Last week, we officially welcomed Dr. Vanessa Andreotti to UVic as our new Dean of Education. She was appointed in April 2022 with plans for a transition year leading up to her five-year term beginning on July 1, 2023. Dr. Catherine McGregor, our Associate Dean, Graduate Programs and Research, graciously stepped up to take on the position of Acting Dean for the faculty during this transition year.

UVic Faculty of Education Community Relations Coordinator Jasdeep Randhawa spoke with Catherine and Vanessa to learn about their experiences with this process, their reflections on the past year and their hopes for the future.

In this episode, we had a great conversation with doctoral student Suriani Dzulkifli about her research and her journey as an international student in Canada, from her undergraduate studies in Ottawa to her current research in the Department of Educational Psychology & Leadership Studies at UVic.

Suriani describes her use of arts-based methodology in her research to investigate the different ways in which international students navigate the three education settings: formal education, non-formal education, and informal learning that we do on a daily basis.

Jeff Hopkins is the creator and principal for the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry (PSII) located in downtown Victoria. In this episode, Hopkins explains why he chose to create this new high school to fill gaps in education using questions and quests and how it benefits students.

Read more about PSII: https://learningstorm.org/

We had a great conversation with Wendy-Sue Andrew, UVic’s 2020 Education Distinguished Alumni of the Year.

Wendy-Sue is now the executive director for Lifetime Networks. Living with her son diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy, she moved from being a full-time teacher to helping out children of parents who like her wondered: What is going to happen when the parents are no longer there to support their children? What could they do to have their children on the autism spectrum engage and connect with people to create lasting relationships that will support them through life? Lifetime Networks is now helping over 400 people connect and become more independent.

Learn more about Lifetime Networks: https://www.lifetimenetworks.org/

Assistant professor Alison Shields invited Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé as an artist-in-residence to create beadwork and explore how she connects with students the Indigenous way.

They explored what happened as Teresa sat at a table beading and took the time to meet with passersby and art education classrooms being sent her way. They sat with her and learned through watching and conversations. Connecting around a kitchen table brings out personal stories and larger questions.

Let’s hear what they have to say about beadwork and how taking the time helps to learn and connect with each other.

Thomas Webb’s experience in science started at a young age when he started exploring life's mysteries along with a group of primary school kids enrolled in the UVic Science Venture program. His discoveries inspired him to follow a path in Science. He is now one of the program coordinators for Science Venture. Webb explains the nuts and bolts of the program and shares how the program changed his life.

Find out more about Science Venture: https://www.scienceventure.ca/

Being a university student can be stressful at times. We had a conversation with Annie Lucas, a nurse with the University Health Services (HEAL) to find out what services are available on campus and what works for students.

Find out more about UVic Student Services: https://www.uvic.ca/studentaffairs/departments/student-services/index.php

UVic psychology and education students Vishnu Punwani and Parker Johnson started The Table, a welcoming safe space where people of colour (POCs) are invited to share their stories and experiences with the community. People coming from all walks of life and generations express themselves around a table to further intercultural reconciliation, share their truths and connect with the stories of others. Everyone is welcome to sit in and listen.

www.facebook.com/thisistabletalk/

Nick Henry is an Elementary Teacher Education student from the Pauquachin Nation in Saanich. He is the host of W̱ILṈEW̱ Radio, a CFUV radio show exploring topics such as language revitalization, Indigenous art, W̱SÁNEĆ stories, local music groups and much more.

Care for a ride? Kinesiology alumnus Carson Sage, founder of the Victoria chapter of Cycling Without Age, shares what inspired him to provide bike rides to seniors. Cycling Without Age is a service that helps them enjoy nature and fresh air as they are driven around the community in a rickshaw-like bike by volunteer cyclists. He talks about the benefits to both the users and the volunteers. He explains how he turned this project into a key component of his Kinesiology Master’s degree. Get on board and enjoy the ride!

More on the Victoria chapter of Cycling Without Age: https://cyclingwithoutage.ca/victoria/