Campus Conversations 2019-2021
November 4, 2021 David Fainstein Video of questions and responses
Ideas and comments that stood out to students
I’m from Victoria originally, and working to complete my doctorate in school psychology at the University of Oregon through a year-long internship at several sites in the metro Vancouver area. My day-to-day looks like direct service to children and families, and then reading/writing about educational and implementation science for systems-level change. My position is that Canadian schools and the people in them are brilliant and have the capacity for advancing positive change.
Themes:
- Changing lives through psychology
- Taking time and money out of the transformation process
Jack Basha October 7, 2021 – in person and on Zoom at UVic’s MFC
My family and I immigrated to Canada from Syria 3 years ago. We went through many difficult challenges, so I became adequate at problem solving and decision making. I will be a 3rd year computer science student in the Fall, and I am hardworking and very motivated to succeed and impress. I did a certificate in mobile development at North Island College before coming to UVic. I have a full scholarship from UVic because of my GPA. We were blessed with many good instructors and community members that helped us settle easily. I spend most of my day studying or working on various things. I enjoy playing video games, watching soccer matches and highlights, and watching YouTube videos in my free time. I also constantly try to teach myself new skills.
Themes:
Dealing with change
Living and surviving in very challenging situations
Finding place in new communities
Accepting help
Opportunities for leadership
April 1, 2021 Ellery Lamm Video playlist of questions and responses
Ellery Lamm is an award-winning writer and filmmaker. [ About her first Fringe production, The Fitting Room]. Her background spans claymation, playwriting, radio storytelling, fiction writing and education. In her creative work she is particularly interested in telling the stories of young women and the LGBTQ+ community. Ellery is a current MFA candidate at UVIC. [ How UVic changed her life.]
Themes:
Fuel for yourself
Taking things into your own hands at school and beyond
Advocating for yourself
Finding ways to creatively collaborate
Rewards of taking risks
March 4, 2021 Marissa McNeill Video Playlist of the Questions and Responses
Feedback
Themes:
finding my niche
beginning my journey in highschool
myself against the world and asking for help
the value of scheduling to relieve anxiety
Feb 4, 2021 Carmel Mohebati
Carmel Mohebati
Carmel is a UVic alumni who graduated with a BA in Child and Youth Care in 2019. She’s lived in Victoria, having moved from Ontario for almost 3.5 years now. For the past several years, currently in the Tillicum neighbourhood, she has continued to be part of and offer community-based educational programs for youth and their families that helps them think about their personal spiritual growth, while also empowering them to give back to their neighbourhood.
Carmel is currently preparing to apply to graduate programs in Victoria and across Canada to build on her career aspirations and experience of working with youth and counselling. She works as an Educational Assistant at a middle school and as a Child Care Worker in an out-of-school care program.
Possible Themes:
Conquering fear about one’s future
Vibrant community life
Coherence in one’s life
Recognizing opportunities in tribulations
Jan 14, 2021 Britt McLeod Video playlist of Questions and Responses
Britt is currently a Masters student at Royal Roads University in the Enviro Education & Communication program. She grew up in Asia (mostly Malaysia) for the first ten years of her childhood and then moved to Canada and the States. She spent a number of years working on various sailing vessels and is intrinsically connected to the ocean. In the spring of 2020, she delivered a program on Ecological Grief and Gratitude to a group of youth that was initially nature-based, but due to the pandemic she adapted the program to be online. It was a wonderful success and now she is completing her thesis this winter. Britt hopes to combine nature-based peer therapy and environmental education in her work.
Themes:
Finding hope/resiliency in changing times.
Coming to grips with ecological grief
The benefits of earth-based spirituality
Effective activism
Dec 3, 2020 Max Kelsch Video playlist Q&A
Max is a student, tutor, aspiring shop teacher, woodworker, bicycle mechanic, and former competitive cyclist amongst other things. As he sees them right now, his main goals are to keep learning new skills and to become the best teacher that he can be. Through this, he hopes to help and inspire young people to be confident, loving, and well-rounded individuals.
Max earned a degree in Wood Products Processing (B.Sc.W.) from the University of British Columbia, and Is currently working towards his Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.). During his time at UBC, he also raced road bikes competitively, and had aspirations of turning professional. However, his diagnosis with a heart condition sidelined this goal and forced a re-evaluation of his life’s direction.Looking back, even after undergoing surgery, he is very grateful for the opportunity for re-evaluation.
At this time, Max is newly married, a new homeowner, and lives with a mechanical heart valve that ticks at him like a watch. He hopes that sharing some of his experiences and thoughts will be of some benefit to others.
Themes:
Dealing with unexpected life alterations
Optimism … even when the path is challenging
Finding love [such a big topic especially in challenging times ]
The gold in reflecting , and being grateful
The draw, the rewards of teaching
Nov 5, 2020 , Michelle Joyce View video playlist
“Michelle Joyce has been employed by the Central Saanich Police Service as a Constable since 2014 and is the current co-chair of the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee (GVPDAC). The GVPDAC was established in 2001 and is dedicated to buildIng better police community relationships. Michelle is a full time graduate student at Royal Royals University in the Master of Arts in Leadership program and is also the Vice President of the Vancouver Island Association of Women Police (VIAWP). She is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion and has furthered this interest through UVIC since 2019 as a Volunteer Human Rights educator and anti-racism facilitator. She lives on the Peninsula with her husband, Shawn, and English Pointer dog, Maggie and enjoys cooking, surfing, snowshoeing, and hiking in her spare time.”
Themes:
Keys to helping diversity in the community
A career in uniform
Importance of authenticity
Impact of our Leadership on others
Oct 1, 2020: Rhys Sexton Video Playlist of the questions and responses
Creating our future can be a step-by-step process. Although in his early 20’s Rhys been involved with construction for over 5 years. His current schooling program is Architectural and building technology focused on construction management. He has run hia own small construction company before as well as running a painting franchise this summer.
Themes:
Early training opportunities
Building relationships in the community
Lessons learned from running a business
Being a boss.
January 23rd:, 2020 Chelsea Peddle Interview video playlist
Chelsea Peddle is an end-of-life planner and death doula. In 2017, she founded CircleSpace: Empowered End-of-Life Planning in Victoria, BC, to help people prepare for end-of-life so they can live in peace. Through workshops, coaching and companionship, Chelsea offers emotional, physical, spiritual and pragmatic support for individuals and their families before, during and after death. Her passion is helping people find peace of mind and peace of heart in a time of great stress. When her mum Merry, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor in spring 2019, Chelsea had the achingly bitter-sweet experience of being death doula for her own beloved. Chelsea is now navigating her re-entry to work and a world where the personal and the professional collide. Chelsea has an End-of-Life Doula certificate from Douglas College and is a member of the End-of-Life Doula Association of Canada.
Themes:
Facing your fears,
Death as the ultimate motivator
Navigating boundaries and self care: when the “personal” becomes your work
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March 5 Ross Leech [Alternative Food Sourcing] [View his interview]
Feedback…
Experienced in minimalism: this term he has moved into a van. Ross has been very involved with MFC activities for the last couple of years. Currently a work study student of MFC.
Themes:
How much we need to get by.
The dangers of being too comfortable.
What really makes you happy.
Finding peace in the city.
Sarah Fletcher, Research Manager. Nov 14th, 2019 video backgrounders
View her interview
What ideas stood out to students
Themes for Campus Conversations Focus Interview
Overcoming challenges
Forming a band without playing an instrument
Finding / creating meaningful employment
Thriving when faced with change
Less is more ( it’s not how much you write but what you say)
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Jody Paterson Journalist and communications strategist November 28th , 2019 video backgrounders View her interview
Jody Paterson is the part-time Executive Director of the Board Voice Society of BC and a communications consultant. She is a writer, editor and communications strategist with extensive experience writing for and managing B.C. daily newspapers,but left full-time journalism in 2004 to work primarily for community-based non-profits working on the front lines of social care and equality, the sector that most feeds her passion. She is the former executive director of the sex worker-led non-profit Peers Victoria, and continues to pursue opportunities in Canada and abroad to work with grassroots and activist organizations focused on social justice. Jody returned to Victoria in May 2016 after almost five years with Cuso International in which she worked with grassroots non-profits in Honduras and Nicaragua to improve communication strategies and help them tell the stories of the impact of their work.
Themes:
Working on an international stage
Supporting the underdog
Writing for Change
Doing life differently
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Guuduniia LaBoucan lawyer, senior policy analyst Video backgrounder
View her interview
A challenging childhood, part of the ’60’s Scoop’ left her ready to take on
any career challenge, confidently.. Her approach to work has lessons for
anyone considering a next step in their career..
Themes:
Moving past abuse
I could survive anything, and I did
Impact of the Indian Act
Making yourself whatever the person wants..the path to law school and a career.