Emma Berg

Forging paths: $1M donation from Gene Haas Foundation paves the way for BCIT students through faculty like Indigenous Red Seal Machinist Chelsea Barron

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Chelsea Barron in machine shop smiling

Chelsea Barron has an angel. Her name was Angelina. She hunted on horseback, and was a residential school survivor and fierce mother of nine children. Angelina was her grandmother and is a driving inspiration in Chelsea’s life. “My grandmother was barely 20 years old when she decided to leave the reservation,” Chelsea says, recalling stories … Read more

A family history of nursing and the future of health care: BC Children’s Hospital COO and INSPIRE Campaign champion Sarah Bell says embracing possibility is key

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With three generations of nurses behind her, Sarah Bell, a BCIT Nursing alumna, seemed destined to work in the noble profession herself. “Nursing is in my blood,” says Sarah, Chief Operating Officer of BC Children’s Hospital. “I’m a fourth-generation nurse in my family. At the heart of nursing is caring about people and that’s what … Read more

Student Association commits $130,000 to BCIT Student Emergency Response Fund, helping students find brighter futures

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When Jose L. came to Canada in May 2019 with his wife and two children, he sought to give his family a better future. It was an exciting new beginning. With the goal of providing for his family, Jose made advancing his education one of his first priorities. He chose BCIT. “I firmly believe that … Read more

BCIT Student Awards Celebration launches online: recognizing high-achieving students of 2020

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Congratulations to the BCIT student award recipients of 2020. On November 4, BCIT launched the online Student Awards Celebration to recognize their achievements and to provide a unique experience that students can share with their family, friends, peers, and mentors. “On behalf of all our exceptional faculty and staff here at BCIT, I am very … Read more

One million reasons to smile: BCIT Alumni Association pledges historic gift to establish the BCIT Alumni Centre

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The BCIT Alumni Association (BCITAA) is proud to announce its largest-ever donation. “On behalf of the Alumni Association board, I am proud to pledge $1 million to the BCIT INSPIRE Campaign,” says Emil Bosnjak, President, BCITAA. “Like countless alumni, I have experienced how an applied education from BCIT sets our graduates apart as problem-solving innovators, … Read more

Pivoting in a pandemic: Two BCIT engineering alumni help businesses optimize using smart technology

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During a pandemic, it’s not business as usual. Grocery stores have expanded to digital ordering. Restaurants have shifted to curbside pick-up. Breweries and distilleries are making hand sanitizer. And now, with help from innovation experts like BCIT alumni Steve Thompson and Kam Dhillon, businesses are optimizing their production processes and fulfillment operations with technology including … Read more

BCIT alumna and restoration officer Mae Whyte says Indigenous knowledge is key to successful ecological restoration

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Rolling green valleys, rivers teeming with rainbow trout, and roaming moose characterize this northeastern Canadian jewel—the Peace River Region. It has been home and life to generations of Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. It is also where BCIT alumna Mae Whyte puts her passion for both environmental conservation and community building into meaningful action. “I … Read more

From structures to communities, this Indigenous BCIT ironworking alum looks to a brighter future

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BCIT Indigenous alumnus Brandon Darbyshire-Joseph stands at a job site with two co-workers

“I’d like to see our people get an opportunity to live a better life, to be able to take care of their families,” says Brandon Darbyshire-Joseph, an Indigenous BCIT Ironworking alumnus. “I’m a big believer that every generation can do better.” Brandon’s passion for creating positive change was forged from a family history pitted with … Read more

Caring community of donors gives generously to support BCIT students in urgent financial need

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student writing notes at table

When BCIT students found themselves in sudden and urgent financial need due to the pandemic, our community of donors answered the call. “Several hundreds of BCIT students reached out to us with heart-wrenching letters,” says Paul McCullough, Vice President, BCIT Advancement. “BCIT responded quickly by establishing the COVID-19 Emergency Student Response Fund to provide one-time … Read more

Alumni industry leaders share their insights on the impact of the pandemic at BCIT Alumni Association’s 2020 AGM

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Screen shot of three alumni guest speaker panel

“When there’s a crisis, you go to work and you get it done,” said Anne McMullin, President of Urban Development Institute, a non-profit association for BC’s real estate development industry. “We need to come together, more than ever, to rebuild and come out of this better than we were.” A BCIT Journalism alumna (’91), Anne … Read more