Tourism & Hospitality Programs at North Island College

A highlight from Fall 2022 included tourism, adventure, and global tourism students out whale/wildlife viewing with Campbell River Whale Watching and Big Animal Encounters in November. We were treated to exceptional guided outings and the treat of late season Humpback whales in the northern part of the Salish Sea.

Wishing all students, faculty, staff, and industry colleagues a great year ahead as we dive into 2023!

We're getting excited to start travelling, gathering and even DANCING again soon! Are you looking to hire students for this summer season? Don't miss out on our next virtual hiring event happening soon on March 3! No travel required or booth set up! Connect with student applicants online for on-the-spot interviews and presentations!

Vancouver Island Employers!! Join us on March 3rd to showcase your organization to North Island College students.

Whether you are looking for an employee to fill your short-term, seasonal or permanent positions, you will meet virtually with exceptional current students, soon-to-be graduates and alumni at this virtual hiring event.

Register Now https://tryhellohire.com/events/wilfair-1

Join us March 3rd from 3pm - 5pm for a Tourism and Hospitality Event bringing together students and industry professionals to share, learn, listen and CONNECT!

Hear about the future of tourism on and work opportunities for the upcoming summer season.

https://www.nic.bc.ca/life-at-nic/nic-news/news/connect-tourism

VIWIL North Island College Vancouver Island University VIWIL Tourism Vancouver Island

Our very own inimitable Murray...! We appreciate his consistent focused work as and instructor, advocate, and Department Chair for Tourism & Hospitality!

This , we’re putting the spotlight on Murray Erickson, a and instructor who loves learning alongside his students.

Murray is a ‘double threat,’ combining his professional background as a Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University. Before teaching at NIC, Murray worked at the professional services firm Ernst & Young in Vancouver and Bermuda. He eventually relocated to the to bring up his family and to enjoy the West Coast lifestyle, turning his professional talents towards small-to-medium-sized business operations, with a specialty in tourism and hospitality.

In addition to his work at NIC, Murray is still actively involved in several businesses at both the board and shareholder level. He has been involved in a variety of business ventures, including food and beverage operations, transportation, manufacturing and several retail businesses, all of which have provided him with real working knowledge and experience to bring to his students. As he often tells his students, “I am still learning too, and that is what I enjoy the most.”

To learn more about Murray or NIC’s Tourism & Hospitality Management programs, visit www.nic.bc.ca/tourism.

Congrats Vy and Benino Gelato for hiring NIC work-integrated learning students! Thanks for representing our tourism & hospitality program in community and at work everyday!

Meet one of our rockstar WIL students, Vy! Benino Gelato hired Vy as a Tourism and Hospitality co-op student and says “Vy especially has worked so hard since day one, and is always such a joy to have around! She is always asking questions and trying to learn everything she can.”

Vy is also happy with her co-op work experience: “I love having the chance to work at Benino and learn so many new skills. This is my first real job and it was very difficult at first, but I kept working hard and trying new things until it became easier for me. I learn something new everyday I work, and it has been a great experience.”

Stay tuned for more WIL student spotlights this summer

From a COVID-19 webinar/video conference this morning with over 100 local businesses involved with our local Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce, we learned that:
WorkBC will soon have a job match program on their website, with urgent employment needs/opportunities across essential services, including grocery stores and delivery drivers. It's not ready on their website yet, and will take a bit of time to gain momentum, but watch for it.

And from other communications with Tourism Vancouver Island, BCHousing is currently assessing which hotels and accommodations (throughout the province) are able/wanting to offer rooms, facilities, and services (e.g., food) for essential workers and others who require isolation and safe housing options throughout this emergency. Similarly, this may help to keep some employment opportunities open in our sector, while helping our collective response and resiliency. Watch for more about this.

Please keep staying at home unless out for essential reasons or services. And keep practicing sensible physical distance and strong health/hygiene, including sleep and taking daily breaks from media/messages about COVID-19!

Many collective and promising initiatives are underway.

While doing your best to complete assignments and courses while staying at home, avoiding non-essential travel, social-distancing, practicing good hygiene, etc...please also stay aware of the many ways that you can help others, either from home, or as much needed opportunities emerge to support essential services.

Consider reading this TIABC bulletin from yesterday; scrolling down to the "Healthcare Sector is Hiring" item may be a particularly relevant consideration for many of you. Good to monitor.

TIABC C-19 Bulletin - March 20, 2020

BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool Determine whether you may need further assessment or testing for COVID-19.