UBC's Okanagan campus is holding a special Community Day on Sept. 18. All Okanagan residents are invited to enjoy a Saturday of fun and informative public events celebrating the campus's fifth anniversary.
"People of all ages are invited to join us on Community Day," said Doug Owram, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal. "We very much appreciate the strong support we have received from the community as we have expanded our institution and are building a nationally and internationally known university in the Okanagan. We hope everyone can join us to celebrate our collective success.
"If you haven't visited the university this is a great opportunity to see what your UBC campus looks like and what our faculty, staff, alumni and students are doing, both locally and globally."
Community Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. throughout the campus. Highlights include:
- Free hot dogs and birthday cupcakes
- Out-of-the-box art activities for the kids
- Innovative cooking demos featuring fresh, local food
- A scavenger hunt -- exploring everything from ice age animals to human simulators
- Guided tours
- Centre stage performances from talented students, faculty and staff
- Compelling talks from four of Canada's top researchers
- UBC Okanagan Heat women's and men’s soccer teams in action against the Quest University Kermodes
- Prizes for all
"It's hard to believe it's been five years since the doors to UBC's Okanagan campus first swung open with a flurry of students and all the promise that breakthrough teaching, learning and research can bring," said Bonnie Bates Gibbs, Director of Alumni and University Relations.
"We share in a great success story and, if you haven't had a chance yet to take it all in, this is it. On September 18, the doors swing wide open once again as we strut our stuff and extend a heartfelt thank you to the people of the Okanagan -- our partners and friends."
Other special fifth-birthday celebration events include:
- A Distinguished Speakers Series presentation featuring Richard Florida on September 10, 7 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Delta Grand Okanagan. Some seats were still available as of Sept. 2 -- seats are free but pre-registration online is required at www.ubc.ca/okanagan/speakers.
- The Alumni and Friends Endowment Fund Gala on Sept. 29.
Four research presentations on Sept. 18 are in the University Centre ballroom. Topics include:
- Crime Dramas and the Definition of the Situation(11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.)
Christopher Schneider, Assistant Professor of Sociology - Art and the Eco-Activist (12:15 to 12:55 p.m.)
Nancy Holmes, Associate Professor of Creative Writing and Poetry - Food Security in the 21st Century (1 to 1:40 p.m.)
Susan Murch, Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Natural Products Chemistry - Strength of a Lie: The Role of Motivation and Mode of Communication (1:45 to 2:25 p.m. )
Michael Woodworth, Associate Professor of Psychology
A special presentation, Return to the Ice Age with Robert Young, Associate Professor Earth and Environmental Sciences, will be in the Arts Building atrium from 11:10 to 11:45 a.m., with additional presentations at 12:45 to 1:20 p.m., and 2:25 to 3 p.m.
For more information on any of the Community Day activities and special events visit communityday.ok.ubc.ca.
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