Welcome
‘Uy’ skweyul (Good Day)
Welcome to Vancouver Island University! I gratefully acknowledge the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’amin, Snaw’naw’as and Qualicum peoples on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge.
I am humbled and excited by the opportunity to help lead VIU on the next stage of its journey. I’m inspired by the innovative ways this institution engages with learners and communities, and works to create opportunities for those who might not otherwise have access to post-secondary education. I’m excited to continue with this important work – and build on it.
At VIU, students have access to a high-quality education that features small class sizes, individualized supports and an emphasis on community-based and hands-on learning opportunities. Education is a truly transformative experience, and the best part of my job is watching students use their newfound knowledge to make a difference in the world.
We are proud to host the second-largest percentage of Indigenous learners of any post-secondary institution across BC. We also host a large number of international students from more than 90 countries, ensuring we provide a truly global community.
VIU is a place where all are welcome and all belong, and that sense of community extends to the President’s Office. If you see me on campus, please come and say hello. I look forward to hearing all of your stories, learning more about what you think makes this place special, and how we can better support you.
Hy’chqa Si’em / Thank you very much,
Deborah (Deb) Saucier
President and Vice-Chancellor
Vancouver Island University
Dr. Deb Saucier
Vancouver Island University's new President Dr. Deb Saucier says her first hello to the community.
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Three Things
Recognizing Black History Month
Black History Month begins today in Canada. Black History Month was established to “celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation it is today.” As we work to...
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January Blog
January is a strange month. Perhaps it is because it is on the other side of many holidays. Perhaps it is because the days are finally getting longer and things are starting to sprout in the garden. Perhaps it is the start of a new term. I thought I would start this blog with a snip of a poem by...
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Engage in the next phase of VIU's strategic planning process
Dear VIU Community, I'm excited to announce that the next phase of VIU’s strategic planning process has arrived. From November 2 - 27, we would like to have your feedback on the first draft of the plan, which was created from the community input we received last spring and summer. Since then, we...
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October/November Blog
I’ve been spending some time on campus since the start of term and noticed, when wandering around, that I’ve been running into more people. Often this is on my way to the Mount Benson Market to grab a morning coffee, or around 2 pm for an afternoon snack. I highly recommend the sandwiches, the...
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A Message of Thanksgiving
I wanted to take a moment to wish all of our students and employees a happy, safe and healthy Thanksgiving long weekend. I know this year’s Thanksgiving may look different from the traditions many of us usually observe and some of us are having to find new ways to celebrate. This has given me pause...
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September Blog Post
My apologies for not blogging over the past few months, but the events since March have made time for reflection and writing scarce. Further, “Zoom Fatigue” sapped most of my creative juices. The best I could do over the summer was go back to first principles, which for me is collaboration and...
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April Blog Post
I am writing this from my home office, which is above my garage. It is a bright and sunny day and I am happily perched among the Douglas fir and cedar trees that line my driveway. The birds are zipping around, and I am on my third piece of toast. I feel remarkably blessed to work in such a...
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March Blog Post
“Beware the ides of March” (Julius Caesar, Act 1, Sc.2) Although I remember the phrase, I had no idea what date this referred to. After a quick search, I found out that it is March 15. Ides, it turns out, is a term the Romans used to refer to the middle of any month. Turns out the Romans didn’t...
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February Blog Post
We are about halfway through winter, and so far this month we have experienced snow, fog, rain and blinding sun. And yet signs of spring are everywhere. I see crocuses popping up, Canada geese flying overhead and there are buds on the trees. The air is softer, the sun is coming up a bit earlier...
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Welcome to 2020! January is always a time for reflection, and given the year, a time to look back on the last decade. So, what’s happened during the last decade? Well, for me, the last decade brought a lot of personal and professional change (new jobs, new locations, new friends and family members...
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