Northwest Community College Connections

Student success: focus on the Career & College Prep program

Northwest Community College students have great stories to tell. Get to know the future of the Northwest's workforce now.

Sabrina Arruda, Career and College Prep (CCP) student.

Sabrina Arruda admits her first year out of high school wasn't very memorable academically. In what was a transition year, she never quite got into a rhythm. She ended up taking extra shifts at her part-time job as a grocery store cashier and her studies, well, they took a back seat.

But that year has given the 2010 graduate of Caledonia Senior Secondary School in Terrace a chance to re-focus on what has become a clear career goal.

Following in the footsteps of her mom, Sabrina wants to become a registered nurse. She says she has a pretty good idea what the career entails being the daughter of a longtime nurse. The hours are long but it's a rewarding career personally and financially.

Living at home and with a strong family and friend support network, she says she's thrilled to be able to get the prerequisites and mark upgrades she needs at NWCC to get into the nursing program, while still keeping some shifts at work.

"I chose CCP to upgrade my marks to get into the RN program and chose NWCC because it's close to home and it's a good place to start the college path," says Sabrina. "I like that there is always a teacher there to help and the small class sizes means there is always one-on-one times with the teacher for help."

Sabrina is currently upgrading her English requirements and will do the same for Biology in the winter semester.

To be sure, Sabrina has a long and challenging road ahead. NWCC offers the Northern Collaborative Baccalaureate Nursing Program, with two years of study at the Terrace Campus, followed by two years of study at UNBC.

At NWCC, we recognize every student has a unique set of needs. We're happy to help get Sabrina started on her career journey!

It's official: NWCC Smithers Campus is open!

 

Cutting the ribbon to officially open NWCC's Smithers Campus is, from left, NWCC Board of Governors Chair Rhoda Witherly, Vancouver-Fairview MLA Margaret MacDiarmid, Wet'suwet'en Chief Gyologet Darlene Glaim and NWCC President and CEO, Dr. Denise Henning.

SMITHERS – The public answered Northwest Community College's invitation today as hundreds came out for a street party to mark the official opening of the newly-renovated, state-of-the-art Smithers Campus.

The day's festive atmosphere reached its peak with the blessing and raising of a 28-foot red cedar totem pole, carved by local artists Ron Austin and James Madam. Raised in partnership with the Wet’suwet’en, the pole marks the symbolic last piece of the project.

"This project has been about partnerships from day one and today all those partners and all our communities were represented in a celebration that owes so much to this beautiful and stunning pole that will greet everyone who comes to our Smithers Campus," said Dr. Denise Henning, NWCC President and CEO.

The campus itself opened to classes earlier this year for the spring and summer semesters following an 18-month, two-phase renewal and expansion project. The result, exclaimed visitors and speakers alike today, is a beautiful and modern facility.

Dr. Henning said the transformed campus meets the College's needs to improve and expand the learning opportunities in Smithers and it does so while incorporating the latest in sustainable building technology – a Gold LEED design.

"With this new campus, Northwest Community College can better meet the needs of our students and the community," said Dr. Henning. "The expanded learning facilities mean when opportunities come to our region, we'll be here to help students get the skills they need to take those opportunities."

Visitors toured the new campus throughout the day and they were treated to First Nations singing and drumming and a ceremonial feast following the pole raising.

In addition to being a joint federal-provincial Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) project, the renewal and expansion work was also part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

Click here for more pictures of the Smithers campus opening and pole raising...

Smithers Campus opening on the cusp

SMITHERS – The last strokes of paint went on today to the Wet'suwet'en Pole, just two days before it is raised as part of the big celebration here this Friday, Sept. 23.

That's when Northwest Community College (NWCC) is welcoming everyone to be part of the official opening of its newly-renovated, state-of-the-art Smithers Campus.

The festivities take place at 3966 2nd Avenue on from 11am to 6pm. The day’s events will feature the blessing and raising of the aforementioned 28-foot red cedar totem pole, carved by local artists Ron Austin and James Madam and raised in partnership with the Wet’suwet’en. There will also be a ceremonial feast with traditional First Nations singing and drumming and visitors will also be able to take self-guided tours through the Gold LEED designed-campus, which now features additional classroom space, wet and dry science labs, and a multi-purpose shop for trades programs.

The campus opened to classes earlier this year for the spring and summer semesters following the 18-month, two-phase renewal and expansion project. In addition to being a joint federal-provincial Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) project, the renewal and expansion work was also part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

NWCC's Heavy Equipment Operator program gets ITA thumbs up!

 
The excavator is one of four machines Daniel Gonn learned to operate in this summer's offering of the Heavy Equipment Operator Technician – Apprentice Level 1 program at NWCC.

In its September e-newsletter, the Industry Training Authority (ITA) features a story on the Heavy Equipment Operator Technician – Apprentice Level 1 program offered at Northwest Community College (NWCC). In it, the ITA praises NWCC's Trades department for being ahead of the curve in offering this sought-after training, saying NWCC was offering this training "before the provincial government projected a decade of shortages in the trade." 

To read the article, click here and scroll to page 4.

The Industry Training Authority is the provincial crown agency responsible for overseeing B.C.'s industry training and apprenticeship system, providing a skilled workforce for industry and career development opportunities for British Columbians.

Come celebrate the unveiling of NWCC’s revitalized Smithers Campus

SMITHERS – Northwest Community College (NWCC) wants you to circle Friday, September 23 on your calendar and save the date for a celebration of its newly-renovated, state-of-the-art Smithers Campus.

The celebration will take place at 3966 2nd Avenue on September 23, 2011, beginning at 11am. The day’s events will feature the blessing and raising of a 28-foot red cedar totem pole, carved by local artists Ron Austin and James Madam and raised in partnership with the Wet’suwet’en, and a ceremonial feast with traditional First Nations singing and drumming. Visitors will also be able to take self-guided tours through the Gold LEED designed-campus which now features additional classroom space, wet and dry science labs, and a multi-purpose shop for trades programs.

“Northwest BC has a number of major projects on the go that require thousands of skilled workers, so the expansion of the Smithers campus couldn’t have come at a better time,” says NWCC President, Dr. Denise Henning. “This beautiful facility will help NWCC better meet the educational needs of the region and I hope everyone will come help us celebrate that fact.”

The campus opened to classes earlier this year for the spring and summer semesters following the 18-month, two-phase renewal and expansion project. In addition to being a joint federal-provincial Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) project, the renewal and expansion work was also part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.

Students treasure the Haida Gwaii Field School experience

Northwest Community College students in this summer's Haida Gwaii Field School kayak in the spectacular surroundings of world-famous Haida Gwaii.

 

HAIDA GWAII – Northwest Community College (NWCC) likes to head outdoors at every opportunity. After all, its unique geographic surroundings make for a near boundless wilderness classroom for some of its programs and courses. And perhaps no other NWCC program takes advantage of this more than the Haida Gwaii Field School, which ran this summer through late July and into August.

An intensive and awe-inspiring learning experience on the remote island archipelago of Haida Gwaii, it is one of five field schools offered by NWCC during the 2011 spring and summer semesters. Haida Gwaii Field School students not only earn three university credits in both First Nation Studies and Anthropology for a total of six university credits, they benefit from experiential hands-on learning, they explore a completely unique marine and terrestrial ecosystem—all while being guided by the Haida people and being immersed in their culturally-rich environments and way of life.

Unique to the field school this year was Haida instructor Barbara Wilson, whose Haida name is Kii’iljuus. Wilson is a respected matriarch, and scholar, who guided and inspired students in their learning on Haida Gwaii. Wilson joined NWCC Anthropology instructor Sheree Ronaasen, from Terrace, who has led the Haida Gwaii Field School since its beginning in 2009.

“Since we’ve started offering this field school, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard it was a life changing experience,” said Ronaasen. “The students’ immersion in Haida culture and the hands-on instruction brings a deeper understanding than anything they could’ve learned from a textbook. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Students experienced and acquired knowledge from a variety of different landscapes and cultural settings over the two-week field school. For example, while kayaking on Mosquito Lake at Mount Moresby Adventure Camp, they learned about endangered plants and traditional Haida plant usages. They travelled by boat with Moresby Explorers to visit the old Haida villages of Hlkinul Llnagaay (Cumshewa) and K’uuna Llnagaay (Skedans). Seeing the few remaining poles that still stand there, the students were greatly impressed by the Haida life-ways, and village locations on the ocean shorelines of Cumshewa Inlet and Hecate Strait.

Said student Doris Gorrell: “The difference between sitting in the class and being told about Haida Gwaii and the Haida way of life, and actually experiencing the unique environment and learning from a Haida Elder, is like night and day,” she said, adding. “Seeing the old village sites of Cumshewa and Skedans was an emotional experience. Altogether, I have a whole new way of seeing my world after seeing the Haida’s.”

Ronaasen says the field school was enhanced by the help of Candace Weir from Old Masset, due to her knowledge of the Haida language, and for the Long House tour by outstanding Haida artist and carver Christian White. Finally, students witnessed the launch of an important book titled That Which Makes Us Haida, which honours the Haida Elders and students working to preserve the endangered Haida language. The class was invited to the special ceremonies, dance, song and dinner associated with the book launch hosted at the Haida Heritage centre.