Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran and UBCO’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Lesley Cormack have officially declared September 25 to 27 UBCO Homecoming weekend in the City of Kelowna.
Campus celebrates third annual homecoming weekend virtually
Homecoming weekend has become a valued tradition at UBC Okanagan. And this year, it will be like no other homecoming, as most events are coming to participants in their homes.
“While we are offering events for Homecoming Weekend 2020 remotely, we are taking time to celebrate the importance of connection,” says Lesley Cormack, UBC Okanagan deputy vice-chancellor and principal. “The weekend is an opportunity for alumni to reconnect with former classmates and bring the broader UBC Okanagan community together.”
The third annual homecoming is jampacked with virtual events, including cooking classes, wine tasting, an online trivia quiz and a family-friendly drag storytime.
“This is an important milestone at UBC Okanagan as we celebrate our 15th year since the first classes began,” says Cormack. “Our campus, and number of alumni, have grown significantly and I look forward to taking time to celebrate our collective achievements.”
Homecoming weekend takes place September 25 to 27 and kicks off at 6 p.m. that Friday with a global broadcast Homecoming at Home. Alumni will be able to connect through the online celebration that features UBC speakers, appearances from fellow alumni and students and a special musical performance by Canadian singer-songwriter Scott Helman.
Earlier this summer Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran officially declared the weekend as UBCO Homecoming weekend in the City of Kelowna. In doing so, Basran recognized partnerships between UBC and the city with widespread benefit in areas like health and wellness, sustainability and building community. He also recognized the important contributions of UBC students and alumni.
“Kelowna is home to thousands of UBC Okanagan alumni and is a community with which thousands more maintain deep connections and affinity,” Basran said. “The students and alumni of UBC Okanagan are important contributors to the social, cultural and economic vitality of our community and I am delighted to celebrate UBC Okanagan Homecoming with everyone taking part from near and far.”
Other virtual homecoming activities taking place that weekend include an introductory art session, stretching and physical activities tips for people working from home, a visual storytelling workshop and an exhibit at the Kelowna Art Gallery featuring works that celebrate UBC Okanagan’s first 15 years. The exhibit will display works of alumni and explore a diverse range of mediums including painting, photography, sculpture, printmaking and drawing.
“This year, Homecoming comes to you—wherever you are around the world,” adds Cormack. “While physically apart, we will connect through this special online celebration.”
To find out more or register for any of the events visit: ok.ubc.ca/homecoming
About UBC’s Okanagan campus
UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning founded in 2005 in partnership with local Indigenous peoples, the Syilx Okanagan Nation, in whose territory the campus resides. As part of UBC—ranked among the world’s top 20 public universities—the Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world in British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley.
To find out more, visit: ok.ubc.ca
