Public Affairs

We share stories about UBC Okanagan with the public through the news media and create pathways for the community to engage with UBCO.

Public Affairs is responsible for advancing UBC Okanagan’s profile and vision while building strategic relationships with government officials, community partners and other public sector institutions.

We engage with partners both on and off-campus to help tell our story and share new ideas. We garner support for UBCO’s mission of attracting the best and brightest students—those who aim to change the world by embracing bold new ways of thinking.

We also work closely with our UBC Vancouver colleagues in Media Relations and Community Engagement to raise the profile of UBCO.

In addition, we provide strategic communications advice and issues management to academic and administrative leaders.

 

Opera Under the Stars event in the courtyard

 

How we support ubco

Media Relations reaches audiences beyond UBCO through media releases, event advisories and expert Q&As. We tell stories about our university community that are meaningful and matter to campus, the Okanagan, and the world.

Explore stories for media at news.ok.ubc.ca.

UBC President Santa Ono being interviewed by Okanagan mediaSERVICES FOR MEDIA

We work with local, regional, and national print and broadcast media to ensure the university’s views on significant issues and challenges are well understood by everyone.

Our researchers also provide expert perspective and context on breaking news and current events.

UBC Experts
A searchable database to help reporters locate UBC experts.
Note: not all UBC experts are listed in this database—for experts not listed (including Okanagan campus experts) please contact the Public Affairs team.

Social Media
Follow UBC Okanagan News on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to UBC News
For Okanagan news, contact mediarelations.ok@ubc.ca. For UBC news, subscribe to daily and weekly digests from UBC.

SERVICES FOR FACULTY

We partner with faculty communicators and individual faculty members to help researchers make the news.

Media exposure can help a researchers build their profile in a discipline, advance their professional reputation and provide accountability for donor or funding agencies.

Contact us to discuss what makes stories newsworthy and how to get media interested in your work.


Work with usContact Public Affairs

The Community Engagement Office coordinates signature and special events on behalf of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal and offers event planning expertise to faculties and units hosting community events.

Our team cultivates key external relationships to build stronger university-community connections and a culture of reciprocity.

A student explains a project to teacher at the Expo of Awesome event at UBC OkanaganDELIVERY OF PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND EVENTS

The Community Engagement Office coordinates large-scale public events, including:

  • UBC Connects in Kelowna
  • Opera Under the Stars
  • Nobel Night
  • Expo of Awesome with School District 23
  • additional events of strategic importance to the university

Explore UBC Okanagan’s Community Engagement activities.

SCHOLARS AND STAFF SUPPORT

The office advises faculties and units on best practices and resources to optimize community-university engagement activities through:

  • event planning and event promotions advice
  • a UBCO high-level events calendar, to help set your event date
  • on and off campus event space knowledge and contacts
  • event equipment loans of UBC banners, tents, tablecloths and devices for checking-in guests
  • Zoom webinar resources and training for virtual events

COMMUNITY RELATIONS CONNECTIONS

The office connects with local communities and organizations to explore opportunities to work together through mutually beneficial and cooperative partnerships. Examples include:

  • a community help line to access and navigate university systems and protocols
  • managing UBCO’s memberships with Chambers of Commerce across the Okanagan valley
  • UBCO’s community sponsorship program

Work with usContact Community Engagement