Written for Kelowna Guide Magazine by – Rhys Mahannah
UBC
UBC’s Okanagan campus opened its doors in 2005, and has since earned a reputation as an intimate learning community powered by tier-one research and world-class teaching.
What started as a 3,500-student population five years has grown to 8,500 students. As the campus expands with new, custom facilities, so too does the research capacity and the potential of students who work actively alongside faculty.
UBC’s Okanagan library shares in an elaborate information storehouse that boasts 5.8 million volumes, 5.3 million microforms, more than 833,000 maps, audio, video and graphic materials, and more than 80,000 serial titles. Visitors find a warm, welcoming atmosphere and wide-ranging resources that include more than 100 computers for individual and group study, plus quiet spaces for concentrated learning.
Through interdisciplinary study in the sciences, social sciences and humanities, the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences educates global citizens who value diversity and equality, avoid environmental degradation, and contribute to society in all its forms.
In the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies (FCCS), the unexpected—and even peculiar—is not only encouraged but celebrated. FCCS brings together traditional disciplines related to the creation and analysis of all forms of art, offering innovative new paths of interdisciplinary graduate and undergraduate study.
The strength of the Faculty of Education lies in a belief that, together, faculty and students create an environment of academic excellence and personal growth. Professors know students by name and collaborate with them on meaningful initiatives that go beyond the basics to incorporate community-service learning and advocacy.
UBC’s Faculty of Health and Social Development brings an integrated team approach to research and scholarship focusing on some of the most challenging health and social development issues of our time. Nursing, social work, health studies and human kinetics join forces to transform and ensure the well-being of our communities
Faculty of Management students are treated to a personalized learning environment, and take part in a variety of hands-on and experiential learning opportunities that will help them become global thinkers and leaders.
The School of Engineering offers students a fully-integrated experience in civil, electrical and mechanical concentrations that ensures they develop into well-rounded professionals who will thrive amidst the realities of the modern workplace.
UBC welcomes visitors to campus year-round to enjoy all the great food, recreation, architecture and other services and amenities the university has to offer. For more information, visit www.ubc.ca/okanagan.
Okanagan College
Okanagan College’s mission is to transform lives and communities, which it’s been doing since 1963. The college is now the second largest in BC outside of Victoria and the lower mainland, and serves over 20,000 students annually at its four main campuses in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Salmon Arm.
With a $1 billion+ impact on the provincial economy, it’s cemented itself as an indispensable, well-respected educational institution.
OC boasts over 120 certificate, diploma, university transfer courses, and degree programs in various disciplines, including arts and science, health and social development, engineering technology, business, continuing studies, and foundational programs for individuals looking to upgrade their skills.
Its trades program is the second largest in British Columbia, and in 2016 will welcome the grand opening of the new Trades Training Complex—the largest, most comprehensive and environmentally sustainable facility between the lower mainland and Calgary.
Okanagan College is open to visitors year-round. For more information, visit http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/
Is it considered impolite not to finish wine during a tasting?
No, it’s not impolite. In fact, spitting or pouring out wine during a tasting is encouraged. This practice helps maintain a fresh palate for evaluating multiple wines without consuming excessive amounts. Learn more.