In 1989, Pearl Arden received an unexpected gift – a job at Camosun College. Pearl had just completed a Masters degree in Counselling Psychology at UVic when she happened to be at the college and ran into her friend, Larry Dettweiler, who was teaching in Camosun’s Psychology Department. Larry asked what she was doing. When Pearl told him she was …
Michiko Sakamoto-Senge: Serving learners and community with nobility and care
When Michiko Sakamoto-Senge was offered a term teaching position at Camosun in 1976, she felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. Although she had completed an MA in Sociology in Chicago, she had no formal teaching experience. Fortunately, she took a chance and discovered that teaching was both stimulating and invigorating. She was delighted, therefore, when she received an invitation …
Wendy Cooper: Founding member of Camosun’s Nursing program and champion of Victoria’s Nursing history
Shortly after completing her BScN degree at UVic in 1981, and having taught for three years in a traditional Nursing program, Wendy Cooper joined the newly established Nursing program at Camosun. As a founding member of the faculty, she was part of a group of keen and astute Nursing Educators who all contributed perspectives that ultimately resulted in the success …
Tim Chamberlain: A committed English instructor who loved teaching diverse learners
Prior to coming to Camosun in 1990, Tim Chamberlain had been a high school English teacher. After earning a Master’s degree in English at UVic in 1986, he went to Toronto where he taught English at Humber and Seneca colleges before returning to Victoria. Teaching at Camosun, with its mandate to serve all members of the community, was a great …
Trudy Parks: A financial whiz who always focused on people
Trudy Parks grew up on a dairy farm in Oregon. She was introduced to hard work early in life and she was raised to be independent in her thinking and approach to life. She was also taught strong values that embraced others. As a result, she had remarkable people skills – she always took time to listen to people and …
Keith Bateman: Early trailblazer of Camosun’s trades and technology programs
Keith Bateman joined Camosun in 1982 as the Director of Science and Technology. Shortly after arriving, Keith attended his first Admin Council meeting, a breakfast meeting in the Cook Training section at Interurban. When Keith, an ex-Brit, was offered kippers, he knew he’d made a wise decision to come to Camosun. At that meeting, Keith learned that college budgets were …
Ethan Joseph: First-year Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ student finds his path at Camosun
Ethan Joseph is a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation) man who graduated high school in 2018. After moving to Victoria in 2019 and working for a while, he felt like he hadn’t progressed much in life, so he went to Camosun College to meet Indigenous education advisor Sekwan Webasca. Sitting in the Indigenous office was an immediate comfort that pushed out …
Katie Manomie: Indigenous Family Support student excels at Camosun
Katie Manomie is an Inuk woman born in Iqaluit, Nunavut. As part of the 60’s Scoop she was raised in the traditional T’Souke Territory with her non-Indigenous mother and is currently living and learning on Lekwungen Territory. She was never taught anything about her Inuk/Indigenous heritage beyond what was taught in the public school system. In high school she experienced …
Jack Guthrie: One of Camosun’s first faculty members
Nearing the end of grad studies in Economics at Simon Fraser University (SFU), Jack Guthrie responded to an ad seeking instructors at the newly formed Camosun College.
Camosun is ‘all in the family’ for nursing instructor Mary Willbond
Camosun has been a family affair for Nursing instructor Mary Willbond, her sisters, her mom, her sons and her extended family for more than 50 years – a century in fact.