Milestones
From generous donations by forestry giant Irving K. Barber to the establishment of its own online television station, UBC's Okanagan campus has had many milestones since its inception in 2004.
2011
June
Brad Bennett, former Chair of UBC's Board of Governors, receives honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UBC.
June
Max Jones makes history at UBC as the first student to complete an entire PhD at UBC's Okanagan campus.
May
UBC's Okanagan campus is welcomed as the 52nd member of Canadian Interuniversity Sports.
February
Heat capture provincial gold in men's and women's volleyball.
2010
January 22
UBC's Okanagan Aboriginal Centre officially opens. The 256-sq.m. (2,756 sq. ft.) centre, made possible by $600,000 in funding from B.C.'s Ministry of Advanced Education, was designed as a special space that reflects the cultural characteristics of the Aboriginal students who use it.
February 5
UBC Students' Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) gives $3 million for student centre at UBC's Okanagan campus.
March
UBC Okanagan Heat women's volleyball team wins second consecutive BC provincial and Canadian collegiate (CCAA) championship.
May 6
UBC Okanagan Heat officially accepted as a probationary member of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association.
June 9
UBC's Okanagan campus doubles its land area with the $8.78-million purchase of 103.6 hectares (256 acres) of North Glenmore farmland from the City of Kelowna.
September
UBC's Okanagan campus celebrates its 5th birthday with a special Community Day event and Distinguished Speaker Series presentation by Richard Florida.
September 7
UBC's Okanagan campus welcomes 7,000 students, marking the sixth straight year of enrolment growth.
September 16
Centre for the Advancement of Psychological Science and Law opens.
November 8
Nonis Sports Field officially opened at UBC's Okanagan campus. The facility includes a 153m by 75m artificial turf sports field, 300-seat bleachers, team rooms and washrooms, and full-field lighting.
December
UBC Nursing Professor Barbara Pesut named Canada Research Chair.
2009
March 13
UBC names Heinz Bauschke, one of Canada's top researchers in the field of optimization, as its first Okanagan campus Researcher of the year.
April 8
The Geoexchange System, which uses groundwater from under the campus to heat and cool buildings, receives $2.9 million from the federal and provincial governments to help make the campus emissions-free by 2010.
July
University Centre building opens. The $33-million, 79,000-sq.-ft., building is a hub for student activity,
and includes learning centres, student services offices for several departments, student collegia spaces, a sushi bar, student club space, and a variety of social and gathering spaces.
September 8
UBC's Okanagan campus welcomes 1,502 new first-year students and sees total enrolment grow by 14 per cent -- or nearly 700 students -- to 6,015 students.
September 24
Pushor Mitchell LLP creates a $10,000 annual prize, committed for 20 years, to be awarded each year to a top graduating student in the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences at UBC's Okanagan campus.
October 21
Campus Trails System officially opens.
2008
February 28
UBC's Okanagan campus launches a new online television station -- UBCO.TV -- to showcase the university’s people, achievements and events.
March 28
UBC's Okanagan campus unveils its new varsity athletics team name -- the UBC Okanagan Heat -- at the Valley First UBC Okanagan Athletics Scholarship Breakfast.
April 14
UBC announces that one of the world’s leading neuroscientists, Dr. Bryan Kolb, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree at the June 6 Convocation ceremonies.
May 16
UBC's Okanagan campus launches a new research centre focused on combating major preventable chronic diseases -- and finding ways to promote healthy lifestyles to prevent diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Joan Bottorff will direct the new Research Centre for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention.
September 23
British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell announces nearly $100 million in provincial government funding that will allow construction of three major new projects -- UBC's Okanagan Health Sciences Centre, Arts and Sciences 2 Building, and the Engineering/Management Building.
November 24
UBC opens $31.5-million Fipke Centre for Innovative Research on the Okanagan campus, made possible through a $5-million gift from Charles Fipke (plus $2 million for equipment) and $26.5-million from the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.
2007
April 24
UBC announces that the honorary degree Doctor of Laws will be awarded to The Hon. Thomas Siddon, P.C., for his distinguished career achievements, as well as service to UBC and to Canada.
June 7
Germanic studies -- the study of German language and culture -- will soon be offered at UBC's Okanagan campus thanks to a $1-million gift from Klaus and Lydia Reichwald of Kelowna.
June 8
A total of 504 graduates receive their degrees from University of British Columbia Chancellor Allan McEachern.
July 4
Seven new research programs at UBC's Okanagan campus receive more than $880,000 in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).
September 4
UBC's Okanagan campus welcomes 1,266 new first-year students -- an increase of 7.7 per cent -- and sees total enrolment grow by 17 per cent or nearly 700 students to 4,864.
2006
March 20
Prof. Carl E. Wieman, 2001 Nobel Laureate in Physics, joins UBC
March 22
UBC announces new President -- Dr. Stephen Toope
April 20
UBC's Okanagan campus announces new Deputy Vice Chancellor -- Dr. Doug Owram
June 6
470 student become the first graduating class from UBC's Okanagan campus in an historic first Congregation ceremony
September 27
Charles Fipke -- a UBC alumnus, and the discoverer of diamonds in Canada’s Far North -- donates $6 million to UBC's Okanagan campus for a new centre for innovative research.
2005
July 4
In a key transfer ceremony, Okanagan University College formally makes the transition to two new institutions: UBC's Okanagan campus and Okanagan College
September 8
Official Opening Ceremony of UBC's Okanagan campus
November 3
Donor commits $2 Million to create The Meekison Student Centre in honour of Dr. J. Peter Meekison, public administrator for the OUC transition process.
December 5
Academic Plan approved by UBC's Okanagan Senate
2004
March 17
Provincial government announces the establishment of UBC's Okanagan campus and a college in the Okanagan region
July 16
UBC Board of Governors approves $18.4 million construction plan to accommodate 900 new student residence spaces
September 30
UBC Board of Governors holds meeting in Kelowna -- the first time in two decades it meets outside the Lower Mainland
October 22
Forestry giant Irving K. Barber announces a $12.25 million endowment to establish the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences
Last reviewed 
6/23/2011 11:15:15 AM
Contact
Bud Mortenson
Manager, Public Affairs
The University of British Columbia
Okanagan campus
Tel: 250-807-9255
E: bud.mortenson@ubc.ca
