We received 149 awesome entries to the 2013 Photo Contest, and more than 840 students had the chance to vote for their favourite at Co-op and Career Info Day on September 10, 2013. 

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos, and congratulations to our winners!

FIRST PLACE: Lindsay Dealy (Biology)

Co-op job title and location: Naturalist with Prince of Whales Whale Watching in Victoria, BC (Summer 2013)

Photo caption: My porpoise in life is to always have a whale of a time...dolphinitely!

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SECOND PLACE: Travis Muir (Geography)

Co-op job title and location: Ecological Integrity Technician with Parks Canada at Prince Albert National Park (Summer 2013)

Photo caption: We worked actively to restore natural fescue grasslands for bison habitat by monitoring and removing invasive species. We were also involved in tracking radio collared wolves! On one of these excursions I came across a hefty moose shed!

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THIRD PLACE: Victoria Maclellan (Economics)

Co-op job title and location: Marketing Intern with Monkeywrench Records in Seattle (Summer 2013)

We received 11 awesome entries to the 2013 Video Contest, and more than 850 votes determined the winners by online survey.

Thanks to everyone who submitted videos, and congratulations to our winners! To view the winning videos and all the other amazing entries, check out our Youtube channel.

• FIRST PLACE: Chelsea Falconer (English) – "Work term at the University of Victoria"
• SECOND PLACE: Ryan Heron (Biology) - "Work term at Science Venture"
• THIRD PLACE: James Leff (Recreation and Health Education" - "Work term at the MS Society of Canada"

We received 162 awesome entries to the 2012 Photo Contest, and more than 750 students had the chance to vote for their favourite at Co-op and Career Info Day on September 11, 2012. 

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos, and congratulations to our winners!

FIRST PLACE: Leslie Ketchell (earth and ocean sciences)

Co-op job title and location: Field Assistant at First Point Minerals in Dease Lake region, BC (Summer 2012)

Photo caption: Les Ketchell is navigating for a magnetometer survey on First Point Minerals' Wale property near the BC–Yukon border in mid-June, 2012.

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SECOND PLACE: Crystal Petrie (history)

Co-op job title and location: Museum Interpreter at Danish Canadian National Museum and Gardens in Dickson, BC (Fall 2011)

Photo caption: I am fighting another Viking, who happens to be in more authentic clothing. I am about to make the first strike in the match. I was told that Vikings do not smile for photos, but I think I may have broken that rule!

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THIRD PLACE: Maaike Van Kooten (Physics)

Co-op job title and location: Public Outreach and Astronomy Interpreter at National Research Council of Canada – Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, BC (Summer 2012)

Photo caption: This is me "on fire" with Victoria in the background. It was taken after work on Observatory Hill using a long exposure time and glow sticks.

We received nine awesome entries to the 2012 Video Contest, and more than 300 votes determined the winners by online survey.

Thanks to everyone who submitted videos, and congratulations to our winners!

FIRST PLACE: Ryan Heron (biology) – "Mountain Pine Beetle Epidemic"

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SECOND PLACE: Kira Kirk (chemistry) – "The Deep River Science Academy"

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THIRD PLACE: James Billingsley (law) – "UNDP Internship East Timor"

We received more than 160 fantastic entries to the 2011 contest, and more than 750 students had the chance to vote for their favourite at Co-op and Career Info Day in September. The race was close, but the winners were:

FIRST PLACE: Karolinka Zuzalek (writing)

Job title: Public Outreach Assistant at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria, BC (summer 2011)

What's happening in the photo: Just like photography, astronomy relies on understanding the behaviour of light. We took a 45-second exposure and shined a bright light on us for each pose. This is called light painting photography. The end result shows us in 5 different positions!

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SECOND PLACE: Leah Hull (geography)

Job title: Ecological Integrity Monitoring Technician for Parks Canada (Kootenay, Lake Louise and Yoho field unit) (summer 2011)

What's happening in the photo: Here I am displaying how great it is to be living and working in the Rocky Mountains.  This picture is taken on the Iceline trail in Yoho National Park.  This is one on the areas that I conduct breeding bird acoustic recordings.

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THIRD PLACE: Olivia McMillan (biology)

Job title: Summer Assistant at Ocean Spray of Canada Ltd. in Richmond, BC (summer 2011)

What's happening in the photo: At Ocean Spray, I did a wide range of things including monitoring pest populations and life cycles and photographing and identifying common cranberry weeds for our weed guide to help cranberry growers identify the weeds and best treatment options in their crop. We also performed a number of experiments and part of my job was to set up take samples and compile results from these. Another big part of my job was going to visit growers and walk their farms with them and my supervisor in order to assess questions and problems they have with respect to fertilizer, pests, and weeds. In this picture, cranberries are beginning to colour with the onset of maturity along with the sunny days and cool nights. In these berries, the anthocyanins (red pigment) are just beginning to develop.

We received more than 115 fantastic entries to the 2010 contest, and more than 900 students had the chance to vote for their favourite at Co-op and Career Info Day in September. The race was close, but the winners were:

FIRST PLACE: Caleb Behn (law)

Job title: Human rights researcher at the Yukon Department of Justice in Whitehorse, Yukon (summer 2010)

What's happening in the photo: "This photo is of myself and Mr. Trevor Cunningham (Esq.), another UVic Law co-op student, rafting a class III/IV Yukon River in appropriate law attire. We're doing a double backflip over a large wave while on a trip with clients. We feel this is UVic Law Co-op at its best."

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SECOND PLACE: Ryan Ferguson (earth and ocean sciences)

Job title: Volunteer/research assistant at the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

What's happening in the photo: "While the volcano is inflating, magma is pushed to the surface. It currently flows out the TEC vent east of Kilauea and downhill. Scientists routinely use GPS to map the front of the flows and take samples. Here, we were walking across the front of the flows and using GPS to predict the flow direction as it poured down the hill towards the ocean."

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THIRD PLACE: Julie Bremner (biology)

Job title: WWF Explore volunteer at WWF in Southwest Spiny Forest, Madagascar

What's happening in the photo: "These kids had too much energy after a community presentation, so I decided to play an impromptu game of follow the leader. There's no better place than on a windswept beach along the shores of the Indian Ocean. Instructions were a little difficult given the language barrier, but these guys caught on quickly."

Thanks to those who submitted entries to the 2010 Co-op Video Contest! We received 9 entries and more than 400 students, employers and staff voted on their favourite. 

Congratulations to Ryan Ferguson, winner of the 2010 Co-op Video Contest! Ryan submitted a video about his work term with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Kim Bilesky and Matt Thompson's video about their work term with AdrenaLine Zipline Tours and Patrick Duke's video about his time with the International Christian Institute in Uganda tied for second place. Videos are featured on the Co-op and Career YouTube channel.



We received more than 300 photo entries to the 2009 contest. Check out the winners below!

GRAND PRIZE—TIED:  Harpaul Padda (biology)

Co-op employer: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Job title: Research assistant
Location of the work term: Summerland, BC
Photo description: My crew and I collected zucchinis from the buffer rows of our experiment in our field plot. We dumped all of the collected zucchinis in the back of the truck... I ended up with the zucchinis, too. 

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GRAND PRIZE—TIED: Victoria Francis (social sciences)

Co-op employer: Adrena Line Zipline Adventure Tours
Job title: Zipline Adventure Guide
Location of the work term: Sooke, BC
Photo description: "In this photo, I'm demonstrating a move called the "spaghetti man" to guests on the launching deck as I zip over the old Victoria water pipeline."

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SECOND PLACE: Sara Horne (biochemistry/microbiology)

Co-op employer: University of Victoria
Job title: Lab technician for Dr. Caren Helbing
Location of the work term: Victoria, BC
Photo description: "I'm appreciating the contribution of the frog, as an important sentinel species, in the investigation into endocrine disrupting chemicals and their effects on biological systems."

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THIRD PLACE: Ashleigh Schafer (business)

Co-op employer: Dubai Festival Centre Retail Management
Job title: Events and marketing events assistant
Location of the work term: Dubai, UAE
Photo description: "My initial project within my work term was to assist in the promotion of the "Paris Hilton" store within Festival Centre with the presence of Paris Hilton herself on the property. This photo was taken during the filming of "Paris Hilton's New BFF: Dubai" within her "Paris Hilton" store in Festival Centre. I became a liaison between the parties representing Paris Hilton and the Festival Centre property."

Here are the winners of the 2008 Co-op Photo Contest. Thanks to everyone who submitted photos!

GRAND PLACE: Ashley Gross (physics and astronomy)

Co-op employer: United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Location of the work term: Big Island of Hawaii, US
Job title: Volunteer member of the Deformation Team

Job description: Performing InSAR satellite imaging processing and assisting with field work on both Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes, in particular with Campaign and Kinematic GPS setups.

Location: Halema`uma`u Crater with vent, Kilauea Summit.

Photo description: "This is a constantly erupting sulfur dioxide plume, which appeared following an explosion in early April 2008. The vent emits 600–1000 tonnes of SO2 per day."

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SECOND PLACE: Fred Bankole Olayele (social sciences, MA in economics)

Hometown: Ondo, Nigeria
Co-op employer: BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

Job title: Research Analyst

Job description: Researching, synthesizing and presenting information for strategic, business and operational planning purposes.

Photo description: "This photo shows me delivering a PowerPoint presentation to the staff of the Marketing, Aboriginal and Community Relations Division of the Ministry on the topic "Economic Impact Analysis of the Oil & Gas Sector in BC". In attendance were the Assistant Deputy Minister for the whole Division, Executive Director of the Marketing and Community Relations Branch, Senior Manager in the Marketing Section, Managers of Community Relations Section and SouthWest Initiatives, respectively, and other important dignitaries in the Ministry."

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THIRD PLACE: Menglin Yang (biochemistry/microbiology)

Co-op employer: Dr. Cornelia Bohne, Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria

Job title: Laboratory Assistant

Job description: Tested for chemo-selectivity for photo-reactions of anthracene and its derivative's in the presence of bile salt using high pressure liquid chromatography, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and Xenon lamp. 

Photo description: "Tender loving appreciation is being shown for the nitrogen tank that is used to rid samples of oxygen so that only reactions that are wanted occur."

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HONOURABLE MENTION: Andrew Bishop (HFPW—English and Hispanic studies)

Co-op employer: Black Press

Location of work term: Golden, Barriere, and Clearwater, BC
Location photos were taken: Golden, BC
Job title: Reporter and Relief Editor 

Job description: I was responsible for reporting and photographing news and human interest stories for a weekly newspaper, the Golden Star, in Golden, BC from May to July. I spent August in Clearwater and Barriere, BC, acting as an interim editor for two other weekly newspapers, the Clearwater Times and the Barriere Star-Journal.

Photo description: "While reporting on Communities in Bloom, a garden tour in which officials come to communities around the province to judge them on their beautification initiatives, I found this neat little mirror ball at the edge of one woman's incredibly well-kept garden. A nice little self-reflective moment."