Welcome to our 2020 UVic grads!

John Nsabimana, BCYC ’11, MPA ’14, was born in Kigali, Rwanda and, after fleeing genocide in 1994, spent 11 years in a refugee camp in Uganda, caring for his younger brothers. He earned several awards and bursaries while at UVic. Today, he works as a policy analyst while serving as a UNICEF Canada ambassador. He has a special message for #UVicgrad.

Eden Oliver (BMus ‘08), Jeff Poynter (BMus ’11) and Alex Rempel (BMus ’12) are UVic music alumni who perform as the Cascadian folk band “West My Friend.” The trio urges our new grads to celebrate success and pursue their passions.

UVic Vikes basketball great and two-time Olympian Gerald Kazanowski (BA ’83) has some experience in not giving up. The financial advisor and Economics major shares a special message for #UVicgrad, celebrating our new alumni’s dedication, discipline and hard work.

Andrea Minter (BA ’04) earned her degree in Recreation and Health Education while competing for a UVic Vikes Cross Country team that won a national championship. Today, the busy owner of Victoria’s Russell Books advises UVic grads: “Whatever you do, do it with your heart.”

Jude Isabella (MA ‘13), editor-in-chief of Hakai Magazine, and composer/musician Tobin Stokes (BMus ‘89) are proud UVic alumni. The creative couple share a message for #UVicgrad 2020. “You’re resilient, and that will serve you well for the rest of your lives,” says Isabella.

Edōsdi–Judy Thompson, MSc ’05, PhD ’12, is a member of the Tahltan Nation, a UVic alumna, a 3M National Teaching Fellow, and an associate professor of Indigenous education at UVic. She shares a special #UVicgrad message of congratulations in both English and Tahltan.

Jenīk – Tanya Louie is a 2019 UVic graduate with a diploma in Indigenous Language Revitalization. She uses Tsūtsū, a puppet Tahltan grandmother, to engage children and families in the language nest–Dzimēs Chō T’oh (Swainson Thrush’s Nest)–in Łuwechō (Iskut, BC). They share a message of congratulations—and some grandmotherly advice—for our newest alumni.