Over the last two years, our generous supporters have helped us raise 80% of our $5.5 million goal of completing and equipping our new buildings and supporting our students.
Imagine the difference you can make.
Imagine VIU - Capital Projects
Lewkowich Engineering Associates Ltd. is continuing their 17 years of supporting @VIU with a gift toward the development of an Interpretive Centre for the District Geo-Exchange Energy System. The unique system, which utilizes the water in flooded mines under the campus as a heat sink and cooling system, works to reduce the carbon footprint of our new buildings at the Nanaimo campus to near zero.
The Interpretive Centre will allow educators, learners, and visitors to learn about the system in an interactive and engaging way.
Yamaha Motor Canada has partnered with VIU by giving two brand new motors and tools to our Motorcycle and Marine programs! Yamaha dealers hire many VIU grads because of the high quality education they receive in our Motorcycle and Marine Technician training program, housed in the new Marine, Automotive and Trades Complex. This donation will give our students increased opportunities to train on cutting-edge equipment, better preparing them for the competitive job market.
At the start of WWII, 19-year-old Gerry McKinnon enlisted in the army. At the same time Mary Campbell left her job at St. Paul’s hospital and joined the up. Gerry developed pneumonia and ended up in the army hospital in Nanaimo, where he met and fell in love with Mary.
In August of 1944, Gerry was badly wounded overseas and ended up in a Canadian hospital, where his ward nurse just happened to be Mary. They married in 1945, and moved to Vancouver Island to be close to their son Tim in the 1960s.
Tim made a gift to the Imagine VIU Campaign in support of the Centre for Health and Science in honour of his mother’s Nursing career. #VIU thanks Tim for his generosity, and his late parents for their service to Canada during WWII.
Jane and Frank Gregory have been volunteering years of their lives to the growth of VIU since our beginning. Frank unfortunately passed away in 2000, but Jane continues to support our success, and we are humbled by their legacy of generosity.
In early 2018, Jane made a gift in their names to Imagine VIU in support of the Employee Lounge in the new Centre for Health and Science.
The Nanaimo Port Authority is supporting the Marine, Automotive and Trades Complex as Imagine VIU partners, donating $50,000 to complete the Boat Work Bay and Dyno Lab!
The NPA has been a great partner to and our students since 1998, along with many other local organizations.
Want to make a difference in another area? Check out all these other ways to support VIU!
VIU Partners in Success
The New Car Dealers Association of BC (NCDA) has once again supported Vancouver Island University Automotive and Business students with $2,000 each, totaling annual support of $10,000! An celebration and student award event was held in the newly-renovated Auto Bay, which was full of wonderful praise of the academic achievements of our students.
VIU Partners in Success
The BC Oil and Gas Commission Resource Management Officer Award will support two second-year RMOT students to the tune of $2,500 per semester for a full academic year, built from an overall $30,000 donation to VIU. That's $10,000 per year for our students! Thank you, BC Oil and Gas Commission!
VIU Partners in Success
"School is necessary for what I want to do, but managing the demands of life financially is hard. Receiving this award from Mid Island Co-op makes it possible to fulfill my dream and move forward." -Mathieu Soucy, 2nd Year RMOT student at VIU
Mid Island Co-op has been supporting VIU students since 1995, providing $7,500 annually in student awards. Their support gives students like Mathieu a healthy work-life balance. Thank you, BC Oil and Gas Commission!
Harbourview Volkswagen has been a wonderful partner to VIU for over a decade, supporting VIU Mariners and events, and now to the Imagine VIU Campaign in support of Trades. “We were excited to support further access to education for students, which will support our business and other businesses in the community,” said John Wynia, retired owner of Harbourview Volkswagen. “There is also a great benefit to VW—our workers have access to a great facility with the finest instructors, with a diversity of future workers. We need more than just mechanics – The growth of VIU needs to match the growth of Nanaimo.”
Island Savings made a leadership gift to Imagine VIU of $150,000 to name the 75-seat classroom in the Centre for Health and Science and the green rooftop at the VIU Cowichan Campus.
This gift builds on a rich history of ongoing support of VIU's students in both Cowichan and Nanaimo.