Four Selkirk College instructors have been recognized for their professional excellence in the classroom and the college community.

Each year, Selkirk’s Standing Committee on Professional Excellence (SCOPE) honours staff members who stand out. Nominated by students and peers, the SCOPE Awards are handed out for exceptional performance.

This year’s SCOPE Award recipients include Taya Whitehead, Janet Mayr, Tracy Harvey and Carol Andrews. The award winners will be honoured in a ceremony in the Staff Lounge on the Castlegar Campus on Thursday, September 25 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served and all are welcome.

Selkirk College Instructor Carol Andrews is highly respected by both students and peers. She will join fellow Selkirk instructors Taya Whitehead, Janet Mayr and Tracy Harvey in receiving one of this year’s SCOPE Awards that will be presented on September 25 at the Castlegar Campus.

“Every time I enter her classroom she always has a welcoming smile on her face and brightens up the room with her sense of humor,” a student wrote in Mayr’s nomination. “It is clear that Janet is passionate about her teaching.”

Instructors Who Bring Passion and Enthusiasm Every Day

Mayr is an instructor of Sociology and Women’s Studies in the School of University Arts & Sciences. Mayr has also been involved outside the classroom, working on Selkirk’s Curriculum Committee and the Status of Women Committee over the years.

Whitehead is an instructor in the Early Childhood Care & Education Program (ECCE). Nominated by a colleague, Whitehead is described as having made significant contributions to the College in the six years that she has been a Selkirk employee. Upon her arrival, Whitehead did a complete revision of the ECCE program which has resulted in three levels of ECCE programming at the College today: certificate, diploma, and post basic specialty certificates. She also developed an Employment Skills Access Training Program in Early Childhood Education which saw approximately 80 students trained as assistants in the West Kootenay Region.

Harvey is an instructor in the School of Environment & Geomatics. Harvey’s students describe her as passionate, enthusiastic and authentic. Harvey’s colleagues agree that she is a devoted student advocate who contributes generously to the College, serving on the Strategic Planning Committee, working with the Institutional Research team, and introducing new technology into the classroom.

Andrews is also an instructor in the School of Environment & Geomatics. In the nomination, Andrews’ colleagues spoke of her dedication to students and the program.

“She cares about each and every one of them and sets no limitations on what she will do to help them be better students and better people,” one colleague wrote. “I witness this virtually every day throughout the school year. It’s way, way more than just lectures and labs and marking and exams for Carol.  She relishes their every success. Carol is always well prepared for class and ensures the material she is teaching is current. She also has a wonderful sense of humor which goes a long way in the classroom.”

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The Selkirk Saints Men’s Hockey Team opened the exhibition season with a pair of hard fought and exciting games against the Trail Smoke Eaters in a showcase that provided a taste of what’s to come for the 2014-15 campaign.

The inter-league set matched the two-time defending British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) champions against the region’s only British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) squad. The outcome was two intense games that tested the early season talents on both clubs.

Selkirk Saints veteran defenceman Stefan Gonzales weaves his way through the Trail Smoke Eaters defence during Saturday night’s match at the Cominco Arena. See full photo gallery from Saturday night on Facebook.

Saturday night was a fitting finish to a great weekend of hockey as the Smokies triumphed over the Saints with a 5-4 double overtime victory at the Cominco Arena. A quick pace and end-to-end action in the third and overtime periods made up for the mediocre first and second frames.

Saints Stage Saturday Night Comeback

The Smoke Eaters came out with a vengeance and controlled play in the earlygoing earning 1-0 and 3-1 leads in each of the first two periods. Craig Zuccarini, Craig Martin and Dallas Calvin potted goals for the home team while Jackson Garrett notched a goal for Selkirk. The Saints came alive in the third, scoring three times on goals from Matt Martin and Mason Spear (2). Brendan Volpe tallied for Trail which knotted the game, sending it to overtime.

It took the Saints a while to get going on Saturday, but they eventually worked themselves back into the contest. Darnell Dyck, Jackson Garrett and Saints captain Logan Proulx celebrate a second period goal.

“We didn’t start the game the way any team would want to,” said Saints new head coach Alex Evin. “We had slow feet in our zone and didn’t compete our hardest to win any puck battles, especially when we had numbers. However, we have to give Trail credit because they played with a lot of intensity, which complemented their speed and skill very well.

“Our goaltenders Mike Vlanich and James Prigione kept the game within reach with some huge saves throughout the game and it allowed us to claw back and make a game of it in the second half.”

Midway through the second overtime period that included back-and-forth three on three action, the Smokies persistence paid off when Martin tallied his second of the night off a beautiful feed from Zane Shartz. Both teams traded multiple scoring chances that included a penalty shot save by 16-year-old Smokies’ netminder Solomon Burk who came into the game in the third period to make his Junior A debut.

Big Crowd Friday Takes in High Scoring Affair

Both teams introduced each other during an epic battle Friday night at the Castlegar Community Complex. A crowd of more than 400 was treated to a fast paced game from beginning to end, including big hits and great goals. Selkirk earned a hard fought 7-4 victory increasing their impressive home unbeaten streak to 30 games.

Veteran defenceman Arie Postmus played a solid game on the blueline.

Newcomer Ryan Edwards led the way for the Saints with a hat trick while Ryan Henderson, Tylor Branzsen, Darnell Dyck and Thomas Hardy added singles. Scoring for the Smoke Eaters was Zuccarini (2), Ryan Swanson and Keenan Scott. The Saints goaltending duties were shared by Prigione and Steven Glass.

“I hope everyone in attendance enjoyed these hockey games,” said Evin. “They were intense and fast. Both had exciting finishes and both teams respect one another. We wish the Smokies a great season and will support them any way we can.”

SAINTS NOTES: The Saints lost second year defenseman Ryan Procyshyn to a broken ankle suffered in Saturday’s loss…. The next exhibition games for the Saints include a rematch of the BCIHL Championship final when they host Trinity Western University at the Cominco Arena on Friday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m. … Grant MacEwan University from the Alberta College Athletic Conference then visits the Saints September 27 at 7:00 p.m. and September 28 at 11:00 a.m. at Castlegar Community Complex... Selkirk will start the BCIHL season on the road the first two weekends in October after which they will commemorate their second straight BCIHL Championship with a banner raising ceremony at the October 17 home opener.

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Bringing important peace and social justice issues to the forefront in the region, the Selkirk College Mir Centre for Peace has embarked on a new season of lectures and peace cafés.

Since 2007, the Mir Lecture Series and Mir Peace Cafés have brought a diverse selection of local and international speakers to the West Kootenay-Boundary. Over the next few months that tradition will continue with seven events to mark in your calendar.

Tibetan Buddhist scholar and artist Lama Losang Samten was the first visitor to the region that was part of the Mir Peace Cafés series. He spent a week in the Nelson area earlier this month and took part in a peace café at the United Church in Nelson where he spoke about his time working as an advisor on the Martin Scorsese movie Kundun.

“These events are important because they bring the community into the conversations and raise awareness about important issues related to peace and social justice,” says Cara-Lee Malange, Coordinator of Mir Centre Community Programs.

“We want to stimulate inquiry and hope that people are inspired by listening to people like Steven Lewis or James Orbinski or Chris Hedges. Not only to understand more about the issues, but to engage in the issues more fully so that our citizens are empowered to participate more effectively in the solutions to the complex social, political and economic challenges underlying social injustice and threats to peace.”

List of World Class Speakers Growing

Canadian humanitarian Lewis was the first marquee speaker to be brought to the region under a Selkirk College endowment that was years in the making. Since that time, the ongoing series of lectures has allowed for speakers such as David Suzuki, Izzeldin Abuelaish, Justice Murray Sinclair and Samantha Nutt to come face-to-face with locals.

“Having good insight from these world class speakers about what the real and structural challenges are behind these peace and social justice related issues,” says Malange.

This year’s series peace cafés and lectures have already begun with a visit by Tibetan Buddhist scholar and artist Lama Losang Samten who spent a week in the Nelson area earlier this month. Samten took part in a peace café at the United Church in Nelson where he spoke about his time working as an advisor on the Martin Scorsese movie Kundun.

Great Line-Up Over Two Months

The series continues over the next few months with the following events (see selkirk.ca for details of times and locations):

• September 21: Mir Lecture - Indigenous Perspective on Healing and Expressive Arts.
• September 23: Peace Café - Author Joan Harper will speak on her book He Moved a Mountain: Frank Calder and the Nisga’a Land Claims Accord.
• October 2: Peace Café - Guatemalan feminist and performance artist Sandra Moran will speak on “Confronting the Multiple Systems of Oppression in the Path to Peace.”
• October 9: Peace Café - Selkirk College Instructor Denis Kleine and the Peace Symbol Project
• October 16: Peace Café - North & South: The Documentary.
• November 7: Mir Lecture - Award winning Canadian author Lawrence Hill will speak on his new book Blood: The Stuff of Life.
• November 13: Resource Extraction Industries in the South & the North.

More events and dates will be announced for the second half of the year which will begin in January.

Without individual and corporate donors, Malange says the series would not be possible.

“This is a result of the individuals and organizations that have been so generous with the endowment that allows for this level of speakers,” she says.

Learn more about the Selkirk College Mir Centre for Peace and join us on Facebook.

For a quarter century, instructors at from the Selkirk College Music & Technology Program have hit the stage to show they are more than just great teachers.

The annual Faculty Concert is an opportunity for the program’s nine veteran musicians to start the school year off right with a show that spans musical styles and displays their considerable chops.

“We have to show students that we can apply what we preach,” Keyboard Instructor Gilles Parenteau says with a laugh. “But just as important, we want to share this music with the community.”

Selkirk College Music & Technology Program instructor Melody Diachun will be one of nine instructors taking part in the annual Faculty Concert on September 26.

This year’s Faculty Concert takes place at the Shambhala Music & Performance Hall on Nelson’s Tenth Street Campus at 7:00 p.m. on September 26. The show will feature solo, duet and group performances from the faculty who are well known in the community for their amazing skills. Joining Parenteau will be Melody Diachun, Don Macdonald, Darren Mahe, Paul Landsberg, Laura Landsberg, Mark Spielman, Kiyo Elkuf and Steven Parish. They will bring a set of jazz, rock, blues, folk and country to the stage.

“Over the course of the year, we see each other in the hallways and in the class,” says Parenteau. “But we are all musicians at heart and this is what we love to do… perform.”

One of the highlights of the show will be an arrangement put together by Macdonald for program alumnae Kiesza’s mega worldwide hit Hideaway.

Giving More Meaning to the Music

Last year’s concert was a special benefit show for Pat Henman, the Selkirk College employee and music program supporter who was seriously injured in a car accident the previous spring. Funds raised helped with Henman’s extensive recovery process. Now on her road to recovery, Henman will be providing the MC duties for this year’s show.

“Pat is such a great person, we are so pleased to have her as part of the show this year,” says Parenteau.

Though not traditionally a benefit show, this year’s concert will also be helping raise funds. Parenteau and the faculty recently received word that 2002 graduate Sharon Maranz has been diagnosed with stage-four lymphoma. The music teacher left the Kootenays after graduation, but returned to Nelson in 2012. Due to her serious illness Maranz has had to return to Israel to be with her family who is looking after her four-year-old daughter.

Funds raised at the September 26 Faculty Concert will go towards program alumnae Sharon Maranz (pictured here with her daughter Daisy) who has been diagnosed with stage-four lymphoma.

“It’s a very sad situation and we are all very upset by the news,” says Parenteau. “We felt like music is a way to reach out to Sharon and her family to show our support. We wish her well and want to do whatever we can for her and her daughter.”

Maranz’s best friend—who she met while attending Selkirk College’s music program—Jewleana Marens informed Parenteau of the news and has traveled to Israel to be with her.

“For Sharon and I, the Selkirk music department and all the friends we made there feels like family to us,” says Marens. “It has been a long journey for Sharon. The community has been generous with supporting her in many ways and we are thankful to our former instructors for helping out.”

The Faculty Concert is by donation. Doors open at 7 p.m. (show at 7:30 p.m.) and seating is limited so arrive early.

Learn more about the Selkirk College Music & Technology Program and join us on Facebook.

The cost of a post-secondary education shouldn’t be a barrier to pursuing dreams and that’s why Selkirk College Financial Aid Officer Janine Hendry is always ready to help find solutions to a common student predicament.

“The cost of college can be daunting and some people think that a post-secondary education is unattainable because of the financial burden,” says Hendry. “I’m here to find the different avenues for students and their families so that kind of pressure is not something that prevents people from realizing their potential.”

Selkirk College Financial Aid Officer Janine Hendry sets up at different events throughout the year to build awareness and can also be reached at her Castlegar Campus office.

Hendry’s role at Selkirk College is to help students through the student loan process, troubleshoot the student loan appeals process, provide options and opportunities through scholarships and bursaries, point students towards work study programs, and help with budgeting. The Financial Aid Office is located on the Castlegar Campus, but its services are available to students on all campuses and all prospective students.  

“I’m here to help students and parents plan for education, help them throughout their educational experience and afterwards when they need to start paying back their student loans,” says Hendry.

A New Opportunity for Financial Aid Officer

Hendry is new to the position, taking over from outgoing Financial Aid Officer Joleen Kinakin who moved to the college’s Donor Relations position over the summer. A Selkirk College employee since 2000, Hendry has worked in a number of departments including the Selkirk College Foundation, Finance, Aviation, Word Processing, International Education and Payroll. With a strong background in finance and accounting, Hendry is able to provide sound advice and direction to students.

“It’s rewarding to be able to talk with students and calm their anxieties a little bit,” she says. “We can’t help everybody, but at least they know there is somebody here doing their best to work on solutions.”

The work Hendry does on daily basis is available to all students regardless of background and circumstance. One of the challenges of her department is to let people know that help is only a phone call or email away. She also puts on several presentations at the college and in high schools over the course of the year.

“There are a lot of people who are not aware that this service exists and awareness is part of my job,” says Hendry. “I get out in the community so they know that I am here to help them on their pathway to their new future.”

You can reach Hendry by email (jhendry@selkirk.ca), phone (250.365.1290) or by making an appointment through a Selkirk College counsellor.

Learn more about the Selkirk College Financial Aid Office and join us on Facebook.

Selkirk College staff and students are inviting the community to join them for a celebration barbecue that will mark five decades of quality trades training, career programs and community education at Nelson’s Silver King Campus.

The Selkirk College Silver King Campus has graduated thousands of students over the last 50 years in a variety of trades and career programs, including this Millwright Program class from the early 1970s.

An education cornerstone in the region since 1964, the campus opened as the BC Vocational School with a vision of expanding training opportunities in Nelson and beyond. Over the last 50 years the trades programs have been the mainstay, but many other programs have been based out of the 35-acre campus including Nursing, Ski Resort Operations & Management (SROAM), Hospitality & Tourism, Professional Cooking, Adult Basic Education, the Kootenay School of the Arts (now known as Kootenay Studio Arts) and many more.

“It’s incredible to think about how students have enhanced their lives through education on that campus over the last 50 years,” says Selkirk College’s Dean of Instruction for Nelson Kate Pelletier. “The mission of Selkirk College is to inspire lifelong learning, transform lives through education and training, and serve our communities. That mission has certainly been accomplished and continues to grow at the Silver King Campus.”

Community Invited to Join the Celebration

The Silver King Campus 50^th Birthday Barbecue will take place on Wednesday, October 8 between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. All former students, staff and community supporters are invited to share in the celebration. Lunch, cake and refreshments will be served.

A whole host of trades programs continue to thrive on the Selkirk College Silver King Campus, including the Welding Program which is at capacity this fall.

In 1975, the established vocational school was officially merged with Selkirk College. To mark the importance of the Toad Mountain area to Nelson’s mining past, the campus was renamed Silver King.

Today the Silver King Campus is home to Hairdressing, Esthetics, Carpentry, Fine Woodworking, Heavy Mechanical, Plant Operator, Welding, Electrical, Millwright/Machinist, Metal Fabricator, Adult Basic Education, Transitional Training, and a wide range of community education courses and classes.

“This campus is an important community asset and we want to share the 50^th celebration with the community,” says Industry & Trades Training school chair Dan Obradovic.

Learn more about the Silver King Campus and join us on Facebook.

Students in the Selkirk College Digital Arts & New Media Program received a major dose of inspiration after spending a morning with a group of ultra-talented alumni and industry insiders.

In the last week of September, the program invited the seven members of its Advisory Committee to the Tenth Street Campus in Nelson to meet with faculty and join a panel discussion with students. The two-day event provided an opportunity for all involved to discuss the latest trends and fast moving future of an industry exploding with creativity.

First and second year Digital Arts & New Media Program students had an opportunity to pick the brains of the talented group of program Advisory Committee members late last month at the Shambhala Music & Performance Hall on Nelson’s Tenth Street Campus.

“We want to stay current and we want to make sure that when students graduate from the program the outcomes meet industry standards and what employers are looking for,” says Jason Taylor, Chair of the Selkirk College School of Arts and one of the Digital Arts & New Media Program instructors.

A Mega-Talented Advisory Committee

Advisory Committee members include Josh Zak, Sean Smiley, Evan Brynne, Nichola Lytle, Rob Sulman, Evan Purcer and Jeremy Kenning. The committee brought with them a rich diversity of backgrounds that includes software engineers, digital designers, graphic designers, illustrators and creative directors.

The talent and accomplishments of the group runs deep with the members working for a variety of big names like Red Bull, Disney, Electronic Arts, Nissan, Lululemon, Kona, Whitewater Winter Resort, North Face and Arcteryx. Software engineers Purcer and Brynne both arrived from California where they work for social media giants LinkedIn (Purcer) and Twitter (Brynne).

Selkirk College alumni and program Advisory Committee member Jeremy Kenning was part of the ultra-talented group who visited Selkirk College in late-September, He works for many big name companies and worked on the above teaser for Fly Over Canada where he provided the end bumper. See work by the other committee members by clicking their names above.

The committee met with faculty on the first day to discuss curriculum in the two-year Nelson-based program. On the second day, the floor was opened up to 48 first and second year students who had an opportunity to ask questions and pick the brains of the experts during a morning session at the Shambhala Music & Performance Hall. Students were able to get a good sense of what they are in for when they graduate and enter the exciting industry.

Equipping Students with the Proper Tools

“Josh [Zak] described it as your body of knowledge being shaped like a ‘T.’ The top of the T is a wide grasp of a lot of subjects and the stem is your deep knowledge in one specific area,” says Taylor. “It’s a really good analogy and what they expect in the industry. That’s what our program is based on, wide in a lot of areas and then you get to focus on one specific area of interest.”

The Advisory Committee is made up of alumni, connections in the industry and individuals who have been sought out. Four of the members—Kenning, Zak, Sulman and Smiley—are former students who have used the tools provided to them at Selkirk College to carve out impressive careers. Taylor says it’s a satisfying feeling for program instructors to see graduates on the Advisory Committee and beyond making an impact in with their work.

“Every day… every day,” Taylor says when asked if he is proud of his former students. “It’s amazing what our grads are doing. I will get a call from out of the blue to check something out on the internet or find something on Facebook… it’s always impressive to see former students creating, innovating and expanding on what they learned at Selkirk College.”

Learn more about the Selkirk College Digital Arts & New Media Program and join us on Facebook.

The first class of students in the Selkirk College Rural Pre-Medicine Program have begun their journey towards a life in health care and last month received a boost when a group of veteran physicians visited to the Castlegar Campus to provide encouragement.

In mid-September, the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC), a collaborative committee made up of the Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC, was in the region for a regular meeting. Earlier this year, the JSC provided the new Selkirk College program with $1 million in funding support. Several members of the committee took the opportunity to meet campus leadership, faculty and the 17 students in the first cohort and tour the campus.

The first Selkirk College Rural Pre-Medicine Program class gathered for a group photo with faculty, Selkirk College administration and the representatives from the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues that toured the Castlegar Campus in mid-September.

“It’s a big day and it’s humbling insomuch as we are seeing students of rural origin being educated close to home in their communities that understand their needs, their wants, their desires but also their aspirations,” said Dr. Alan Ruddiman, an Oliver-based physician and Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues co-chair.

“When we look at growing the talent locally, our investment as rural physicians in the province, the Doctors of BC, our medical association and particularly the provincial government understands that we need to look at different models of how we raise, train and support doctors in British Columbia because we are really struggling to recruit doctors to rural communities and keep them there.”

After nearly two years of study and preparation, the college launched the Rural Pre-Medicine Program last November. Based out of the Castlegar Campus, the program is geared towards addressing the rural doctor shortage across Canada and offers students the opportunity to learn in the intimate setting of a community college with unique course selections.

In creating this program, Selkirk College worked closely with the UBC Faculty of Medicine, the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (a working entity of the JSC that develops and supports strategies to improve population health in rural communities), the Native Education College, the Interior Health Authority, Columbia Basin Trust, local physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and other health care providers.

A Program Suited for Rural Students

Joining the tour was Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital physician Dr. Blair Stanley. Born-and-raised in Trial, Stanley is the chair of the program’s advisory committee and was pleased to see the enthusiasm amongst the group of students.

“I remember how difficult it was at 17 to jump in a bus and go to Vancouver and be at a university with 30,000 students, all of which in my mind seemed to want to get into medical school,” Stanley said. “It was a daunting task and I really doubted my chance of success. Somehow I was able to struggle through and was fortunate to have gotten into medical school. It would have been a lot nicer if there was a program like the one here at Selkirk, I would have jumped at that without blinking an eye.”

Rural Pre-Medicine Program student Spencer Paolone addressed those in attendance on behalf of the class.

Though the program is new, Stanley said he is already seeing signs of how the rural focus and support for students can enable Rural Pre-Med to develop its own unique culture.

“I have this vision of some of the graduates of this program not only making it into medical school, but also being really grounded and solid people,” he said. “Not only because of their rural roots, but because of some of the learnings they will have had in this unique program. They will bring that groundedness and awareness into their clinical setting when they are looking after patients. I think that will be a magical connection that they will have with patients and the work they do.”

Selkirk Provides Only One Piece of the Puzzle

Solving the rural doctor shortage is not simple. There are many professional and lifestyle barriers that exist that are far too complicated to address in the classroom. But providing students from rural areas an opportunity to explore their passion in a program suited to the future they may end up living is key.

“The kind of doctor that works in a small community is the kind of doctor that is a little bit more comfortable with uncertainty,” said Stanley, who helps train residents at the Trail’s Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital. “Because you are working in small emergencies, you can have some pretty big acute illnesses that come to your doorstep and you don’t have all the equipment, tools and specialists that you would have in an urban centre. You have to be willing to live with a little bit of uncertainty and bring forward whatever skills you can with the resources that are available in your community to solve problems.”

Ruddiman, who has been an advocate for rural medicine for more than 20 years, agrees that the program will provide an advantage to students coming from smaller communities.

Dr. Alan Ruddiman(left), an Oliver-based physician and Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues co-chair, speaks with student Jesse McDonald during the tour of the Castlegar Campus.

“We’re on the threshold of something unique and interesting,” said Ruddiman. “There is a lot of happiness and elation in the room today, but tomorrow when we leave the serious business of studying begins. Supporting those young minds and their ability to see medicine through slightly different optics will actually put them in a very challenging and interesting position when it comes to the day of their interviews for university when they are ready to enter medicine.”

It’s now up to the students and from what Ruddiman saw early in their journey, there is great potential with the first Rural Pre-Medicine Program cohort.

“I have said to a number of these young people today, they should not see themselves as privileged, see yourself as incredibly blessed to have gained access to this program because I think they are threshold of huge opportunities,” Ruddiman said. “I don’t want the young people to undervalue that because this is the beginning of an incredible journey in their lives.”

Learn more about the Selkirk College Rural Pre-Medicine Program and join us on Facebook.

It’s a vital part of Nelson’s identity as a community that values its past, but Streetcar #23 may have never seen its rebirth if not for the vision of a former Selkirk College administrator who helped pluck the storied people-mover from a pathway towards total disappearance.

Streetcar #23 clangs along Nelson's waterfront as one of the community's featured attractions. Before it was restored to its former glory, the streetcar was almost lost forever. It took a strong community effort to save it and Selkirk College played a big role in its return to glory.

In 1981, Bruce Meldrum was the Principal at Selkirk College’s Silver King Campus and in his spare time took on the role of President of the Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce. When Meldrum caught wind of the rumblings to rescue the dilapidated streetcar from the backyard of a property on the North Shore of Kootenay Lake, he quickly became involved.

“To be quite honest, when we pulled it out I really thought we probably should have burned it at that time,” Meldrum remembers. “It was only half there, it was a real mess.”

The Rise and Fall and Rise of Streetcar #23

Long before rubber tire traffic dominated the roadways of the West Kootenay, residents relied on streetcars to transport them to their destinations. In Nelson, streetcars dominated its undulating terrain prior to the midway point of the 20^th Century. Streetcar #23 was part of fleet, but like the rest of the outdated public transit workhorses was taken out of commission in 1949.

Streetcar #23 is put into place at the Selkirk College Silver King Campus in November, 1982. The dilapidated streetcar would stay at the Rosemont campus for six years while it was restored and then finally moved in 1988.

Many streetcars across Canada were scrapped and destroyed, but luckily Streetcar #23 never fully vanished from the local landscape. For a short period of time it was used as an outdoor skating rink shelter in Nelson and was eventually purchased by Mr. and Mrs. JJ Carney to be used as a dog kennel. By 1980 it sat on a property along the North Shore that is currently home to the SS Nasookin wheelhouse.

The fight to save Streetcar #23 from ultimate doom is believed to have been started by former Regional District of Central Kootenay administrator Reid Henderson who wrote a letter to the City of Nelson saying it might be a good idea to purchase it for restoration. Several years of wrangling ensued as community leaders stepped up to help the effort. One of the champions of the cause was Meldrum, who had recently left Mohawk College in Ontario to take up a position at Selkirk College where he was charged with starting the Electrical Program.

“I have always had an interest in trying to preserve old things and that was a pretty unique one for the City of Nelson,” Meldrum says of his motivation to help the project.

Selkirk College Gets Involved

The early 1980s were challenging economic times in the West Kootenay and Nelson was hit particularly hard as it struggled to transition out of an economy built on industry and primary resources. Unemployment was high and the future was uncertain in a community that had witnessed the recent closure of its waterfront mill.

Meldrum and those behind the Streetcar #23 project saw an opportunity to not only restore the vehicle, but put people to work. In November, 1982 the streetcar was moved to the Silver King Campus where it could be safely housed while the restoration took place. Using job creation programs from senior levels of government, the group managed to secure funds to hire unemployed workers to undertake the task.

The inside of Streetcar #23 is a work of historic art. It was at Nelson's Silver King Campus that the effort to restore it was completed.

“We had really good people at the college and that was key,” says Meldrum. “Everybody supported each other and it was probably the best place I ever worked. We were able to do a lot of things in those days and had a lot of fun doing it.”

Master carpenter John Corbin was appointed as the supervisor of the project. He received help from Selkirk College instructors Don Getty (woodwork) and Roy Crutchley (millwright). Over the course of six years, the project to restore Streetcar #23 plodded along at the Silver King Campus. Those on government programs did the bulk of the work, but students and instructors in many of the shops chipped in where required.

In 1988, a grant was secured to construct a building that would house the now refurbished streetcar on the corner of Hall and Front streets. The building was pre-fabricated on the Silver King Campus and then constructed on the site. In February, 1988 Streetcar #23 was moved to the new location where it was put on display for the public to see. In the first six weeks, more than 1,700 people came through to check out the impressive restoration.

“The key to success is that we had the people that were prepared to work together,” says Meldrum. “Selkirk is a true community college that’s for sure.”

Back on the Tracks and Off to a Bright Future

It took a few more years for community leaders to prepare and raise funds for the waterfront route which Streetcar #23 currently runs. On July 1, 1992 the community finally realized the rebirth of a cherished piece of history. On that opening day more than 800 people rode the streetcar along Nelson’s majestic shoreline.

Former Silver King Campus principal Bruce Meldrum now lives on Vancouver Island where he retired from North Island College in 2001. Meldrum was instrumental in saving Streetcar #23 from destruction.

Though he was key in making it happen, by the time it was a reality Meldrum had moved away from the West Kootenay. In 1990, his 10 years of great work at Selkirk College was recognized by the provincial government who seconded him to Vancouver Island to help establish North Island College. Though it was only intended to be a one-year stint, Meldrum stayed in Campbell River where he helped build the programs that thrive today. He officially retired in 2001 and continues to enjoy life on Vancouver Island.

Meldrum has returned to Nelson many times over the years and always takes an opportunity to ride Streetcar #23, even getting a chance to drive it during one visit. Though he is quick to share credit for the cherished amenity’s impressive restoration, he admits there is a level of pride when he reflects back to that chapter of his life.

“I was so pleased that it didn’t just become a pile of scrap lumber in somebody’s backyard,” says Meldrum. “It took a lot of hard work by a lot of people to make it happen. It was great to see all the effort people put into that project come to what it is today.”

Learn more about trades and career programs at Selkirk College’s Silver King Campus and join us on Facebook.

More than 400 people came out to the Selkirk College Silver King Campus 50^th Birthday Barbecue on Wednesday in Nelson.

Former students, staff and community supporters joined current students and staff for hamburgers, smokies, refreshments and cake. Held in the Heavy Mechanical Foundation Program shop, the event celebrated five decades of the campus that has provided thousands of students instruction in trades, career programs and community education.

A healthy mix of former staff and students joined current staff and students at the Silver King Campus 50th Birthday Barbecue on Wednesday in Nelson. See more photos from the day on Facebook.

“Without the support of the community, Silver King Campus—and indeed Selkirk College—would not have sustained or developed into the thriving regional resource it is today,” said Nelson Instructional Dean Kate Pelletier, who handled the hosting duties for the afternoon.

A History Worthy of Celebration

The Silver King Campus opened in 1964 as the BC Vocational School. At the time of its opening, the school—which cost an estimated $2,416,525 to build and equip—offered Automotive & Heavy Duty Mechanics, Welding and Millwrighting in its shops. Beauty Culture, Secretarial and Practical Nursing were also included on the campus that saw high enrolment in its early years. An added touch was the inclusion of Kootenay School of Art which was looking for a permanent location to house its programs that were offered separately from the vocational school.

Former millwright/machinist instructor Danny Bradford reconnects with old colleagues.

Selkirk College President Angus Graeme touched on that time in his address to those in attendance on Wednesday, and tied it into what is happening with today’s educational programming.

“I just want to cast your mind back to those early days in 1964,” Graeme said. “Think about what was happening in these communities in that year, the industries that were here and needed people, the opportunities for young people to go to work and get some training. There were dams being built, there were forest products being made, there were businesses being started and there were new opportunities emerging throughout the region. Those opportunities are very similar today for our young people. It’s an amazing time to be a student studying in the trades and in the other programs we offer in 2014.”

A Vital Role in Building Community

The BC Vocational School was incorporated into Selkirk College in 1975 and it was at that time the name was changed to Silver King. Speaking on behalf of Nelson city council, Councillor Donna Macdonald made reference to the importance the campus has played in building the community it calls home.

Cutting the cake in a fittingly trades manner were (L-R) Dan Obradovic (School Chair of Industry & Trades), Kate Pelletier (Nelson Instructional Dean), Bruce Morrison (Chair of the Selkirk College Board), Cathy Mercer (Selkirk Registrar), Angus Graeme (Selkirk College President) and Neil Coburn (Vice President of Education and Students).

“This campus has played a role much like its namesake the Silver King Mine up on Toad Mountain behind us,” said Macdonald. “That mine produced wealth and attracted the people that built our beautiful city. So you could say that the Silver King Mine generated a city. The same goes for the Silver King Campus which continues to provide a range of programs here that are continuing to change to meet the needs of our community and our economy.”

Macdonald also talked about what Selkirk College has meant to her personally, having been a graduate of the Forest Technology Program based in Castlegar and other opportunities at the Nelson-based campuses.

“My first encounter with Selkirk College was on this campus,” she said. “It was a long time ago back in the ‘70s when I owned a cranky Volkswagen Bug and I figured I better learn how to make it work. I signed up for—if you can believe it, this is what it was called—Powder Puff Mechanics. I don’t think I passed, but it was a great program.”

So Much to Offer at Silver King

The speeches were capped off by current Hairdressing Program student Frankie Defeo. Having been raised in Nelson, Defeo said she first visited the program in middle school and came for three visits as part of an activities class. Having an important educational option close to home has enabled Defeo to live in a community she loves.  

Current Hairdressing Program student Frankie Defeo spoke on behalf of her peers.

“There are many reasons why people choose Selkirk College, but I can tell you the location doesn’t hurt,” said Defeo. “I have been lucky enough to do a lot of traveling so I know that most schools don’t get to be in a place like the Kootenays. The Kootenays are brilliant, inspiring and beautiful and they attract people who are brilliant, inspiring and beautiful. Our community is reflected so well in the courses that are offered here and at all the Selkirk campuses.”

The next big milestone for Selkirk College will arrive in 2016 when the community will celebrate 50 years of Selkirk College opening in Castlegar.

Learn more about the programs at Selkirk College’s Silver King Campus and join us on Facebook.

Just as winter starts to creep in and take over everyone’s minds, the SROAMazing Race hits the streets of Nelson once again to host a fun and community-focused event where participants don some of the most creative and ridiculous costumes the Kootenay region has ever seen.

The Selkirk College Ski Resort Operations & Management (SROAM) Program has been working hard to bring this amazing, all-ages charity event back to Nelson for the fourth year in a row.

Participants demonstrate enthusiasm during last year's SROAMazing Race on Baker Street in Nelson.

This Saturday, the old Extra Foods Building (708 Vernon Street) will be transformed into event headquarters where participants meet up, show off their wacky attire and receive their first set of clues. The participants will then navigate through the streets and shops downtown using checkpoints and a variety of clues while completing fun and interactive games and activities in their teams of four.

“This event affords us with a real opportunity to make a positive impact in the area,” says SROAM student Eddy Learmont. “We’re drawing from all that we have learned so far to create the best event possible and can’t wait to share the results with the public on race day.”

Sponsors and Students Team Up for Youth

With various sponsors from local businesses and the ski industry such as Helly Hansen, Whitewater Ski Resort, Village Ski Hut, Planks, Boomtown Sports and many more, participants have the opportunity to win some awesome gear and swag for the upcoming season. Along with prizes for the first teams across the finish line, prizes are also allocated for best-costume, best dance off and prize tosses.

All of the funds raised from this event benefit the Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaries Society (AABBS) providing avalanche skills training to youth in the Kootenay region. This is an extremely important cause for the community considering Nelson and the surrounding area are well known for its world class out-of-bounds terrain.

SROAM students come from all around the world as this video illustrates.

“The SROAM program feels it is crucial for the local population to provide these skills and courses to youth,” says SROAM student Ben Evoy.

Last year’s race was truly amazing thanks to great support from the community. Pre-registration is underway at the ROAM Shop in downtown Nelson, the Whitewater Ski Resort head office and the Selkirk College Tenth Street Campus so be sure to secure your spot and avoid missing out.

Registration is only $30 per team and it is highly encouraged to pre-register. Doors will open at 12 p.m. for those last minute entries. Teams have the chance to catch a quick snap in the photo booth and prepare themselves for the race to start at 1 p.m.

For more information on the event contact Andrew Warren at awarren@selkirk.ca.

Learn more about the Selkirk College Ski Resort Operations and Management Program and join us on Facebook.

For the second time in as many years, the Selkirk College Saints men’s hockey team will proudly raise the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) championship banner to the rafters of the Castlegar Community Complex on Friday night.

"Winning back-to-back titles is something very unique and rewarding," says Kim Verigin, Selkirk College’s Athletics and Recreation Coordinator. "Many people involved in competitive sport go a lifetime without winning anything significant, so for us to win two championships in a row is simply amazing. We are very grateful for the support we have received from the college and community."

The 2013-14 edition of the Selkirk College Saints celebrate their BCIHL championship at the Castlegar Community Complex last March. The Saints will raise that banner to the rafters of their home rink on Friday night prior to their first home game of the new season against Eastern Washington University. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m.

The Saints captured the 2013-14 title at home last March before a packed house at their home rink in Castlegar. After powering their way through the BCIHL regular season, the Saints disposed of the Thompson Rivers University Wolfpack in the semi-finals and then crushed the Trinity Western University Spartans in the league final in two straight games.

Tough Start to New Campaign

The Saints hope a large crowd and pre-game celebration on Friday night will fuel a team that has struggled out of the gates. Selkirk finds itself in an unfamiliar position at the bottom of the five-team league, having gone winless in their first three games.

"After playing our first three contests on the road, we are all excited to come back and play in front of the best fans in the league,” says Saints’ Head Coach Alex Evin. “The support we have received the past few seasons has been incredible and we hope we can share our championship banner with our fans on Friday night as well as pick up our first victory of the season."

The 2013-14 Saints' captains join Selkirk College’s Athletics and Recreation Coordinator Kim Verigin (middle left) and Selkirk College President Angus Graeme (middle right) in accepting the BCIHL championship trophy and banner last March.

The Saints will face off against the much improved Eastern Washington University Eagles who have already made significant impressions in the BCIHL. The Eagles currently sit atop the standings boasting a 3-2 record with two of their wins coming against top ranked SFU and Selkirk in the season opener two weeks ago in Cheney, Washington.

The Saints are recently coming off a tough road trip where they dropped a pair of games, 6-2 to Simon Fraser and 5-4 to Trinity Western. Both contests saw an injury depleted Selkirk lineup struggle with consistency. Goals for the Saints came from Logan Proulx (2), Stefan Gonzales, Darnell Dyck, Stefan Virtanen and Steven Pantazopoulos.

The banner raising ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. at the Castlegar Complex. A special autograph session with all Saints players will take place immediately following the game.

SAINTS NOTES: Friday’s game is the only game of the weekend for the Saints who will return home on October 25 for a rematch with Eastern Washington at the Complex… In the past two regular seasons the Saints have only registered a total of six losses. They posted a 20-3-0-1 record in 2013-14 and a 21-3-0-0 record in 2012-13.

Learn more about the Selkirk College Saints Men's Hockey Program and join us on Facebook.

As students in the Selkirk College Resort & Hotel Management (RHOT), Hospitality and Professional Cookingprograms dove into their second month of studies, a visit by the head of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise helped provide additional incentive to make good use of their time learning about the industry.

Nestled in one of the most iconic locations in Canada, the Chateau Lake Louise has left visitors in awe of the soaring mountain peaks that surround the resort, majestic Victoria Glacier and the breathtaking emerald lake for more than a century. Currently enjoying one of its busiest years in recent history, the resort’s Director of Operations David MacGillivary stopped by Nelson’s Tenth Street Campus earlier this month to chat with first and second year students.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise’s Director of Operations David MacGillivary poses with the Selkirk College hospitality program students that came out to a special presentation at the Tenth Street Campus in Nelson last week.

“We need to actively get into the colleges to let them know we are a great company and there are great opportunities for these students to grow their career,” MacGillivary said after his presentation. “We’re an international company, so that provides a great opportunity for young graduates to step into our company and explore the many avenues available.”

A Hotel Chain with Deep Roots in Canada

The Chateau Lake Louise was first opened in 1890 by Canadian Pacific Hotels—a division of the Canadian Pacific Railway—as the company was building resorts in some of the most amazing locations in the country. The Banff Springs Hotel, the Chateau Frontenac (Quebec City), the Empress Hotel (Victoria), the Jasper Park Lodge and even the former Balfour House along the shores of Kootenay Lake were all part of an extensive operation that lured tourists from near and far.

In 2001, Canadian Pacific purchased Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and took the name of the much smaller chain in order to reflect a new international focus for the Canadian-based company. Today, the company operates more than 70 hotels and resorts in 19 different countries including China, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, Germany and the United States.

David MacGillivary started with CP Hotels as a room service waiter in 1979 and had enjoyed a 30-plus years career with the company.

MacGillivary started with CP Hotels as a room service waiter in 1979 and over his 30-plus years with the company has worked at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary, the Banff Springs, the Fairmont Winnipeg, the Jasper Park Lodge, Chateau Laurier (Ottawa), Chateau Whistler and helped establish the Fairmont Zimbali Resort in South Africa. He returned to the Chateau Lake Louise two years ago and now oversees the operation that employs up to 700 people at full capacity.

“It was very interesting,” said first year RHOT student Geoffrey Abubakary, who grew up in Kelowna. “It’s great to meet contacts, especially for a chain hotel because those can be very important. It gets me excited to go into the industry and shows that I can make those leaps to go the places I want to go.”

Need at an All-Time High

RHOT Instructor Wendy Anderson worked for Fairmont for more than a decade, including a stint at the Chateau Lake Louise where she was the Director of Conference Services. This summer, Anderson returned for a three-week contract where she helped her old boss MacGillivary fill a gap.

While she was discussing her new career path with MacGillivary, Anderson invited him to come and visit Nelson to let students know about the potential opportunities that await upon graduation.

“There is such a shortage in the industry right now, so for the students this is the right program to be in,” said Anderson, who joined Selkirk College in 2008. “When I went back to Lake Louise this summer I just couldn’t believe how busy it was, they were running close to full capacity every day.”

Anderson said the education and approach students in the hospitality programs are learning is well suited for companies like Fairmont.

The Chateau Lake Louise is a Canadian gem and employees up to 700 people during peak season.

“The students are at Selkirk because they are looking for a slightly different experience than you might get at a school in downtown Vancouver or Calgary,” she said. “For a location like Lake Louise there is a bit of a different atmosphere and culture there, so this program is a good fit for resort communities like Lake Louise, Banff and Whistler.”

After the formal presentation, MacGillivary opened the floor to questions and the students had a chance to pick the brain of an industry veteran.

“The group asked great questions which was awesome,” said MacGillivary. “And what I really like is that after the presentation the students came up to shake my hand, looked me in the eye and used my name which I thought was really engaging. And that is what we are looking for at Fairmont. It’s a very impressive group and I think that speaks to the program and the direction they are getting from their instructors.”

RHOT students will get an opportunity to engage with more industry insiders in the coming months when executives from Delta Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and Atlific Hotels pay a visit to Nelson’s Tenth Street Campus.

Learn more about the hospitality and tourism programs at Selkirk College and join us on Twitter.

The Selkirk College International Department capped off its successful hosting of the BC TEAL Interior Regional Conference earlier this month by awarding the first ever John Armstrong International Student Scholarship.

More than 90 people attended the BC Teachers of English as an Additional Language (BC TEAL) Conference on October 4 at Selkirk College’s Tenth Street Campus. The teachers, administrators, students and community leaders took in a full day of workshops, discussions and networking.

Grace Kwanghui Jeong (middle) was presented the first ever John Armstrong International Student Scholarship at the BC Teachers of English as an Additional Language (BC TEAL) Conference on October 4 at Selkirk College’s Tenth Street Campus. Selkirk College President Angus Graeme (left) and John Armstrong (right) presented the award.

The theme for the conference was “Interior Designs: Building Teaching and Learning Communities.” The idea of building connections throughout interior communities was central to the conference concept, considering most in attendance work in areas far removed from the Lower Mainland. To recognize presenters’ contributions to the TEAL Conference and in honour of Armstrong, each of the presenters was awarded a $25 donation to the John Armstrong International Student Scholarship.

Student Helps Build International Community at Selkirk

Though he retired from a career that spanned 34 years at Selkirk College this past spring, Armstrong was one of the participants and organizers at the conference. The educator and former department head of Selkirk International presented the first annual scholarship in his name to Grace Kwanghui Jeong.

“Grace has often given freely of her time to support international students and programming at the college,” says current Selkirk International Department head Shana Rablah. “She was one of the Masters of Ceremony at Selkirk International’s 25^th Reunion in 2011, she spoke at the Selkirk College Gala when the department hosted it in 2012, she volunteered to add her student voice to the BC TEAL Conference and she has always stepped forward to help and speak out with all aspects of our department.”

Participants in the BC TEAL Conference gathered outside Mary Hall on the Tenth Street Campus for a group shot.

The John Armstrong International Student Scholarship was started in 2011 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Selkirk International Department. In addition to this scholarship, the department also created a Philomena Archambault International Student Bursary. These two awards were created in honor of two of the department’s longest serving members and a way to always commemorate their commitment to the department and international students.

Due to a generous donation to the John Armstrong International Student Scholarship, the department was able to hand out the first award this past weekend.

Jeong—who is from South Korea—started her studies at Selkirk College in the English Language Program, successfully completed the TESOL Advanced Diploma Program and is now enrolled in the Business Administration Program where she has excelled.

“Grace has made significant contributions to the building of an international community at Selkirk College, one of the criteria in awarding this scholarship,” says Armstrong.

Organizers of this year's BC TEAL Conference would like to thank their sponsors: Selkirk International, Selkirk College, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, City of Nelson Tourist Information Centre, City of Castlegar Tourist Information Centre, Boston Pizza Castlegar, Oso Negro, Nelson Brewing Company and Jackson's Hole.

Learn more about Selkirk International and join us on Facebook.

Selkirk College Forest Technology Program alumnus Jean Christie returned to her roots on the Castlegar Campus earlier this month in hopes of finding eager recruits to join her on the industry frontlines with West Fraser Timber.

Christie is a rising star within her company and the industry. Graduating from Selkirk College in 2010, Christie first went to work for West Fraser as a summer student at the forestry giant’s Quesnel operation. Last year, Christie was included in the “Top 20 Under 40” article in Wood Business Magazine as one of the young forestry leaders in Canada.

Selkirk College alumnus Jean Christie was on the Castlegar Campus in early October as part of a West Fraser Timber recruiting trip. With the forest industry in need of trained workers, the Selkirk College Forest Technology Program is seen as an asset for employers.

In early-October, Christie took a break from duties as silviculture coordinator to join a West Fraser recruiting trip aimed at reaching out to post-secondary schools across Western Canada.

“The reputation of Selkirk College is very good, it has a super solid forestry program,” she said after the presentation. “We are looking for people who have completed their two-year diploma program, and with training provided by us, are ready to go into these positions.”

West Fraser visits colleges and universities annually, focusing on programs at BCIT, the University of Alberta, College of New Caledonia (Prince George) and UNBC (Prince George). This month’s visit to Selkirk College was West Fraser’s first dip into the West Kootenay and was set up at the urging of Christie.

“It’s a little out of the way to come to Selkirk, but the incentive is there this year to expand our pool and bring in the strong students that Selkirk has as potential candidates,” said Christie.

The Right Start at Selkirk College

Christie was born-and-raised in Prince Edward Island where both of her parents worked in the forest industry and continue to operate a privately owned woodlot. With a love for the outdoors, Christie came out west when she was 20 to explore all the Kootenays had to offer.

Though she did not intend to follow in the footsteps of her parents, after three winters of working in the oil and gas industry Christie decided to change it up and enrolled at Selkirk College.

Christie works at West Fraser's Quesnel operation where she is a silviculture coordinator. She was in charge of planting 1.7 million trees in 2014 and in 2015 will oversee the planting of 3.5 million.

“The time I spent at Selkirk was wonderful,” she said. “While I was there I knew I was learning a lot, but it wasn’t really until I started working in forestry that I truly realized the strength of the program that Selkirk has.”

Christie was an outstanding student, winning the prestigious Canadian Institute of Forestry Gold Medal award in her final year. Christie credits her instructors for the passion they instilled over her two years on the Castlegar Campus.

“The siliviculture programs at Selkirk were extremely complete and I think that had to do with the instructor I had,” she said. “Carol Andrews is such an engaged, passionate, intelligent and wonderful instructor… she really had a big influence on me.”

Looking for the Next Wave

The forest industry has a history of peaks and valleys. After weathering some recent low points, the industry is currently experiencing a strong comeback. With the surge comes a need for qualified people to fill the spots.

“There is a real desperate need for forest techs right now,” said Andrews, who has also fielded calls from other forest companies interested in stopping by Selkirk to speak with students. “Companies are being very proactive in recruiting at this point.”

In her presentation, Christie explained that West Fraser is a company with a robust summer internship program and likes to promote from within its ranks. One of the largest lumber producers in the world, the publicly-traded company has operations across North America.

The students who took in the presentation were impressed with what they heard.

“You have to look long term and they did a good job of getting us to think about long term prospects,” said second year Forest Technology student Adam Flintoft. “Things like benefits and the way they look after employees goes a long way.”

Though he still has a few months of study left, Flintoft is looking forward to what will come after graduation this spring.

“Having worked with some forestry veterans this summer, this is a great time to be starting in this industry,” he said. “People have seen ups and downs, people have been forced to leave and are coming back now. It’s a good time to be thinking about this kind of career.”

West Fraser followed up by holding interviews for summer positions on-site at Selkirk College. Facilitated by the college’s Co-Op Education & Employment Services (CEES), the interviews help students plan for what comes next.

“We’re not just educating the students…. this is their future,” said CEES Administrative Assistant Olga Sherstobitoff. “When they walk out the door we want them to have opportunities and hope for the future, which we want to set in motion before they leave here.”

Learn more about the Selkirk College Forest Technology Program and join us on Facebook.

A boisterous home crowd and pre-game banner raising ceremony fuelled the Selkirk College Saints to a convincing 5-1 victory over the Eastern Washington University Eagles on Friday night at the Castlegar Community Recreation Complex.

Returning to the comforts of home ice after a rough regular season start that saw the Saints drop all three games on the road, the two-time defending BC Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) champions got back on track. With a crowd of more than 500 in attendance, the Saints raised the 2013-14 BCIHL banner to the rafters of the Complex and then went to work at showing why they are a threat for a three-peat.

The Selkirk Saints raised their 2013-14 championship banner on Friday night before a crowd of more than 500 people.

“We had our best practices of the year in this last week, just going back to the basics and working hard,” said veteran defenceman Arie Postmus after the game. “Our first three games of the season were unacceptable and we lost our identity a bit, but I thought tonight with the ceremony at the start it helped show all the guys what we are here for and it got us going for the whole night.”

Saints Dominate from Opening Puck Drop

Looking nothing like a team that entered the game in last place in the BCIHL standings, the Saints came out flying. Just over three minutes into the opening period, hulking forward Jackson Garrett pounced on a rebound and put it past EWU starter Austin Brihn.

The Saints went onto dominate the first 20 minutes, but could only solve Brihn once. Saints starting goaltender James Prigione ensured the score stayed 1-0 just over midway into the period when he stopped EWU sniper Beau Walker on a breakaway.

Saints newcomer Matt Martin rushes the puck up the ice in the first period which was dominated by the home side.

Four minutes into the second period, Saints captain Logan Proulx finished a nice passing play with linemate Darnell Dyck to give the home side a 2-0 advantage. Selkirk once again dominated the middle frame, but Brihn was solid in turning 15 away shots.

Working on the team’s top line with Proulx and Dyck, Garrett finished off his hat trick early in the third period with another rebound 50 seconds in and then a nice deflection two minutes later on the powerplay.

Just over four minutes into the final period EWU’s Chase Wharton got the Eagles on the board when he scored a nice goal on the powerplay. Saints’ newcomer Alex Milligan closed out the scoring with a powerplay goal with five minutes remaining in the game.

Special Night for Veteran Forward

Garrett—who was returning from a rib injury that kept out of the first three games—was named the game’s first star.

“I’m playing with two great linemates, it made it easy to come back from the injury,” Garrett said outside a jubilant Saints dressing room. “The coaches wanted to use me in front of the net and be a big body screening. I put that upon myself to try to be there and the goals came from me doing my simple jobs and listening to the coaches.”

Jackson Garrett's 6'3" frame caused problems for the Eagles all night and produced three goals for the veteran forward.

Another trademark of the Saints’ championship teams is defence, a trait that was on display Friday night.

“We take pride in defending,” said Postmus. “We have a lot of vets on the backend and in those first three games we were not satisfied with our play, we weren’t tough enough. I think tonight we showed our toughness, we were hitting, everybody was blocking shots, the forwards were backchecking and we were taking that bit of extra time to make a good play up the ice.”

With the first win now in the books, the Saints are confident they are back on track.

“There wasn’t any panic, especially from the veteran group,” Garrett said of the slow start on the road. “We know this is a long season and just because you lose the first three games of the season, it doesn’t mean your season is over at all. A championship is won in the playoffs, it’s not won in the regular season. We want to seed ourselves high, but the playoffs are where it matters.”

The Saints will travel to Langley on Friday to play Trinity Western University and return home to the Castlegar Recreation Complex on Saturday night for a rematch against EWU. The puck drops on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Learn more about the Selkirk Saints Men's Hockey Team and join us on Facebook.

The cost of a post-secondary education shouldn’t be a barrier to pursuing dreams and that’s why Selkirk College Financial Aid Officer Janine Hendry is always ready to help find solutions to a common student predicament.

“The cost of college can be daunting and some people think that a post-secondary education is unattainable because of the financial burden,” says Hendry. “I’m here to find the different avenues for students and their families so that kind of pressure is not something that prevents people from realizing their potential.”

Selkirk College Financial Aid Officer Janine Hendry sets up at different events throughout the year to build awareness and can also be reached at her Castlegar Campus office.

Hendry’s role at Selkirk College is to help students through the student loan process, troubleshoot the student loan appeals process, provide options and opportunities through scholarships and bursaries, point students towards work study programs, and help with budgeting. The Financial Aid Office is located on the Castlegar Campus, but its services are available to students on all campuses and all prospective students.  

“I’m here to help students and parents plan for education, help them throughout their educational experience and afterwards when they need to start paying back their student loans,” says Hendry.

A New Opportunity for Financial Aid Officer

Hendry is new to the position, taking over from outgoing Financial Aid Officer Joleen Kinakin who moved to the college’s Donor Relations position over the summer. A Selkirk College employee since 2000, Hendry has worked in a number of departments including the Selkirk College Foundation, Finance, Aviation, Word Processing, International Education and Payroll. With a strong background in finance and accounting, Hendry is able to provide sound advice and direction to students.

“It’s rewarding to be able to talk with students and calm their anxieties a little bit,” she says. “We can’t help everybody, but at least they know there is somebody here doing their best to work on solutions.”

The work Hendry does on daily basis is available to all students regardless of background and circumstance. One of the challenges of her department is to let people know that help is only a phone call or email away. She also puts on several presentations at the college and in high schools over the course of the year.

“There are a lot of people who are not aware that this service exists and awareness is part of my job,” says Hendry. “I get out in the community so they know that I am here to help them on their pathway to their new future.”

You can reach Hendry by email (jhendry@selkirk.ca), phone (250.365.1290) or by making an appointment through a Selkirk College counsellor.

Learn more about the Selkirk College Financial Aid Office and join us on Facebook.

Selkirk College staff and students are inviting the community to join them for a celebration barbecue that will mark five decades of quality trades training, career programs and community education at Nelson’s Silver King Campus.

The Selkirk College Silver King Campus has graduated thousands of students over the last 50 years in a variety of trades and career programs, including this Millwright Program class from the early 1970s.

An education cornerstone in the region since 1964, the campus opened as the BC Vocational School with a vision of expanding training opportunities in Nelson and beyond. Over the last 50 years the trades programs have been the mainstay, but many other programs have been based out of the 35-acre campus including Nursing, Ski Resort Operations & Management (SROAM), Hospitality & Tourism, Professional Cooking, Adult Basic Education, the Kootenay School of the Arts (now known as Kootenay Studio Arts) and many more.

“It’s incredible to think about how students have enhanced their lives through education on that campus over the last 50 years,” says Selkirk College’s Dean of Instruction for Nelson Kate Pelletier. “The mission of Selkirk College is to inspire lifelong learning, transform lives through education and training, and serve our communities. That mission has certainly been accomplished and continues to grow at the Silver King Campus.”

Community Invited to Join the Celebration

The Silver King Campus 50^th Birthday Barbecue will take place on Wednesday, October 8 between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. All former students, staff and community supporters are invited to share in the celebration. Lunch, cake and refreshments will be served.

A whole host of trades programs continue to thrive on the Selkirk College Silver King Campus, including the Welding Program which is at capacity this fall.

In 1975, the established vocational school was officially merged with Selkirk College. To mark the importance of the Toad Mountain area to Nelson’s mining past, the campus was renamed Silver King.

Today the Silver King Campus is home to Hairdressing, Esthetics, Carpentry, Fine Woodworking, Heavy Mechanical, Plant Operator, Welding, Electrical, Millwright/Machinist, Metal Fabricator, Adult Basic Education, Transitional Training, and a wide range of community education courses and classes.

“This campus is an important community asset and we want to share the 50^th celebration with the community,” says Industry & Trades Training school chair Dan Obradovic.

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Selkirk College Forest Technology Program alumnus Jean Christie returned to her roots on the Castlegar Campus earlier this month in hopes of finding eager recruits to join her on the industry frontlines with West Fraser Timber.

Christie is a rising star within her company and the industry. Graduating from Selkirk College in 2010, Christie first went to work for West Fraser as a summer student at the forestry giant’s Quesnel operation. Last year, Christie was included in the “Top 20 Under 40” article in Wood Business Magazine as one of the young forestry leaders in Canada.

Selkirk College alumnus Jean Christie was on the Castlegar Campus in early October as part of a West Fraser Timber recruiting trip. With the forest industry in need of trained workers, the Selkirk College Forest Technology Program is seen as an asset for employers.

In early-October, Christie took a break from duties as silviculture coordinator to join a West Fraser recruiting trip aimed at reaching out to post-secondary schools across Western Canada.

“The reputation of Selkirk College is very good, it has a super solid forestry program,” she said after the presentation. “We are looking for people who have completed their two-year diploma program, and with training provided by us, are ready to go into these positions.”

West Fraser visits colleges and universities annually, focusing on programs at BCIT, the University of Alberta, College of New Caledonia (Prince George) and UNBC (Prince George). This month’s visit to Selkirk College was West Fraser’s first dip into the West Kootenay and was set up at the urging of Christie.

“It’s a little out of the way to come to Selkirk, but the incentive is there this year to expand our pool and bring in the strong students that Selkirk has as potential candidates,” said Christie.

The Right Start at Selkirk College

Christie was born-and-raised in Prince Edward Island where both of her parents worked in the forest industry and continue to operate a privately owned woodlot. With a love for the outdoors, Christie came out west when she was 20 to explore all the Kootenays had to offer.

Though she did not intend to follow in the footsteps of her parents, after three winters of working in the oil and gas industry Christie decided to change it up and enrolled at Selkirk College.

Christie first arrived to West Fraser Timber in Quesnel as a summer student in 2010 and is now in a position where she will oversee the planting of 3.5 million trees in 2015.

“The time I spent at Selkirk was wonderful,” she said. “While I was there I knew I was learning a lot, but it wasn’t really until I started working in forestry that I truly realized the strength of the program that Selkirk has.”

Christie was an outstanding student, winning the prestigious Canadian Institute of Forestry Gold Medal award in her final year. Christie credits her instructors for the passion they instilled over her two years on the Castlegar Campus.

“The silviculture programs at Selkirk were extremely complete and I think that had to do with the instructor I had,” she said. “Carol Andrews is such an engaged, passionate, intelligent and wonderful instructor… she really had a big influence on me.”

Looking for the Next Wave

The forest industry has a history of peaks and valleys. After weathering some recent low points, the industry is currently experiencing a strong comeback. With the surge comes a need for qualified people to fill the spots.

“There is a real desperate need for forest techs right now,” said Andrews, who has also fielded calls from other forest companies interested in stopping by Selkirk to speak with students. “Companies are being very proactive in recruiting at this point.”

In her presentation, Christie explained that West Fraser is a company with a robust summer internship program and likes to promote from within its ranks. One of the largest lumber producers in the world, the publicly-traded company has operations across North America.

The students who took in the presentation were impressed with what they heard.

“You have to look long term and they did a good job of getting us to think about long term prospects,” said second year Forest Technology student Adam Flintoft. “Things like benefits and the way they look after employees goes a long way.”

Though he still has a few months of study left, Flintoft is looking forward to what will come after graduation this spring.

“Having worked with some forestry veterans this summer, this is a great time to be starting in this industry,” he said. “People have seen ups and downs, people have been forced to leave and are coming back now. It’s a good time to be thinking about this kind of career.”

West Fraser followed up by holding interviews for summer positions on-site at Selkirk College. Facilitated by the college’s Co-Op Education & Employment Services (CEES), the interviews help students plan for what comes next.

“We’re not just educating the students…. this is their future,” said CEES Administrative Assistant Olga Sherstobitoff. “When they walk out the door we want them to have opportunities and hope for the future, which we want to set in motion before they leave here.”

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A boisterous home crowd and pre-game banner raising ceremony fuelled the Selkirk College Saints to a convincing 5-1 victory over the Eastern Washington University Eagles on Friday night at the Castlegar Community Recreation Complex.

The banner raising featured (L-R) last season's team trainer Garth Georgetti, last season's assistant coach Jamie Friess, Selkirk College President Angus Graeme, Selkirk College Board Chair Bruce Morrison and Saints captain Logan Proulx.

Returning to the comforts of home ice after a rough regular season start that saw the Saints drop all three games on the road, the two-time defending BC Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) champions got back on track. With a crowd of more than 500 in attendance, the Saints raised the 2013-14 BCIHL banner to the rafters of the Complex and then went to work at showing why they are a threat for a three-peat.

“We had our best practices of the year in this last week, just going back to the basics and working hard,” said veteran defenceman Arie Postmus after the game. “Our first three games of the season were unacceptable and we lost our identity a bit, but I thought tonight with the ceremony at the start it helped show all the guys what we are here for and it got us going for the whole night.”

Saints Come Out Flying Against Eagles

Looking nothing like a team that entered the game in last place in the BCIHL standings, the Saints came out flying. Just over three minutes into the opening period, hulking forward Jackson Garrett pounced on a rebound and put it past EWU starter Austin Brihn.

The Saints went onto dominate the first 20 minutes, but could only solve Brihn once. Saints starting goaltender James Prigione ensured the score stayed 1-0 just over midway into the period when he stopped EWU sniper Beau Walker on a breakaway.

Saints forward Matt Martin cruises by the EWU bench in the first period of Friday night's game.

Four minutes into the second period, Saints captain Logan Proulx finished a nice passing play with linemate Darnell Dyck to give the home side a 2-0 advantage. Selkirk once again dominated the middle frame, but Brihn was solid in turning 15 away shots.

Working on the team’s top line with Proulx and Dyck, Garrett finished off his hat trick early in the third period with another rebound 50 seconds in and then a nice deflection two minutes later on the powerplay.

Just over four minutes into the final period EWU’s Chase Wharton got the Eagles on the board when he scored a nice goal on the powerplay. Saints’ newcomer Alex Milligan closed out the scoring with a powerplay goal with five minutes remaining in the game.

Great Game by Saints Veteran Forward

Garrett—who was returning from a rib injury that kept out of the first three games—was named the game’s first star.

“I’m playing with two great linemates, it made it easy to come back from the injury,” Garrett said outside a jubilant Saints dressing room. “The coaches wanted to use me in front of the net and be a big body screening. I put that upon myself to try to be there and the goals came from me doing my simple jobs and listening to the coaches.”

Another trademark of the Saints’ championship teams is defence, a trait that was on display Friday night.

Saints veteran forward Jackson Garrett caused problems in front of the Eagles' net all night and came away with a hat trick for his efforts.

“We take pride in defending,” said Postmus. “We have a lot of vets on the backend and in those first three games we were not satisfied with our play, we weren’t tough enough. I think tonight we showed our toughness, we were hitting, everybody was blocking shots, the forwards were backchecking and we were taking that bit of extra time to make a good play up the ice.”

With the first win now in the books, the Saints are confident they are back on track.

“There wasn’t any panic, especially from the veteran group,” Garrett said of the slow start on the road. “We know this is a long season and just because you lose the first three games of the season, it doesn’t mean your season is over at all. A championship is won in the playoffs, it’s not won in the regular season. We want to seed ourselves high, but the playoffs are where it matters.”

The Saints will travel to Langley on Friday to play Trinity Western University and return home to the Castlegar Recreation Complex on Saturday night for a rematch against EWU. The puck drops on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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