Class Notes

Nathan Bird, Bus '10 is the Assistant Front Office Manager at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in Victoria, BC and is currently studying for his Masters at Royal Roads University.

Jason Boon BBA '11 is Human Resources Manager for Northern Mat & Bridge LP in Grande Prairie, AB. Northern Mat & Bridge is Canada's leading access solutions company with over 250 employees Canada wide. Jason credits the Camosun BBA Human Resource Management major, for helping give him the tools to succeed in developing Northern Mat's HR department from the ground up.  Jason has also helped his company to become recognized as an employer of choice, by being selected a finalist for Alberta's Best Workplaces competition in 2014 and 2015, put on by Alberta Venture magazine. 

Astrid Braunschmidt, Weather Host/Reporter, CTV Vancouver Island

Louise Bromley, Comm. Health '07 is now a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Religion (2010) from Ambrose University College & Seminary (Calgary, Alberta). Louise works in private practice with Pacific Rim Care Counselling in Victoria, BC and volunteers with the British Columbia Disaster Psychosocial (DPS) Services.

Paul Daniels, Bus'10 is the Mortgage Development Manager for Vancity Savings Credit Union on Vancouver Island.

Lena Donkersley, Health '04 is the Activity Facilitator for VIHA in Nanaimo, BC.

Pam Eike, ACP '99 is a Freelance Communication & Production Coordinator in Calgary, Alberta

Amanda Exner-Johnson, Bus '11 obtained her BA in Sociology from the University of Victoria and works for VIHA as a Project Analyst, Employee Engagement and Gallup Q12 Project. She has also participated in Camosun's Living Library event on campus.

Angela (Flemming) Hudson, Hospitality Mgmt '06, with her spouse Daniel (of Top Chef Fame) have been nominated in the Enroute 2013 edition of Top New Restaurant in Canada for their restaurant Hudson's on First in Duncan, BC.  The restaurant has also been featured in several magazines including Eat, Flavours, Savour, YAM, and Enroute and was awarded top British Restaurant in BC by Trip Advisor for 2013 and Honourable Mention for Best Vancouver Island Restaurant, Vancouver Magazine 2013.

Jennifer Forsyth, VisArts'01 obtained her BFA from UBC and MFA from the University of Calgary. She is the Program Lead for the Alberta Museums Association in Edmonton Alberta.

Richard Grant, AD Business '88 writes: "After leaving Camosun I started Professional Choice Uniforms Inc. and got the idea from a friend of mine who was a nurse. I used my marketing skills to interview nurses and gain knowledge as to what was important for nurses' uniforms. The business started in December 1989 out of my apartment with the first shipment of 4 dresses and 2 pantsuits from Thailand. We now make uniforms in Thailand, Vancouver, Mexico, China, Pakistan and Vietnam and are one of two leading suppliers of fashionable scrub uniforms to retail stores and college bookstores in Canada. We are the oldest scrub uniform and largest scrub uniform company west of Ontario. In 2013 we started selling to Australia. Camosun College business studies provided me with lots of marketing, accounting and decision making skills, and, with a good helping of street smarts, long hours and persistence, everything has finally paid off."

Paul Grunberg, Hospitality Mgmt '02 is General Manager of L'Abattoir, one of the top restaurants in Canada that has won multiple awards. The Vancouver restaurant was placed 3rd nationally in the 2011 Enroute rankings, voted Best Casual Restaurant  in Vancouver Magazine's 2012  Restaurant awards and obtained the prestigious 4 diamond AAA ranking, placing it in the top 2.6% of 29,000 restaurants approved by AAA.  Prior to launching L'Abattoir, Paul was General Manager at several other notable Vancouver restaurants including Chambar, Market at Shangri La and Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie.

Hannah Kirzinger, AD Creative Writing '11 has worked at the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations, Ministry of Health and most recently Vancouver Island Health Authority since graduating in 2011. Hannah has applied and been accepted to the Bachelor of Social Work program at Vancouver Island University starting in September 2014. Hannah has also started a nonprofit organization, the Red String Foundation, that grants wishes to children and teens in foster care in BC as well as collaborating with the Provincial government to create a mentorship and volunteer database for individuals in the community to connect with youth in care.

Greg McKane, Heavy Duty '97 writes he was fortunate to have been accepted to the Heavy Equipment/Commercial Transport Course in 1997. He came from Ontario to attend Camosun and took the course taught by Ray Howard. He graduated, moved back to Ontario and immediately was hired and worked for an independent agricultural equipment dealership. He then moved on to Strongco Corporation, Canada's largest Case and Volvo construction dealership and is presently with a John Deere dealership in Ontario and loving it! Camosun gave him the skills he needed to start his career and, coupled with his experience, he can now choose to work anywhere in the world in any job he wants.

Kate Norris, BBA'09 obtained her MPAcc from the University of Saskatchewan and is Chartered Accountant and Senior Associate for Price Waterhouse Coopers in the Fraser Valley, BC. She is also a member of the Vancouver Board of Trade & Surrey Board of Trade.

Alex Relf, Hospitality Mgmt '09 founded Peaked Pies in Whistler BC along with his business partner Kerri Jones.  Since opening the doors in July 2013 the restaurant has been a huge success.

Ayla Salyn, Criminal Justice '04 graduated from the University College of the Fraser Valley Criminology Program in 2006, and she went on to attend the University of Alberta, Faculty of Law and has since joined the law firm of Fulton & Company LLP, in Kamloops BC as a personal injury lawyer.

On July 10, 2011, Ayla received the chilling call advising her that her father had been seriously injured in a car accident on the other side of the world. Her father had suffered a brain injury that left him in a coma. By navigating a foreign medical system, Ayla was able to get her father the best possible care. Eventually he was transferred to Canada by air ambulance. For months, Ayla advocated for her father’s care and treatment, including working with medical experts, social workers and care homes. On January 13, 2012, her father succumbed to his brain injury and passed away.

Since living through this experience, she has been tirelessly advocating for others who have been injured. She has been working with people from the start of their recovery of their injury and focuses on their long term recovery and their health and wellness. She argues novel issues, such as surrogacy rights and access to medical marijuana. She is also involved in the Kamloops Brain Injury Association to ensure better public understanding of hidden injuries, including brain injuries.

Aurora Scott, Professional Jazz Performer

Sybil Verch, UT Bus '94 writes after leaving Camosun she went on to earn her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Victoria and entered the financial services industry. She heads up The Verch Group of Raymond James Ltd in Victoria, BC and believes in giving back to her community and is actively involved in various charitable organizations including her own Verch Group Fund. Sitting on the Womens Advisory Council at Raymond James she plays an active role in mentoring women in finance. She was chosen as one of four mentors on The Hard Way a new reality TV series focused on helping struggling businesses succeed, airing in the Fall of 2013.

Anne Tenning, Teacher

Jennifer Woodall, Civil Engr. '06 is an Engineering/Planning Assistant for the District of Sparwood, BC and sits on the City of Fernie Official Community Plan Advisory Committee.

Brent Walker, AD Art '08 writes he is now doing graduate studies at Concordia in Montreal after spending a year at McGill University.