VIU Alumni

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VIU Alumni Welcome! The VIU Alumni page is your hub for staying connected. https://linktr.ee/Viualumni

Feel free to post your events and share with the rest of the Alumni!

Hands-on learning in VIU’s Forest Resources Technology program helped Kenji Boyko build early career success in the fore...
10/13/2026

Hands-on learning in VIU’s Forest Resources Technology program helped Kenji Boyko build early career success in the forestry sector.

Kenji is a fourth-generation forestry worker and now works as a forest harvesting planner and contractor in Port Alberni. He started in October 2025 and has already worked his way up to a senior planning role.

“All those things tie into the industry and seeing that in the program was really good preparation for what I was going to do,” he says.

Learn more about Kenji: https://news.viu.ca/blog/turning-hands-learning-career-growthkenji-boyko-builds-early-success-forestry-sector

Soccer changed Mateo Kostering’s life. Now, he’s helping other Indigenous youth discover opportunities through sport. ⚽T...
10/09/2026

Soccer changed Mateo Kostering’s life. Now, he’s helping other Indigenous youth discover opportunities through sport. ⚽

The VIU alum founded Indigenous Athletics Academy, a non-profit dedicated to supporting Indigenous youth development through sport.

Read Mateo’s story: Alumni spotlight on Mateo Kostering | Vancouver Island University | Canada https://news.viu.ca/alumni-spotlight-mateo-kostering

VIU Education alum Samantha Beynon continues to create children’s books that connect Indigenous stories and traditions w...
10/06/2026

VIU Education alum Samantha Beynon continues to create children’s books that connect Indigenous stories and traditions with young readers. After publishing Oolichan Moon while at VIU, she is now receiving national recognition and recently won a literary prize for Celebrating Potlatches, a book inspired by her great-grandfather’s notes. The book recently won the Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize at the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes gala.

The Canadian government made participating in the ceremonies a criminal offence under the Indian Act in 1885 until it was lifted in 1951.

“It’s important for our children to be represented,” said Beynon, whose academic work as a University of Victoria PhD student is exploring how to support youth when reading texts about difficult events in Indigenous history. “I want them to feel proud of who they are.”

Read the full Times Colonist story: https://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/great-grandpas-notes-inspired-uvic-students-prizewinning-childrens-book-12824288?

Congratulations to VIU alum Eliot White-Hill Kwulasultun and VIU honorary research associate Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa on be...
10/06/2026

Congratulations to VIU alum Eliot White-Hill Kwulasultun and VIU honorary research associate Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa on being two of the co-authors of a book that won the BC and Yukon Book Prizes' Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award this year!

The pelt of a dog named “Mutton” languished in a drawer at the Smithsonian for 150 years until it was discovered, almost accidentally, by an amateur archivist. This book tells Mutton's story and explores what it can teach us about Coast Salish Woolly Dogs and their cultural significance.

Our VIU alumni community is invited to join us for an exclusive evening featuring a three-course dinner prepared by Culi...
09/17/2026

Our VIU alumni community is invited to join us for an exclusive evening featuring a three-course dinner prepared by Culinary Team Canada as they prepare for the RAK Porcelain Culinary World Cup in Luxembourg.

Your $100 ticket includes dinner, one complimentary beverage and the chance to connect with fellow alumni, friends and supporters.

đź“… Monday, October 26
đź•” Reception: 5 to 6 pm
🍽️Dinner: 6 to 8:30 pm
đź“Ť Located at the Upper Cafeteria, Building 300, VIU Nanaimo

Spaces are limited; reserve your seat here: https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=6541c592-e116-4b0f-bc65-dfc9792afe54&envId=p-Yiqc60RfHk26M37ufunN2w&zone=can

Ready for her next career move, Awula Adei Quaye decided to pivot from Ghana's private sector into public service. She g...
07/27/2026

Ready for her next career move, Awula Adei Quaye decided to pivot from Ghana's private sector into public service. She graduated this past June and has already launched the next chapter of her career, working as a Constituency Advisor with Nanaimo-Lantzville MLA George Anderson!

Learn more about Awula and her journey: https://news.viu.ca/blog/viu-mba-graduate-bc-public-servant

Meet Gillian Stuart, a VIU Esthetics and Spa Therapy alum, now the lead Medical Aesthetician at Campbell River Medical A...
07/20/2026

Meet Gillian Stuart, a VIU Esthetics and Spa Therapy alum, now the lead Medical Aesthetician at Campbell River Medical Aesthetics. 👩‍⚕️✨

From small class sizes to hands-on training, Gillian says her VIU experience gave her the confidence and skills she uses every day with her clients.

Read more about where a VIU education can take you: https://news.viu.ca/alumni-spotlight-gillian-stuart

From VIU classrooms to a thriving therapy practice, alum Andrea Thring is proof that following your curiosity can lead t...
06/29/2026

From VIU classrooms to a thriving therapy practice, alum Andrea Thring is proof that following your curiosity can lead to meaningful work. đź’«

Andrea’s journey spans theatre, drama therapy and clinical counselling. Today she helps clients navigate life’s challenges with creativity, care and an evidence‑based practice.

Check out our latest Alumni Spotlight to learn how her VIU experience shaped her path and why she believes the arts and mental health belong in the same conversation.

Read more: https://news.viu.ca/alumni-spotlight-andrea-thring

“It’s possible to live in both worlds – to be Indigenous and to play the game at an elite level.” ⚽️VIU grad and Indigen...
06/25/2026

“It’s possible to live in both worlds – to be Indigenous and to play the game at an elite level.” ⚽️

VIU grad and Indigenous soccer player Mateo Kostering is proving exactly that. As founder of the Indigenous Athletics Academy, Mateo is using the sport that changed his life to support Indigenous youth, build confidence and create pathways in both sport and education.

From training on the pitch to mentoring the next generation, his work shows what’s possible when culture, community and high‑performance sport come together. We’re proud to celebrate Mateo and the impact he’s making for Indigenous athletes.

🧡 Keep an eye out for his story in national media coverage highlighting “Real Canadians” who are changing their communities through sport and leadership.

From surviving to thriving – Morgan Carey’s journey shows how financial support can change a life. Growing up in foster ...
06/23/2026

From surviving to thriving – Morgan Carey’s journey shows how financial support can change a life. Growing up in foster care, Morgan faced significant barriers on the road to university, but financial aid helped him earn a degree and build a successful career as a business leader in Nanaimo.

Thanks to generous community support, our Ripples of Change campaign has already raised more than $1 million to remove financial barriers for students just like Morgan. Ripples of Change aims to raise $2 million for scholarships, awards, bursaries and the Access Fund by Spring 2027. Want to help us keep the momentum going and create more stories like Morgan’s?

Read his story, then click on the link at the end: https://news.viu.ca/surviving-thriving

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900 Fifth Street, Bldg 310
Nanaimo, BC
V9R5S5

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