u

t

p

e
JULY 1990

ABE launches enrollment drive for the 90s
By Doreen Chui-Chai

other experts in adult education.

The Adult Basic Education Division at
KEC is preparmg for the 1990s with an
action plan designed to actively attract
new students.

The Action Plan Steering Committee
is a coordinating body which will draft a
mission statement for the division as
well as devise and oversee a plan to
execute recommendations. Under
chaiIJJerson Mary Waddington, Instruc­
tor in Basic Education, four task forces

Historically, KEC has handled most of
the adult basic education in the Lower
Mainland. But now that ministry-funded,
tuition-free school district programs are
available, the people in ABE feel they
will have to work harder to attract
students. Division Chair Betty Nobel
outlined the four parts of the ABE
campaign.
The ABE Enrolment Committee is
undertaking a program review to learn
more about where, why, who and how.
"Adult education in the province is
facing complex factors, many of which
are out of our control,'' said Nobel.
"We are focusing on those factors which
we are able to manage.''
In the short-term, the committee will
come up with suggestions to increase
enrolment; long-range ABE plans will
be more comprehensive, involving not
just the campus and the college, but also

''Adult education
in the province
is facing
complex factors,
many of which
are out of
our control," said
Nobel.
within the committee will look into the
areas of:
*Instruction--to identify issues for
instruction, development and articula­
tion;
*External Access--examine how

�NCOUVER
COMMUNITY
COi.LEGE�

potential learners can gain access to
learning opportunities at VCC;
*Internal Access and Student Services­
-identtfy barriers that mterfere with
students' effective use of college
resources;
*Working Environment--make provi­
sions for a stimulating work environ­
ment.
Marketing Research through a consult­
ant will develop marketing strategies for
the division. The research will define
perceptmns of the division's programs
and image. This joint effort is expected
to assure a more comprehensive cam­
paign.
Advertising and PR to "position"
ABE. Late summer will see the launch
of a concept to associate the ABE pro­
grams with changmg audiences and
trends. A ''wild cat'' in motion will
provide a high degree of visual magnet­
ism. The headline ''New Direct10ns for
the Adult Learner--Fast Track 90-91" is
clear in its promise and mvites the
reader nght into the ABE scene. This
theme will be carried through in all
See next page

Cornmunity College
Edwurd Curnpus - Lib,ary
Oox 21(620 - Stn. C
l l55 Emit Broadway
B.C VST .d�,.ti

PAGE 1

ABE and Career
programs may be able
to expand to serve both
City Centre and
Langara.

ABE employees are workmg on a comprehenstve program rev,ew

support and promotional materials.

develop career-specific academic pack­

ages. Nobel thinks that "if combined,
ABE was restructured
ABE and Career programs may be able to
The competition posed by the school
into a division in 1985, boards is not considered a threat by the expand to serve both City Centre and
ABE faculty. "Our action plan is not a re­ Langara.''
with departments
action," says Jean Cockell, Department
Head of Mathematics. "The competition ABE was restructured into a division in
having a relatively high has provided a catalyst to make us look at 1985, with departments having a rela­
ourselves. Positive actions are coming out tively high degree of inde ndence. "The
degree of
Action Plan," says Nobel, "is pulling the
of this, such as inter-departmental
independence. ''The articulation to provide more flexibility to departments closer together.''
students, cross-campus articulation to
Action P Ian,'' says examine common marketing, textbooks, "We have a definite need for better
communications, an understanding of
grading and provincial articulation to
Nobel, "is pulling the develop
what each (ABE) department does, and a
awareness with other colleges.''
look
at the on-going direction of ABE,"
departments closer
says Nobel.
An example of the new cooperation
within ABE is the approach to mathemat­
together."
pe

ics. Course numbers between self-paced
and group classes match, and students can
opt for or transfer between either mode of
instruction. In a wider context, two faculty
members are researching the possibility of
establishmg an academic upgradmg
facility for City Centre students who
either do not meet academic pre-requisites
of career programs or are having difficulty
completing programs. The objective is to

PAGE2

Waddington sees the Action Plan Com­
mittee as ''people with different philoso­
phies learning and listening, enjoying
themselves and working together ex­
tremely well.'' She expects the committee
will require a year to complete its task.

The ABE Division sends a special thanks
to the ESL Actton Plan Committee, from
whom they have benefited tremendously.

VCC-IBM team up for new computer lab
VCC President Paul

By Habib Kashani

Gallagher (left) and

Co-ordinator, Langara CST Program

IBM representative nail
up a plaque to
commemorate the
opening of the new
CST Lab.

Langara has celebrated a major achieve¬
ment in providing advanced technology
for students and faculty.
During the last decade, computing and
communications technology reached their
dramatic frontiers. As a consequence,

society and the economy became increas¬
ingly information-dependent.
Post-secondary institutions have had to
restructure their traditional approach to
curriculum development. Unfortunately,
one of the major elements of the new
approach is the financial costs of short¬
lived computing machinery. Budget
restraints, especially at Langara, have
adversely affected our endeavours to
achieve the desired educational goals.
During the past five years, Langara
campus and, in particular, the Computer
Systems Technologist Program (CST),
have made relentless efforts towards
achieving access to up-to-date computing
facilities. The campus had a collection of
archaic items good for museums of old
technology! In fact, Langara sold one of
its old mini-computers for $1,250!

¦
Fortunately, the collective efforts of the
Computer Science Department and CST
program, fully supported and guided by
Martin Gerson, Division Chair of Math
and Science, and the Dean of Arts and
Science Joan Horsley, have led to this
celebration. During the past year, the
campus has gained access to four new
computing facilities, including the CST
hardware lab which was officially opened
on June 6th.

The CST lab was made possible through a
joint study project between the CST

provide the students of Computer Systems
Technologist and Computer Information
Systems with valuable experiences on
hardware and software that have become
standard in industry. The CST students
continuing on to university or those being
employed will be prepared for diverse,
intricate computing environments. In
addition, the instructors will have the op¬
portunity to continue enhancing their
skills in the dynamic field of information
systems. This lab is the first milestone
towards future achievements in the areas
of education and research.

Program and IBM Canada. The applica¬
tion of advanced systems in this lab will

Shaughnessy dinner honours retirees;
Parker leaves after 37 years of service
VCC's 1990 Retirement Dinner was held at the
Shaughnessy Goll and Country Club Those who were
honoured
Shirley Balm forth, Langara, 15 years, Shirley Bell, Central
Administration, 9 years, Jean Benetti, KEC, 26 years,
Melvm Bishop, City Centre, 19 years; Rita DitchHeld,
Langara, 19 years, Charles Dunn, Langara, 31 years,
Audrey Fmdley, KEC, 18 years, Joan Garside, Central
Administration, 9 years, Shirley Girvan, KEC, 20 years;
John Gnos, City Centre, 22 years, Herman Itzmger,
Langara, 23 years, Ruth Kendall, KEC, 14 years, Peter
Uttleboy, KEC, 28 years; James MacNab, KEC, 17 years;
Tanu Modak, Langara, 8 years, John Parker, Langara, 37
years, Ron Pearson, Langara, 17 years, Jim Risk, Langara,

23 years, Tom Scott, KEC, 24 years; Dick Speed, Langara,
27 years; Dick Strachan, City Centre, 17 years, Irene
Strong, KEC, 11 years

Vancouver Community Colhu
King Fdward Campus - LibruVy
P.O. Box 24620 - Stn. C

1155 East Broadway
Vancouver, B.C. VST 4hlS PAGE3

We're going to rnake Ranald McDonald famous
-- and we're not just clowning around
In the summer of 1848, Canadian Ranald
McDonald (that's Ranald with an "a") was
shipwrecked off the northern coast of
Japan. After struggling to shore in a small
boat, he was immediately arrested and im­
prisoned.

A Canadian explorer
from Fort Langley
deliberately
shipwrecked himself on
the shores of Japan in
' hopes that he would be
received as an
accidental tourist
rather than a wilful
meddler.

So far, Ranald's plan was working
perfectly.
Previous to the mid-1800s, Japan severely
restricted visitors and other contact with
foreigners.
But five years before the arrival of
American Commodore Perry hastened the
end of Japan's isolation, Ranald
McDonald, a Canadian explorer from Fort
Langley, deliberately shipwrecked himself
on the shores of Japan in hopes that he
would be received as an accidental tourist
rather than a wilful meddler.
This was the beginning of a momentous-­
albeit relatively unknown--event linking
Canada and Japan. During his year-long
internment as a foreigner, McDonald
willingly studied the Japanese language
and culture and, in return, taught English
to Japanese statesmen, military officials
and even samurai warriors. He was so
well regarded by his Japanese "captors"
that his internment was in a private home
with servants.

Next year at this lime Ken Thomas will be on the road m
Japan

south, where the scholarship money will
allow him to further his Japanese studies
in much the same way as his adventure­
some predecessor. Thomas, who has
travelled throughout Asia and taught
English in Japan before, will also do
further research into McDonald's stay in
Japan.

All Canadians will soon learn more about
this country's first teacher in Japan. Ken
Thomas, a Langara student, has received a While Commodore Perry's place in the
history books is secure, Ranald
$9,000 scholarship from the college's
McDonald's valuable contribution has yet
International Education Division.
to fully unfold. Ken Thomas' efforts to
Thomas, 25, a student in the Pacific Rim recognize this Canadian of international
prominence will provide an interesting-­
Program, next year will bicycle
and ongoing--story for all Canadians.
McDonald's original route from Cape
Soya in northern Japan to Nagasaki in the

PAGE4

VCC Press
produces
transfer guide
VCC Press has completed its most
ambitious project, publishing a catalogue
of transferable credit courses between
B.C. colleges and the province's four
universities.
The B.C. Transfer Guide was produced
for the B.C. Council on Admissions and
Transfers, which will distribute the 5,000
copies primarily to high schools, colleges
and the four universities, including the
Open University.
''This was an unusual project in that we
had a single client who purchased the
entire edition," said Ross Carter, Director
of College Resources. '' The risk to the
college in this sort of arrangement is
lower, but the potential income is lower
too. We don't actively plan on soliciting
this kind of work, but we'll watch for
similar opportunities to bid on.''
Carter said the Transfer Gmde realized a
small profit: 12 per cent of the production
cost and a production management fee.
VCC Press Managing Editor, Raymond
Bendall, said production of the guide
would not have been possible without
computerized technology.
"We were on a tight deadline that I don't
think could have been met without most
of the data coming in electronic form,''
said Bendall. ''Everyone has been pleased
with the results so we should now be able
to produce an updated guide fairly easily
on an annual basis.''

$10,000 raised in casino
distributed by Alumni Association

By Barbara Alldritt, Executive Director,
VCC Alumni Association

Many alumni are also interested in
participating in the College's 25th
Anniversary celebrations. In conjunction
The VCC Alumni Association Annual
with these celebrations, the Association is
General Meeting on June 5th marked the
planning to publish a series of 'success
beginning of the Association's fourth year stories' featuring outstanding VCC
of support to the College.
alumni. With these and other plans well
under way, the Association is looking
Treasurer Ian Sutcliffe took the occasion
forward to a dynamic fourth year of
to announce that the Association 1s
support to VCC.
donating $10,000 for student assistance on
the three campuses of the College. The
funds were raised through a three night
casino at the Holiday Inn, assisted by
Association volunteers.
Elizabeth Bumyeat, a casino volunteer
and founding member of the Alumni
Association said "I enjoyed it and I'll
definitely volunteer again next year. What
made it great was knowing that our work
was raising money for students.''
Association Secretary Beverley Carl
presented $3,000 for bursaries to campus
representatives at the Annual General
Meeting. In her presentation, Carl
reflected on the College motto carpe
diem, made popular by actor Robin
Williams in the film "Dead Poets'
Society". "As a mature student attending
Langara campus, I experienced first hand
the difficulties and sacrifices a student has
to make to 'seize the day' and make a
career change. As an alumna I'm pleased
to be able to help today's students as they
work toward a better future at VCC. ''
After reviewing student needs on each
campus, an Alumni Association Board
committee will recommend how to
allocate the remaining $7,000. This brings
the total donations to the College through
the Alumni Association to $21,560 over
the last two years.
While the Association's Board and
volunteers are very pleased with their fun­
draising success, so far, they are also
looking ahead to success in other areas of
support to students and the College. One
such area is career planning and contacts.
The Association is looking at the feasibil­
ity of holding a Career Fair for the
students and alumni of each campus as a
first effort in this direction.

Ian Sutcliffe, Alumni Association Treasurer, announces
$10,000 m student assistance. Beverly Carl, AssoCJalion
Secretary, presented $3,000 for bursanes

The A ssociation is
looking at the
feasibility of
holding a
Career Fair
for the students
and alumni
of each campus.

PAGE5

Technician/Supervisor Program, who was
CE offers
City Centre notes recently
certified by the International
Food Service Executive Association.
another feast of
By Barbara Cameron
Association Chairman Donald McPhie
Some happenings of interest at City
said that the Certified Food Executive
Canadian theatre
Centre: David Kolot has been appointed
designation reflects the mark of "achieve­

new Assistant Dean of Administrative
Services, effective July 9. David hails
most recently from La Ronge, Sas­
katchewan where he was Director of
Finance and Administratmn with North­
lands College. He'll be taking over from
Dick Strachan who has just retired.

ment, knowledge and dedicated leader­
ship.''

The Anthropology Department's Stan
Copp has been nominated to the Execu­
tive of the Rock Art Association of
Canada. Copp will serve a two year term
as 2nd Vice- President of the newly­
And speaking of Dick Strachan, one of his formed association, which will examine
last duties was to host a Scholarship and
prehistoric art across Canada.
Awards Ceremony on June 8 held in the
newly completed City Centre lecture
theatre. Twenty-two hard working City
Centre students were presented with
cheques from a variety of community
groups, companies and individuals. After
the ceremony the students, their families
and special guests retired to a nearby
classroom for refreshments.

Designing
students

And City Centre has a new Communica­
tions Officer. Her name is Monika
Ullmann and she took up her position on
July 3. Monika has expertise in the
publishing industry and has spent four
years as an information officer for the
high tech company MacDonald Dettwiler,
based in Richmond. As well as serving
City Centre's needs, Monika will be
acting as External Communications
Officer for the whole college. You can
call her at City Centre 681-8111, local
423.

A group of UBC architecture students in
their final year of studies will design a
beautification plan for KBC.

After a successful 1989 tour, CE has
announced another feast of Canadian
theatre at the Shaw Festival in beautiful
Niagara-on-the-Lake and at the Stratford
Festival in charming Stratford, Ontario.
This year you will be able to choose from
an "A Tour" or a "B Tour", both led by
Langara English Instructor John Parker.
The A Tour--for the theatre buffs--includes
fifteen shows; the B Tour--for those who
want to have more free time in Niagara
and Stratford--features nine shows.
Both tours will culminate in the Toronto
showing of ''Phantom of the Opera.'' Prior
to departure, Parker, who has a long and
varied background in the theatre, will give
six seminars to help both groups enjoy the
plays fully. For details, phone CE's Wayne
Decle at 875-8200.

The students, working under the direction
of UBC architecture professors Bud Wood
and Moira Quale, will deal with landscap­
ing, a design for the use of facilities and
long-term planning for the campus.
Those wishing to share their vision of
KBC should contact Jana Gaitanakis at
875-6111, local 548 or 228-9455.

At Langara:
Congratulations to English Instructor
Cynthia Flood on winning the $10,000
Journey Prize for her short story ''My
Father Took a Cake to France.'' The
story, first published in the Malahat
Review, will be published by McClelland
and Stewart in the Journey Prize Anthol­
ogy, along with stories from the 15 other
finalists. The Journey Prize was estab­
lished by James Michener with Canadian
Royalties from his novel Journey, to help
support upcoming Canadian writers.
Congratulations to Suzann Stevens, Co­
ordinator of Langara's Food Services

Architecture students Duane E/vereem (left) and Geoffrey
Hull wt/I be working on the KEG beau1tf1cat1on proJecl

PAGE6

KEC Economics
Instructor
Walter Behnke
is on a roll

TB tests urged
Just a reminder that VCC Health Services
recommends a yearly tuberculosis test for
all employees who come in regular
contact with students.

Walter Behnke's computerized program in
beginning economics--entitled The Work­
ings of Markets--was presented in June to
the IBM Academic Computing Confer­
ence in Florida. In addition, the program
has won a Northern Telecom national
award for showing "extraordinary
Many Joyce (left), representative from the Movement for
ingenuity that should serve as a model for Canadian Llteracy, presents the book to Anne Ethier,
flteracy student at KEC
other instructors.''
The award carries a $5,000 prize to be
split with VCC.

Write on!

The Workings of Markets project had
participation from the provincial govern­
ment, VCC, Olivetti, Softwords and RJM
Systems.

The Book Voyage arrived at KEC with a
growing spirit of achievement as students
who are studying to be literate fill the
pages with stories of their lives.

More madness
planned
forKEC

Starting with blank pages, The Movement
for Canadian Literacy launched the
voyage of the Canadian Book in Ottawa,
January 25. So far it contains over a
thousand submissions from adult literacy
students on its journey to the United
Nations at the end of the year. It will be
kept with similar books from countries
around the world in this, the UN Year of
Literacy.

The recommendation follows a single
instance of TB contracted by a student at
KEC-North. Dr. Graham Bums, Health
Services Physician at KEC, said there are
usually one or two cases reported at the
college each year.
''There is a limited TB problem that is
endemic to the east side of Vancouver so
there is nothing out of the ordinary with
this one case," said Dr. Bums. "Gener­
ally, the high risk population world-wide
is in the developing countries, such as
those in Southeast Asia.
"Immigrants are screened before entering
Canada, but a person could have a
previous exposure to TB that might not
show up at the time of the X-ray, although
he may get sick somewhere down the
road."
Employees can have a free TB skin test at
the Health Services office on their
campus.

By Jean Cockell, KEC Department Head - A number of KEC adult literacy students
Mathematics
read their submissions aloud at the
ceremony June 20.
Over 200 people participated in the fun at
Midsummer Madness June 22 at the KEC
2nd Floor courtyard. The event was
Spectrum Update is YOUR
organized by the KEC Events Committee,
an ad hoc committee of faculty and staff
newsletter and we can't make it
and was open to all college employees.
a success without your help.

The music department provided a live
band; the sausages for the barbecue came
from City Centre; the Homemaker
Program made veggies and dip; the Career
Division manned the bar; there was
dancing, drinking, eating, and silly door
prizes. It was such a successful event that
there is talk of having a Harvest Moon
Madness on September 21. The Events
Committee would like anyone interested
in helping out to get involved.

Story ideas, brickbats or bou­
quets are always welcome.
Please write or phone your
campus Communications Officer (CE-Gayle Thody, City
Centre-Monika Ullmann, KEC­
Doreen Chui-Chai, or Chuck
Poulsen-Langara) with your
comments and ideas.

PAGE7

Interpreters
pay tribute
to Repa

By Silvana Carr, Co-ordinator
Court Interpreting Program

In the past decade
the program has
graduated
approximately
150 interpreters
in 14 languages,
including
two native Indian
languages.
It is the only multi­
lingual training
program of its kind
in North America.

Jindra Repa, Associate Director of
International Education, has been awarded
the Canadian Translators and Interpreters
Council (CTIC) Prize for outstanding
service to the profession. In selecting
Jindra for this award, the council
honoured his unique contribution to the
recognition of interpretation and transla­
tion as professions in B.C., and of court
interpreting across the nation.
Ten years ago, translators and interpreters
in B.C. were isolated in their individual
efforts to improve the status of their
profession," said Jindra, "Today, they are
united in their province and linked with
colleagues across the continent.''
Jmdra was the prime force behind this
process. A pioneer in insisting on the
importance of trained interpreters in the
courtroom, he established the Certificate
Program in Court Interpreting in Continu­
ing Education in 1979. In the past decade
the program has graduated approximately
150 interpreters in 14 languages, includ­
ing two native Indian languages. It is the
only multi-lingual training program of its
kind in North America.
His concern for the quality of language
services available to the public in B.C. led
him to spearhead the formation of the
Society of Translators and Interpreters of
B.C. (STIBC) in 1981, and its affiliation
with the Canadian Council of Translators

PAGES

and Interpreters, an association that would
set professional and ethical standards, and
provide national accreditation for transla­
tors.
From its inception, STIBC offered
accreditation for court interpreters,the
only provincial association to do so.
Jindra was responsible for the develop­
ment of the accreditation procedure. In
1983, he began a two-pronged approach to
further recogmtion of the profession.
Through STIBC, he lobbied the Bar, the
Courts and the Ministry of the Attorney­
General to establish gmdelines for the
screening and hiring of court interpreters.
On the national level, he was active in
promoting court interpreting among the
provincial associations, and is currently a
member of a team preparing a national
examination leading to CTIC accredita­
t10n.
In the letter recommending Jindra for the
award, Juanita Miller, president of
STIBC, stated: "We feel Jindra Repa's
quiet but effective and thorough efforts
demonstrate that an individual can make a
difference. There is no more opportune
time than the present to recognize that
Jindra anticipated public demands,
prepared and developed the strategy to
meet such demands and has achieved
success, not for himself, but for the
profession he has served so well.''
The associations in other provinces
agreed. On the occasion of the Second
National Conference held in Montreal
from May 31st to June 2nd, CTIC
honoured Jindra with well-deserved
acknowledgement of his leadership,
foresight and perseverance against all
odds.
Congratulations, Jindra!

It's a heck of a deal, good buddy!
Would you buy a lottery ticket if the odds
in your favour were suddenly increased
eight times?

about 24,000 to one, or eight times less
than the truck lottery.

Administration, 5th Floor, KEC.

Please note that a college employee may
In addition, the person selling the winning not be both the purchaser and seller of the
That's the kind of advantage you will
ticket will be awarded a 1990 Dodge
same ticket, although a college employee
pickup truck with a Cummins 5.9 htre
have when you buy a ticket in the VCC
may sell a ticket to a purchasing group of
Educational Foundation's Truck Lottery. turbo engine and a Radar Rebel Fibreglass which he or she is a member.
Canopy.
For $100 you--or you and a group of
partners--have a 3,000 to one chance of
It's a heck of a deal, good buddy!
winning a Freightliner Truck, retail value If you wish to get in on this great opportu­
$120,000. (Only 3,000 tickets will be
nity, fill out the application form below.
Any questions, call the VCC Educational
If you would like to sell tickets, you can
sold). In comparison, your chances of
Foundation at 875-1131.
winning a similar amount with $100 worth pick up a book of ten from the VCC
of bets on Scratch and Win tickets are
Educational Foundation at Central

APPLICATION FOR
Proceeds to Langara Campus facility upgrading
Grand Prize: 1991 Freightliner Truck FLD·12064ST
Conventional Tractor, powered by a Cummins 444 XT
Diesel, with a 6011 Raised Roof Sleeper and
Full Aerodynamics Package.
Suggested retail value: $120,000
Ticket Price: $IOO ( Only 3,000 tickets printed )

I

NAME---- - - - - - - ---- - - - --- - - - - --ADDRESS--PROVINCE _

- - - - ----- - - --- - --

_ _ _ ____POSTAL CODE _____
Bus Phone _

M O O CHEQUE 0

VISA#_

_

__

-

--

- - - - ---

---

-

---

_
_

____
__ _ _

Home Phone _ _ __ _ ___ _

_ MASTERCARD# _
_ _ ___ _ _ _

_

______

Please make cheques payable to VCC Educational Foundation
Perm1ss1on Signature for Credit Card Use
Salesman's Name (1f applicable)- - - - ----- - - --

-

�-Phone ___ _ __ _ _

Please forward this appl1cat1on to VCC Educational Foundation, 1155 East Broadway,
Box 24700 StationC , V ancouver, BC V5T 4N4

TRUCK LOTTERY RULES

VCC Alumni Assoc1at1on
BC Lottery Licence# 762648

_

1. An offlc1al ticket will be issued upon rece1pl of !his appl1cal1on and money al lhe office
2. The grand pr1ze 1s a 1991 Fre1ghllmer !ruck There will be no cllsh prize 1n lieu of !he !ruck
3. Winner will be responsible for all applicable laxes and l1cenc1ng
4. The draw will lake place al Truxpo '90, Truck, Trailer and Equipment Show, Pan Pac1f1c Holel, 999
Canada Place, Vancouver BC , Oclober 5, 1990, 4 p m
5. The !ruck loltery will be conducted under the superv1s1on ol lhe VCC Educational Foundal1on
6. Employees of Fre1ghllmer Canada and VCC Educational Foundal1on are no! el1g1ble for !he prize
7. Venflcal1on lists for !1ckel purchases will be available al !he Educational Foundal1on, 1155 East Broadway Vancouver BC

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I