “hello”, hopefully you were still able to grab a positive message in the form of a mini scroll to brighten your day.

Mental health is arguably the most important dimension of well-being for post-secondary students as they face social and parental pressures to succeed. Now, take that level of importance and triple it for the warrior students that rumble on BCIT’s battleground and the unavoidable conclusion that brings us to the edge of a mental breakdown, with the only thing keeping us together being Triple O’s Tuesdays. However, by the end of it all, we will be unstoppable.

“Whatever they did to me made me totally indestructible.” – Deadpool