JIBC News

Tuition tax receipts (T2202A) available

xibacache — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:01:43 +0000

February 22, 2012

T2202A tax receipts for 2011, in PDF format, are now available from myJIBC. Students who paid JIBC more than $100 in combined tuition and activity fees during the 2011 calendar year are eligible for a T2202A tax receipt.

To view and download your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)-approved T2202A, follow the steps below:

Log in to myJIBC, as you would to register or check your grades, using your student number.
Click on “T2202 Tax Receipt”.

The CRA provides a useful guide for students about their tax return. Most questions about the T2202A can be answered by reviewing the publication: P105 - Students and Income Tax.

If you have any questions, please visit the Registration office at the New Westminster campus, call 604.528.5590 (toll-free 1.877.528.5591), or email register@jibc.ca.

The "Acting Together" Project

lmunro — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:10:25 +0000

February 21, 2012

The "Acting Together" Project began in 2005 as a partnership between the Brandeis University and Theatre Without Borders. It involves scholars and practitioners working in fifteen conflict regions, collaborating on an anthology, a documentary, and a website, while building a learning community and strengthening networks.

JIBC is pleased to present two sessions related to the "Acting Together" Project.

Acting Together: Accessing Creativity to Transform Conflict (SPE129)

Across the world, resilience is being catalyzed by the arts in communities where conflict has wreaked destruction. In this one-day workshop, you will learn ways to use a range of arts-based approaches in diverse conflict contexts.

Drawing on the work of the Acting Together (Brandeis University) and Dancing at the Crossroads (the University of British Columbia) projects, Dr. Cynthia Cohen and Professor Michelle LeBaron will lead explorations of creative approaches that foster strength and health, and deepen cultural fluency. You will learn a range of strategies useful across contexts, which are informed by recent research in neuroscience, and evaluation through case-based analysis and experiential learning.

Thursday, March 22, 2012
9am-4pm
JIBC New Westminster Campus
Fee: $175 (plus HST)

Acting Together: Join the Conversation – Free Community Event

Join us for the free screening of “Acting Together” an internationally acclaimed film, featuring artists, peace builders, and community leaders from every continent, whose rituals and theatrical works speak truth to power and support communities to mourn losses and build bridges of reconciliation.

Project Director Dr. Cynthia Cohen will lead a discussion after the screening. Registration is required for this free event. Email scsj@jibc.ca, or call 604.528.5608 to secure your seat.

Thursday, March 22, 2012
6:30-8:00 pm (6 pm registration)
JIBC New Westminster Campus
Fee: no cost, but registration is required

For more information about these special events, call 604.528.5608 (toll-free 1.888.799.0801), email scsj@jibc.ca, or visit the event website www.jibc.ca/actingtogether.

JIBC receives SSHRC eligibility

lmunro — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:48:04 +0000

February 20, 2012

JIBC is now eligible to administer funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The Council is a federal agency that supports research and training in the humanities and social sciences based at Canadian post-secondary institutions and non-profit organizations. As a SSHRC-eligible institution, JIBC researchers can apply for funding from the more than $300 million in grants and scholarships awarded annually by the agency.

SSHRC-supported research builds understanding of modern social, cultural, technological, environmental, economic, and wellness issues in Canada. It also encourages researchers to learn from other disciplines, delve into multiparty collaborations, and achieve common goals for the betterment of Canadian society.

With SSHRC eligibility, which follows last year’s approval of eligibility for funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), JIBC researchers can apply for a broader range of research funding.

View all JIBC accreditations and memberships

“Adding SSHRC eligibility to our existing NSERC eligibility further strengthens our capacity for applied research,” says JIBC President Jack McGee. “It provides researchers based at the Institute the opportunity to partner with a vast number of community-based organizations, and to strengthen relationships with existing collaborators.”

"Obtaining SSHRC eligibility is a significant accomplishment for JIBC," said Dr. Greg Anderson, JIBC Dean of Applied Research. "It's a testament to the strength of the research team we have built and will help develop the Institute as a centre for applied social science and humanities research, which will enhance the safety and security of BC residents and communities."

Getting young women fired up for a career in fire safety

xibacache — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:13:15 +0000

February 15, 2012

On February 4, nine young women took part in Camp Re-Ignite at JIBC’s Maple Ridge campus. The participants, including some who completed the four-day Camp Ignite program in 2011, participated in a full day of activities that introduced them to future careers in fire and safety. These fully supervised, hands-on activities included: auto extrication, a “Smoke House” demonstration, and a Burn Building simulation that taught participants how fires start and grow and how to put them out.

The annual camp, which is free for participants to attend, is sponsored by local Fire Departments, JIBC’s Fire & Safety Division, and other community organizations. It’s open to young women aged 15-18 and aims to empower and introduce them to the fire and safety field, while also teaching them about teamwork, health, and fitness.

Kathy Ius, with the Community Outreach & Emergency Preparedness division of New Westminster Fire & Rescue Services, describes the event as a great success: “It was an experience that proved extremely beneficial, not only for the participants, but for the mentors as well. And I think the instructors too.”

Students are encouraged to talk to their school counsellor or drop into any local Fire Hall to get more information and to sign up for next year’s Camp Ignite.

For more information, visit the Camp Ignite website.

New Course: Handling Conflict in Virtual Environments

xibacache — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:53:22 +0000

February 7, 2012

We all use the phone and other technologies – such as email, social media, and Skype – to communicate with the public, colleagues, clients, friends, and family. Dealing with conflict over the telephone, via email or text, and in other “virtual environments” can be uniquely challenging. Conflicts that arise are often a result of misunderstanding the unique characteristics of communicating through technology.

Handling Conflict in Virtual Environments, a new two-day course offered by JIBC’s Centre for Conflict Resolution, will help learners:

Understand the impact of contextual differences between various communications modalities.
Learn about the impact of stress and emotion on the voice and in e-communication.
Avoid common conflict pitfalls when speaking on the phone or communicating by email, text message, social media, or Skype.
Strategically plan, craft, and critique effective communication in virtual environments in order to minimize defensiveness and maximize clarity and understanding.

“Modern life is forcing us to communicate in a variety of media. We often don’t pay attention to what that means for the quality of our communication, especially when trying to resolve conflict on the phone or by email,” says Kent Highnam, Program Manager, Centre for Conflict Resolution. “This course goes well beyond netiquette or business communications. It will equip you with the concepts, knowledge, and skills to become an effective and efficient communicator in virtual environments.”

Course description and course dates

Handling Conflict in Virtual Environments

Next Dates:	Feb 20-21, 2012
Tuition:	$370
Credits:	1.0
Prerequisites:	none
Location:	JIBC New Westminster Campus, 715 McBride Boulevard

New JIBC Annual Report

lmunro — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:25:42 +0000

January 27, 2012

JIBC’s new Annual Report summarizes highlights from 2010/11, a pivotal year for the Institute that focused on the completion of a new institutional Strategic Plan (2010-2015). The plan affirms JIBC’s vision as a world leader in justice and public safety education and research, and mission to provide innovative education for those who make communities safe.

Activities and initiatives highlighted in this year’s report reflect steps JIBC has taken, during the first year of the Strategic Plan, to ensure that our students have access to the learning and support they need to enjoy success in their studies, as well as in their chosen careers.

Learn more about how JIBC is fulfilling our vision and mission in the 2010/11 Annual Report.

Help us improve our services by taking a brief survey on the JIBC Annual Report. Your feedback is anonymous, but there is the opportunity to be entered in a draw to win a “$50 iTunes Card” for completing the survey. To participate in this draw, you will need to provide your name and contact details at the end of the survey.*

Take the survey now

* Protecting your personal information is an obligation JIBC takes seriously. Any personal information we collect is handled in accordance with the British Columbia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA). JIBC only discloses customer personal information to third parties in accordance with applicable laws. If you have any questions regarding the collection of personal information, please contact us.

Dr. Irving K. Barber announces $250,000 donation to JIBC

cwong — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:31:02 +0000

January 20, 2012

A special day for more than 200 graduating students at JIBC’s Winter 2012 Convocation was made even more exceptional with an announcement from Dr. Irving K. (Ike) Barber. After receiving an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the January 18 Convocation, Dr. Barber announced he’s donating $250,000 to JIBC to develop a new Aboriginal Justice Worker Certificate.

Developed in response to student, employer, and community feedback, and given the over-representation of Aboriginal Peoples in the criminal justice system, the certificate program will support Aboriginal communities to better address the complex issues surrounding probation, parole, recidivism, incarceration, and offender re-entry into the community.

JIBC President Jack McGee gave thanks for the “very generous donation that Dr. Barber has honoured us with and entrusted us with.” President McGee said, “We look forward to the next few years of developing this program so it can become a significant feature of JIBC that leads its graduates into further studies, including Aboriginal leadership diplomas and degrees.”

Graduates of the Aboriginal Justice Certificate program, scheduled to launch in September 2012, will be eligible for careers within Aboriginal governance, BC Corrections, Sheriffs, Police, resource sectors, human services, and municipalities. Dr. Barber’s donation will also fund an academic bridging program for Aboriginal students and student awards.

Dr. Barber, widely recognized in BC for his business leadership and philanthropy, explained in his Convocation speech why he is supporting JIBC. “It is only within the last two or three years that I became closely associated and closely understood what this institution [JIBC] does,” said Dr. Barber. “I have looked at many institutions since I so-called retired, and I tell you this: that there is none of them stronger and more closely associated with their students than this institution.”

Pictured above (left to right): JIBC President Jack McGee, Aboriginal Leadership Certificate graduate Rochelle Moore, Dr. Irving K. Barber, Aboriginal Leadership Certificate graduates Brenda Isaac and Jada Sam, and JIBC Board of Governors Chair Mary Manning.

Watch the presentation of Dr. Barber's honorary degree, and his address to the convocation audience:

“Our turn to be the future”

xibacache — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:25:42 +0000

January 20, 2012

By Valder Belgrave

Sub-zero temperatures did not deter JIBC graduates from assembling at Burnaby’s Michael J. Fox Theatre January 18 for the 2012 Winter Convocation celebrating the completion of their studies. They shared the stage with honorary degree recipients Dr. Irving K. Barber, business leader and philanthropist, and Dr. Mike Harcourt, former BC Premier, and speaker, author, and advisor internationally on sustainable cities.

Dr. Barber announced a donation of $250,000 to JIBC for the development of a new Aboriginal Justice Certificate.

Read about Dr. Barber's donation to JIBC

Dr. Harcourt recalled his role in officially opening JIBC’s New Westminster campus in 1995, and remarked on how JIBC has grown into a “world-renowned institution, with reach throughout the province and the world.” He also paid tribute to his wife Becky, JIBC-trained paramedics, fire fighters and other first responders for their quick and courageous action in keeping him alive and transporting him to hospital after Dr. Harcourt broke his neck on Pender Island in 2002.

JIBC Board of Governors Chair Mary Manning conferred certificates, diplomas, and degrees for more than 200 graduates who completed programs in JIBC’s three schools.

Speaking on behalf of graduates from JIBC’s School of Community & Social Justice, Ron Dean Harris said his perspectives broadened after completing the Aboriginal Leadership Certificate program. “I can admit that when I first joined the Aboriginal Leadership program, my ideas on Aboriginal leadership were different than they are today. In this program, I have been given the opportunity to learn more than a few different ways and avenues for finding my own excellence within leadership.”

Advanced Care Paramedic graduate John Merrett, speaking on behalf of School of Health Sciences grads, said: “As much as we’ve studied some of the latest in paramedicine, now is the time that our real learning starts. It is our turn to be the future.”

Speaking on behalf of graduates from the School of Public Safety & Security, Daniel Leighton said: “The Justice Institute has been my lifeline to education because of the high quality educational programs they offer.” Daniel, Fire Chief and Emergency Coordinator for the District of Logan Lake in BC’s southern interior, graduated with an Emergency Management Exercise Design Certificate. He previously completed JIBC’s Emergency Management Certificate and studied in the Institute’s Fire & Safety Division.

“JIBC is in the business of preparing professionals who will save lives and keep communities safe,” said JIBC President Jack McGee in his address to the graduating class. “Nothing speaks more directly to how well the Institute does its job than the quality of the work you will do, as JIBC graduates.”

Pictured above, left to right: JIBC President Jack McGee, Dr. Mike Harcourt and JIBC Board of Governors Chair Mary Manning.

Convocation Photos

Convocation Videos

Watch all Winter 2012 Convocation Videos

Criminal investigation update

lmunro — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:35:18 +0000

January 13, 2012

The RCMP has confirmed in a news release that an arson in West Vancouver early in the morning on January 13, 2012 is linked to the ongoing investigation of criminal activity that has victimized individuals linked to JIBC. This incident brings the number of victims linked to the investigation to 14.

JIBC is extremely concerned about this latest incident and the increase in number of victims. The Institute continues to be in close communication with the RCMP and fully cooperate with the investigation.

Counselling Services continue to be available to students on an ongoing basis. Confidential services can be accessed by calling 604.528.5884 (Toll-free: 1.877.275.4331), or emailing studentcounselling@jibc.ca.

Student safety tips are available on the website.

Police are asking the public to be vigilant, and immediately report any suspicious activity to local police. Information can be reported anonymously to CRIME STOPPERS at 1.800.222.8477, or a tip can be left online at www.bccrimestoppers.com.

Previous JIBC communications on the investigation

RCMP communications on the investigation

About JIBC

The Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) is a public post-secondary education institution based in New Westminster, BC, with additional campuses in Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack, Pitt Meadows, Kelowna and Victoria.

JIBC offers programs and courses, leading to degrees, certificates, and diplomas, in three schools:

School of Public Safety & Security: Policing, sheriffs, security, investigation, enforcement, corrections, fire fighting, emergency management, and driver training
School of Community & Social Justice: Conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, counselling, leadership, and Aboriginal programs
School of Health Sciences: Paramedicine and continuing medical education

Honouring excellence at JIBC’s Winter Convocation

lmunro — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:34:50 +0000

January 12, 2012

Former BC Premier Mike Harcourt and local entrepreneur and philanthropist Irving K. (Ike) Barber have been named as honorary degree recipients by JIBC President Jack McGee. The Honorary Doctor of Laws Degrees will be conferred at JIBC’s January 18 Convocation, to be held at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby.

The honorary degrees affirm the recipients’ long-standing contributions to the economic growth and development of the province, as well as their commitment to public education.

"Both of these individuals have made profound and sustained contributions to the quality of life enjoyed by residents of British Columbia,” said President McGee. “In particular, their shared belief in the power of education to effect positive change in our communities has been a catalyst for the continued growth and development of the province.”

Mike Harcourt’s accomplishments as a former BC Premier, Vancouver Mayor, and City Councillor, and more recently as a speaker, author, and advisor internationally on sustainable cities, have won plaudits in many quarters. The determination he demonstrated in overcoming a spinal cord injury earned the respect of countless others. In 2002, he broke his neck after falling from a cliff on Pender Island. Left partially paralyzed, his chances for recovery were remote, but he overcame obstacles and enjoyed a near full recovery. His wife Beckie was awarded a JIBC Foundation Heroes & Rescue Award for her role in his rescue.

Dr. Irving Barber’s philanthropic support has been instrumental in helping establish programs to promote education and research. The Irving K. Barber One World International scholarship provides outstanding recent graduates of JIBC’s Career Fire Fighter Pre-Employment Certificate with an opportunity to broaden their understanding of the cultural aspects of serving communities through fire protection services.

“It is our privilege to confer honorary degrees on Mike Harcourt and Ike Barber, for their significant contributions towards making BC one of the most liveable, accessible, and inclusive places in the world,” said Mary Manning, Chair of the JIBC Board of Governors. “Their long-standing and continuing efforts to enhance the quality of life, particularly through education, have impacted countless individuals and communities here in Canada and abroad.”

JIBC’s Winter 2012 Convocation will be webcast live. View the proceedings on January 18, 2:00pm (Pacific Standard Time) at http://host.jibc.ca/webcast/hr/common/hr_video.htm

One World Scholarship

lmunro — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:35:51 +0000

January 5, 2012

Four graduates of JIBC’s Career Fire Fighter Pre-Employment Certificate Program arrived in El Salvador January 7 for an extraordinary field work assignment with Firefighters Without Borders Canada (FWB).

The students are sponsored through the One World International Scholarship funded by the Irving K. Barber Scholarship Society and the JIBC Foundation. Each year, the One World Scholarship enables four students to deploy with FWB on their annual three-week trip to Central America, where they assist in training fellow local firefighters while learning how fire services operate in a developing country.

“The One World program and our partnership with Firefighters Without Borders Canada provides our students a unique opportunity to study abroad and benefit from cross-cultural learning,” says Wayne Stevens, Director of JIBC’s Fire & Safety Division. “They will gain valuable international experience and cultural awareness by exchanging skills with their counterparts in El Salvador.”

The 2011 scholarship recipients include Nicolas Alderliesten, Jenny Reid, David McLean, and Nicolas Andersen. On January 7, they arrived in the coastal city of La Libertad and will spend the weekend in intensive language training and cultural orientation. For the following 20 days, they will travel throughout the country with FWB, visiting all 17 fire stations in El Salvador, training local firefighters at each station in hose handling, ladders, and self-contained breathing apparatus care and use.

As El Salvador’s union does not have health screening for their members, the students will also perform blood pressure checks for all personnel at each station. The four scholarship recipients will spend about 70 hours in fire service training, with additional time in cultural orientation, language training, protocol and ceremonial activities, and local firefighter observation and familiarization.

As part of the scholarship, the students completed an online course, where they researched El Salvador, learned basic Spanish, and created a tool for sharing their work-study experiences. During the trip, they will document their field work - through text, photos, and videos - in a blog. After they return from El Salvador, the students will deliver a final presentation on their field experience to their peers, instructors, members of FWB, and JIBC staff.

This is the third year that JIBC has sent four JIBC graduates to El Salvador with FWB. Read about a previous JIBC graduate’s experience in El Salvador.

Honouring the loss of volunteer fire fighter

cwong — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:02:55 +0000

January 2, 2012

Update: January 3, 2012

Mayor Howie Cyr and the Enderby & District Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief, Kevin Alstad, announced that a Line of Duty service for volunteer firefighter Captain Daniel Botkin will be held at the Enderby Memorial Arena on Thursday, January 5, at 11:00 a.m.

A parade of emergency services vehicles and personnel will muster at the Enderby & District Chamber of Commerce at 700 Railway Street at 10:00 a.m. and proceed down Belvidere Street to the Enderby Memorial Arena at 10:30 a.m.

Further information on the service and muster will be announced daily, including maps and timeframes. Event details will be posted to www.fcabc.ca.

JIBC flags have been lowered to half-staff to mourn the passing of Daniel Botkin, a volunteer fire fighter in the North Okanagan city of Enderby. He died on December 29, 2011 while battling a blaze in Enderby.

A portion of Daniel's training was with JIBC.

More information on Daniel’s passing can be found in stories on the Vancouver Sun and Province websites.

Police recruits and fire and safety students graduate

cwong — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:02:25 +0000

December 20, 2011

The sound of bagpipes rang throughout JIBC's New Westminster campus on December 16 to celebrate the graduation of 21 police recruits as “Qualified Municipal Constables” from the Police Academy.

Having successfully completed three blocks of recruit training in JIBC's Police Academy, the graduates are now ready to return to their hiring departments and begin active duty in Abbotsford, Delta, New Westminster, Saanich, and Victoria. Several recruits will also begin their careers with the Transit Police in the Metro Vancouver region.

The recruits will spend much of their time patrolling their communities to prevent crime before it occurs, but the 36-week program has also prepared them to preserve the peace, protect life and property, apprehend offenders, and enforce the laws of British Columbia.

Earlier in the day, 20 aspiring fire fighters also celebrated the completion of their Career Fire Fighter Pre-Employment Certificate Program, as a first step towards embarking upon careers in the fire service.

“Every day, everyone in BC benefits from the graduates of the JIBC who keep communities, businesses, families and homes safe,” said JIBC President Jack McGee. “The graduation of police recruits and Career Fire Fighter Pre-Employment students is a tangible manifestation of our mission to provide innovative education and training for those who make communities safe.”

RCMP releases update on criminal investigation

lmunro — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:14:13 +0000

December 14, 2011

The RCMP has released an update on the investigation of criminal incidents that have victimized individuals linked to the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC).

In a December 14 news release, the RCMP confirms that approximately 13 people have been victimized in a series of arsons and shootings. No one has been physically harmed in these incidents.

The RCMP and JIBC communicated on September 6 that 10 people linked to JIBC had been victimized by criminal incidents. The number of victims has increased from 10 to approximately 13 as the investigation has looked back at previous arsons and shootings, and has linked a number of new incidents since September, 2011.

The news release also confirms that the investigation has revealed a link to an ICBC employee, who allegedly accessed personal information of 65 individuals, including the 13 identified victims.

Read the RCMP news release

As quoted in the news release, JIBC President Jack McGee said: “We are very concerned that there have been additional incidents. The safety and security of our students, staff, faculty, and the public who use our campuses is of paramount importance to JIBC. Enhanced security put in place at JIBC campuses remains in effect.”

“JIBC continues to have complete confidence in the RCMP-led integrated investigation team,” said President McGee. “We remain in close contact with the RCMP and continue to fully cooperate with the investigation.”

Police continue to ask the public to be vigilant, and to immediately report any suspicious activity to their local police. If you have any information about these crimes and wish to remain anonymous, call CRIME STOPPERS at 1.800.222.8477 or leave a tip online at www.bccrimestoppers.com.

Support for students, staff, and faculty

Safety tips for students are available on the website.

Students, staff, and faculty may request an escort from security staff to the parking lot.

About JIBC

JIBC is a public post-secondary education institution based in New Westminster, BC, with additional campuses in Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack, Pitt Meadows, Kelowna and Victoria.

JIBC offers programs and courses, leading to degrees, certificates, and diplomas, in three schools:

School of Public Safety & Security: Policing, sheriffs, security, investigation, enforcement, corrections, fire fighting, emergency management, and driver training
School of Community & Social Justice: Conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, counselling, leadership, and Aboriginal programs
School of Health Sciences: Paramedicine and continuing medical education

JIBC student assaulted and robbed in Canada Games Pool parking lot

xibacache — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:34:00 +0000

December 13, 2011

At 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, a JIBC student was assaulted and robbed of his cell phone, backpack, and other personal items while walking along the path between the Canada Games Pool parking lot and the JIBC parking lot.

There are two male suspects, and their descriptions are as follows:

White male, in his 20’s, blond hair, red Ecko hoodie, black sweat pants, running shoes.
White male, brown hair and goatee, white Ecko shirt, described as “long”, tattoo of heart on left hand, black sweat pants, running shoes

The New Westminster Police Department is investigating the incident and have advised that it is an isolated incident that could have occurred anywhere in New Westminster, and that it is not related to the on-going investigation linked to JIBC. Police have viewed video from the Canada Games Pool and did not see anyone matching the suspects’ descriptions. Staff at the Canada Games facility and JIBC security have been advised about the incident.

Students, staff, and faculty are reminded to be alert to what and who is around you, particularly when making your way to and from the JIBC campus.

A security escort is available for anyone wishing to be accompanied to their cars. This service can be requested at the main reception desk.

Student safety tips are available on the JIBC website.

Seeking student input

xibacache — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:38:05 +0000

December 12, 2011

Are you a JIBC student who’s interested in becoming more involved with your school?

JIBC is looking for students to share their views and ideas on a variety of committees and councils. The work of these groups ranges from reviewing JIBC policies and procedures to developing best practices in the Institute’s use of social media.

Opportunities for students looking for involvement are available on the following committees:

Council on Student Services
Library Committee
Social Media Users Group
Program Council

Membership is typically for nine to 12 months. Meetings will be held at JIBC’s New Westminster campus. Students from all campuses are encouraged to apply; participation will be arranged via technology.

Being part of a council or committee will enable students to have a voice in shaping JIBC programs and services and to make suggestions for changes and new initiatives. Serving on committees and councils will also provide an opportunity to network with faculty and staff.

For more information, contact Laura Dyck at 604.528.5762 or ldyck@jibc.ca.

JIBC President Jack McGee announces his retirement

lmunro — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 19:28:52 +0000

December 8, 2011

After more than 11 years as President of the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC), Jack McGee has announced his retirement. President McGee has informed the JIBC Board of Governors of his intention to retire and will continue to serve until a successor is named and the transition to a new President is complete, no later than September 30, 2012.

McGee was appointed JIBC President in September 2000. During his tenure with the Institute, he has been a driving force in pursuing many facets of the Institute’s mandate, as envisioned in its enabling legislation. Led by his strategic vision, JIBC has expanded the foundational focus of the Institute on delivering training for justice and public safety professionals to providing opportunities to BC students and learners from around the world for life-long education that includes undergraduate and graduate certificates, diplomas, and degrees. JIBC’s capacity for leading and conducting applied research has also greatly expanded during his tenure, as has the fundraising activity of the JIBC Foundation, which he has served as a Foundation Board Director.

He has also presided over the expansion of the Institute’s infrastructure across the province, including the opening of new campuses in Chilliwack, Victoria, and Kelowna and the Dr. Donald B. Rix Public Safety Simulation Building at the New Westminster campus. Under his leadership, JIBC has also expanded partnerships and eLearning capability, enabling the Institute to deliver education and training in more than 175 communities across BC and to thousands of students who study online.

JIBC Board of Governors Chair Mary Manning described McGee’s service to the Institute as nothing short of exemplary. “It has been said that because of the exceptional work of our graduates, every day, everyone in BC benefits from the education and training delivered at JIBC. That is an extraordinary testament to the contribution made by Jack and the dedicated team he has nurtured at the Institute. His will be very difficult shoes to fill.”

“On behalf of the current and past members of the JIBC Board of Governors who have enjoyed the pleasure of working with President Jack McGee, I would like to thank Jack for his exceptional contribution to the growth and development of the Institute,” said Manning. “We all trust that he and his wife Donna, who has provided great support in all of the roles he has undertaken, will enjoy a long and happy retirement.”

Prior to his appointment at JIBC, McGee served as President of St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario and Dean of Science and Technology at George Brown College in Toronto. McGee also had an illustrious career as a navy and air force pilot in the Canadian Forces and a tour as Base Commander of CFB Comox.

Apart from his committed service to the Institute, McGee also serves on a variety of civic, business, and educational bodies representing charities and community, provincial, national, and international interests. This has included serving as Secretary-Treasurer on the Pacific Autism Centre Society Board of Directors and Secretary-Treasurer of the Vancouver Board of Trade Board of Directors. Even in these roles, he has never missed an opportunity to advocate for JIBC.

In a message to JIBC staff announcing his retirement, McGee said, “I could not be more proud of you and your colleagues for the outstanding training, education, and applied research that JIBC is so well known for throughout BC, across Canada, and around the world. In the meantime, I look forward to working with you for the remaining months as we continue to advance the status and value of the Institute to the citizens of British Columbia.”

By January 2012, JIBC’s Board of Governors will have chosen a firm to conduct the search for a new President. Once the search firm has been announced, a rigorous presidential search process will begin.

Centre for Court Administration to be established at JIBC

lmunro — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:54:44 +0000

December 7, 2011

Attorney General Shirley Bond announced a new JIBC training program for BC court administration staff while touring the Institute’s New Westminster campus December 7.

The Centre for Court Administration, a partnership between the Ministry of Attorney General and JIBC, is under development, with a launch date of early 2012. In its initial stages, the priority will be on new employees and training for staff in specialized areas of court administration work, such as criminal registry operations and court clerking.

Details are being finalized, but the program will include a combination of online courses, virtual classroom work, and in-person training at JIBC campuses in New Westminster and throughout the province. The first courses are anticipated to be offered in the next few months.

“With the new training program for court administrators, we will continue to promote efficiencies in our courts with staff who are knowledgeable and proficient in their duties,” said Minister Bond. “We are very pleased to be partnering with the JIBC on this new program. They have an exceptional track record in training many of people involved in our justice system, from the police on the street to the staff in our courtrooms.”

The addition of the Centre for Court Administration increases the number of divisions in JIBC’s School of Public Safety & Security to eight, and to 15 overall for JIBC’s three schools.

“JIBC is committed to ensuring that communities and courtrooms across the province are served by professionals who receive the finest education and training possible and contribute to a continuum of safety – from prevention to response to recovery,” said JIBC President Jack McGee. “We look forward to working with court administration staff to develop a program that meets their needs.”

The Ministry of Attorney General Court Services Branch has more than 700 court administration staff in more than 45 locations province-wide. They include court clerks, registry clerks and technicians, senior registry technicians, and managers who provide a vital service in communities across the province for judges, lawyers, and the public using the justice system.

JIBC’s Sheriff Academy is responsible for training sheriff recruits, who maintain security in all BC courthouses. In November, 34 deputy sheriffs graduated and are now working in courthouses throughout the province. Minister Bond announced at JIBC that the next class will have 24 sheriff recruits and commence January 23, 2012. BC’s more than 460 sheriffs work in 45 courthouses and 44 circuit courts.

Minister Bond toured JIBC with seven MLAs: Eric Foster, MLA Vernon-Monashee; Douglas Horne, MLA Coquitlam-Burke Mountain; Ralph Sultan, MLA West Vancouver–Capilano; Colin Hansen, MLA Vancouver-Quilchena; Dave Hayer, MLA Surrey Tynehead; Richard Lee, MLA Burnaby North; and Marc Dalton, MLA Maple Ridge-Mission. JIBC staff and faculty gave demonstrations of the Institute’s applied learning in the Dr. Donald B. Rix Public Safety Simulation Building and in the Paramedic Simulation Lab.

For more information:

Centre for Court Administration

Sheriff Academy

JIBC releases landmark report on domestic violence prevention and reduction in BC

lmunro — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:59:41 +0000

December 5, 2011

Between January 2003 and August 2008, 73 of the 605 homicides committed in BC were the result of domestic violence. In a report titled “Domestic Violence Prevention and Reduction in British Columbia”, Katherine Rossiter reviews domestic violence prevention and reduction initiatives in BC, from 2000-2010, and makes the case for primary prevention strategies that address the root causes of crime and promote strategic investments in children and families.

The review was undertaken to support the work of the Violence Reduction Circle, a collaborative group of researchers, policy makers, clinicians, and service providers, hosted by the Centre for the Prevention & Reduction of Violence (CPRV) within JIBC’s Office of Applied Research. Funding for the study was provided by CPRV through generous donations from the R. Howard Webster Foundation and the British Columbia Institute for Family Violence.

The report, released by JIBC on December 5, notes that British Columbia is one of only a few Canadian provinces without specific domestic or family violence legislation. According to Rossiter, Associate Director, The FREDA Centre for Research on Violence Against Women and Children at Simon Fraser University, “Key decisions pertaining to domestic violence legislation, policy, funding, and services are closely linked to changes in government and high-profile cases of domestic violence and domestic homicide that serve to open policy windows.”

In order to prevent and reduce domestic violence, the report recommends the adoption of a comprehensive domestic violence prevention and reduction plan for BC, and that all levels of government work to bridge gaps in the services and systems designed to protect women and children and to support initiatives that build community capacity to prevent domestic violence.

“This study will serve as a stimulus for ongoing, coordinated efforts to improve frontline practice, curriculum and program development, professional development, policy development, and public education in the area of domestic violence” says Dr. Greg Anderson, JIBC Dean of Applied Research. “It is another significant step towards our goal of making a substantive contribution to the prevention and reduction of violence, supporting those who are called to respond to the suffering of the victims and their families.”

About CPRV

The Centre for the Prevention and Reduction of Violence (CPRV) at JIBC, funded by the R. Howard Webster Foundation and the BC Institute Against Family Violence, supports an applied research program that builds on the experience of frontline practitioners, with a focus on dynamic knowledge creation, translation, and exchange – turning theory into practice and practice into theory. CPRV’s goal is to make a substantive contribution to the prevention and reduction of violence, supporting those who are called to respond to the suffering of those caught in the causes and consequences of violence.

Katherine Rossiter, author of the Domestic Violence Prevention and Reduction in British Columbia report, and Tracy Porteous, Executive Director, Ending Violence Association of BC, who both spoke at the release of the report on December 5 at JIBC.

Courage and leadership

xibacache — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:51:39 +0000

December 2, 2011

Pictured above (L to R): JIBC President Jack McGee, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, and Vern Campbell, Chair, JIBC Foundation Board

By Chris Wong

The 10^th JIBC Foundation Awards for Justice and Public Safety and fundraiser on November 30 was a resounding success, raising approximately $160,000 for the Foundation.

More than 400 people attended the JIBC Gala and awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. Proceeds from the event, supported by presenting sponsor Scotiabank and other generous sponsors, will go toward financial support for JIBC students, including awards, bursaries, and scholarships.

Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia and Sergio Cocchia, co-owners of the Absolute Spa Group, announced at the Gala that they are donating $10,000 to establish an annual award for JIBC students who work with people with disabilities.

“This evening it’s our pleasure to be here and to give thanks to JIBC for giving us an opportunity to play a part in supporting such incredible critical programming,” said Sergio Cocchia.

“We very much appreciate the strong support shown at the Gala for our work in justice and public safety education,” said JIBC President Jack McGee. “We also commend the award recipients, who spoke so movingly about their experiences. They personify courage and leadership.”

Among the recipients of a JIBC Foundation Heroes & Rescue Award was Canadian Forces Captain (Retired) Trevor Greene, who was severely injured in an axe attack while serving in Afghanistan and has made significant and inspiring progress in his recovery. Cpt. Greene, who received the award for bravery in the field of battle and inspiring courage in the face of personal tragedy and adversity, said in his speech that his only regret “is not finishing my mission.”

“The man that hit me with the axe had no hope, had no future. He was illiterate. The Taliban convinced him that killing an infidel would get him to heaven. I want to change that. I want to reverse the poverty and the ignorance that breeds violence.” Cpt Greene and his wife Debbie Lepore are setting up a foundation to support education of women in conflict zones to become teachers.

Other recipients of the Heroes & Rescue Award included Firefighters Without Borders Canada, for contributions to the advancement of emergency service organizations in developing countries, and Robert Mackay, for extraordinary courage and valour demonstrated during the 2011 Stanley Cup riot.

The Dr. Joseph H. Cohen Award was presented to The Honourable Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond for her uncompromising advocacy on behalf of children and youth, and leadership in protecting their rights and improving the system for their protection and support, as British Columbia’s first Representative of Children and Youth.

Dr. Turpel-Lafond, who invited her nine-year-old daughter up to the stage to join her during her speech, said: “In my line of work to support children and youth in very difficult circumstances in British Columbia, it’s so important we have trained people on the frontlines of the various systems of support such as policing, first responders, child welfare and other areas. And the Justice Institute is a huge partner in working with my office, particularly around training in some key areas like child safety and domestic violence.”

The Anthony P. Pantages, QC Medal was presented to Thomas Berger, OC, OBC for his years of distinguished service to the legal profession and his contribution to maintaining the integrity of Canada’s system of equitable justice and its attendant jurisprudence.

The JIBC Foundation Community Leadership Award was presented to Allan De Genova, Director and President of Honour House for his effort in establishing this facility to temporarily house military personnel and first responders along with their families while they receive treatment for injuries suffered in the line of duty.

JIBC receives NSERC eligibility status

lmunro — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:47:48 +0000

November 30, 2011

JIBC has received eligibility status with the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). JIBC’s Office of Applied Research is now eligible to apply for and receive NSERC funding, which is exclusive to select research centers in Canada.

The NSERC status will add to the Institute’s already significant research portfolio. Over the past four years, JIBC has attracted more than $10 million in research funding for projects leading to improvements in public policy, community awareness, field practice, and education for those who keep our communities safe.

“The Office of Applied Research has successfully collaborated with public and private sector partners to attract and secure ongoing funding in the form of grants, contracts, and proposal commitments,” said JIBC President Jack McGee. “NSERC eligibility will allow us to go even further with our research capabilities and continue to contribute to the safety and security of BC communities.”

NSERC eligibility will help to attract researchers and projects from across the country that will inform public policy, increase public awareness, enhance justice and public safety curriculum, and leverage learning technologies and methodologies. This status also provides JIBC with more research funding options, the opportunity to work with industry to develop innovative programs to enhance the safety and security of communities across Canada, and to work with more national and international partners.

“It is very exciting for JIBC to receive NSERC eligibility as it will provide for more research opportunities that will benefit all justice and public safety professionals and volunteers throughout British Columbia, across Canada, and around the world” said Greg Anderson, Dean, JIBC Office of Applied Research.

Earlier this year, the Office of Applied Research received eligibility status with the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

NSERC is a federal agency that supports university students in their advanced studies, promotes and supports discovery research, and fosters innovation by encouraging Canadian companies to participate and invest in postsecondary research projects.

10th JIBC Foundation gala and awards ceremony takes place November 30

cwong — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 00:10:34 +0000

November 25, 2011

JIBC will celebrate a milestone on November 30, 2011. The 10^th JIBC Foundation Awards for Justice and Public Safety will be celebrated at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of individuals and organizations to the safety of families, communities, and businesses across the province.

The Gala, generously supported by presenting sponsor Scotiabank and media sponsors The Vancouver Sun and The Province, will feature a three-course banquet, a live auction - with proceeds going toward financial support for JIBC students - and the presentations of awards to the following:

The Anthony P. Pantages, QC Medal is being presented to Thomas Berger, OC, OBC for his years of distinguished service to the legal profession and his contribution to maintaining the integrity of Canada’s system of equitable justice and its attendant jurisprudence.

The Dr. Joseph H. Cohen Award is being presented to The Honourable Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond for her uncompromising advocacy on behalf of children and youth, and leadership in protecting their rights and improving the system for their protection and support, as British Columbia’s first Representative of Children and Youth.

The JIBC Foundation Heroes & Rescue Award is being presented to:

Firefighters Without Borders Canada for contributions to the advancement of emergency service organizations in developing countries

Canadian Forces Captain (Retired) Trevor Greene, who was severely injured while serving in Afghanistan and has made significant and inspiring progress in his recovery, for bravery in the field of battle and inspiring courage in the face of personal tragedy and adversity

Robert Mackay, one of the heroes of Vancouver’s 2011 Stanley Cup riot, for extraordinary courage and valour demonstrated during the 2011 Stanley Cup riot.

The JIBC Foundation Community Leadership Award is being presented to Allan De Genova, Director and President of Honour House for his effort in establishing this facility to temporarily house military personnel and first responders along with their families, in the Lower Mainland, while they receive treatment for injuries suffered in the line of duty.

More training options for future BC paramedics

xibacache — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:09:29 +0000

November 24, 2011

Future paramedics throughout BC will benefit from additional student spaces in JIBC’s Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program.

The BC government is providing up to $685,600 in one-time funding to support the expanded delivery of the program. The additional funding will allow up to 75 part-time students to complete the program in several communities over the coming year.

"First responders are vital in ensuring that patients have access to the care that they need,” said Minister of Advanced Education Naomi Yamamoto. “That's why it's important that we continue to support programs across BC to train primary care paramedics."

The program is already underway in Port McNeill, with 18 students beginning their classroom training earlier this month. Students will attend weekend workshops approximately once every three weeks until May 2012, when they are scheduled to begin their on-ambulance practicum. The Town of Port McNeill has contributed to the program by providing the classroom space at no cost.

In addition to the program in Port McNeill, student applications are now being accepted for the part-time program in Smithers, Dawson Creek, and Kamloops. Plans are underway for a January 2012 start in Smithers and a spring 2012 start in Dawson Creek and Kamloops.

"Regional delivery of our education programs is an institutional priority,” said JIBC President Jack McGee. “The additional funding provided for this program will help to fulfil our commitment to ensuring that families, communities, and businesses across the province are served by professionals and volunteers who receive the finest education and training possible and contribute to a continuum of safety - from prevention to response to recovery."

This one-time funding will increase the number of training seats in rural BC to support the BC Ambulance Service's paramedic recruitment and staffing needs.

These courses are in addition to regular, full-time PCP program offerings at JIBC campuses in New Westminster, Victoria, and Kelowna.

For information about the program and how to apply, see the Primary Care Paramedic page.

"This is a man's problem"

xibacache — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:08:55 +0000

November 18, 2011

No one excuses them. Their choice to perpetrate violence results in significant physical, emotional, and psychological harm not only to their wives, but also to their children, extended family, and their communities.

That’s the perspective of 17 front-line practitioners who shared more than 200 years of collective direct experience working with South Asian male perpetrators of intimate partner violence, in a research report co-authored by Gary Thandi and Bethan Lloyd, titled: “This is a man’s problem": Strategies for working with South Asian male perpetrators of intimate partner violence”. The report will be released by JIBC’s Centre for the Prevention and Reduction of Violence on November 21, 2011.

“There is very little research concerning intimate partner violence grounded in the experience of Punjabi Sikh and other South Asian men who are first generation Canadian immigrants,” says Gary Thandi, lead researcher on the report and a sessional researcher in JIBC’s Office of Applied Research. “As a consequence, education and training programs for frontline practitioners – police officers, probation officers, social workers, counsellors, and psychologists – do not include the information they need when working with these communities.”

To help bridge this gap, Thandi created a composite case study – “The Singh Family” – based on this research. Perhaps most important, he uses the literature and the research to outline what counsellors – and other frontline practitioners – require to deliver effective, culturally appropriate services to those, like the Singh family, who come to their offices and programs.

“We are dedicated to promoting social change and social justice that helps keep our communities safe through applied research with first responders, practitioners, policy makers, stakeholders, and service users,” says Greg Anderson, JIBC’s Dean, Applied Research. “The recommendations put forward in this report focus on very concrete actions that will help perpetrators, the community, and frontline practitioners to break the cycle of intimate partner violence”

About CPRV

Read a feature story on Gary’s Thandi’s applied research in South Asian communities

JIBC reports excellent results from Asian trade mission

xibacache — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:37:20 +0000

November 18, 2011

JIBC reports excellent results from participating in the BC Jobs and Trade Mission to Asia, led by Premier Christy Clark. JIBC initiated new partnerships and extended a number of existing arrangements with institutions in Asia, which will lead to an increase in the number of justice and public safety learners studying with the Institute.

"Having the Premier lead such a strong delegation, focused on both business and education and including JIBC, sent a powerful message to our partners that the Government of BC supports the Institute and welcomes students," said JIBC President Jack McGee.

Just prior to the trade mission, JIBC signed a multi-year agreement with the Singapore Armed Forces for delivering a Diploma in Health Sciences (Emergency Medical Services). The Institute also met with the Hong Kong Fire Services Department Ambulance Command to review and commit to continuing ongoing partnership, which is now entering its 20th year.

In China, during the trade mission, it was confirmed that JIBC will conduct a strategic analysis for Beijing Emergency Medical Services and is planning to host several study tours from justice bureaus and police organizations from four cities. “It was gratifying to learn that earlier graduates of JIBC courses from China are implementing changes in how they manage offenders as a result of studying here,” said JIBC Vice President, Academic Michel Tarko, who took part in the trade mission.

JIBC International Programs Manager Ken Davies, who also participated in the trade mission, said that the role of the BC government was pivotal and noted that its participation “adds to the outstanding support the Institute receives from Canadian Trade Commissioners.”

The mission continued to India where JIBC delegates met with a number of post-secondary institutions and agencies to explore future partnership opportunities, including the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), which has been invited to collaborate on JIBC’s Rural Disaster Resilience applied research project.

Guangdong Department of Justice General Office Division Chief Mr Huang Yi presents a gift to JIBC President Jack McGee, flanked by Deputy Division Chief Mr. Zhang Zhou, and JIBC International Programs Manager Ken Davies.

Integrity, honour, and commitment

lmunro — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:40:01 +0000

November 17, 2011

Pictured above with the deputy sheriff graduates: Tracey Ternoway, JIBC Vice President, Finance & Administration; Attorney General Shirley Bond; Mary Manning, Chair, JIBC Board of Governors; Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave Hayer; and Mike Simpson, Dean, School of Public Safety & Security. Also pictured on the homepage: Social Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux.

By Chris Wong

“Integrity, honour, and commitment.”

Those three words figured prominently in Marissa Antoniazzi’s valedictorian speech in the deputy sheriff graduation ceremony held November 9 in the JIBC Theatre.

“Today we sit amongst you in our ceremonial tunics, representing our brothers and sisters in the BC Sheriff Services, and our pledge to remain true to the core values of our agency: integrity, honour, and commitment,” said Marissa, speaking on behalf of the 34 deputy sheriff graduates from Class 11-02 trained by JIBC’s Sheriff Academy. It’s the largest recruit class in BC Sheriff Services history.

Shirley Bond, BC Attorney General and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, attended the ceremony, along with Social Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux and Dave Hayer, MLA for Surrey-Tynehead.

“We appreciate the commitment and dedication these new recruits have demonstrated during their training so that they can begin their important work in courtrooms across the province,” said Minister Bond.

“I have a really special place in my heart for this institution, and I’m also incredibly proud of the excellence of the faculty and the programs that are offered here,” she added about JIBC.

Marissa thanked the Sheriff Academy’s instructors for their support during the intensive 10-week training program at JIBC, which covers driver training, firearms, force options, communications, legal studies, report writing, controlled access points, and physical fitness. “Throughout the program, you have given us the chance to succeed by allowing us the opportunity to fail, providing us with feedback and constructive criticism, and then allowing us to move forward with greater confidence. Through your professionalism, dedication, and commitment, you have compelled us to reach our full potential, and have inspired us to duplicate your success in the field.”

The deputy sheriff recruits will now progress to field training under the direction of deputy sheriff training officers before beginning their positions with the Court Services Branch of the Ministry of Attorney General. Deputy Sheriffs are responsible for maintaining security in all BC courthouses, including protecting members of the judiciary, the public, court staff, prisoners, and accused persons.

Tracey Ternoway, JIBC Vice President, Finance and Administration, spoke at the ceremony on behalf of President Jack McGee, who was travelling with the Premier’s Trade Mission in China and India. “The ultimate measure of the success of JIBC as a learning institution lies in the accomplishments of you, our graduates,” she said. “I urge you to maintain a passion for learning, to use the knowledge and skills you’ve acquired to make a difference in the lives of others, and to strive to accomplish great things in your careers.”

BC Ministry of Attorney General’s news release on the deputy sheriff graduation

Story on the deputy sheriff graduation in the Vancouver Sun

JIBC joins Premier on jobs and trade mission to China and India

lmunro — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:55:25 +0000

November 4, 2011

Justice Institute of British Columbia President Jack McGee and Vice President, Academic Michel Tarko are joining Premier Christy Clark on the BC Jobs and Trade Mission to China and India.

JIBC is among 120 companies and organizations participating in the trade mission, representing sectors such as education, energy, forestry, and transportation, which begins November 4.

As part of the trip, JIBC will meet with justice, public safety, and educational organizations in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Delhi, and Mumbai.

“JIBC has enjoyed partnerships with a number of international agencies to deliver education and professional training, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, for a number of years,” says JIBC President Jack McGee. “The BC trade mission to China and India will provide an opportunity for us to strengthen existing partnerships and open the door to new ones.”

In advance of the mission, on November 1 Dr. Tarko, JIBC Chief Medical Officer Dr. Urbain Ip, and Program Director, Contract Programs Kevin Sanford of the School of Health Sciences signed a substantial contract for delivery of JIBC’s Diploma in Health Sciences (EMS) with the Singapore Armed Forces. They also visited the Hong Kong Fire Services Department Ambulance Command, an organization JIBC has been working with for 20 years. As a part of the trade mission they will discuss collaboration with the Beijing Emergency Medical Centre, public security ministries, and police colleges and universities.

Guide to JIBC International Education and Professional Training

JIBC has produced a guide to the Institute’s international work, which is being provided to organizations at the meetings in Asia. The International Education and Professional Training guide includes:

An overview of JIBC and a description of JIBC Schools and areas of study where the Institute can provide customized curriculum for international organizations
A description of JIBC’s approach to contract education and training for international organizations
A summary of JIBC’s international experience
A list of accreditations maintained by the Institute
Information about British Columbia
Contact information

Click image to read in interactive format.

PDF version: International Education and Professional Training

Increasing access to JIBC programs and courses on Vancouver Island

lmunro — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 23:40:00 +0000

October 31, 2011

The Honourable Shirley Bond, Attorney General and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, along with MLAs Murray Coell and Norm Letnick joined JIBC’s Executive, Board, and staff in celebrating the official opening of the new JIBC campus in downtown Victoria.

Minister Bond, Murray Coell, Norm Letnick, JIBC Board Chair Mary Manning, and JIBC President Jack McGee (pictured below) cut the ribbon in a ceremony at the campus October 27.

The campus at 810 Fort Street, just a few blocks away from the Institute’s original Government Street location, provides additional classroom space to meet the growing demand for justice and public safety education programs in southern Vancouver Island. It also allows for dedicated space to house a Paramedic Simulation Room, which is key for the training of Emergency Medical Responders.

Offerings at the Victoria campus include programs and courses from:

School of Community & Social Justice: Centres for Conflict Resolution, Counselling & Community Safety, and Leadership
School of Health Sciences: Paramedic Academy, Centre for Professional Health Education
School of Public Safety & Security: Corrections & Community Justice Division, Emergency Management Division, Justice & Public Safety Division

In her remarks, Minister Bond emphasized the critical importance of JIBC’s regional campuses – such as the Victoria site – as they provide students with the opportunity to study closer to home. “The Justice Institute of BC provides students with very high quality public safety and justice education. With the opening of regional campuses such as this, students can train and work closer to the communities where they live,” Bond said. “The new campus location in Victoria will serve students well into the future.”

President McGee acknowledged the contribution and support of many of the guests in attendance at the ceremony to the success of JIBC and its graduates, on Vancouver Island and elsewhere in the province.

The importance of these relationships was illustrated by a cardiac arrest 911-call simulation ably demonstrated at the campus opening by three students in JIBC’s Primary Care Paramedic program. Following the demonstration, President McGee announced an initiative to provide students with more experience in the field. “Thanks to a new initiative developed in partnership with the BC Ambulance Service, these students will benefit from the integration of on-car experience into their program curriculum, making them much better prepared to deal with the challenges they will face once they have graduated.”

Honouring the loss of JIBC-trained Search and Rescue Technician

lmunro — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:05:40 +0000

October 28, 2011

JIBC flags have been lowered to half-staff to mourn the passing of JIBC graduate Sgt. Janick Gilbert, a search-and-rescue technician (SAR Tech) with 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron, who tragically perished on October 27, 2011 while participating in the rescue of a canoeist near Igloolik (Hall Bay), Nunavut.

More information on the rescue incident and Sgt. Gilbert's passing can be found on the National Post website.

JIBC celebrates 10th Awards Gala on November 30

lmunro — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:09:46 +0000

October 27, 2011

Pictured in the photo at the right: JIBC President Jack McGee, Canadian Forces (Retired) Captain Trevor Greene, and Trevor's wife Debbie Lepore.

JIBC will celebrate a milestone on November 30: The 10^th JIBC Foundation Awards for Justice and Public Safety – our Awards Gala – will take place at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. Proceeds from the Gala fundraiser, which begins at 6 pm, will go toward financial support for students.

The Gala, generously supported by presenting sponsor Scotiabank and media sponsors The Vancouver Sun and The Province, will feature a three-course banquet, a live auction, and presentations of four awards:

Anthony P. Pantages, QC Medal, to be presented to The Honourable Thomas Berger, retired Supreme Court of BC Justice.
Dr. Joseph H. Cohen Award, to be presented to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Representative for Children and Youth, Province of British Columbia.
JIBC Foundation Heroes & Rescue Award, to be presented to:
- Firefighters Without Borders Canada
- Canadian Forces Captain (Retired) Trevor Greene, who was severely injured while serving in Afghanistan and has made significant and inspiring progress in his recovery.
- Robert Mackay, one of the heroes of Vancouver’s 2011 Stanley Cup riot.
JIBC Foundation Community Leadership Award, to be presented to Allan De Genova, Director and President of Honour House.

JIBC Open House November 5

lmunro — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:12:17 +0000

October 24, 2011

Interested in a career where you can make a difference in the community? JIBC has a program for you.

JIBC is holding an Open House for prospective students and their families. The Open House will take place Saturday, November 5, from 10 am to 3 pm at JIBC’s main campus: 715 McBride Boulevard, New Westminster.

JIBC staff and faculty will be out in full force at the Open House to show prospective students and their families our New Westminster campus and talk about exciting programs that lead to rewarding careers in justice and public safety.

"We welcome potential students and their families to visit the JIBC main campus, to find out what careers in public safety are all about," says Susan Addario, JIBC Registrar and Student Services Director. "There will be demonstrations of our unique applied learning environment, and student applicants and their families will have opportunities to talk with admissions staff about tuition, financial aid, student support services, and how to apply for programs of their choice."

The event will feature a number of scheduled multimedia presentations, including the following:

Law Enforcement Studies Diploma (LESD): The presentation will convey how the two-year LESD program provides students with the theoretical background, applied skills, and specialized knowledge to become superior candidates in a recruiting process for a range of investigation and law enforcement occupations.
Emergency Management Division: This session will define what emergency management and an emergency operations centre are. It will also include a tour of the Dr. Donald B. Rix Public Safety Simulation Building, where simulation technology used in learning will be demonstrated.
Fire & Safety Division: The presentation will talk about the myths and realities of fire, describe the structure of the fire service, give an overview of the Career Fire Fighter Pre-Employment Certificate Program, and include a show and tell from past JIBC graduates.
School of Health Sciences: This session will provide information on the school’s academic pathway for students. There will also be demonstrations, using a high-fidelity mannequin, of cardiac arrest management and other types of patient care.
Centre for Conflict Resolution: The presentation will provide an overview of the concepts and skills of collaborative conflict resolution taught at JIBC. The session will also include practical tips for handling difficult situations.
Library: There will be tours of the Library, which maintains a large collection of justice and public safety books, journals, video, and audio, and provides access to extensive online resources.

Free parking is available in the JIBC parking lot, as well as overflow parking at the Canada Games Pool next door. For directions to JIBC, transit information, and other information about the main JIBC campus, see the New Westminster campus page.

JIBC participating in Great British Columbia ShakeOut

lmunro — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:44:07 +0000

October 17, 2011

At 10:20 am on October 20, 2011, students, faculty and staff at JIBC campuses will "drop, cover, and hold on" with over 400,000 people in BC as part of the Great British Columbia ShakeOut. This will be the largest earthquake drill in Canadian history, simultaneously conducted in areas across North America including the Yukon, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, and Guam.

BC is located in a seismically active region; each year a few thousand earthquakes occur in and adjacent to the province. The Great British Columbia ShakeOut is designed to ensure that we are better prepared for major earthquakes, and know how to protect ourselves when they happen.

JIBC is just one of many post-secondary institutions that have been invited to participate in the earthquake drill. JIBC’s Emergency Management Division is leading the Institute’s participation in the drill. The Emergency Management Division has led earthquake simulation exercises as part of the Exercise Design training it delivers for public and private organizations.

Drop, cover and hold on, on October 20, 2011:

An air horn will sound on JIBC campuses at 10:20 am.
Students, faculty and staff will Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for 120 seconds).
An air horn will sound again once the drill is over.

JIBC is encouraging students, faculty and staff at all JIBC campuses to participate in this important event.

For more information, see the Great British Columbia ShakeOut website.

Dr. Laurie Pearce named JIBC’s first Research Chair

lmunro — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:25:31 +0000

October 11, 2011

Dr. Laurie Pearce, a specialist in disaster management and traumatic stress for over 25 years, has been named JIBC’s first Research Chair by President Jack McGee. This new appointment will enhance JIBC’s reputation as a world-class centre of applied research in justice and public safety.

The appointment coincides with the launch of the Simulation and Training Exercise Collaboratory (SIMTEC), with which Dr. Pearce is one of three Co-Principal Investigators. The $3.6 million multi-year project will enhance psychosocial capacity and capability management relating to Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) incidents and other hazards.

“Within a disaster context, there are few individuals that demonstrate as broad a range of interests and expertise, including community development; hazard, risk and vulnerability analysis; issues of gender, culture and vulnerability; and the psychosocial dimensions of disaster,” says JIBC President Jack McGee. “JIBC is extremely fortunate to have an individual of Dr. Pearce’s calibre assume this critical role, at this time in its history.”

Dr. Pearce, MSW, MA, PhD, has served as a Research Associate at JIBC, she is an Associate Faculty member at Royal Roads University, and is affiliated with the University of British Columbia Institute for International Health. She is a partner with her husband, Larry Pearce, in Pearces 2 Consulting Corporation. Dr. Pearce is a member of the World Association of Disaster and Emergency Medicine, the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists, the International Disaster Sociological Association, and the Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council of BC.

Dr. Pearce has participated in, and managed numerous research projects in the field in disaster management and continues to assist governments and other organizations in policy evaluation, developing and auditing emergency and business continuity plans, evaluating post-emergency exercises, and providing training and education.

In addition to her experience in disaster management, Dr. Pearce also has over 30 years of experience working with the provincial government in British Columbia, with responsibilities in direct service delivery, staff training, policy and research, and strategic planning. She retired from the Ministry of Children and Family Development in 2007 as the Manager of Special Projects for the Fraser Region.

Supporting disaster victims and first responders

lmunro — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:35:15 +0000

October 11, 2011

As the risk of Chemical, Biological, Radiological-Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) events and other hazards becomes more evident, so does the need to develop practical tools and guidelines for first responders and those who provide psychological and social support to them and disaster victims.

Through a $3.6 million project funded by the CBRNE Research and Technology Initiative (CRTI) – a federal program led by Defence R&D Canada - Centre for Security Science (DRDC CSS) – JIBC, working with Health Canada’s Emergency Preparedness and Occupational Health Directorate (EPOHD), will develop a web-based “Simulation and Training Exercise Collaboratory” (SIMTEC). The Collaboratory – an environment where participants make use of computing and communication technologies to access shared instruments and data, as well as to communicate with others – will enhance psychosocial capacity and capability management relating to CBRNE incidents and other hazards.

"The Government of Canada is pleased to be providing our support for this important project", said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health. "Health Canada will be able to share its expertise and to champion this effort to better understand the psycho-social impacts on those involved during an emergency, through the use of innovative technology."

“They may put on a brave face, but often emergency response personnel are impacted by disaster themselves,” says Colleen Vaughan, Director, JIBC Emergency Management Division. “They focus their efforts on assisting others, while ignoring their own psychological and social needs.”

Deliverables over the four-year project include:

A suite of exercises (including scenarios and multi-media injects);
Psychosocial protocols, guidelines and training for family physicians/health care workers, victim support workers, psychosocial interveners, first responders, and senior decision makers/emergency operations centre (EOC) personnel.

“SIMTEC will provide a virtual laboratory of information, research and expert dialogue focused on training and exercise for emergency responders and leadership, with a specific emphasis on the psychosocial implications of disasters for responders and civilians,” says JIBC’s newly-appointed Research Chair, Dr. Laurie Pearce. An Associate Faculty member at Royal Roads University, Dr. Pearce is one of the project’s Key Co-Principal Investigators, along with Vaughan and Dr. Robin Cox, an Associate Professor and Program Head in the Disaster and Emergency Management Master of Arts program at Royal Roads University.

The proposed exercises will be centred on the research data and experiences of responders from BC and various federal partners, but will be applicable to any jurisdiction with emergency management protocols that include an EOC. In addition to the exercises, the protocols and guidelines developed during the project will be of interest and applicable to any country.

“The commitment and leadership demonstrated by the Defence R&D Canada - Centre for Security Science in funding this initiative will help to enhance the capacity and effectiveness of EOC staff and others in responding to CBNRE incidents,” says Dr. Pearce. “It could make a meaningful difference to the outcome of future incidents, for victims and those charged with securing their safety.”

About JIBC

JIBC is Canada’s leading public safety educator - a dynamic post-secondary institution recognized nationally and internationally for innovative education in the areas of justice and public safety. JIBC offers a range of applied and academic programs (certificates, diplomas, and degrees) that span the spectrum of safety – from prevention to response and recovery. JIBC’s Office of Applied Research builds the Institute’s research and scholarship capacity. Findings and evidence from JIBC research projects are translated into state-of-the-art curricula and public safety and security interventions, and inform evidence-based policy and programs.

About DRDC CSS

Defence R&D Canada - Centre for Security Science (DRDC CSS) is a joint endeavour between the Department of National Defence and Public Safety Canada that contributes to strengthening Canada's ability to anticipate, prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism, crime, natural disasters and serious accidents. This is achieved through collaboration with more than 19 federal departments and agencies, industry and academia, as well as investments in science and technology research and developments, and testing and evaluation of concepts and technologies. DRDC CSS also provides evidence-based advice by applying scientific methodologies and expertise to support policy development, as well as emergency and security planning and operations.

JIBC develops partnership with Yukon College

klambert — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:00:33 +0000

October 6, 2011

JIBC and Yukon College have entered into a partnership to offer JIBC’s Associate Certificate in Workplace Conflict through the College’s School of Continuing Education and Training.

“Until recently, the relationship between our two organizations was around a credit transfer arrangement, where JIBC recognized five entry level conflict resolution courses delivered by Yukon College to be equivalent to five of ours,” said Laurie McAvoy, Program Coordinator with the JIBC School of Community and Social Justice. “Last year both parties agreed that the time was right to evolve the relationship into a full partnership.”

Starting in September 2011, Yukon College students can register for courses that comprise the JIBC Associate Certificate in Workplace Conflict and a selection of foundational core courses and electives from full certificate programs. These courses will be taught by Yukon College instructors, who have been provided a detailed orientation on delivering the JIBC curriculum.

It is anticipated that Yukon learners will be able to complete the JIBC Certificate in Conflict Resolution (Negotiation or Mediation/Third-Party specializations) within three years through this new partnership.

The previous credit transfer arrangement will stay in place until August 2012, so that learners who began their program at Yukon College can still apply for credit for courses completed under the old arrangement, while enrolling in additional JIBC courses through the new partnership.

“The evolution of our partnership with JIBC marks another milestone in the growth and development of Yukon College,” said Dave McHardy, Dean, Yukon College Division of Extension. “This strategic alliance will be of significant benefit to learners in the Yukon wishing to develop or upgrade their skill level, using the well-respected JIBC curriculum.”

Read news story on the Yukon College website about the partnership

About Yukon College

Yukon College is the only government funded post-secondary education institution in the Yukon Territory. There are 12 campuses located throughout the Yukon, delivering education and training through face-to-face, online learning and video conferencing technologies. With nearly 50 degree, diploma and certificate programs and over 150 continuing education courses, Yukon College delivers a broad breadth of education opportunities to Yukoners.

Acclaimed relationship experts to present leading-edge course on couples therapy: November 3-4

lmunro — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:30:01 +0000

September 30, 2011

What makes a relationship work? Couples enter marriage with a 50% chance of failure. When couples enter the therapy office, they sting with pain and despair. They look to the therapist to referee chronic conflicts and rebuild burned bridges.

Drs. John and Julie Schwartz Gottman have spent 40 years researching and helping more than 3,000 couples. They co-founded the Gottman Relationship Institute to help couples directly and provide leading-edge training to mental health professionals and other health care providers.

On November 3 and 4, 2011, the Gottmans will present “Bridging the Couple Chasm: Gottman Couples Therapy – A Research-Based Approach, Level 1” in the Theatre at JIBC's New Westminster campus, 715 McBride Boulevard.

Participants in the course, offered through JIBC’s Centre for Counselling & Community Safety, will learn:

Research-based strategies and tools to help couples successfully manage conflict
Skills that empower couples to dialogue about their issues
Methods to help couples process their fights and heal their hurts
Techniques for couples to deepen their intimacy and minimize relapse
New assessments and effective interventions to help understand couples’ struggles

This course will be of benefit to mental health practitioners, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses and related professionals working with couples. It will also be of benefit to students and interns, professional teachers of couples therapy, researchers in the social sciences, and employee assistance professionals.

About the Gottmans

These world-renowned therapists have been guests on TV shows including Oprah, Good Morning America, Today, and CBS Morning News. Dr. John Gottman is an award-winning psychologist, researcher, author and speaker who has conducted research on all facets of relationships. He has published 190 academic articles and authored or co-authored 40 books, including the bestselling The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work; The Relationship Cure; Why Marriages Succeed or Fail; and Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child.

Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman is a clinical psychologist who is as an expert advisor on marriage, sexual harassment and rape, domestic violence, gay and lesbian adoption, same-sex marriage, and parenting issues. Together, the Gottmans teach couples workshops and professional training programs at The Gottman Relationship Institute.

About the Centre for Counselling & Community Safety

The JIBC Centre for Counselling & Community Safety offers a broad range of programs, courses and special event seminars for professionals dealing with substance use, mental health and trauma, children and youth issues and community safety. Our practical and relevant training is designed for executive directors, managers, practitioners, frontline staff and supervisors.

JIBC to hold event for high school counsellors

cwong — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:27:37 +0000

September 28, 2011

JIBC will hold the Institute’s first annual event for high school counsellors on October 21, 2011. The event will take place from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at JIBC’s main campus: 715 McBride Boulevard, New Westminster.

In recent years, JIBC has received increased inquiries from high school counsellors, students and parents who are interested in learning more about careers in justice and public safety. The event will give counsellors an overview of JIBC’s wide-ranging programs and courses, and provide them with information that can be shared with their colleagues, students and parents as they explore post-secondary education options and career paths.

As Canada’s leading public safety educator, JIBC offers innovative education and training in policing, fire fighting, corrections, emergency management, paramedicine, leadership, conflict resolution, Aboriginal programs, and other areas. Our expert faculty are active in their professional fields, and we provide a range of student support services that contribute to the success of our students.

The event will feature a number of multimedia presentations on educational areas at JIBC, including the following:

Law Enforcement Studies Diploma (LESD): The presentation will convey how the two-year LESD program provides students with the theoretical background, applied skills and specialized knowledge to become superior candidates in a recruiting process for a range of investigation and law enforcement occupations.
Emergency Management Division: This session will define what emergency management and an emergency operations centre are. It will also include a tour of the Dr. Donald B. Rix Public Safety Simulation Building, where simulation technology used in learning will be demonstrated.
Fire & Safety Division: The presentation will talk about the myths and realities of fire, describe the structure of the fire service, give an overview of the Career Fire Fighter Pre-Employment Certificate Program, and include a show and tell from past JIBC graduates.
School of Health Sciences: This session will provide information on the school’s academic pathway for students. There will also be demonstrations, using a high-fidelity mannequin, of cardiac arrest management and other types of patient care.
Centre for Conflict Resolution: The presentation will provide an overview of the concepts and skills of collaborative conflict resolution taught at JIBC. The session will also include practical tips for handling difficult situations.
Library: Counsellors will receive a tour of the Library, which maintains a large collection of justice and public safety books, journals, video, and audio, and provides access to extensive online resources.

Free parking is available in the JIBC parking lot, as well as overflow parking at the Canada Games Pool next door. Registration begins at 8:30 am. For directions to JIBC, transit information and other information about the New Westminster campus, see the New Westminster campus page.

Counsellors who would like to attend the event should RSVP by phone at 604.528.5587 or email by October 5.

JIBC will also hold an open house for prospective students and their families on November 5, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, at the New Westminster campus. More details of the open house will be announced soon.

Journey of education and experience

klambert — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:53:16 +0000

September 26, 2011

By Laura Dyck

When Scott Sutherland learned about JIBC’s Law Enforcement Studies Diploma (LESD), he knew it was the right program for him.

The two-year program provides students with the theoretical background, applied skills and specialized knowledge to become superior candidates in a recruiting process for a range of investigation and law enforcement occupations.

It was the kind of program he was looking for, and just one month after graduating from the LESD program, Scott landed his first job in law enforcement as a surveillance operator with a casino.

Scott was drawn to JIBC and the LESD program because the Institute trains municipal police recruits, offers a tight-knit environment and maintains smaller class sizes. “I never felt like a small fish in a large pond,” says Scott. “The smaller classes were ideal to learn in, connect with instructors and get the support students need to become successful.”

Faculty in the LESD program include current and retired police officers and other instructors with a law enforcement background. “The faculty in the LESD program were extremely enthusiastic and devoted to every topic they were teaching. They lived what they taught. Everything they taught, they had real life experience in. Instead of just teaching out of a textbook, instructors brought in their experiences through stories, photos and videos.”

Students in the program spend the program’s two years as a cohort, so the students become very familiar with each other. “Our group was very cohesive. Everyone got along and even now after graduation, I see about a quarter of my fellow graduates pretty regularly. Although it wasn’t what I came here to do, I made life long friends. Learning as a cohort was such a huge benefit because you study with a diverse group of people. Everyone had input that was of value and respected each other.”

Scott also appreciated receiving support from JIBC’s Student Services. Whether it was through the JIBC Library, Financial Aid & Awards office, or the Police Academy faculty, the supportive atmosphere throughout the institution helped Scott succeed in the program. “I was fortunate to receive some bursaries while I was in the program, which was a huge weight off my shoulders. It enabled me to reduce my work hours and focus on my studies. The Library was also a huge asset because it has the material you need to do your work. The librarians were so helpful and willing to answer any questions, and would walk us through anything we needed help with.”

He graduated from the program in May 2011, and received the Ingrid Pipke Memorial Award at Convocation. Scott received the award for maintaining the highest academic standing in his LESD cohort.

In his job as a surveillance operator in a casino, Scott uses skills he learned at JIBC, such as how to communicate effectively, resolve ethical dilemmas, interact with the RCMP and municipal police, and work in computer investigations. “My job is really interesting. We monitor casino assets and overlook patron and employee behaviour to ensure that everyone is adhering to casino policies and the BC Lottery Commission’s standards. In order to do this, we use facial recognition software, license plate recognition and many, many high end cameras.”

Surveillance & security was an area Scott hadn’t thought about before taking the LESD program. “It’s a great fit for me. You have to learn how to multi-task because you have multiple monitors, phones, and radios, plus computers with alarms going off. The communication tactics, report writing skills and investigative techniques I learned at JIBC definitely help. I recently picked out a stolen car because I just knew things didn’t look quite right, and I’ve enjoyed working with the RCMP on fraud and theft investigations. I look forward to joining a police department in the future.”

The 25-year-old says taking the LESD program ultimately gave him a clear view of what to expect in a law enforcement career. “You learn about the law, responsibilities of different law enforcement personnel, how to handle different situations around conflict resolution and complex situations, and even how to handle ethical dilemmas.

“After completing this two-year journey of education and experience, I feel grounded with the tools, skills and knowledge I need in promoting a promising future for myself, in whatever direction life takes me.”

Cohorts 6, 7 and 8 of the LESD program began in September and are full. JIBC is now accepting applications for Cohort 9 of the program, beginning in January 2012. For information, see the Law Enforcement Studies Diploma page.

JIBC classes proceeding as scheduled

klambert — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:16:13 +0000

September 19, 2011

Classes are proceeding as scheduled as the RCMP continues their investigation into criminal incidents that have occurred at the homes of individuals with links to JIBC. JIBC management has been meeting on a regular basis to coordinate the organizational response, with a priority on ensuring the safety and security of students, staff and faculty at our campuses, and maintaining regular communication. A security review of all campuses is underway and enhanced security measures have already been implemented.

In addition, services and resources have been put in place to help students plan for their personal safety at school and at home:

Support for Students

Personal safety tips for students have been added to the website on the Student Services page. The tips are also available in print form in the Student Services Center, at the first and second floor reception desks and in the Library. Staff and instructors have been asked to remind students of the available resources for personal safety, including an escort to the parking lot at night.

Counselling Services

Counselling Services continue to be available to students on an ongoing basis. Confidential services can be accessed by calling 604.528. 5884 (Toll free: 1.877.275.4331), or emailing studentcounselling@jibc.ca.

For More Information

If there are any questions or concerns about the status of classes, please contact the Registration Office by phone (604.528.5590, or toll free at 1.877.528.5591), or email register@jibc.ca.

Primary Care Paramedic program in Port Alberni

cwong — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:56:51 +0000

September 12, 2011

As described in this Alberni Valley Times news story, the tremendous response to delivery of JIBC's Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program in Port Alberni has created optimism regarding the potential for JIBC to expand offerings in Port Alberni.

JIBC website story orginally posted June 30, 2011:

Students in the Port Alberni region no longer have to leave home to pursue the path of becoming a paramedic. Eddy Workhoven, Dean of JIBC’s School of Health Sciences, has announced a new partnership with the city of Port Alberni and North Island College (NIC) to deliver a full-time Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program at NIC’s Port Alberni campus, starting in September 2011. This would enable students to save on costs associated with travel and living expenses to attend the program at JIBC campuses.

This new initiative was the brainchild of Port Alberni Councillor John Douglas, a serving paramedic, who recognized the potential of a partnership between the City, North Island College and JIBC, and the immediate benefits to students.

“The City's economic development strategy includes a focus on the educational sector,” said Douglas. “Given the importance of paramedics and other first responders to the safety and well-being of our community, a partnership with JIBC seemed to be a great fit, from both an economic and social perspective.”

Plans are already in place for Port Alberni Mayor Ken McRae to meet with JIBC President Jack McGee to explore additional opportunities to make other JIBC programs available to residents in the community. “JIBC actively delivers a range of justice and public safety programs and courses in over 160 communities across the province,” said McGee.”This novel partnership with the city of Port Alberni and North Island College creates an opportunity for us to further extend the reach of our programs.”

The initial, full-time PCP course offering with North Island College will be open to 24 students, with the following key dates:

Application deadline: July 31, 2011
Online course start: August 22, 2011
Classroom start: September 19, 2011
Field Practicum start: January 16, 2012

Statement from JIBC

lmunro — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:14:28 +0000

September 6, 2011

The Justice Institute of BC (JIBC) has recently been advised by the RCMP that criminal activity - arson and shots fired - has occurred at or near the homes of 10 individuals linked to JIBC, including employees, former students, and a number of other individuals who have indirect links to JIBC.

As far as JIBC is aware, none of the individuals impacted by these incidents is a current JIBC student. None of the individuals has been physically harmed. None of the individuals impacted by these incidents is known to the police or suspected to be linked to this or any other criminal activity.

JIBC is cooperating fully with an ongoing RCMP-led investigation of these incidents. Please see the RCMP news release on the investigation.

While none of the incidents has occurred on JIBC campuses, security has been increased at JIBC. The Institute is informing staff, students and faculty of the situation. All classes are continuing as scheduled.

“JIBC is very concerned about this situation, and the impact it has had on innocent victims,” says JIBC President Jack McGee. “We are doing everything we can to support the police investigation, and taking all possible steps to protect the safety and security of students, staff, faculty and the public who access our campuses.”

Regular updates will be provided on the JIBC website. Students can contact the Student Services department for resources and assistance at any time. Among the resources are student safety tips, which have been posted on the website. Faculty can contact their Dean or Director.

Members of the public with information about suspicious activity on JIBC campuses or in their neighbourhoods should contact their local police department.

Media questions about the investigation should be directed to the RCMP.

RCMP media relations contact:
Cpl. Holly Marks
Acting Spokesperson, Lower Mainland District Regional Police Service
Office: 604.532.3231
Cell: 778.991.7932
holly.marks@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

JIBC contact:
Valder Belgrave
Communications & Marketing Manager
604.528.5874
communications@jibc.ca

About JIBC
JIBC is a public post-secondary institution based in New Westminster, BC, with additional campuses in Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Chilliwack, Pitt Meadows, Kelowna and Victoria.

JIBC offers programs and courses, leading to degrees, certificates and diplomas, in three schools:

School of Public Safety & Security: Policing, sheriffs, security, investigation, enforcement, corrections, fire fighting, emergency management, and driver training
School of Community & Social Justice: Conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, counselling, leadership, and Aboriginal programs
School of Health Sciences: Paramedicine and continuing medical education

Colleen Vaughan Appointed Director, Emergency Management Division

lmunro — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:28:33 +0000

August 31, 2011

JIBC is pleased to announce the appointment of Colleen Vaughan as Director of the School of Public Safety & Security’s Emergency Management Division (EMD), effective September 15, 2011. For the last twelve months Colleen has been Acting Director of EMD, providing excellent leadership to her team and to EMD’s students and clients.

Colleen Vaughan has extensive experience at JIBC. She started at the Institute in 1991 as an Instructor with the then Corrections Academy after eight years of working with the BC Corrections Branch. In 1994 she moved to the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) Academy where she was an Instructor/Coordinator for 11 years. In 2005, Colleen assumed responsibility - first as a Program Manager and later as a Program Director - for program and curriculum development of the Health Emergency Management program, including certificates, diplomas and degrees. Colleen also undertook research initiatives for EMD.

Over the years, Colleen has been involved in emergency and disaster responses throughout British Columbia and in the State of Georgia. She was the recipient of the JIBC Instructor of the Year Award in 1999, and the NISOD Excellence Award for teaching from the University of Texas two years later.

Colleen holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Commerce, both from the University of British Columbia. She also has a Diploma in Criminology.

Honouring Jack Layton

lmunro — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 20:46:17 +0000

August 26, 2011

JIBC flags are being flown at half-staff in honour of Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party and the Official Opposition.

A state funeral will be held August 27 in Toronto for Mr. Layton, who died on August 22, 2011.

New JIBC Academic Plan

lmunro — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:53:41 +0000

August 23, 2011

JIBC’s Board of Governors has approved the Institute’s new Academic Plan. The 2010-2013 Academic Plan expands upon the vision, mission, values, trends and strategic directions outlined in JIBC’s 2010-2015 Strategic Plan, as they apply to teaching and learning initiatives, so those efforts are:

Grounded in the needs of the professions served by JIBC
Aligned across the Institute
Enhanced by an externally focused, cross-institutional foundation.

The Academic Plan begins by outlining four thematic goals:

JIBC will work toward increasing student access to programs regionally, provincially, nationally and internationally.
JIBC will expand academic programs to include both undergraduate and graduate studies and applied research.
JIBC will focus on inter-professional education programming that is flexible and response to future labour market needs
JIBC will focus on enhanced learning technology in all program areas.

The Academic Plan goes on to outline how JIBC’s Schools of Community & Social Justice, Health Sciences and Public Safety & Security, and the Institute’s Offices of Graduate Studies & Academic Services and Applied Research, will address the thematic goals.

The Academic plan also includes:

An Institutional Overview of JIBC
JIBC’s Educational Philosophy and Applied Learning Model
JIBC’s Educational Framework
Core and specialized competencies to be developed by students in JIBC programs
Goals and priorities of the Technology Enabled Learning and Teaching (TELT) initiative.

Read JIBC’s Academic Plan as an interactive electronic document

Read the Plan as a PDF

JIBC’s “My Emergency Management Resources” wins IAEM Canada Technology and Innovation Award

klambert — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:01:10 +0000

August 3, 2011

The Canada Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) recently announced the winners of the 2011 IAEM-Canada Awards Competition. First place in the Division 2, State, Regional, National Government, International, or Nonprofit Organization category was awarded to the JIBC Emergency Management Division, for “My Emergency Management Resources” - an online library of free educational and operational emergency management resources.

Any public safety professional can access, view, download or print course materials, exercise packages, training videos, interactive training tools, job aids, dynamic forms, posters, charts and quick reference guides. The new resource centre will be of value to communities, government agencies and private organizations across Canada and internationally, particularly those in remote locations, or with limited resources to access traditional training and exercise options.

“Staff in the Emergency Management Division has generated a significant collection of tools and aids to assist our students in managing critical incidents in their communities,” says Acting Director, Emergency Management Division, Colleen Vaughan. “We felt that these resources would be useful to all jurisdictions and decided to make them freely available online.”

The new online resource centre complements JIBC’s certificate, diploma and degree programs in emergency management, security and exercise design, as well as applied contract training in the Incident Command System (ICS)/Incident Management System (IMS), Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), Exercise Design, Emergency Social Services (ESS), and Search and Rescue (SAR).

About IAEM

The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), which has more than 5,000 members worldwide, is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the "Principles of Emergency Management" and representing those professionals whose goals are saving lives and protecting property and the environment during emergencies and disasters.

About JIBC and the Emergency Management Division:

The Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) is Canada’s leading public safety educator - a dynamic post-secondary institution recognized nationally and internationally for innovative education in the areas of justice and public safety. The JIBC offers a range of applied and academic programs (certificates, diplomas, and degrees) that span the spectrum of safety – from prevention to response and recovery.

The JIBC Emergency Management Division (EMD), part of the School of Public Safety and Security, has been educating emergency management and public safety professionals across Canada and internationally for more than 20 years. EMD just launched Canada’s first Bachelor of Emergency and Security Management Studies. For more information, visit www.jibc.ca/emergency.

Dr. Greg Anderson appointed JIBC Dean, Applied Research

klambert — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:54:11 +0000

August 2, 2011

JIBC is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Greg Anderson as Dean, Applied Research.

Dr. Anderson has been involved in teaching at the post-secondary level since 1986, most recently with the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), which he joined in 1993. He served as a professor in Kinesiology and Physical Education at UFV, and also served as the chair of the program from 2004-2009.

He received a BPE and MPE in exercise science from the University of British Columbia, and a PhD in kinesiology (applied physiology) from Simon Fraser University.

Dr. Anderson has been actively involved in occupational physiology, working primarily with police and law enforcement agencies and replaces retired Dean, Dr. Carol Amaratunga, who will continue her relationship with JIBC as a Research Associate Emerita.

Sheilah Sweatman honoured

klambert — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 22:47:52 +0000

July 26, 2011

Update: The flags of Canada, British Columbia and JIBC were flown at half-staff from July 4 – 8, 2011 in honour of Sheilah Sweatman. These flags were presented to the Sweatman family by Jeff Cornell, Program Manager, Emergency Social Services and Search & Rescue Training , on behalf of JIBC at the memorial service held in Nelson, BC on July 23, 2011.

Story originally posted July 4, 2011

JIBC flags are being flown at half staff in honour of Sheilah Sweatman, a West Kootenay volunteer search and rescue technician, who drowned on June 29, 2011. She was part of crew attempting to recover a vehicle in the Goat River, south of Creston, BC.

“Our condolences and thoughts are with Sheilah Sweatman’s family, as well as with our many search and rescue team members in BC, who volunteer their time and effort to assist others in spite of the significant risks," said Colleen Vaughan, acting Director, JIBC Emergency Management Division.

JIBC, through its Emergency Management Division, partners with Emergency Management BC (EMBC), the RCMP, and the British Columbia Search and Rescue Association (BCSARA) to deliver search and rescue training to volunteers across British Columbia.

In any given year Search and Rescue groups in BC respond to nearly 1,000 incidents involving over 1,300 missing or injured persons. More than 2,500 unpaid professional volunteers, located in more than 80 BC communities, make themselves available day or night. Together, these men and women donate over 100,000 hours of their time on callouts annually, and 95% of subjects are found or rescued within the first 24 hours of a volunteer search and rescue group being activated.

JIBC Chilliwack campus goes solar

klambert — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:21:27 +0000

July 19, 2011

JIBC has installed solar panels at the Institute’s Chilliwack campus to provide hot water in the student residence. The 14 panels heat water for showers, sinks and laundry machines in the 150-bed student residence. This energy efficiency retrofit project was completed as part of the Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement (PSECA) between the BC Government and SolarBC, with funding from PSECA, FortisBC and the JIBC Foundation.

Read the story about the installation of solar panels in the Chilliwack Progress.

Pictured (l to r): Swaran Bhatthal, Manager, Commercial & Industrial Marketing, Fortis BC; Richard Epp, JIBC Director, Facilities; and Tracey Ternoway, JIBC Vice-President Finance & Administration.

New School of Community & Social Justice Calendar for 2011/2012

klambert — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:56:22 +0000

July 15, 2011

1 school. 4 centres. Unlimited potential. That sums up the content of the new course calendar for JIBC’s School of Community & Social Justice, which has been distributed to more than 8,500 current, past and prospective students across BC and beyond.

Titled “Choose a Course of Social Value”, the 2011/2012 calendar details the wide range of programs, courses and special events offered by the school’s four centres: Centre for Aboriginal Programs & Services, Centre for Counselling & Community Safety, Centre for Leadership, and Centre for Conflict Resolution. Programs and courses range from aboriginal leadership to instructor development, child abuse intervention, bylaw compliance, critical incident stress management, expressive play therapy, and many other areas of study related to community safety.

The calendar highlights two new graduate certificates: Complex Trauma and Child Sexual Abuse Intervention and Dynamics of Conflict. Both introduce students to emerging and ground breaking theories and concepts, and are equivalent to the first year of a Master’s program.

All of the school’s educational offerings focus on experiential learning, with a strong emphasis on interaction and simulation to ensure students develop critical skills and decision-making abilities that they can immediately apply in their workplaces and community.

The calendar includes testimonials from students, such as Certificate in Conflict Resolution - Negotiation graduate Tammy Van Hinte, that highlight how they have benefited from their learning experience in the School of Community & Social Justice. “My learning experience wasn’t a matter of learning content in courses and reproducing it on exams,” says Tammy. “It was about changing my way of being in the world. The conflict resolution program has impacted me deeply, it has impacted my family, my friends, and my community.”

The calendar also provides information on four special events featuring internationally acclaimed guest speakers.

As part of our effort to reduce paper and minimize the impact on the environment, class schedules are no longer in the calendar and are now accessible on our redesigned website. Online registration through the website is now easier than ever.

View the School of Community & Social Justice Calendar as an online digital document (with page-turning, zooming and other functionality)
View the calendar in PDF format
Visit the School of Community & Social Justice section of the JIBC website

Advanced Education Minister visits JIBC Okanagan campus

klambert — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 18:52:19 +0000

July 12, 2011

JIBC welcomed BC Advanced Education Minister, Honourable Naomi Yamamoto, to the Institute’s Okanagan campus in Kelowna on July 8.

During her hour-long visit, Minister Yamamoto experienced first-hand a number of the applied learning tools and techniques used to prepare students for a career as a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP).

Following a tour of the campus, led by JIBC School of Health Sciences Dean Eddy Workhoven, Minister Yamamoto worked alongside students performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on a high-fidelity patient simulator. This was followed by a ride-along in an ambulance used for training, which provided insight into the demands and pressure of providing pre-hospital care. Following her on-car experience, Minister Yamamoto spent her remaining time in a classroom meeting with PCP students.

“The hands-on training our health-care professionals receive at the Justice Institute of BC is impressive,” said Minister Yamamoto. “The simulated training opportunities offer a way to practise under pressure, which adds value for our professionals when they are at work in our communities.”

“Staff and students at our Okanagan campus were thrilled to have the Minister visit and demonstrate such keen interest in our Primary Care Paramedic and Emergency Medical Responder programs,” said Dean Workhoven. “Her willing and enthusiastic participation in the simulations with our students was particularly well-received.”

Minister Yamamoto visited JIBC’s New Westminster Campus on April 19.

Student success

cwong — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:30:09 +0000

June 30, 2011

Pictured above and on the homepage (from left to right): One World Scholarship recipients Darrell Verstraete and Mark Williams, Dr. Irving K. Barber, and Brian Hutchinson, President of Firefighters Without Borders Canada.

By Valder Belgrave

Rochelle Moore never forgot the wise advice her late grandfather gave her. “He always told me and my cousins to stay in school. ‘Get your education, it will only help you when you’re an adult,’” she recalled him saying. “I was a kid at the time and I didn’t understand what it meant. Now that I’m older and have my own children, I know the importance of education.”

After five years out of school, the 26-year-old took her grandfather’s advice and applied to JIBC’s Aboriginal Leadership Certificate program. Now Moore – a Nisga’a mother of two from Gitwinksihlkw in BC’s Nass Valley – is working toward her certificate. Moore said she wouldn’t have been able to realize her dream of going back to school without financial support from a JIBC award she won. The award, funded by the Minerva Foundation for BC Women, supports Aboriginal women enrolled at JIBC who are currently involved in, or wish to pursue a career in justice and public safety.

After she completes the certificate program, Moore plans to give back to her community. “There are many programs in the Nass Valley that I want to help out with,” said Rochelle, “and this is just a way of getting myself in there.”

Moore spoke - in a soft but powerful voice - at the JIBC Foundation Student Awards & Donor Recognition Event, held at the Bill Reid Gallery. The event, which opened with a traditional welcome to the Coast Salish territory by Aboriginal youth leader Amanda Nahanee, recognized individuals and organizations that have donated funds to support student success.

Another JIBC student who spoke at the event was Ronald Harris, a member of the Sto:lo nation who spent 10 years working as a multimedia artist before applying to the Aboriginal Leadership Certificate program. Harris had been out of school for 12 years before being accepted into the program and receiving the Dr. Joseph and Rosalie Segal Award, established for students enrolled in counselling, trauma, child abuse or Aboriginal programs.

“If it wasn’t for Dr. Joseph and Dr. Rosalie Segal in helping me with funding for the schooling, I wouldn’t be here right now,” said Harris. He hopes to combine his learning at JIBC with his knowledge of digital and social media to “help youth further be involved in their governance structures.”

One other student spoke: 29-year-old Mark Williams, who completed JIBC’s Career Firefighter Pre-Employment program in 2010 before successfully applying for a One World Scholarship. The scholarship enables four recent graduates from the program to deploy with Firefighters Without Borders Canada to El Salvador to learn how fire and safety services are delivered in developing countries and to assist in training of local fire fighters.

“I am very proud of what JIBC and the One World Scholarship have helped me to accomplish in the last year,” said Williams. “From having little, to no firefighting experience, to conducting live fire exercises with professional fire fighters in a different country, I can only say that the training I’ve received has been world class.”

The Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society in partnership with the Victoria Foundation, with matching funding from the JIBC Foundation, funds the One World Scholarships. Providing the keynote address was Dr. Barber, who spent close to 60 years working in the forest products industry before shifting his focus to education, which he has strongly supported as a philanthropist.

“The Justice Institute of British Columbia is a unique situation across the province, across Canada and probably across the world,” said Dr. Barber. “The most important thing that impressed me as I walked through your campuses was the creation of the trauma situation that you expose your students to. The stronger and more desperate and more frightening the trauma that you make, the better your student is because he can deal with that in real life.”

View the video of Dr. Barber's speech at the Donor Recognition Event

The Honourable Mary McNeil, BC Minister of Children & Family Development, thanked the JIBC Foundation and its generous donors and supporters for their commitment to supporting students. Minister McNeil also thanked Dr. Barber for creating “an amazing legacy of support for students across the province and whose unwavering belief in the power of education has changed so many lives."

View videos of the student award recipients at the Donor Recognition Event

Rochelle Moore

JIBC offers online liberal studies courses

klambert — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:32:23 +0000

June 28, 2011

Online liberal studies courses developed for JIBC certificate, diploma, and degree programs are now available for enrolment by the general public.

JIBC’s Office of Graduate Studies & Academic Services developed and delivers the liberal studies courses, including: Academic Writing, Applied Ethics, Business Communications, Critical Reading and Writing, Introduction to Statistics, and Research Methods. “The affirmative feedback received following the launch of the courses was so encouraging that we decided to roll them out to the general public,” said Stuart Ruttan, Specialist Credentialing, Office of Graduate Studies and Academic Services.

Each course, which can be taken individually without enrolment in a JIBC program, is delivered online over a 13-week period on a semester basis. Providing the courses online will give students more flexibility in completing the course work. Students who take the courses will also earn transferable post-secondary credits, as these courses are recognized within the BC Transfer System.

The liberal studies courses are designed to broaden a learner’s skill and understanding, beyond the requirements of an area of specialization. Liberal studies provide foundational skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, communications, literacy, numeracy, and teamwork. The skills learned will help students apply their specialized learning more successfully in professional, academic and community settings.

Registration is now open for the fall semester. For more information, visit the Liberal Studies page.

JIBC plan for Canada Post labour dispute

klambert — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 22:25:28 +0000

June 28, 2011

Canada Post workers are back on the job following passage of back-to-work legislation that ended the labour dispute disrupting mail service. Given that it will take some time for the backlog of unsent mail to be cleared, the following JIBC process is still in effect:

During the service disruption from Canada Post, there is a change in process with mailing of registration confirmations, official transcripts, invoices and payments, and other shipments from JIBC.

Registration confirmations

After students register in courses, they can confirm registration by logging into myJIBC located at the top of most pages on the JIBC website. In myJIBC, students can find registration confirmations under “My Training”, where they can select the courses for which confirmation is needed.

Regstration confirmations may also be picked up in the Registration office at our New Westminster campus between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Official transcripts

Official transcripts may be picked up in the Registration office at our New Westminster campus between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Please call us at 604.528.5590 in advance to order transcripts.

Course materials, library books and other items

Miscellaneous JIBC items (course materials, library books, DVDs, etc) may ship via courier or be available for pick up. Please contact the relevant JIBC department to determine what arrangements will be made.

If you have a PO Box as your mailing address and are expecting a shipment from JIBC, please contact the JIBC department sending the shipment to make alternative arrangements.

Payment of tuition for longer programs

For students who have paid their deposit for longer programs, to pay the balance of the tuition by the program deadline, they may pay with credit card by phone (604.528.5873), pay in person by debit card at any JIBC campus, or drop off a cheque to any JIBC campus.

Invoices and payments

Contractors and suppliers can send JIBC an electronic copy of invoices either by email (apayable@jibc.ca) or fax (604.528-5518). If invoices are sent electronically, contractors and suppliers should not mail a paper copy when mailing service resumes.

Contractors and suppliers have two options to receive payment:

Pre-arrange to pick up cheques at any JIBC campus in person or by courier
Arrange for direct deposit of payment

To arrange for any of the above contact Accounts Payable at 604.528.5502 or email apayable@jibc.ca.

Inter-government mail

Inter-government mail via BC Mail will still be processed and delivered as normal.

Innovation in education

klambert — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:50:46 +0000

June 21, 2011

Pictured above (from left to right): Helena Fehr, CNIE Director of Media Technology; Marcela Hernandez and Tannis Morgan from JIBC; and Bettina Brockerhoff-Macdonald, Co-Chair of the 2011 CNIE-RCIÉ Awards Festival

JIBC has won an Award of Excellence from the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE). JIBC’s ExPod virtual simulation learning tool was selected for the award in the CNIE-RCIÉ Awards Festival, for “Excellence and Innovation in Overall Use of Technology for Learning and Teaching.”

CNIE, a national organization of professionals committed to excellence in innovative education, presented the peer-adjudicated award to JIBC’s Tannis Morgan and Marcela Hernandez at the CNIE-RCIE Conference held in May at Hamilton’s McMaster University.

ExPod is a custom-built, virtual simulation learning tool housed in JIBC’s Dr. Donald B. Rix Public Safety Simulation Building. ExPod helps to bring critical incidents to life by introducing real-world simulations into training and exercise programs. Because participants can access ExPod enables via the web, it provides the flexibility to deliver immersive, interactive and scenario-based training exercises anytime, anywhere.

“As someone who is well informed on the current state of public safety technologies, I can confidently say ExPod stands well above the crowd,” says Timothy Collins, Managing Director of Visual Analytics for Command, Control and Interoperability Environments (Vaccine) at Purdue University. “Any time a tool can engage the participants to the point that they are fully immersed and working to solve a situation, learning becomes ingrained and communities become safer. ExPod does this time and again. An added, but huge benefit in this time of critical fiscal management is its ability to provide training to responders anytime, anywhere, and on a budget.”

The “Excellence and Innovation in Overall Use of Technology for Learning and Teaching” award is given to a project that demonstrates unique and innovative use of learning technologies to change learning systems in the future. The award is presented to an individual, team, or enterprise that has responsibility for developing and/or implementing a unique and innovative learning product or service using existing technology in a new way or using a new form of technology application.

JIBC’s Tannis Morgan and Marcela Hernandez

Graduating with honour

klambert — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:03:19 +0000

June 10, 2011

For 28 Canadian Forces Medical Technicians, June 9 was supposed to be the day that they celebrated the completion of six months of Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) study at JIBC’s Chilliwack campus. Instead, they chose to forego the graduation festivities and joined 40 colleagues still completing the PCP program at a ceremony to announce a “Highway of Heroes” in BC. At the ceremony, a stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway between Langley and Abbotsford was dedicated in honour of Canadian Forces members killed in Afghanistan and others other missions around the world.

JIBC School of Health Sciences Program Director Kevin Sanford, Chilliwack Campus Program Coordinator Michelle Finlay, several instructors and JIBC President Jack McGee also attended the ceremony and supported the graduates’ decision to participate. “When we first learned about this event, we were very disappointed to learn that it conflicted with the planned graduation,” said Sanford. “But, we thought it was important to let the graduates know about it and give them the option to participate. There was overwhelming support to participate in the event.” A less formal graduation ceremony was held the afternoon following the return of the students to the Chilliwack Campus.

The ceremony was held at Honour House in New Westminster, the home for injured soldiers, fire fighters, paramedics and police who require treatment in Metro Vancouver, along with their families. Honour House is set to open later this year.

The graduating class, in their army, navy and air force dress uniforms, listened intently as Ann Bason, the mother of Master Cpl. Colin Bason who was killed in Afghanistan, recalled his dedication to military service. “We need to be more appreciative of services they (Canadian Forces members) provide us and not take them for granted,” said Bason.

As they prepare themselves for deployment after graduation, the event proved to be the perfect backdrop for celebrating the graduates’ accomplishment, as it was a timely reminder of the significant service they will provide for their country.

Children and Family Development Minister visits JIBC

klambert — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 19:45:46 +0000

June 9, 2011

BC Children and Family Development Minister, The Honourable Mary McNeil, visited JIBC’s New Westminster campus on June 3.

In her first visit to JIBC since being appointed Children and Family Development Minister in March, Minister McNeil met with students, faculty, senior leadership and staff during a two-hour tour.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and opportunity to experience the Justice Institute of BC’s unique learning environment,” said Minister McNeil. “Whether the emphasis is on family service programming, emergency preparedness training, or distance learning for British Columbians living in remote parts of the province, our communities are well served by the exceptional resources available through the JIBC. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on partnerships and initiatives with the capacity to strengthen families and build safer communities.”

The visit included:

Meeting students and their instructors in two courses that are among the many that JIBC delivers to Ministry of Children and Family Development employees:
- A class in JIBC’s Centre for Counselling & Community Safety for social workers on Understanding Child Abuse & Neglect;
- A class in the Corrections & Community Justice Division for youth justice probation administrators on CORNET, BC’s electronic offender management information system.
Seeing a demonstration of a multimedia child welfare simulation developed by JIBC, in the Dr. Donald B. Rix Public Safety Simulation Building.
Meeting a class of police recruits receiving firearms training in the JIBC gun range.
Meeting with JIBC President Jack McGee and other members of the Institute’s Executive, Deans of JIBC’s three schools, and staff who administer programs that support children and families.

“We value having a visit so early in the tenure of the Minster, who was very interested in work the students are doing,” said President McGee. “We’re pleased that the Minister had an opportunity to meet a good cross-section of students that JIBC is preparing to ensure the safety and security of BC families and communities.”

Graduation day

klambert — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:45:10 +0000

May 26, 2011

By Krista Lambert

A total of 272 graduating students were honoured at the JIBC Spring 2011 Convocation on May 19 at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby. Honorary degrees were presented to The Honourable Dr. Bill Bennett, Dr. Sergio Cocchia and Dr. Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia (pictured above).

Bud Smith, QC, who spoke on behalf of former BC Premier Dr. Bennett, said: “With the gift of education, Dr. Bennett believes we can find even more ways to serve our communities, and he recognizes that there is a bridge between what we learn and how we give service to our communities. JIBC serves as an important centre for those who choose these pathways to learning. ”

Dr. Cocchia, President of the Pacific Autism Centre Society, Executive Manager of the Century Plaza Hotel and co-owner of the Absolute Spa Group, expressed thanks to the graduates. “Many of these graduates have committed themselves to lives in service to the public. There is no greater commitment, and as a parent who recognizes that the world can sometimes be intolerant to differences, I appreciate the skills and the empathy that are part of the programming at JIBC.”

Dr. Lisogar-Cocchia, President of Absolute Spa Group who has volunteered in a range of community and philanthropic activities, relayed a favourite quote from her mentor, Dr. Peter Legge: “People will forget what you say. People will forget what you do. But people will never forget the way you made them feel and JIBC does a great job of that.”

After conferring the honorary degrees, JIBC Board of Governors Chair Mary Manning conferred degrees, certificates and diplomas. Six student speakers took the stage to speak on behalf of their fellow graduates. Conflict Resolution graduate Tammy Van Hinte said: “JIBC was different than my experiences at other educational institutes. It wasn’t a matter of learning content and writing that information down on exams; it was more about changing my way of being in the world.”

Merlin Klassen, who received a Bachelor of Fire and Safety Studies degree, revised a quote from Sir Winston Churchill to reflect his personal learning philosophy: “Educational success is continuing one’s educational journey without the loss of enthusiasm. I look forward to continuing my education here at JIBC. ”

At Convocation, the School of Community & Social Justice awarded Certificates in the following programs: Leadership & Conflict Resolution, Workplace Conflict, By-law Enforcement & Investigative Skills, Mediation/Third-Party Intervention, Negotiation, Family Mediation, Family Resource Programs, Foundations of Effective Management & Leadership, Instructor Development, Management & Leadership Development for Community Settings, and Substance Use.

The School of Health Sciences conferred Primary Care Paramedic certificates. The School of Public Safety & Security awarded Certificates in Emergency Management and Emergency Management Exercise Design, Fire Fighter Pre-Employment and Police Studies; Fire Service Leadership and Law Enforcement Studies Diplomas; and a Bachelor of Fire and Safety Studies Degree.

Prior to the ceremony, awards were presented to the two top Law Enforcement Studies Diploma students. Scott Sutherland was presented the Ingrid Pipke Memorial Fund award which was established to recognize future law enforcement professionals achieving high grades in their studies. Nicholas Celio was presented the Bob Hull Memorial Award which was established to help young people pursuing further education and to support their pathway towards police or law enforcement careers.

Video of Convocation ceremony

JIBC Partners with Comox Fire Rescue

klambert — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:33:24 +0000

May 20, 2011

The JIBC Fire & Safety Division recently finalized an agreement with Comox Fire Rescue that enables Comox Fire Rescue to deliver JIBC-accredited courses at their training centre. The Authorized Provider Agreement will allow for more affordable and accessible training for the department, as well as expanded regional training in BC.

The agreement not only increases the department’s level of training, but also positively impacts the team’s morale and operational readiness. “Comox Fire Rescue is committed to excellence in delivery of all our services,” says Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner. “Ensuring our members are appropriately trained is a significant requirement for protecting life, property and business from the effects of fire and disasters in our community.”

Comox Fire Rescue is currently staffed by five full-time and 42 paid-on-call employees who serve a population of about 20,000. In addition to the training centre, which includes a live burn building, the Comox fire station has six truck bays, two training towers, a classroom, offices, and a meeting room. The facilities are now adorned with JIBC-Comox Fire Rescue Training Centre signage to publicize the new partnership. The regional training centre is staffed by a combination of full and part-time members and is regularly used by other departments, including some from neighbouring Alberta. Instructors identified by Comox Fire Rescue and vetted by the JIBC Fire & Safety Division will deliver course curriculum developed by the Institute.

“The Fire & Safety Division is committed to responding to the ever growing training challenges of the BC Fire service” says Wayne Stevens, Director, JIBC Fire & Safety Division. “Our partnership with Comox provides a good model for partnering with other Fire Departments and implementing more Authorized Provider Agreements across the province.”

A commitment to training and education for department members and fire fighters in his region demonstrated by Chief Schreiner is one of the many attributes that earned him the “National Fire Chief of the Year Award” and a JIBC Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2010.

Emergency preparedness

klambert — Wed, 11 May 2011 16:09:02 +0000

May 11, 2011

To mark Emergency Preparedness Week, the BC Government announced May 2 that it will invest $700,000 to fund training for local government emergency management staff and emergency social services volunteers throughout the province

The funding will allow more than 2,000 emergency management staff and around 2,400 emergency services volunteers to receive training at regional workshops and online, including training through JIBC.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with the Province in this initiative to enhance the preparation of local communities," said JIBC Interim Director, Emergency Management, Colleen Vaughan. "Recent disasters such as the earthquake and ensuing tsunami in Japan underscore the importance of having personnel trained to prepare for and respond to large scale emergencies that threaten communities or significant infrastructure."

In BC, local authorities, supported by the Province are responsible for planning and responding to emergencies in their communities. JIBC helps these communities build strong and effective teams by providing training in Emergency Management, Emergency Social Services, and Search and Rescue.

JIBC provides Emergency Management training to emergency managers and responders, including municipal, provincial, and federal staff, First Nations and volunteers, in order to enhance community and organizational resilience.

Emergency Social Services (ESS) training is provided to ESS teams of volunteers, who assist BC residents forced to leave their homes because of fire, floods, earthquakes or other emergencies, with short term assistance including food, lodging, clothing, emotional support and family reunification. Training delivered by JIBC provides communities with the know-how to develop, implement and manage effective support to those impacted by an emergency or disaster.

JIBC delivers a complete range of academic programs and applied training to individual students, organizations, communities and government agencies across Canada and internationally. For more information on these programs, and how they help build strong emergency management leaders and teams as well as resilient communities and organizations, visit the Emergency Management Division.

Honorary Degrees to be Presented at May 19 Convocation

lmunro — Thu, 05 May 2011 22:43:14 +0000

May 5, 2011

Former BC Premier Bill Bennett, OBC, and local entrepreneurs and philanthropists Sergio Cocchia and Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia have been named as honorary degree recipients by JIBC President Jack McGee. The Honorary Doctor of Laws Degrees will be conferred at JIBC’s May 19 Convocation, to be held at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby, starting at 10:00 am.

The honorary degrees affirm and recognize their long-standing contributions to the economic growth and development of the province, as well as the significant support to a number of charitable causes.

"Each of these worthy recipients has in their own inimitable way, contributed to the quality of life enjoyed by residents of British Columbia,” said President McGee. Their vision, perseverance and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the community have helped to enhance individual, social, and economic well-being.”

Bill Bennett became Premier of the province in 1975 and continued to serve in that role until August 1986. During his tenure, the decisions were made to invest in bringing the 1986 World Exposition (Expo 86) to Vancouver; to build the Coquihalla Highway, which enhanced transportation between the Lower Mainland and the interior of the province; to launch SkyTrain in the Lower Mainland; and to build the iconic BC Place stadium. He also played a significant role in the establishment of JIBC, as in 1978 he signed an order-in-council that designated the Justice Institute of British Columbia as a provincial post-secondary institution.

Entrepreneurs Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia and husband Sergio Cocchia are a formidable business team that has dedicated significant time and effort supporting numerous charitable causes. Of note, is their visionary quest to build a $34 million dollar Pacific Autism Family Centre, where the families of those diagnosed with autism can access professional assistance, treatment plans and other resources required to prepare themselves for the challenges ahead.

"Bill Bennett, Sergio Cocchia and Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia have demonstrated exemplary leadership in the fields of politics, business and community service, and have been staunch advocates for JIBC,” said Mary Manning, Chair of the JIBC Board of Governors. “It is our privilege to confer honorary degrees on each of these outstanding individuals, whose contributions to British Columbia should serve as an inspiration to all who value the quality of life we enjoy in the province.”

Advanced Education Minister visits JIBC

klambert — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:31:11 +0000

May 3, 2011

JIBC welcomed BC Advanced Education Minister, The Honourable Naomi Yamamoto, to the Institute’s New Westminster campus on April 19.

In her first visit to JIBC since being appointed Advanced Education Minister in March, Minister Yamamoto met with students, faculty, staff and senior leadership during a two-hour tour.

“It was a pleasure to meet and talk with faculty and students,” said Minister Yamamoto. “The Justice Institute’s innovative programs prepare emergency and public safety professionals to respond appropriately under difficult and challenging circumstances, ultimately protecting the health and safety of British Columbians and their families.”

The tour consisted of:

Visiting the Paramedic Simulation Lab, where the Minister met School of Health Sciences staff and Stan, a high fidelity mannequin used in simulation training.
Meeting students and their instructor in a Primary Care Paramedic class.
Observing a conflict resolution class.
Meeting a class of police recruits and their instructor.
Visiting the range where police recruits receive firearms training.
Seeing a demonstration of multimedia simulations and online learning in the Dr. Donald B. Rix Public Safety Simulation Building.
Meeting with JIBC President Jack McGee and other members of the Institute’s Executive, along with Deans of JIBC’s three schools.

“We appreciated the Minister making time to visit JIBC so early in her appointment,” said President McGee. “We’re particularly pleased that she was able to meet students and faculty, answer their questions and hear their points of view.”

Mindsight: A new model for helping offenders in our communities

klambert — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:39:50 +0000

May 2, 2011

After more than 26 years of working with offenders, Teal Maedel, Criminal Investigative Psychologist with the RCMP Behavioural Sciences Group, believes it's all about attachment – the fundamental social and emotional bonds developed in childhood. "The majority of offenders referred for risk assessments or therapy do not have secure attachments," says Maedel. This deficit has an enormous impact on cognitions, emotions and behavioural choice."

Dr. Dan Siegel, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, has studied family interactions with an emphasis on how attachment experiences influence emotions, behaviour, autobiographical memory and narrative. An award-winning educator who is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and recipient of other honorary fellowships, Dr. Siegel explores the nature of mindful awareness as a process that harnesses the social circuitry of the brain as it promotes mental, physical, and relational health.

For Maedel and her colleagues, Dr. Siegel's emerging viewpoint of the mind, brain and human relationships – titled Mindsight – is a useful model for helping offenders to regulate their emotional states, increase flexibility, and develop healthier attachments. His book, Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation, offers readers an in-depth exploration of the power of the mind to integrate the brain and promote well-being.

The JIBC School of Community and Social Justice will host the first presentation by Dr. Siegel in Victoria - Mindsight: The Science of Personal and Relational Transformation - Practical Strategies, Tools and Techniques for the Mindful Therapist - in partnership with the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology and the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Siegel will share his unique insight and understanding of the mind at the Victoria Conference Centre, May 11-12, 2011.

"In the counselling field where negativity and burnout are huge health risks, Mindsight offers a paradigm shift to possibility and revitalization," says Maedel. Not to mention the implications for mitigating the risk posed by offenders to our communities.
Another internationally acclaimed book by Dr. Siegel, The Developing Mind: Toward a Neurobiology of Interpersonal Experience, introduces the idea of interpersonal neurobiology and has been used by a number of organizations, including the US Department of Justice, The Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family, Microsoft and Google, early intervention programs, and a range of clinical and research departments worldwide. Dr. Siegel has been invited to lecture for the King of Thailand, Pope John Paul II, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Compassion in crisis

cwong — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:57:14 +0000

April 20, 2011

By Valder Belgrave

A distraught young man named Chris hangs precariously to the railing on Vancouver’s Granville Street Bridge. Vancouver Police Department Constable Linda Stewart arrives on the bridge and draws from more than three decades of experience as a patrol officer and crisis specialist to talk to the man. She convinces him to climb back over the railing to safety. Stewart succeeds in saving his life.

It’s not a simulation. It’s a real-life incident that award-winning Odd Squad Productions captured on film in 2008, not long before Stewart retired from the VPD after 34 years of service. The footage on the bridge will be a pivotal part of an Odd Squad film called Riding with Madonna - the Linda Stewart Story. The documentary, due for release in June 2011 with support from funders including the JIBC Foundation, will provide an unvarnished look at Stewart’s extraordinary career in policing. Scenes like the one on the bridge will show her unique ability to compassionately connect with people and also exercise the authority required to manage crisis situations.

(Video used with permission from Odd Squad Productions)

While Stewart’s career as a police officer is behind her, she now focuses on an equally fulfilling second career: preparing and inspiring a new generation of police officers as an instructor in the JIBC Police Academy’s Recruit Training and Advanced Police Training programs. “I miss life on the street, but I live vicariously through my students,” says Stewart. “Teaching has made the transition easier for me.”

Don Walden, Program Director, Recruit and Advanced Programs with the Police Academy, notes that it’s rare for police officers to dedicate their entire careers to patrol like Stewart did. So her 30-plus years of patrol experience provide a wealth of knowledge for police recruits. Whether it’s a class on how to de-escalate a crisis or one on communicating with persons with disabilities, Stewart brings the discussion to life with anecdotes from her own career. “Even more amazing is the infectious enthusiasm she brings into the classroom,” says Walden. “She reinforces the recruits’ belief that they’ve made the right career choice.”

Stewart made that choice herself in 1975 when she applied to the BC Police College, which preceded the founding of the JIBC in 1978. She did so at the urging of a friend who also applied and thought Stewart might enjoy the work. Little did Stewart realize that this was the first step in igniting a passion for policing, and working with people in crisis, which led to her role as one of the founding members of the VPD’s crisis negotiating unit.

“We used to be called hostage negotiators, but to be honest I think I may have been involved in just one or two hostage situations during my entire career,” says Stewart. All police calls have their roots in crisis of some sort, but it’s not always as dramatic and dangerous as it’s made out to be.”

She recounts the story of the drug addicted young man who managed to get himself clean, only to spiral downwards to eventual death. Stewart wasn’t able to save them all, but many have been brought back from the edge by her skilled and empathetic intervention.

“Respect and dignity are fundamental,” she says. ‘Success in crisis intervention is all about building a relationship of trust.” It’s an approach that Stewart instils into police recruits. She challenges them to address “behaviours”, not “individuals”, and stresses the importance of consistently practicing their skills.

Stewart was recognized for her excellence in policing when she was named VPD Officer of the Year in 1997. In 2009, she was part of a team that earned a Chief Constable’s Unit Citation for a dramatic rescue on the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge. Stewart was invested by the Governor General into the Order of Merit of the Police Forces later that year.

Stewart, who has taught in Indonesia as part of JIBC international education and training, believes that each of her students has the capacity to excel in their careers. It’s especially gratifying to hear from her former students about how they were able to apply the skills Stewart nurtured in the classroom. One recent graduate with the Transit Police Service successfully applied the lessons learned under her tutelage to stop someone from jumping into the path of a SkyTrain car.

While conventional wisdom suggests that building relationships with victims and perpetrators should be avoided, Stewart has been anything but conventional in this regard. Not only has Stewart developed relationships with individuals she has helped, she has followed their stories and those of their families, both tragic and triumphant. “Empathy is important and I try to encourage the students to see the people they will come into contact with as more than just a case number. They are someone’s parent, grandparent, sibling, son or daughter.”

JIBC Website Survey

lmunro — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:02:03 +0000

April 15, 2011

In December 2010 we surveyed users of our old website, to get their views on what was working well - and what wasn't.

Recently we launched a new website, and once again we're looking for the opinions of our users. Please take a moment to complete a brief survey about our website, and let us know what we've done well, or where there's room for improvement: http://survey.jibc.ca/survey/29651/1726/

The survey will remain open until May 13, 2011. Thank you!

2010 JIBC Awards of Excellence

lmunro — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:30:51 +0000

April 14, 2011

The JIBC Awards of Excellence ceremony, honouring outstanding achievement in 2010, was held on Thursday, April 14, 2011. Honourees included:

President's Award: Deborah Richards, Raed Jweihan
Program of Excellence: Law Enforcement Studies Diploma, Emergency Medical Responder
Service Excellence: Print Shop Team, Patti Milne
Excellence in Applied Research: Dr. James Carter
Instructor of the Year: Gary Green, Roshan Danesh
Distinguished Alumnus: Dr. Kim Rossmo, Doug Smith
Friend & Associate of JIBC: Norma Jean McLaren, Dr. Alec Ritchie, Ken Pruden

In addition, Length of Service Awards were given to 39 JIBC employees who had achieved milestones of employment length, ranging from five to 30 years.

View the video of the ceremony:

Preparing for disaster

lmunro — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:17:22 +0000

April 13, 2011

On March 11, 2011, while the 9.0-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sendai and ensuing tsunami were devastating Japan’s northeast coast, 53 senior leaders and managers representing the BC Cancer Agency, BC Children’s Hospital, BC Mental Health & Addiction Services, Health Shared Services BC and the Provincial Health Services Authority were busy managing the chaos that ensued following an earthquake that struck their own facilities.

Fortunately for these agencies, the damage resulting from that earthquake was limited to the confines of the virtual reality created in the Applied Learning Lab at the JIBC’s Donald B. Rix Public Safety Simulation Building.

The agencies were participating in a simulation exercise called 2011 Shake & Shudder. A few of these senior administrators participated in the 2010 Olympic simulation exercises held at the Rix Building and determined that the Applied Learning Lab, combined with the JIBC’s leadership in exercise design and delivery, would be ideal for staging their first multi-agency disaster simulation exercise.

For these individual agencies, coordinating an integrated response to the earthquake scenario was not without its challenges, particularly in light of recent changes to their organizational and reporting structure. Gaps in information exchange and uncertainty with respect to roles and responsibility were some of the issues identified through the exercise that the group now has an opportunity to address, before a real disaster strikes. “The exercise revealed the importance of exercising with other stakeholders and strengthening those relationships,” says Doreen Myers, Corporate Director, Provincial Health Services Authority.

The fact that the exercise took place on the same day that events were unfolding in Japan enhanced the plausibility of the scenario and underscored the importance of the exercise for participants. “We would bring up the news footage during breaks,” says Darren Blackburn, Exercise Design Coordinator in JIBC’s Emergency Management Division. “It provided a jolt of reality to what are typically theoretical conversations.”

The day also provided important learning for JIBC staff, who are exploring the secondary hazards that result from earthquakes, such as the on-going nuclear crisis, and looking at integrating these into future simulations. “Japan faces a long recovery that will require all agencies to pull together,” says Blackburn. “Our future exercises will draw on that experience and work to bring together various stakeholders.”

Contact JIBC's Emergency Management Division for more information about Exercise Design training and services.

Sports medicine physicians sharpen their skills at JIBC

klambert — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 19:59:48 +0000

April 5, 2011

Imagine the lead pack of 20 cyclists in a frenzied and furious sprint to the finish line of a road race. Suddenly, a tire puncture causes one of cyclists to momentarily lose control and veer into the path of his competitors. A catastrophic crash ensues and several cyclists are seriously injured. Unfortunately, there is also some collateral damage off the track, as one of the bikes manages to evade the safety barrier and strikes several spectators.

On April 9 and 10, 2011, 22 sports medicine professionals from across Canada will be at JIBC’s New Westminster campus to participate in a specially-designed, two-day course in responding to unexpected emergency situations that can occur at busy competition venues. Built around a cycling crash scenario, the physicians will be immersed in the aftermath of the crash, when they will be joined by actors playing injured spectators and cyclists in a mass-casualty simulation. The course will include an Emergency Cricthyrotomy workshop.

JIBC has developed a strong reputation for its simulation-based training, which is reflected in this course, developed in partnership with the Canadian Academy of Sports & Exercise Medicine (CASEM). The course was specifically tailored to the needs of experienced sport medicine professionals in Canada and was fully booked soon after it was advertised. JIBC has previously hosted this Advanced Course in Sport Medicine, most recently in 2009 to prepare physicians for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. The course provides an intense and realistic learning course to sharpen the skills required of sport medicine physicians in the field through interactive group formats, hands on practical sessions, workshops with small practical subgroups and a culminating large-scale simulation.

Pacific Traffic Education Centre on the move

lmunro — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 22:56:39 +0000

April 1, 2011

JIBC’s new Traffic Safety Centre at the Pitt Meadows Regional Airport provides convenient access to students and clients in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Centrally located in the District of Pitt Meadows, the centre provides paved airport runway-quality asphalt for students participating in JIBC Pacific Traffic Education Centre (PTEC) driver training programs.

With a view of the Golden Ears Mountains to the north and bordered by the Fraser River to the south, the new driver training facility - combined with experienced instructors on the track and in the classroom - will help PTEC achieve its objective of producing better drivers and reducing accidents.

A “Close Look” at JIBC’s Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course

lmunro — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 22:50:56 +0000

March 31, 2011

Students enrolled in the JIBC School of Health Sciences Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) course at the Vancouver campus shared their insights and career aspirations with Shaw Cable’s Close Look program. The show is a “community based inspirational show that captures the local talented younger generation of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.”

EMR student and segment host Kevin Atwal interviewed some of his classmates about their experiences with the course.

JIBC online learning capacity at work

lmunro — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:38:28 +0000

March 14, 2011

On February 17, Alberta Solicitor General and Public Security – through its Victims Services Branch – launched online training for victim services advocates, in partnership with the JIBC. The online certificate program is the first of its kind in Canada.

The primary goal of the Alberta Victim Advocate Core Training Certificate is to provide victim services advocates with the knowledge and skills needed to support victims of crime and to familiarize them with the resources available to clients.

Alberta Victims Services turned to JIBC, given its expertise in the subject matter, as well as considerable experience with online program development and delivery. “We appreciate the partnership with Alberta Victims Services in developing this unique training tool. It’s an approach that could potentially benefit victim services advocates across the country,” said Pam White, Dean, JIBC School of Community & Social Justice.

The School’s Centre for Counselling and Community Safety developed two versions of the online program for frontline advocates, coordinators and staff, as well as a shorter refresher version for those who had previously been certified.

A pilot version of the three courses, involving 250 participants, was undertaken between October and December 2010. Four hundred students were registered at the recent launch of this innovative program, and interest has been expressed in adopting this new delivery model in other jurisdictions.

Tanya Helton, Supervisor, Training and Information in Victims Services at the Government of Alberta, said: “I would like to thank the JIBC for its expertise in online justice and public safety training, which has proved to be a great fit for Alberta’s victim services e-learning curriculum.

“With the JIBC’s help, we have been able to develop a cutting-edge program, which is a first for victims services in Canada.

“The JIBC provides exceptional technical assistance for our online learners, making this innovative training program accessible for volunteers and staff across the province, including those in rural and remote communities.”

Alberta Victims Services e-Learning web page

For more information about custom training solutions available from the JIBC School of Community and Social Justice, see:

Responding to crisis

lmunro — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:45:19 +0000

March 14, 2011

Update: March 16, 2011

As a result of the nuclear threat at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power plant, the decision was made to evacuate from Japan the Canadian Medical Assistance Team (CMAT), which was not sufficiently equipped to assist in the event of a nuclear emergency. CMAT will continue staging in Vancouver for re-deployment as quickly as possible and is also placing medical and rescue personnel with CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) training on standby.

Kevin Sanford, paramedic and Program Director, Contract Programs with the JIBC School of Health Sciences, was deployed to Japan on Sunday as a member of the Canadian Medical Assistance Team.

The ten-person team is travelling to earthquake and tsunami ravaged Sendai in the Miyagi prefecture, taking with them medical supplies, water purification systems and trauma gear. The advance team, comprised of five Canadians and two Americans, arrived safely in Tokyo and will be joined later by the remaining team members flying out of Portland, Oregon.

The CMAT rapid deployment assessment team – working with the International Medical Assistance Team (IMAT) – is part of the first wave of humanitarian aid workers heading to Northern Japan from North America. Now that they have arrived in Tokyo, their first challenge will be to get ground transportation, or an air lift, up to the devastated areas in the northeast. Preliminary estimates are that as many as 10,000 persons may have died and thousands more are in need of assistance - food, water, shelter and medical support.

Once there, the team will conduct a needs assessment, in cooperation with local authorities and other international aid agencies, and plan for the subsequent arrival of equipment, medical supplies and volunteer personnel.

Back on the ground in BC, JIBC Primary Care Paramedic Program Coordinator Kathy Harms is arranging transportation in Japan for the team. Once she has secured transportation for the assessment team, she will coordinate air transport for subsequent volunteers.

This isn’t the first time that JIBC staff has volunteered time and resources to international humanitarian relief efforts. Most recently, both Sanford and Harms were deployed to Haiti to provide medical assistance to victims of the 2010 earthquake.

Global BC story on CMAT's Japan deployment:

Remarkable journey

cwong — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:07:54 +0000

March 7, 2011

Update: David Chung has recently accepted a position as a career fire fighter with the Township of Esquimalt Fire Department.

By Laura Dyck

When David Chung heard about One World Scholarships, the graduate of JIBC’s Career Fire Fighter Pre-Employment program knew this was a rare opportunity he couldn’t pass up. The scholarships enable four recent graduates from the program to deploy with Firefighters Without Borders Canada to El Salvador to learn how fire and safety services are delivered in developing countries and to assist in training of local fire fighters. For Chung, it meant the chance to travel and gain more experience in the career he has chosen.

So he applied and was eventually chosen – along with Caleb Fraser, Darrell Verstraete and Mark Williams – to receive the scholarship, funded by the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society in partnership with the Victoria Foundation, with matching funding from the JIBC Foundation. The three-week trip turned out to be a remarkable journey for the four young scholarship recipients.

After arriving in the port town of La Libertad, El Salvador in early January, they plunged into a rigorous schedule of Spanish lessons, fitness instruction, and visits to all 17 fire stations in El Salvador. At the stations, they trained and attended calls with members of the Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador (CBES) – the National Fire Service of El Salvador.

On one particularly eventful day, they rode the fire truck to calls at an orphanage, a house fire and a body recovery. For the 26-year-old Chung, who lives in Sooke, this was an eye-opening experience. “There was a definitely a lot going on, but this is the reality of the job. No matter where you are, fire fighters do the job that no one else can or wants to do.” At the end of the day, the One World Scholarship recipients showed their appreciation to the Bomberos by making Oreo blizzards for them.

Chung also saw first-hand the lack of modern equipment that the Bomberos need to work with. “It was clear that they do not have the same resources as in Canada, but their ability to be resourceful is unmatched,” says Chung.

One of their main assignments was completing a detailed needs assessment survey of the CBES. Brian Hutchinson, President of Firefighters Without Borders Canada, led the deployment and supervised their work on the needs assessment. “Thanks and congratulations to our group of JIBC/One World Scholarship recipients for their efforts, both in the area of instruction and with the significant number of hours they put into completing a thorough needs assessment survey of the CBES,” says Hutchinson. “The assessment is a professionally produced document that is the most extensive review of the CBES, its equipment, personnel and operations I have ever seen.”

Alongside the deployment team – which included members of the Vancouver, Surrey and Coquitlam fire departments – the One World Scholarship recipients also took part in a large, live fire training exercise in the capitol city of San Salvador. After participating in the exercise, Chung reflected on how far he’s come in the fire service. “Less than a year before I had no fire fighting experience and that day I was co-leading and setting massive fires for a live fire training scenario attended by fire fighters from all over Central America. As well, throughout the week I was instructing fire skills that were new to me not so long ago. All this was possible because of selecting JIBC and the ongoing opportunities that have resulted.”

After returning to BC, Chung and the other scholarship recipients gave a presentation on the trip at the JIBC New Westminster campus. Dr. Irving Barber attended the presentation and congratulated the One World recipients for their contributions in El Salvador and the JIBC as a whole for the Institute’s work in justice and public safety.

Chung emphasized in the presentation that one of the highlights of the El Salvador deployment for the One World Scholarship recipients was making close connections with the Bomberos. “At fire halls we went to, we kept hearing the phrase ‘Mi casa, su casa’, which means ‘My house is your house.’ There is definitely a sense of family in the fire service, and being shown this hospitality in El Salvador further confirmed that I have chosen the right career.”

This is the second year in a row that JIBC has offered One World Scholarships to recent graduates of the Career Fire Fighter Pre-Employment Program. For more information about the scholarships and the program:

See the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society website.
Read the description of the Fire Protection in the Global Community course that One World Scholarship recipients complete.
Contact the JIBC Financial Aid & Awards Office.
See the Career Fire Fighter Pre-Employment Certificate page.

Tweeted by @JIBCnews

Enhancing law enforcement capacity

cwong — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:20:09 +0000

March 3, 2011

The JIBC Justice & Public Safety Division announces the launch of two new graduate certificate programs: Intelligence Analysis and Tactical Criminal Analysis, through a unique partnership with Mercyhurst College. The one-year programs are being offered in response to feedback from clients in the law enforcement community, who view improved crime and intelligence analysis as tools to enhance both their efficiency and effectiveness.

“We identified a need for this kind of curriculum – which is virtually nonexistent in post-secondary academic institutions in Canada – and we turned to Mercyhurst, recognizing its world-renowned reputation as leaders in the field of intelligence analysis,” said Mike Trump, Director of JIBC’s Justice & Public Safety Division.

In the past, the Mercyhurst College Institute for Intelligence Studies (MCIIS) has created training courses for use off-site, but this marks the first time MCIIS has leased the same courses it teaches in its Mercyhurst classrooms to another academic enterprise, according to Robert J. Heibel, MCIIS Executive Director.

In addition to the quality curriculum provided by Mercyhurst, students enrolled in these graduate certificate programs will enjoy state-of-the-art learning resources, excellent liaison with potential employers in government and the private sector, and exposure to an experienced and accomplished faculty. Graduates will also be eligible to apply for Mercyhurst’s two-year master’s degree program in applied intelligence, under an accelerated arrangement.

“We are in the process of adapting the Mercyhurst course materials with Canadian content, including our laws and protocols, but all the practical application and theory behind the Mercyhurst curriculum will remain the same,” Trump said.

Registration for the first cohort of students will open on March 14, in anticipation of a September course start date. Students enrolled in both the Intelligence Analysis and Tactical Criminal Analysis programs will complete three foundational courses that will provide a grounding in the theory and practice of analysis and a range of specialist courses that give analysts and their employers more tools to add to their toolboxes.

Read the Mercyhurst College news release on the partnership with JIBC

About the Justice & Public Safety Division

The JIBC Justice & Public Safety Division provides academic programs at the certificate, diploma, and graduate levels, targeted at current and aspiring justice and public safety professionals. It also delivers training for individuals involved in the private security profession; continuing professional education for mid-career professionals in law enforcement and regulatory fields; and a range of accredited academic and customized training programs for international clients.

Tuition tax receipts (T2202A) available

klambert — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:10:32 +0000

February 22, 2011

Students who paid JIBC more than $100 in combined tuition and activity fees during the 2010 calendar year are eligible for a T2202A tax receipt.

T2202A tax receipts for 2010, in PDF format, are now available from myJIBC.

To view and download your Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)-approved T2202A, follow the steps below:

Log in to myJIBC, as you would to register or check your grades, using your student number.
Click on “T2202 Tax Receipt”.

The CRA provides a useful guide for students about their tax return. Most questions about the T2202A can be answered by reviewing the publication: P105 - Students and Income Tax

If you have any questions, please visit the Registration office at the New Westminster campus, call 604.528.5590 or toll free at 1.877.528.5591, or email register@jibc.ca.

Class in session

cwong — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:47:06 +0000

February 11, 2011

By Valder Belgrave

It’s the classroom that’s engulfed in flames every time it’s used, but never burns down. It’s a litmus test for aspiring fire fighters that defines whether they have the aptitude and courage required to embark upon a career in the fire service. It’s the Burn Building at JIBC’s Maple Ridge campus, which students become very familiar with during in the JIBC Career Firefighter Pre-employment Certificate program.

The certificate program is a difficult 12 weeks of preparation for students interested in pursuing careers at municipal fire departments. “They are all convinced that they want to be firefighters but a few discover, once they’re here, that it’s not for them,” says Dean Cleave, JIBC Program Coordinator and Captain with the Surrey Fire Service.

Firefighters need to be prepared to respond to anything. Simulation training at the Burn Building helps aspiring fire fighters become members of a special breed – those with the ability to perform complex tasks and handle critical decision-making under life-threatening conditions. Only after these JIBC students master fundamental skills and knowledge in areas such as rescue operations, first aid, emergency vehicle operation, and building construction techniques, and develop a fitness level that allows them to tote those heavy hoses up dizzying heights, are they ready to put their knowledge to the ultimate test in the Burn Building.

On any given day at the Burn Building, great smoke plumes rise and spread upward from the windows of this imposing, three-storey structure. The concrete building has a few architectural touches, including an shortened two-storey fire escape. On the inside, thick, dripping black ash coats everything and the only light comes from the 400 degree Celsius flames that make the rooms feel like oversized ovens.

Fire kills more people every year than any other force of nature and while this fire is controlled, that doesn't make it any less real for the students. Their natural instinct might be to turn tail and flee the suffocating heat, but armed with their protective gear, self-contained breathing apparatus, fire hose and uncommon courage, the students stand firm. Under the directions of their instructors, the students eventually bring the blaze under control and the building is saved yet again, to burn another day.

Exhilarated, but exhausted, the students emerge from the building and gather together. They remove their yellow helmets and protective equipment to reveal broad smiles of satisfaction at their accomplishment. Some students will have already confronted a previously unknown fear of heights; others, a fear of confined spaces. While some may have been challenged by the physical demands and discipline required to successfully complete the program. Spontaneous shouts and back slapping erupt as these students share in the joy of having successfully battled and defeated the Burn Building - conquering both the flames and their fear.

Global learning

cwong — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 05:39:46 +0000

February 11, 2011

By Valder Belgrave

In Hong Kong, one of the world’s most densely populated cities, residents can depend on the Hong Kong Ambulance Command to provide both immediate treatment and transfer to a hospital. The region’s ambulance services didn’t always provide this range of care. When the JIBC School of Health Sciences’ Paramedic Academy established its first international partnership with the Hong Kong Fire Services’ Ambulance Command, the focus of the ambulance service was providing patient transportation to the nearest hospital for emergency care.

Today, the Ambulance Command is recognized in Southeast Asia as leaders in the full spectrum of emergency medical services. In collaboration with JIBC, Hong Kong Ambulance Command’s 2,550 paramedics (referred to locally as ambulance officers and ambulancemen) are trained in a range of protocols that reflect the most common calls. Its fleet of ambulances and emergency medical assistant motorcycles is fully equipped with automated defibrillators and selected drugs for conditions such as diabetes, shock, heart attack, shortness of breath, seizures and drug overdoses.

While the Ambulance Command now does the majority of their own in-house training, their instructors and many of their staff are still trained and accredited through their partnership with JIBC. To date, more than 1,000 ambulance officers have received training in basic and advanced resuscitation techniques using SOHS Paramedic Academy emergency medical curriculum.

Tony Liu and Phillip Tam are the two most recent Hong Kong paramedics and instructors who have upgraded their knowledge and practical skills at the JIBC New Westminster campus. They are the new face and future of the Hong Kong Ambulance Command.

Asked about the lessons learned during his time at JIBC, without hesitation Liu says: “Treat the patient, not what you see on the monitor.” It’s part of the critical learning that has prepared them for the important transfer of knowledge to paramedic students back in Hong Kong.

Reflecting on how the time spent at JIBC improved their understanding and practice of paramedicine, Tam notes that the experience provided benefits at two levels: the hands-on learning and new knowledge has enhanced his performance as a paramedic and expanded his horizons as an instructor. “This experience has provided practical examples of what we can do to improve our performance, both in the field and in the classroom.”

The Paramedic Academy’s history of partnership and collaboration with emergency medical services systems and organizations, like Hong Kong Ambulance Command and more recently the Singapore Armed Forces, has resulted in substantial improvement in the scope and quality of emergency medical services provided in these jurisdictions. Services provided to these clients include needs analysis, curriculum development, faculty development and program evaluation.

In 2004, the Hong Kong Ambulance Command received 574,901 calls. The Ambulance Command committed in 2005 to upgrading the quality of ambulance service to the public and improving the survival rate of critical patients. By 2009, the department received 659,289 calls – a daily average of 1,806. Thanks in part to the relationship with the JIBC and transfer of knowledge and expertise that has occurred over the years, the Ambulance Command is better prepared to manage the growing volume of calls and treat more complex cases.

Tam and Liu, who have a combined 18 years of experience, celebrated the completion of their studies at JIBC as a new beginning. Filled with new knowledge and great enthusiasm, they’re looking ahead to opportunities to apply their learning and shape the future of the Ambulance Command. Liu says about his experience at the JIBC School of Health Sciences: "I’d like to be able to sit down with my seven-year old and perhaps one day, my grandchildren, and share with them the experience that few others have enjoyed."

The JIBC School of Health Sciences offers a variety of opportunities for lifelong learning - locally, nationally and internationally. To meet the unique needs of our clients, we work in partnership to assess, design, develop and deliver innovative and effective educational solutions. For information on how we can assist you with your training needs, see the International Education page and email SOHS.

New directions

cwong — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 06:14:42 +0000

February 11, 2011

JIBC has completed a new Strategic Plan that will guide our work as a post-secondary institution. Strategic Plan 2010 – 2015: New Directions builds on the strengths of our past and charts new directions for JIBC.

The Strategic Plan affirms our vision, as a world leader in justice and public safety education and research, and our mission: innovative education for those who make communities safe. To achieve our vision and mission, the new Strategic Plan calls for JIBC to expand our reach with a focus on two over-arching goals: educational excellence and student success.

These goals are complemented by a number of cross-institutional initiatives that will drive planning and priority-setting throughout the organization:

Degree program expansion that includes science-based programs, graduate certificates and master’s level education
Enhanced learning support services
Wider delivery of programs through technology enhanced and distributed learning
International education
Applied research

JIBC will monitor our progress on the Strategic Plan by measuring key performance indicators:

Student satisfaction
Student achievement
Employee engagement
Fiscal sustainability

Read Strategic Plan as an interactive electronic document

Read Strategic Plan as a PDF

New JIBC website

cwong — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 05:45:10 +0000

February 11, 2011

Welcome to the new JIBC website.

JIBC completely redesigned the website to better serve current and prospective students, clients and donors, and others who visit our site.

Features of the new site include:

Intuitive navigation: organized around six main sections: Programs & Courses, Registration, Student Services, Research, About JIBC and Support JIBC.
JIBC schools: comprehensive and consistently presented program and course information for the three JIBC Schools of Public Safety & Security, Community & Social Justice, and Health Sciences.
Program & Course Search and online registration: basic and advanced program and course search, with a seamless online registration process (available with selected courses).
Success Stories: in-depth feature articles about JIBC people and initiatives, illustrated with strong photography in Success Stories.
myJIBC: one-stop access for students to their student profile and online courses in myJIBC.
News & Events: up-to-the-minute information on JIBC news and events.
Social Media: Twitter and Facebook feeds, Flickr photos and other social media integrated throughout the site.
Library: comprehensive information about the JIBC Library.
Today & Tomorrow: at-a-glance information on class times and rooms.

We want your feedback. Please let us know what you think of the new JIBC website by using the feedback form.

JIBC thanks all staff who contributed to the web redesign project, students who participated in usability testing, and the creative agencies we partnered with: Domain7 (Drupal web development) and Signals (design).

For more information about the redesign, read the JIBC Website Redesign blog.

Safe landing

cwong — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 07:15:44 +0000

February 11, 2011

By Sandy Beauchesne

"Nowhere else is the communication process more important than in the cockpit of an aircraft,” says Teara Fraser, a commercial pilot and President of her own company, Kisik Aerial Survey. “Breakdowns in communication and conflict resolution can lead to little misunderstandings, or worse, a major disaster.”

Fraser recognizes that being able to resolve conflict effectively not only improves aviation safety but is also a tool that will help advance her career in aviation. That’s why in 2009 she began studies in JIBC’s Centre For Conflict Resolution.

At the time, Fraser was the First Officer on a 50-seat Dash 8. “The First Officer must be able to act as both an assertive individual and respect the chain of command,” says Fraser. “Assertive behavior in the cockpit doesn’t challenge authority; it clarifies position or interest and understanding or intent, and as a result enhances safety operation of a flight. Taking the conflict resolution program helped me recognize the importance of communication and conflict resolution skills in promoting aviation safety.”

In 2010 she graduated with a Certificate in Conflict Resolution: Specialization in Negotiation and also started her own business: Kisik Aerial Survey Inc., which provides aerial photography acquisition services to governmental, environmental, engineering, utilities, mapping and geospatial users. Kisik is a Cree word for sky.

The knowledge and skills she learned about conflict resolution in the JIBC program, which she completed through part-time studies, help Fraser in her job every day. “I have applied these skills to truly listen, and be heard, when making the decisions that result in the safest outcomes when flying in a two-crew environment. I communicate better, I am able to see things from the ‘other guys’ perspective, and my overall awareness of self and others has grown considerably.”

Born in Hay River, Northwest Territories, Fraser grew up in Quesnel and is a member of the Metis and Cree First Nations. Now living in Vancouver, the mother of two says conflict resolution skills are also invaluable at home. “The skills I developed though this program have not only made me a better pilot but have had real value in many other aspects of my professional and personal life,” says Fraser. “This program has taught me how to build trust in all my relationships and how to honor everyone’s voice, values, and needs, including my own.”

Since 1986, the JIBC Centre For Conflict Resolution has provided education for thousands of students and organizations completing individual courses and certificate programs.

The Certificate in Conflict Resolution: Specialization in Negotiation was developed to meet the needs of diverse learners in many professions. The ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts effectively has become a modern day survival skill needed in both professional and personal settings. The certificate is a 36 day, 18 credit program that can be completed in a timeline that suits each learner’s schedule and budget. Courses range from two to five days in length and are offered in 14 communities across BC, in Calgary and Edmonton, and soon will be offered in Toronto.

Safer communities

cwong — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 01:34:16 +0000

February 11, 2011

By Krista Lambert

As a probation officer in Abbotsford for seven years, Gary Thandi gained experience working with South Asian males who had been placed on a court order for family violence. Working closely with these men made Thandi realize that many of the services provided to this population lacked awareness of cultural differences. “I began thinking, Is this the best way to help this population? Should we be doing things differently?” recalls Thandi.

In 2009, while working as a counsellor at DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, Thandi heard about a new JIBC Centre for the Prevention and Reduction of Violence (CPRV) project called “A Process of Discovery”. The exploratory project in JIBC’s Office of Applied Research is looking at the development of effective prevention and intervention strategies for male perpetrators of intimate partner violence. Given that the project involves research with frontline practitioners in Lower Mainland South Asian communities, Thandi immediately wanted to be involved.

Now a sessional researcher in the JIBC Office of Applied Research, Thandi explains his role in the project: “I interviewed 17 frontline workers in the Lower Mainland to find out about their experiences working with South Asian men. We did the math on it and they have, combined, about 200 years of direct experience working with assaultive South Asian men. In these interviews, we were able to find out what they perceive as most effective in working with these men. It really is all about pulling out their experiential knowledge.”

The interviews gave the CPRV team a foundation for determining more effective prevention and intervention strategies for male perpetrators of intimate partner violence in South Asian communities. The interviews also confirmed the importance of cultural awareness, says Thandi, who has a Master’s in Social Work from Dalhousie University. “Intervening into situations where there is domestic partner violence in South Asian homes should be done in a culturally respective way. We will take our knowledge of South Asian culture and the experiences we are gathering from the frontline workers in order to inform policy and change the way we work with these men.”

One change Thandi would like to see is earlier intervention. “It takes too long for them to get help. These men often go home before treatment or intervention has begun and this makes it more difficult to rehabilitate their behaviour. The earlier we intervene, the more effective we will be in modifying behaviour.”

While the research is still underway, Thandi is already seeing opportunities to translate the research into curriculum at JIBC – in areas such as the Centre for Counselling & Community Safety and Corrections & Community Justice Division – and in community organizations. “This research will allow non-profit organizations and community agencies to look at gaps in their service, and hopefully do something to address these gaps.”

With funding from the R. Howard Webster Foundation and support from the former BC Institute against Family Violence, the Centre for the Prevention & Reduction of Violence builds on the experience of frontline practitioners and translates that applied research into curriculum, programming, policy and theory. Through Thandi’s work, in January 2011 JIBC was awarded a $7,500 grant from the Federal Department of Justice to conduct a community-based workshop on intimate partner violence.

The Office of Applied Research works closely with JIBC schools on many research projects that inform the Institute’s education programs and guide community organizations.

Study hall

cwong — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 07:30:49 +0000

February 11, 2011

By Valder Belgrave

Retired Vancouver Police Department Sergeant Steve Miller knows his way around guns better than most police officers. During the course of his 30-year career with the VPD, he spent seven with the Emergency Response Team and three as the Range Sergeant before retiring. However, it wasn't long before he put retirement on hold and assumed the role of Instructor, Firearms training with the JIBC Police Academy in 2006.

Firearms training is an integral component of the municipal police recruit training program at JIBC. During their first 13-week block, recruits in the program complete two days of classroom instruction and six days of "live fire" training in the JIBC's 25-metre indoor shooting range. "Ideally I’d like to have them for a few days more, but it's enough to ensure the recruits are proficient," says Miller.

Most recruits have never held, let alone used a firearm before starting training at the JIBC New Westminster campus. "Most students are a bit apprehensive the first time they make their way down the staircase to the range," says Miller. His genial, light-hearted approach to the recruits is disarming and intended to make them less apprehensive, but the earnest expressions etched on their faces point to the seriousness of the subject at hand.

After the customary introductions, range tour and instructions on the importance of wearing protective gear for eyes and ears, each recruit is issued a firearm – a SIG SAUER for VPD officers and a Glock for those with other departments – and 60 rounds of live ammunition. Once the briefing and ordinance issue are completed, the recruits exit the red-bricked briefing room and enter the range.

It's the sound of the whirring extractor fans and the vacuum they create that the recruits notice first. Then they see the core of the range. A stark concrete wall divides the range into two six–position shooting lanes. The wall is scarred by errant bullets that failed to reach their intended targets; the steel bullet trap at the foot of range is pockmarked by those that made the distance.

For a generation of young police officers weaned on video games featuring graphics and user interfaces that create hyper-realistic experiences, the simple technology that moves the paper targets in place must appear almost prehistoric. But none of their gaming experience will have prepared them for the intensity of squeezing a trigger, feeling the kickback and being bombarded by a wall of sound and acrid smoke that envelopes the room and overwhelms the senses.

After Miller issues a series of instructions, the recruits begin firing. Miller and his fellow instructors closely observe the recruits, intervening occasionally to issue a correction or encouraging words. After the first six rounds of fire from five metres, the recruits retrieve their targets to assess their performance, while throwing furtive glances to their left and right to compare themselves with their peers. Miller and his fellow instructors review the nuances of shooting grip and stance, sight alignment and trigger control, while stressing the importance of being able to relax, as the more their charges tighten up their shoulders and neck, the more difficult it becomes to shoot well. However, with adrenaline coursing through their veins, relaxation is probably not high on the list of students' immediate priorities.

"This is a defining moment for many of these officers," says Miller. "It marks the transition from ordinary citizen to armed citizen, and with it comes the duty to protect the public and themselves."

The level of difficulty goes up by increasing the shooting distance, introducing distractions such as flashing sirens, and adding the challenge of shooting in low-light conditions. Once the recruits have mastered marksmanship in the range, they will then further hone their skills in tactical exercises at the outdoor range, as well as during a number of scenario-based training simulations at the New Westminster campus. During these simulations, students are armed with "simunition" - best-described as "paintball for police officers".

"Carrying a weapon is a serious responsibility," says Frank Ciaccia, acting director of the Police Academy and a New Westminster Police Department Inspector. "Steve and his team do a fantastic job of preparing the recruits to face one of the unfortunate realities of our profession: at some point in their careers they will have to draw their weapon. Hopefully, not many of them will be required to fire."

A handgun is just one of many tools available to a police officer, to be used after considering and exhausting all alternatives. That detail is reinforced and rehearsed during many hours of simulation training at JIBC. However, if and when any of these students is called upon to use their firearm, it will be with the confidence, discipline and decisiveness instilled by Steve Miller and his team.

Innovative education

cwong — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 07:00:26 +0000

February 10, 2011

By Chris Wong

In 1854 Dr. John Snow discovered the cause of a major cholera outbreak in London’s Soho district by using a simple tool: a map. Despite the then prevailing belief that cholera was an airborne disease, Snow plotted cholera cases on a map and showed that they were clustered around a public water pump. By showing the pattern of the disease, he convinced authorities to shut down the contaminated pump.

"That’s the first documented case of using mapping for a health emergency," says Annika Wilczewski, who teaches JIBC's Introduction to Geographic Information Systems for Emergency Management course. Snow’s groundbreaking work was an early example of the powerful impact of visually depicting data. More than a century and a half later, that impact is being felt more than ever in emergency management through geographic information systems (GIS).

Wilczewski defines GIS as an umbrella term encompassing the hardware, software, methodology and people involved in storing, manipulating, analyzing and presenting data linked to geographic locations. A Canadian, Dr. Roger Tomlinson, is credited as being the father of GIS for developing the Canadian Geographic Information System as the world’s first computerized GIS in the 1960s.

In 2010 Wilczewski started teaching the course as an elective in JIBC’s Emergency Management Certificate program. It’s Canada’s first course on GIS for emergency managers and other public safety professionals, who are increasingly using GIS to prepare for and respond to a range of emergencies.

The course, which Wilczewski developed, begins by defining and demystifying GIS. "At the very beginning I try to remove the barrier around GIS by making students aware that they’re already using a form of it by going on Google Maps or finding something on the Internet like their bus route," says Wilczewski. "It has traditionally been a difficult field to access unless you were trained in GIS. It’s not like that anymore. This course builds on what is already familiar to people and demonstrates the value of geographic information for critical decision-making."

Then the course covers how GIS can be used for each component in emergency management, with a focus on case studies of GIS use in emergencies such as floods, earthquakes, fires, epidemics and terrorism. "So by the end of the course students should know how GIS can be used for hazard, risk and vulnerability analysis, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery in a wide variety of scenarios," she says.

"What we’re trying to do is increase the awareness and conversation about GIS so that emergency managers can talk to their GIS people in the same language," says Wilczewski. "The crossover to emergency management hasn’t been there in the past. So it’s opening up that linkage. Often in emergency management situations the emergency managers might not know what visual data is available or how quickly they can access it. So it’s really trying to improve that communication."

The participants also get hands-on experience with GIS software in a computer lab at JIBC’s New Westminster campus. They see first-hand how manipulating and analyzing layers of geographic data in a GIS system can reveal insights. "You can see patterns and trends that you wouldn’t be able to identify just on your own with one layer of data."

The course also touches on how location-based social media can provide emergency managers with valuable information. "With everybody using mobile phones, the idea of people as sensors, providing crowdsourced location information is a huge growth area in public safety."

Before joining JIBC, Wilczewski worked for the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Simon Fraser University – positions that both involved GIS. She also obtained a Masters of Science, focusing on spatial analytical techniques in law enforcement, from UNIGIS/Manchester Metropolitan University.

GIS is clearly a passion for Wilczewski, which she transfers to her students. "It’s empowering because you can have emergency managers with very small budgets who are not being listened to about the hazards in their communities. A map is going to display and present those hazards. Since taking the course, some of them have taken steps to actually access GIS, which is great."

Geographic Information Systems for Emergency Management course description
Emergency Management Certificate Program
Specialized emergency management training

Convocation celebration

cwong — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 06:02:25 +0000

February 3, 2011

JIBC graduates along with honorary degree recipients Dr. Jim Chu and Dr. Marvin Storrow, Q.C., shared the stage February 1 at the JIBC Winter 2011 Convocation.

In his remarks, JIBC President Jack McGee urged the graduates to “ensure that the environment in which we live, play and work remains safe and secure.”

Dr. Chu, Vancouver Police Department Chief Constable and a graduate of the JIBC Police Academy in 1979, is the first JIBC alumnus to be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the Institute. He reminisced about his experiences as a police recruit, particularly the commitment of faculty to provide “the grounding needed to be a police officer.” Dr. Storrow, a legal luminary and long-serving member of the JIBC Foundation Board, was similarly recognized and said that, “without the JIBC, our BC communities would not be as safe as they are.”

In addition to conferring the honorary degrees, JIBC Board of Governors Chair Mary Manning also conferred certificates and diplomas for more than 650 graduates, including the first cohort of Law Enforcement Studies Diploma (LESD) students. Speaking on behalf of the graduating LESD class, Simon White advised that his he and his fellow graduates should, “seek constant improvement, through reflection and education.”

The School of Community & Social Justice awarded a number of Certificates in Aboriginal Leadership, Conflict Resolution, By-law Enforcement, Critical Incident Stress Management, Family Mediation, Instructor Development, Substance Use, Management & Leadership. The School of Health Sciences conferred Primary Care Paramedic certificates and Advance care Paramedic Diplomas. The School of Public Safety & Security conferred Certificates in Family Justice Counselling, Emergency Management and Emergency Management Exercise Design and Police Studies; and Law Enforcement Studies Diplomas.

Receiving a special BC Ambulance Service “Stork Award” was Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) graduate Jaime White. While attending calls with a senior paramedic crew in order to gain the required practical experience to complete the PCP program, Jaime helped deliver a healthy baby.

Watch complete video from the Winter 2011 Convocation

View photos on Flickr

Contact

Valder Belgrave
Communications & Marketing Manager
604.528.5874
communications@jibc.ca

Honouring success

cwong — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:51:33 +0000

February 3, 2011

The completion of any educational endeavour is a demonstration of perseverance, courage and dedication. This year the JIBC Aboriginal Leadership Certificate had its highest retention rate - 95 per cent - with 19 people completing the certificate.

The successful completion of the Aboriginal Leadership Certificate program was marked by a culturally relevant Honouring Ceremony at the JIBC New Westminster campus hosted by the JIBC’s Centre for Aboriginal Programs and Services. Supported by family, friends, members of the JIBC Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee (AEAC) and JIBC staff, several graduates representing nations from around the province attended the ceremony.

Following a traditional welcome to the territory by Chief Ian Campbell (Squamish) and Amanda Nahanee (Squamish/Nisgaa), the students spoke one at a time about the impact the leadership program has had on their professional and personal lives. Family, friends, faculty, AEAC members and elders then honoured the students and gave witness to their achievements.

One of the younger women present said: “I am now inspired by what my cousin has done and want to also go to school.” Elder Larry Grant (Musqueam) said: “As leaders you need to know who you are and where you come from, so when someone says, ‘Hey who are you?’ you have a good answer.” Elder Kathy Lewis, long time member of the JIBC AEAC, said: “I remember years ago when this program was an idea, and I am so moved to see all of these leaders who have completed it. This is what we were hoping for and was part of the vision.”

These powerful testimonies acknowledged the individual achievement but, perhaps more importantly, the tremendous leadership capacity being developed to the benefit of all Aboriginal and First Nations peoples across the province.

In closing, an honour song was performed by Chief Campbell and Amanda Nahanee to celebrate the students’ success and their transition to new or enhanced leadership roles in their respective communities. Chief Campbell said: “We have always met as leaders and supported the leadership in ceremony. We are doing today what we have always done to acknowledge leaders.”

Within hours these graduates donned their gowns and four colour stoles representing the Medicine Wheel and joined the other JIBC graduates at the formal Convocation held at the Michael J Fox Theatre. As they strode across stage, buoyed by their success, their proud families and friends looked on with hope for the impact that the leadership training will have on current leaders and future generations.

JIBC & Philips Healthcare Canada partner in Education

bart — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 07:08:09 +0000

December 6, 2010

Students in JIBC School of Health Sciences programs will have access to state-of-the-art heart monitors and defibrillators, thanks to a significant donation made by Philips Healthcare Canada at the JIBC Foundation Gala on December 1, 2010. The $372,710 donation by Philips is the largest ever corporate gift to the JIBC Foundation. This year’s Gala raised over $500,000 in funds that will be applied to student bursaries and scholarships and supporting the financial needs of the Institute.

Philips representative Ellen Smith characterized the gift as a “win” from three perspectives. A win for the JIBC and its students, as training in emergency cardiology pre-hospital care will now be significantly enhanced. A win for Philips, as the partnership provides a showcase for its products and builds its profile in the community. Perhaps most importantly, a win for the community, as residents will benefit from the enhanced level of care provided by JIBC graduates that will enjoy access to this equipment.

“The gift from Philips is a significant vote of confidence in the quality of programs offered by the JIBC School of Health Sciences,” said the school’s Dean, Eddy Workhoven. Providing students with access to these heart monitors and defibrillators will help strengthen their clinical knowledge and experience and produce graduates that are well-prepared to respond to the critical incidents that they will face during their careers.

JIBC‘s partnership with Philips is an important milestone in the Institute’s plan to build strategic alliances that will help to deliver on its mission to provide “innovative education for those who make communities safe.”

About Philips Healthcare

With a growing presence in cardiology, oncology, and women’s health, we focus on the fundamental health problems with which people are confronted, such as congestive heart failure, lung and breast cancers and coronary artery disease. Our focus is to deliver value throughout the complete cycle of care: from disease prevention to screening and diagnosis through to treatment, monitoring and health management. Philips is dedicated to making an impact wherever care happens, within the hospital - critical care, emergency care and surgery – and, as importantly, in the home.

Contact

Valder Belgrave
JIBC Communications & Marketing Manager
604.528.5874
communications@jibc.ca

Citytv's Breakfast Television On Site at JIBC

lmunro — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:52:56 +0000

November 15, 2010

Citytv's Breakfast Television host Greg Harper spent a morning observing municipal police recruits in training at the JIBC Police Academy.

Greg broadcast live from the JIBC New Westminster campus as he was taken through inspections of recruits, fitness testing, use of force training, and simulations of typical on-the-job policing situations.

Watch the Breakfast Television video

JIBC Foundation establishes new Memorial Fund to pay tribute to paramedics Jo-Ann Fuller and Ivan Polivka

lmunro — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:04:51 +0000

October 26, 2010

JIBC alumni and BC Ambulance Service paramedics Jo-Ann Fuller and Ivan Polivka were tragically killed when their ambulance plunged into Kennedy Lake, near Tofino, on October 19, 2010. The JIBC Foundation has established an Emergency Medical Services Memorial Fund in memory of deceased paramedics. Tributes in memory of Jo-Ann Fuller and Ivan Polivka may be made to the JIBC Emergency Medical Services Memorial Fund.

The JIBC Foundation has contributed $10,000 towards establishing a permanent endowment and Mr. John and Mrs. Lane D’Eathe have graciously contributed $5,000 as well to support students of paramedicine.

Both Jo-Ann Fuller and Ivan Polivka graduated from the JIBC Paramedic Academy and provided a combined 37 years of service to residents of the province, as employees of the BC Ambulance Service.

“We are immensely proud of the contributions graduates like Jo-ann and Ivan make to the safety and quality of life enjoyed by residents of BC,” said JIBC President, Jack McGee. “We hope that through the establishment of this fund we will continue to attract students and produce graduates who will maintain the legacy of service to residents and communities demonstrated by Jo-Ann and Ivan.”

If you would like to pay tribute to Jo-Ann Fuller and/or Ivan Polivka please contribute to the EMS Memorial Fund by calling 604.528.5750, or through the donation options outlined on the Give to JIBC page, or by making a cheque payable to the “JIBC Foundation” and mailing it to JIBC Foundation, 715 McBride Boulevard, New Westminster, BC, V3L 5T4.

JIBC and EmerGeo Cooperate to Deliver Emergency Management Education and Technology Solutions to Organizations World-Wide

lmunro — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:10:45 +0000

September 16, 2010

Agreement highlights growing integration of technology into emergency management best practices

JIBC and EmerGeo Solutions (EmerGeo) have signed a memorandum of understanding to offer a complete package of emergency management education, training and technology services to communities, government agencies and organizations across Canada and internationally.

“From GIS mapping and social media to information management systems, technology is becoming a key part of every organization’s emergency management program — and integral to helping keep employees and communities safe,” comments Murray Day, Director of the JIBC Emergency Management Division. “At the JIBC, we are continually integrating technology into our applied training and academic programs, and are now pleased to offer a complete training and technology package to our government and private sector clients.”

The JIBC, through its Emergency Management Division (EMD), offers comprehensive emergency management academic programs and applied training to students and clients across Canada and internationally. Through this agreement, the JIBC will now be able to recommend world-class technology solutions in addition to emergency management training.

EmerGeo provides emergency management technology and services to clients world-wide. Their solutions include crisis information management systems, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping solutions and portable Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) options.

“Technology and training go hand in hand,” explains EmerGeo CEO Michael Morrow. “Now, we can offer our clients world-class technology solutions to better gather information, analyze results and manage their programs, along with the necessary training on theory, application and procedures from Canada’s leading emergency management educator.”

About the JIBC Emergency Management Division

As part of the School of Public Safety and Security, the Emergency Management Division has been educating emergency managers and first responders in Canada and internationally for more than 20 years. In addition to academic and professional programs, including an Emergency Management Certificate, an Exercise Design Certificate and a Bachelor of Emergency and

Security Management Studies, EMD offers applied on-site training in Incident Command System, Emergency Operations Centre, Exercise Design, Search and Rescue and Emergency Social Services. For more information, see the Emergency Management Division section, call 604.528.5800 or send an email.

About EmerGeo Solutions

EmerGeo develops emergency management software solutions and provides consulting services and support to government and industry around the world. By leveraging open web standards, EmerGeo’s software brings together, logs and tracks data from dispatch, crisis management, mapping, camera and other third-party systems, providing a common operating picture. EmerGeo’s technology and people have been at the forefront of some of the world’s largest disasters and are proven effective in helping government and industry to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to and recover from potential or actual incidents, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or pre-planned events. For more information, visit http://www.emergeo.com/.

Contact

Valder Belgrave
JIBC Communications & Marketing Manager
604.528.5874
communications@jibc.ca

Michael Morrow
President & CEO, EmerGeo
604.681.0989 x 804

JIBC Launches Canada’s First Bachelor of Emergency and Security Management Studies Degree

lmunro — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:25:31 +0000

July 29, 2010

New online degree to meet the demand for leadership positions in the growing fields of emergency management and security

JIBC announces the launch of Canada’s first bachelor’s degree to integrate emergency management and security studies, with a solid foundation in business fundamentals and leadership. The new Bachelor of Emergency and Security Management Studies (BESMS), offered completely online, will be accessible to current and aspiring emergency management and security professionals anywhere across Canada, or internationally.

“In Canada, the number of emergencies affecting communities has significantly increased over the last decade. At the same time, Canada has raised its profile on the world stage by hosting high security events such as the 2010 Winter Olympics and the G8 and G20 summits,” comments Murray Day, Director of the JIBC Emergency Management Division. “As a result, there is a real demand for professionals with qualifications in both emergency management and security. We are pleased to meet this demand through Canada’s first degree that will prepare leaders to enter both of these exciting and growing fields.”

In addition to providing students with fundamental skills in both emergency management and security, the new BESMS will offer a solid foundation in business administration and leadership.

“Employers don’t just need qualified emergency management and security professionals, but qualified leaders who bring to the table core business administration and management skills,” comments Colleen Vaughan, Program Director for the BESMS. “We’re excited that the JIBC Bachelor of Emergency and Security Management Studies will be the first of its kind to prepare Canada’s next leaders in emergency management and security.”

The degree is offered completely online and students will have the opportunity to collaborate and share best practices. Designed in a laddered format, students have the opportunity to graduate with a diploma after the first two years of study. A full cohort of students will begin the first intake in September 2010 and applications are being accepted for the next intake in September 2011. See the admission requirements.

Graduates can expect to apply for emergency management and security positions with local, regional, provincial and federal emergency programs as well as health organizations, educational institutions, crown corporations, transportation authorities, utilities, natural resource companies, private security agencies, property management firms, and other private businesses.

The JIBC Emergency Management Division (EMD), part of the School of Public Safety and Security, has been training emergency management and public safety professionals across Canada and internationally for more than 20 years. EMD launched Canada’s first Emergency Management Certificate in 2003, followed by an Emergency Management Exercise Design Certificate in 2009.

Contact

Program Contact

Sarah Wareing
Emergency Management Division
604.528.5794
swareing@jibc.ca

Media Contact

Valder Belgrave
Communications & Marketing Manager
604.528.5874
communications@jibc.ca

One World Scholarship: Fire Protection in the Global Community

lmunro — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:01:41 +0000

April 14, 2010

The JIBC Fire & Safety Division recently awarded the newly developed One World Scholarship offered through the Ike Barber Society. Our hope is to continue to award this scholarship on an annual basis to students who have completed the JIBC, Fire & Safety Division’s Career Fire Fighter Pre-employment Certificate Program within the previous 12 months. Scholarship recipients are chosen based on academic merit, leadership ability and community involvement.

As part of the Scholarship, recipients are enrolled in the Fire Protection in the Global Community course at the JIBC. This course is delivered in partnership with the BC Chapter of Fire Fighters without Borders Canada. The Fire Protection in the Global Community course broadens students’ understanding of the cultural aspects of serving communities through fire protection services. Upon completion of this course students have learned how fire and emergency services are delivered in a developing country, how to assist with organizing the delivery of a fire fighter training exercise in a developing country, the benefits of cross-cultural communications, strategies for applying cross-cultural communications within a multicultural community and how to communicate in rudimentary Spanish.

Recipients are required to complete online course work, travel to Central or South America with Fire Fighters without Borders, learn basic Spanish, train with local fire service personnel in Central America and complete post-deployment course work. The scholarship funding helps defray the cost of delivering this service-learning course and the cost of travelling to Central or South America.

Applied Learning and Cultural Awareness at the JIBC

lmunro — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:13:23 +0000

March 14, 2010

“To spiritually survive as a Police Officer in today's urban environment there has to be a strong spiritual base. Police Officers, like warriors of the past, have to be strong to protect the people; strong not only physically, but spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. The sweat lodge does awaken the spiritual in people and this is important.” - Gary Green, LESD105 Instructor.

On Thursday, March 11, 2010 sixteen students from the Law Enforcement Studies Diploma program, along with Instructor Gary Green, attended a sweat lodge ceremony at the Songhees First Nations facilitated by Greg Sam and Chubby. This unique learning experience exposed JIBC students to this culturally rich First Nations traditional ceremony. Here is how some learners describe their experience:

"The sweat lodge is a ceremonial sauna and is a ritual part of the First Nations people. The sweat lodge is heated from hot rocks and then from what I observed sprinkled with water. There are four rounds in which we give thanks and honour to mother earth, women, men and yourself."
"I found the fourth stage the hardest out of all because it consisted of 20 rocks and this round I prayed for myself. I said “I will achieve my goal of becoming a Police Officer in the future where I protect and serve the community and others that need my assistance."

The JIBC values applied learning. Here’s what the participants had to say about the impact of this field trip & experience:

"The trip to the sweat lodge was definitely beneficial as it gave me a hands on experience where I got to actually see the culture and not just read about it in a book."
"This was one of the most interesting experiences that I have ever had. I learned a lot about the native culture and spirituality."
"The Sweat Lodge was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life and will be considered the best field trip at the JIBC. From the day we went to our field trip my life dramatically changed just by going to the Sweat Lodge because it gave me more acceptance towards the Natives and made me learn more about their great culture."
"The biggest thing I learned after the Lodge experience is that, there are no differences between human beings; no matter if you are Chinese, Indian, and German or Aboriginal, we are all the same."

In addition to the important applied educational aspect, these JIBC learners will be more culturally aware when they enter their professions.

"It’s a great experience because it is important to understand diversity and it is important for our Police Officers to interact with other cultures to get a better understanding of it so we do not have to stereotype."
"Some people are reluctant to experience cultures not their own. Before taking this course, Law Enforcement in a Diverse Society, I was one of them."

Mike Trump, Manager, Advanced Police Training and the Law Enforcement Studies Diploma at the JIBC was strategic in selecting his faculty and developing curriculum to address historic tensions between police and Aboriginal communities.

Trump states, “One of the benefits for students in the LESD program is that, not only do the instructors have the necessary academic background to teach at the post secondary level, but also have extensive experience in their subject matter area. Gary Green was a sergeant with the Victoria City Police for 30 years and served as the department's Aboriginal Liaison officer. Through those connections with the Aboriginal community, he knew that not only would the students need theoretical education surrounding issues of diversity, but they would need to experience the culture first hand to have a lasting impact. This is the second group to travel to Victoria to speak with a Native Elder and participate in a Sweat Lodge ceremony and the feedback from the students has been overwhelmingly positive.”

The JIBC’s Centre for Aboriginal Programs and Services would like to acknowledge Mike Trump for offering this progressive course, Gary Green for seeing the pedagogical benefits involved in the sweat lodge, the students for their reflections and especially Greg Sam for guiding these students on this unique educational opportunity that will, ideally, result in safer communities when these learners go into law enforcement.

Getting Technical at the 2010 Winter Olympics

lmunro — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:52:33 +0000

February 25, 2010

Before starting her volunteer role, JIBC’s Rosamaria Fong was excited, but not particularly overawed by the challenges that she would face as a Media Centre Technician at the Richmond Olympic Oval (ROO).

Her 10 years of technology, troubleshooting and support experience at the JIBC in addition to the volunteer positions she has held at various sporting and World Championship events made her confident that she was adequately prepared her to deal with any eventuality. However, all of her technical experience didn’t prepare her for the emotional drama that has unfolded.

"Being a part of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games has been the most humbling experience ever," says Rosamaria. "It's a chance of a lifetime to be amongst the best of the best athletes from all over the world."

Rosamaria has been at the ROO every day since the opening of the Games. While the hours can be long, there have been perks, including the opportunity to sit in the VIP box as a seat-warmer to watch some of the events.

Her most memorable moment was watching Canada’s Christine Nesbitt win gold in the womens' 1,000 metre at the finish line. While she was the favourite to win, her gold medal win was by the slimmest of margins - 0.02 second. For Rosamaria, Nesbitt’s victory epitomizes the athletes’ drive, desire and focus on performance, in spite of all pressure placed on them.

Throughout the Games, Rosamaria witnessed the same passion amongst athletes, across all disciplines." Their dedication and their discipline to achieve the best that they can be, has truly been inspirational. This experience will definitely stay with me for the rest of my life."

Adding Mileage to the 2010 Winter Olympics

lmunro — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:56:14 +0000

February 22, 2010

Al Lund has been around the track a few times, but he’s been adding more mileage than usual since the opening of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. Al, director of the JIBC’s Pacific Traffic Education Centre (PTEC) has been responsible for the road safety training of thousands of justice and public safety professionals and taxi drivers since he returned to the JIBC in October 1988. As a volunteer Team Leader of VANOC’s Transportation Division, he will be leaning on his years of driving and teaching experience to ensure that the cadre of drivers reporting to him know their routes and safely transport members of the "Olympic family" to their destinations. cavy judging. While the stage is not on the same scale of the Olympics, the passion is still there."

The logistics involved in coordinating the Transportation Division are complex. From a location just under the Burrard Street Bridge, a fleet of 4,600 vehicles is available to be dispatched 24/7. Al is one of 12 Team Leaders on the day shift, all highly experienced drivers themselves, each with 20 drivers reporting them.

"It’s by far the most complicated and demanding volunteer role that I’ve ever signed up for," says Al. "Even if you think you know the City well, you need to become familiar with all of the designated routes and the vehicle refueling logistics are a nightmare." And yes, in spite of their best efforts, accidents will happen. It is estimated that 10% of the fleet will be damaged during the course of the Games, though hopefully, not under Al’s watch.

Al’s volunteer day starts with a 5:30 a.m. bus departure from Ladner Exchange, a transfer to the Canada Line and then a walk from Olympic Station to the vehicle dispatch facility below the Burrard Bridge. While he’s enjoyed the opportunity to meet International Olympic Committee delegates and their guests and sneak peeks at some of the venues, the highlight thus far has been the opportunity to participate in the final opening ceremony dress rehearsal. "It was just incredible," says Al. "The transformation of the venue and performance were so well executed that I couldn’t believe that I was sitting at BC Place stadium."

So, after the athletes and officials have departed, the vehicles sold and the Olympic flags lowered, what will be next on Al’s agenda? "While the Games have been a great experience," says Al, "I’m looking forward to resuming my international cavy judging. While the stage is not on the same scale of the Olympics, the passion is still there."

Sharing Information at the 2010 Winter Olympics

lmunro — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:49:50 +0000

February 18, 2010

As Vancouver opens its doors and welcomes the world for the 2010 winter Olympics, several JIBC staffers will be contributing their time and expertise to help ensure the event’s success. Celia Quigley, Coordinator, Emergency Management Certificate Programs, will be playing the role of Information Booth Host at Canada Hockey Place.

While Celia’s 12 years of supporting students and developing curriculum across several divisions may not appear to be a good fit with her volunteer role, she has no such reservations. "Multitasking, dealing with public enquiries, and using a computer database - these are skills I have honed at the JIBC and will serve me well in my Olympic role," she explained.

However, Celia brings additional skill to her role. "Mostly my special talent is languages. They needed French speaking volunteers to work as Information Booth Hosts. French is the official language of the Olympics. Most people at the JIBC don't know that I was born and raised in Quebec and that I never set foot in an English school until I went to college. Also, having lived in Vancouver for years without a car, I am very familiar with public transportation, so it will be easy for me to give people directions in the downtown core."

Celia has previously volunteered at numerous local sporting events, primarily adventure races, as race marshal. However, the volunteer experience that will help the most in her Olympic role is the nine years with Vancouver Police Department Victims Services. "As a Victims Services Volunteer I served as a resource for callers seeking information on a very broad range of topics," says Celia. "I expect that the enquiries I will get at the Information Booth will be just as diverse."

Celia is excited about going to the dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony and is looking forward to seeing some of the victory ceremonies. She also hopes to be cheering for Team Canada while working the Gold medal game for women's hockey; and teams other than Canada’s during the men’s Bronze medal game. Perhaps more than this, she is looking forward to meeting people from all over the world and sharing with them this amazing place Vancouver, BC, Canada, that is her home.

"I'm just thrilled to be a part of the Olympic experience. I think the energy and excitement will be intoxicating."

For all of her enthusiasm, there is the lingering concern that other francophones from around the world won't understand her Quebecois accent. But, super volunteer that she is, she’s been practicing her "CBC French" and she’s ready to greet the world.

JIBC staff to provide medical care in Haiti

lmunro — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:50:47 +0000

January 26, 2010

The recent earthquake in Haiti has created an overwhelming demand for medical assistance. JIBC School of Health Science staff members and licensed paramedics Kathy Harms (Primary Care Paramedic Coordinator) and Kevin Sanford (Program Director, Contract Programs) will travel to Haiti to provide aid as members of the Canadian Medical Assistance Team.

The CMAT is a Non-Governmental Organization that provides medical relief to the victims of disaster and conflict. Kathy’s involvement with the CMAT dates back to 2005, when she traveled to the Kashmir region of Northern Pakistan after a devastating earthquake that hit the area in October that year. She worked as a member of a medical team that assisted with staffing the DART hospital, and also traveled into remote villages providing primary medical care to the rural residents of the area.

In 2007 she was the Team Leader on a deployment to the Gopalganj region of Bangladesh after the area was inundated with unusually heavy flooding. Travelling by boat to remote villages, she again provided primary medical care to the local residents.

“The devastation experienced by the earthquake victims in Haiti is as incomprehensible as that witnessed during my earlier deployments to Pakistan and Bangladesh’” says Kathy. “I am honoured to have been invited to lead the team and make a meaningful contribution to the Haitian community in this time of need.”

Given her experience and demonstrated capability, she was recently approached to lead a team set to deploy to the Leogane region of Haiti, where CMAT has established a field hospital. Not only did she agree, but she also managed to convince her colleague Kevin to join her team and assume responsibility for team logistics - camp conditions, patient transport and acquisition of supplies. Needless to say, the final days prior to their deployment on January 29th have been a whirlwind of activity.

The CMAT hospital has been seeing between 200-300 patients per day, and performing 10-12 surgeries, so in addition to Kathy & Kevin, the team will comprise:

1 Orthopedic surgeon (also from Vancouver)
1 Anesthetist
1 Emergency Physician
2 Nurse Practitioners
2 Registered Nurses
2 Medics

CMAT has been working very closely with Canadian Forces (CF) personnel in Haiti, and in fact, later this week the CF Field hospital will be deployed to share the team’s cozy little soccer field in Leogane. Given the JIBC’s role in training CF medics at its Chilliwack campus, there is some comfort in having them as neighbors!

“As staff members at the JIBC School of Health Sciences, our primary responsibility is to prepare students to respond in times of crisis during their careers; though hopefully, not on as large a scale as seen in Haiti,” says Kevin. “This trip will provide an invaluable learning experience and make us better prepared to meet the learning needs of future students.”

You can follow team updates on the CMAT website. If you would like to make a donation to support Kathy or Kevin’s efforts, please put either (or both) their names in the note when you make an online donation. This ensures that the donation goes specifically to fund their team

The team has also created a Facebook page, “Canadian Medical Assistance Teams”, which you can visit to see updates and photos.

BC Safety Council's Motorcycle Training Program rides on at the JIBC

lmunro — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 19:33:31 +0000

January 20, 2010

JIBC acquired the rights to the British Columbia Safety Council’s Motorcycle Training Program in December 2009 and will officially re-launch the program at the Vancouver Motorcycle Show, starting January 21, in Abbotsford. The BC Safety Council started training riders in 1971 and its program is widely recognized as an industry leader and a critical component of efforts to promote motorcycle riding safety and skills.

The addition of the this program to the well-established driver training programs, offered through the JIBC’s Pacific Traffic Education Centre (PTEC), will leverage the commitment, knowledge and expertise applied to enhancing driving skills and reducing collisions on our roadways.

“The JIBC is committed to providing education and training that contributes to the safety of our communities,” said JIBC President Jack McGee. “We see the addition of the motorcycle program as a tremendous opportunity to deliver on our mandate.”

The Motorcycle Training Program will maintain its focus on monitoring the latest trends and best practices in motorcycle training. JIBC instructors, many of whom were instructors with the BC Safety Council, are extensively trained in rider instruction techniques and have Class 6 Instructor’s Licenses issued by the BC Provincial Government.

“We are extremely proud of the program developed at the BC Safety Council and the impact it has had on enhancing the safety of riders,” said former Executive Director, Bryan Lowes. “We are thrilled that the JIBC will be maintaining this legacy.”

PTEC will be offering two programs – an introductory Motorcycle Skills Course (MST 100) and the more advanced Motorcycle Traffic Skills course (MST 150). Training will be held at the JIBC New Westminster Campus and its driver training facility in Surrey.

The Pacific Traffic Education Centre is responsible for all driver education programs at JIBC. PTEC’s goal is to produce better drivers and reduce collisions on our highways and roads. PTEC plays a leading role in traffic related training and education by using advanced technology, matched by a fresh approach and philosophy aimed at tangibly transforming driver behavior.

Contact

Program Contact

Joan Glover
Pacific Traffic Education Centre
604.528.5784
motorcycle@jibc.ca

Media Contact

Valder Belgrave
Communications & Marketing Manager
604.528.5874
communications@jibc.ca

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