These program open houses are open 10 am-2 pm, but there are some special events scheduled. If you're interested in a program be sure to check early to make sure you don't miss out.
Learn about Trades programs
Vroom Vroom
Skills Canada Competitions will be taking place in the shop until noon if you want to view those competitions. Please respect our competitors and enter, exit and view quietly
Time: 10 am-12 pm
Location: Building 150
Take Whisks with a Baking Career
Come meet the program chair and have your questions answered. Tour the bakery and join some interactive demos:
- cupcake decorating
- chocolate showpiece demonstrations
Location: Building 185, Lower Cafeteria
Building a Future
Join the faculty and students in the Carpentry Foundation program in the VIU Carpentry Shop to work on an assembly (framing) project and to try your skills in a nail pounding contest.
*Skills Canada Competitions will be taking place in the shop until noon if you want to view those competitions. Please respect our competitors and enter, exit and view quietly
Location: Building 108, Room 140
So, You Want to be a Chef?
Chef Andrea and Chef Buddy will be giving tours of the main kitchen. You can even try your hand a few fun culinary stations:
- cream puffs
- vegetarian hand roll temaki sushi
- molecular gastronomy
- mango "caviar"
*Skills Canada Competitions will be taking place if you want to view those competitions. Please respect our competitors and enter, exit and view quietly.
Location: Building300, Room 128
Time to Make the Lights Work
An opportunity to sit in on an Electrical Foundation class. Work with current VIU students to learn how various wiring methods are used to make circuits work, the circuits that power our every day lives. Bring questions to test the current electrical students.
Location: Building 115, Room 110
Start Your Career Right Hair at VIU
Come and take a tour of the Hairdressing building. You can even try your hand at a few hairdressing skills:
- foil placement
- perm wrap
- braiding
Learn about different hair textures from current VIU Hairstylist students.
Esthetics - You'll also have the opportunity to participate in lessons on nail painting and hand massage
Location: Building 164
Can you DIG it?
Between Welding and HMT in the Simulator, Machine Yard
Try some awesome simulators!
HEO Simulators - Orientation with controls for HEO and Forestry Simulators
Mini Excavator Basketball
Location: Between Buildings 130 and 150 in the Machine Yard
Big Equipment and Big Diesel Engines
Check out and interact with some large diesel engines (large wheel loader, skidder, excavator, and D6R) Numerous on-highway trucks training axles are brought into the shop - practice removing and installing wheel nuts and tires using a large 1.0" impact gun.
Location: Building 110, Room 100
Leaf Your Mark with a Career in Horticulture
#AskVIUHorticulture 10 am-12 pm
Horticulture Chair, Christine Quist will guide you through an inquiry process to answer the publics questions submitted through #AskVIU Horticulture on Instagram. We will work through the process to research and problem solve and recommend solutions to the public.
Plant Walks 12:30-2 pm
Horticulture Instructor Bin van der Stoel and current Horticulture students will introduce the Plant ID course and lead attendees on a tour of the VIU Nanaimo Camps gardens while pointing out the plant material along the way. Bring your walking shoes and a camera.
Location: Building 108, R105
The Bits and Bytes of a Career in Information Technology
Curious about things like ethic hacking and cyber security? Interested in applying artificial intelligence processing models to a web application? Drop by the ITAS Open House on-going demonstrations every half hour. At the end of the demonstrations there will be draws for IT related prizes!
Location: Building 180, Room 156
Boss: How good are you at PowerPoint?
Me: I Excel at it.
Boss: Was that a Microsoft Office Pun?
Me: Word
Graduates of VIU's Office Administration program have the skills for today's busy offices. In this 10-month certification, you will learn what your dream employer is looking for. Come meet the program chair, learn about the program and try some keyboarding skills.
Location: Building 180, First Floor Lobby
A Career that is Hot as Well as Cool!
Enter a career that won't keep you in an office, and where you can solve problems with mechanical and technical skills and practical knowledge. Come by and check out faculty demonstrations outside VIU's Geo-Exchange, a perfect example of the types of heating and cooling systems that HVAC professional work on.
Location: Building 160 – VIU's Geo-Exchange
Demonstration and hands-on labs happening in the north end of the welding shop:
- plasma arc cutting
- gas metal arc welding
- shielded metal arc welding
Welding student ambassadors will be on hand to speak to their experience in the programs. Personal protection equipment will be available for visors that wish to try some of the demonstrated processes.
* Skills Canada Competitions will be taking place in the shop until 11:30 if you want to view those competitions. Please respect our competitors and view quietly.
Location: Building 130, Main Shop
Trades open house locations
