From rolling out innovative programs to welcoming UBC’s new President, 2023 has been another eventful year at UBC Okanagan. As our campus steps into the end of term and the holiday season, it’s a good time to take a look back at the highlights and memories of this year.
UBC Okanagan introduces new programs
This year, UBC Okanagan announced the addition of three new degree programs.
In March, the Okanagan School of Education introduced a new Doctor of Education program, with the first cohort beginning studies this summer.
Currently accepting applications, the Master of Design is a new interdisciplinary program developed by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, School of Engineering and Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to help answer vital questions affecting the planet.
And earlier this month, applications opened for a new Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies theme. The Indigenous Knowledges theme was created for students interested in pursuing a pathway in Indigenous studies, and marks the first Indigenous Knowledges master’s and doctorate degrees in Canada.
UBCO launches a signature event—UBC Okanagan Debates
On May 3, UBC Okanagan hosted four leading thinkers to debate the future of artificial intelligence in the inaugural UBC Okanagan Debates—a new signature event for the campus. Moderated by Nora Young of CBC’s Spark, 400 people attended the inaugural debate in The Commons building, where debaters tackled both the optimistic and skeptical sides of the technology.
The second Debate took place on October 24 at the Kelowna Community Theatre, and featured an expert panel on the topic of free speech. Debaters tackled the question “is free speech dead or more alive than ever?”, and explored the state of free speech in the digital age.
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UBCO celebrates the graduates of 2023 and conferring of the first-ever Bachelor of Nsyilxcn Language Fluency degrees
On June 8 and 9, UBC Okanagan conferred more than 2,300 degrees across six graduation ceremonies. Eight degree recipients represented the first-ever graduating cohort of the Bachelor of Nsyilxcn Language Fluency (BNLF) program. The program is an innovative and revitalizing collaboration between communities, the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT), En’owkin Centre, and UBC Okanagan.
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Visual Arts students unveil largest addition to UBC Okanagan’s Public Art Project
Six weeks, 400 hours of work, and a full summer term later, UBC Okanagan’s Public Art Project received its latest and largest colourful addition. Painted by 18 of UBCO’s Visual Arts students in collaboration with instructors David and Jorden Doody, the large-scale mural features wild horses against the picturesque backdrop of the Okanagan region. Located on the Landmark District lot, the panoramic mural is the fourth installation in this annual summer course project, and was unveiled to the public on August 17.
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UBCO displays unity amidst adversity
As historic wildfires burned in and around Kelowna, UBC’s Okanagan campus was ordered to evacuate on Friday, August 18. As the situation improved, the campus became a staging ground for the wildfire fight, hosting more than 800 firefighters, wildfire personnel and critical firefighting equipment from fire departments across the country. During the wildfire response, more than $202,000 was raised towards the UBC Okanagan Student Emergency Assistance Fund to help support impacted students. Campus returned to normal operations 10 days later.
Despite the trying times presented by the Kelowna wildfires, the resilience of the UBCO community shone through when more than 12,000 students started their fall term on September 5. Our campus welcomed over 3,200 new students and helped more than 1,400 students as they arrived to move into their on-campus residences.
UBC welcomes Benoit-Antoine Bacon as the new President and Vice-Chancellor
On November 1, the University of British Columbia welcomed Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon as our 17th President and Vice-Chancellor. An accomplished researcher and teacher, Dr. Bacon joined UBC from Carleton University in Ottawa, where he had been serving as President and Vice-Chancellor. Dr. Bacon holds a PhD in neuropsychology from the University of Montreal and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
Watch his holiday message to the UBC community below.
