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The University of Victoria (UVic or Victoria) is a public research university located in the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich,
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, for ...
,
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...
. The university traces its roots to Victoria College, the first post-secondary institution established in the province of British Columbia in 1903. It was reincorporated as the University of Victoria in 1963. UVic hosts Ocean Networks Canada's deep-water seafloor research observatories
VENUS Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is sometimes called Earth's "sister" or "twin" planet as it is almost as large and has a similar composition. As an interior planet to Earth, Venus (like Mercury) appears in Earth's sky never f ...
and
NEPTUNE Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun and the farthest known planet in the Solar System. It is the fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 time ...
, the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, and two
Environment Canada Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC; french: Environnement et Changement climatique Canada),Environment and Climate Change Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program; the legal title is Department of the Environment ...
labs: the
Canadian Center for Climate Modelling and Analysis CCCma (Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis) is part of the Climate Research Division of Environment Canada and is located at the University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia. Its purpose is to develop and apply climate models ...
and the Water and Climate Impacts Research Centre. The Ocean Climate Building housed at the Queenswood location is dedicated solely to ocean and climate research. The Institute of Integrated Energy Systems is a leading center for research on sustainable energy solutions and alternative energy sources. The University of Victoria is also home to Canada's first and only Indigenous Law degree program along with dedicated research centers for Indigenous and Environmental law. The Faculty of Law was instrumental in the establishment of the Akitsiraq Law School by founding its first class in Iqualit, Nunavat. Along with The University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, UVic jointly founded and co-operates
TRIUMF TRIUMF is Canada's national particle accelerator centre. It is considered Canada's premier physics laboratory, and consistently regarded as one of the world's leading subatomic physics research centers. Owned and operated by a consortium of u ...
, Canada's national laboratory for
particle In the physical sciences, a particle (or corpuscule in older texts) is a small localized object which can be described by several physical or chemical properties, such as volume, density, or mass. They vary greatly in size or quantity, from ...
and
nuclear physics Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies atomic nuclei and their constituents and interactions, in addition to the study of other forms of nuclear matter. Nuclear physics should not be confused with atomic physics, which studies t ...
, which houses the world's largest cyclotron. Altogether UVic operates nine academic faculties and schools including the Faculty of Law and
Peter B. Gustavson School of Business The Peter B. Gustavson School of Business is a business school at the University of Victoria located in the municipality of Oak Bay, British Columbia.
. The campus is situated 7 km north of downtown Victoria and is spread over 403 acres. UVic also has an offsite study center at the Jeanne S. Simpson Field Studies Resource Center in Lake Cowichan. The six-hectare Queenswood campus was acquired from the Sisters of St. Ann and converted into a national laboratory. The Legacy Art Gallery on Yates Street and a proposed redevelopment on Broad Street make up the properties owned by the university in downtown Victoria. Based in the capital city of British Columbia, the university has educated many prominent jurists and politicians including Jody Wilson-Raybould, Rona Ambrose, and Russell Brown. In recent years, the university counts amongst its alumni the founders of several leading technology companies, including Flickr, Slack, and Hootsuite. UVic alumni and faculty have also worked on
Nobel Prize The Nobel Prizes ( ; sv, Nobelpriset ; no, Nobelprisen ) are five separate prizes that, according to Alfred Nobel's will of 1895, are awarded to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind." Alfr ...
winning research teams. As of 2020, 7
Guggenheim Fellows Guggenheim Fellowships are grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the ar ...
, 3 Killiam Prize winners, 14 members of the
Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the cen ...
, 11
Rhodes Scholars The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. Established in 1902, it is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. It is considered among the world' ...
and 43 Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada have been affiliated with the university.


History

The University of Victoria is the oldest post-secondary institution in
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, for ...
, established in 1903 as an affiliated college of
McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Univer ...
before gaining full autonomy through a charter on July 1, 1963. Victoria College, which had been established in 1903 as an affiliated college of
McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Univer ...
, gained autonomy and full degree granting status on March 1, 1963. The non-denominational university had enjoyed 60 years of prior teaching tradition at the university level as Victoria College. This 60 years of history may be viewed conveniently in three distinct stages. Between the years 1903 and 1915, Victoria College was affiliated with
McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Univer ...
, offering first- and second-year McGill courses in Arts and Science. Administered locally by the Victoria School Board, the college was an adjunct to Victoria High School and shared its facilities. Both institutions were under the direction of a single Principal: E.B. Paul, 1903–1908; and S.J. Willis, 1908–1915. The opening in 1915 of the
University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks among the top thr ...
, established by Act of Legislature in 1908, obliged the college to suspend operations in higher education in Victoria. University of British Columbia was created in 1908. A single, public provincial university, it was modeled on the American state university, with an emphasis on extension work and applied research. The governance was modeled on the provincial
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution ...
Act of 1906 which established a bicameral system of university government consisting of a senate (faculty), responsible for academic policy, and a board of governors (citizens) exercising exclusive control over financial policy and having formal authority in all other matters. The president, appointed by the board, was to provide a link between the two bodies and to perform institutional leadership. In 1920, as a result of local demands, Victoria College began the second stage of its development, reborn in affiliation with the University of British Columbia. Though still administered by the Victoria School Board, the college was now completely separated from Victoria High School, moving in 1921 into the magnificent Dunsmuir mansion known as Craigdarroch Castle. Over the next two decades, under Principals E.B. Paul and P.H. Elliott, Victoria College built a reputation for thorough and scholarly instruction in first- and second-year arts and science. It was also during this period that future author
Pierre Berton Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton, CC, O.Ont. (July 12, 1920 – November 30, 2004) was a Canadian writer, journalist and broadcaster. Berton wrote 50 best-selling books, mainly about Canadiana, Canadian history and popular culture. He also wr ...
edited and served as principal cartoonist for the student newsletter, ''The Microscope''. Between the years 1921–1944, the enrolment at Victoria College did not very often reach above 250. However, in 1945, 128 servicemen returned from World War II. This pushed enrolment up to 400, and in 1946; 600. The final stage, between the years 1945 and 1963, saw the transition from two-year college to university, under Principals J.M. Ewing and W.H. Hickman. During this period, the college was governed by the Victoria College Council, representative of the parent University of British Columbia, the Greater Victoria School Board, and the provincial Department of Education. Physical changes were many. In 1946 the college was forced by postwar enrolment to move from Craigdarroch to the Lansdowne campus of the Provincial Normal School, the current location of Camosun College's Lansdowne Campus. The Normal School, itself an institution with a long and honourable history, joined Victoria College in 1956 as its Faculty of Education. Late in this transitional period (through the co-operation of the
Department of National Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philippin ...
and the
Hudson's Bay Company The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC; french: Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson) is a Canadian retail business group. A fur trading business for much of its existence, HBC now owns and operates retail stores in Canada. The company's namesake business di ...
) the 284-acre (1,1 km2)--now 385-acre (1.6 km2)--campus at Gordon Head was acquired. Academic expansion was rapid after 1956, until in 1961 the college, still in affiliation with UBC, awarded its first bachelor's degrees. In the early part of this century, professional education expanded beyond the traditional fields of theology, law and medicine. Graduate training based on the German-inspired American model of specialized course work and the completion of a research thesis was introduced. The policy of university education initiated in the 1960s responded to population pressure and the belief that higher education was a key to social justice and economic productivity for individuals and for society. The university gained its full autonomy in 1963 as the University of Victoria. The University Act of 1963 vested administrative authority in a chancellor elected by the convocation of the university, a board of governors, and a president appointed by the board; academic authority was given to the senate which was representative both of the faculties and of the convocation. University of Victoria's Arms were registered with the Canadian Heraldic Authority on April 3, 2001. The historical traditions of the university are reflected in the coat of arms, its academic regalia and its house flag. The BA hood is of solid red, a colour that recalls the early affiliation with McGill, as do the martlets in the coat of arms. The BSc hood, of gold, and the BEd hood, of blue, show the colours of the University of British Columbia. Blue and gold have been retained as the official colours of the University of Victoria. The motto at the top of the Arms of the university, in Hebrew characters, is "Let there be Light"; the motto at the bottom, in Latin, is "A Multitude of the Wise is the Health of the World."


Department of Political Science Chilly Climate Report

On May 11, 1992, the Department of Political Science created the committee to Make the Department More Supportive to Women as a response to concerns regarding experiences of graduate and undergraduate students. The committee was made up of five female undergraduate students and Dr. Somer Brodribb, an untenured professor working in the department. Later, this committee was unofficially called the "Chilly Climate" or Climate Committee within the department. “Chilly Climate” is a term used by the
Project on the Status and Education of Women The Project on the Status and Education of Women (PSEW) was the first United States project focused on gender equity in education. Formed in 1971 by the Association of American Colleges (AAC), known today as the Association of American Colleges and ...
. A preliminary report published by the Climate Committee to the Department of Political Science on March 23, 1993, which looked at the experience of both faculty and students at University of Victoria issued recommendations that, in their eyes, would make the department more hospitable to female students while also highlighting the experiences of female students which the committee found troubling. These recommendations included the establishment of a committee for addressing issues that were raised in the report, the creation of formal policies addressing race and gender discrimination, and workshops for faculty on race and gender issues in the classroom environment. Notably, the preliminary report also highlighted the importance of including classroom content from feminist perspectives and more texts authored by female scholars. In response to this report, the tenured professors of political science department Robert Bedeski, Colin Bennett, Ron Cheffins, Warren Magusson, Terry Morley, Norman Ruff, Rob Walker, and Jeremy Wilson challenged what they perceived to be slander from Dr. Brodribb, who chaired the committee. They requested that Dr. Brodribb allow an investigation into the allegations of sexist behaviour in the Chilly Climate report. Dr. Bodribb refused, stating that this went against the agreement her committee made with the women interviewed and could expose them to further discrimination. If the evidence was not handed over the tenured professors requested a complete withdrawal of the statements made in the Chilly Climate report and an apology that would be distributed to all those who saw the report. They also mentioned seeking further action if Dr. Brodribb did neither of these things. To review documents related to the report, one can go to the University of Victoria Libraries Special Collections. A review committee was established by University of Victoria President David Strong, requesting advice from lawyers Beth Bilson and Thomas R. Berger to assist in evaluating the climate of the political science department. They published a report in August 1993, which included recommendations that University of Victoria President David Strong later endorsed.


Campus and grounds

With a total area of on its main site alone, the campus lies on the border between the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich, divided almost perfectly down the centre of campus (with the northeast half being located in Saanich and the southwest half in Oak Bay). This municipal boundary is marked and commemorated by undermount plates and a bronze line near the main quadrangle. Despite its name, no part of the university's main campus is located in the City of Victoria proper. The campus is several hundred feet from the Pacific Ocean at Cadboro Bay. The campus of the University of Victoria was originally designed by American architectural firm of Wurster, Bernardi & Emmons, which had previously achieved fame for having completed major buildings at
Stanford University Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies , among the largest in the United States, and enrolls over 17,000 students. Stanford is conside ...
and
UC Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant uni ...
. The principles and concept of the original design are still being followed, with the academic portions of the campus located inside the Ring Road, forming a perfect circle in diameter. This academic ring is a distinctive feature of the University of Victoria and was intended to foster interaction, intellectual sharing, and collaboration. The area outside of Ring Road hosts important parts of the university, including the residential colleges (now residence halls), Student Union Buildings, sports facilities, as well as some of the newer academic facilities which have expanded outwards in recent years (The Faculties of Law and Theatre for example). The following is a list of prominent buildings on the University of Victoria campus: *Michael Williams Building – Formerly known as the Administrative Services Building. Accommodates the university's executive team as well as other administrative functions such as accounting, research services, pension, and payroll. *World War II Army Facilities – Nine single-storey, wood-frame utilitarian hut facilities from the Second World War (1940) on the northern part of the University of Victoria campus. These structures are retained for their historical significance and are listed on the
Registry of Historic Places of Canada The Canadian Register of Historic Places (CRHP; french: Le Répertoire canadien des lieux patrimoniaux), also known as Canada's Historic Places, is an online directory of historic sites in Canada which have been formally recognized for their her ...
*Bob Wright Centre – Home to the School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, the Department of Chemistry, and the Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling & Analysis (CCCMA). Also features the Department of Astronomy dome and telescopes, lecture theatres, offices, meeting rooms, labs, and SciCafe dining outlet. *Business and Economics Building – Besides the obvious, the Business and Economics building also houses the offices of senior university administrators and contains a student computing facility. *Campus Security Services – Security Officers patrol and respond to Campus needs, provide first aid, and maintain a safe campus. Office also contains parking services, emergency planning, and lost & found. *Campus Services Building – Includes Career Services, the UVic Bookstore, the Computer Store, the Centre for Accessible Learning, and a Starbucks. *Clearihue Building – Organized around a central court (or quadrangle), it is home to the Faculty of Humanities, houses the Departments of English, French, Germanic and Slavic Studies, Greek and Roman Studies, Hispanic and Italian Studies, History, Linguistics, Medieval Studies, Pacific and Asian Studies, Philosophy, and Gender Studies. Contains numerous classrooms as well as student computing facilities, including the Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) facility and the Computer Help Desk. It is the location of the Department of University Systems, which is largely responsible for the systems, networking and support of the university, including student computing facilities and language labs. Clearihue is the oldest building on campus, originally constructed in 1962 and augmented by an addition in 1971. It is named after Joseph Clearihue, who was chairman of Victoria College from 1947 until it gained university status in 1963. In 2013, the Clearihue Building underwent a major $15 million redevelopment. Recognizable across campus for its clock tower, the Clearihue clock is notoriously stuck at 1:55 (pictured). *Cornett Building – A sprawling complex of different courts and staircases, which includes classrooms and houses the Departments of Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology. Cornett building is often described by freshmen undergraduates as being an unrelenting maze. *Cunningham – Contains the Department of Biology, the Centre for Forest Biology, a herbarium, and numerous specialized research facilities. *CARSA Building – CARSA is the new Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities on the UVic campus. It houses the UVic Vikes athletics and recreation programs, as well as offices, labs and a machine shop for CanAssist, which develops customized technologies, programs and services for people living with disabilities. *David Strong Building – Contains classroom spaces, including seminar rooms, breakout rooms, and the Mathews and McQueen auditorium. *David Turpin Building – The David Turpin Building is best known as the home of the UVic Department of Political Science, one of the largest and best known faculties at the University of Victoria. The building also includes the School of Environmental Studies, Statistics, and Mathematics. The Turpin Building also hosts the government-funded Water & Climate Impacts Research Centre (W-CIRC). It includes a grass roof and high-quality LEED energy efficient engineering. *Elliott – Includes the Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Astronomy, as well as a number of offices, classrooms, and laboratories. The building is topped by the Climenhaga Observatory. *Engineering Buildings – Includes the Engineering Office Wing (EOW), the Engineering Lab Wing (ELW) and the Engineering/Computer Science building (ECS). Home to the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, which includes the Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Software engineering. *Fine Arts – Contains the departments of Writing and History in Art as well as many offices, classrooms, a major lecture theatre, a photography darkroom, Arts Place dining outlet, and a multi-purpose lobby that may be used for readings and performances. *First Peoples House – Anthropological building that provides for Indigenous students. Features two large statues in front of the modern, glass building. It is located between Centre Quadrangle and West Quad. *Fraser Building – Formerly known as the Begbie building. Houses the Faculty of Law and the Institute for Dispute Resolution. The building also contains classrooms, seminar rooms, a
moot courtroom Moot court is a co-curricular activity at many law schools. Participants take part in simulated court or arbitration proceedings, usually involving drafting memorials or memoranda and participating in oral argument. In most countries, the phrase " ...
, and the Diana M. Priestly Law Library. *Halpern Centre for Graduate Students – Colloquially known as "The Grad Centre", the building houses the Graduate Student Society (GSS) general office, the "Grad House" restaurant, which is open to the public, and the David Clode lounge. There is also a meeting space (boardroom) that can be booked by contacting the GSS Office. *Hickman Building – Formerly called the Centre for Innovative Teaching. Includes "Smart" classrooms featuring closed-circuit cameras and remote projection systems to link teachers and students with classrooms at remote locations. *Human and Social Development Building – Classrooms and offices for Child and Youth Care, Dispute resolution, Health Information Science, Indigenous Governance, Nursing, Public Administration, and Social Work. *Ian Stewart Complex – A former recreational facility containing tennis courts, squash/racquetball courts, an outdoor pool, a dance studio, a physiotherapy clinic, a gym, and a weight room. Only the ice rink remains in use, as other services have moved to McKinnon and CARSA. Also contains the Alumni Services, Development, Corporate Relations, and Advancement Services departments. Currently being redeveloped as part of a major expansion to house more post-graduates and international students. *MacLaurin Building – An extensive modernist complex which includes the Faculty of Education and School of Music, as well classrooms, the David Lam Auditorium, the Curriculum Library, and Mac's Bistro. *McKinnon Building – Encompasses the School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, an indoor swimming pool, fitness and weight room, dance studio, outdoor tennis courts, squash courts and a gymnasium. *McPherson Library and William C. Mearns Centre for Learning - The McPherson Library is the major research library of the University of Victoria. It houses University of Victoria extensive holdings, including the university archives, special collections, and map library. Following a major donation, the 2008 expansion to the McPherson Library created the William C. Mearns Centre for Learning, which contains the state-of-the-art Learning Commons, Media Commons, International Centre, classrooms, and several group study rooms. *Medical Sciences Building – The home of Island Medical Program, the future home of the University of Victoria Medical School. *Petch Building – the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, and School of Earth and Ocean Sciences. *Phoenix Theatre – a major academic building notably located outside of Ring Road, it serves as the home of Theatre department and includes many offices and classrooms. It has two theatre stages; the Chief Dan George, and the Roger Bishop. *Sedgewick – An Advanced Research Complex which houses the Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives (CAPI), Centre on Aging, Centre for the Study of Religion in Society, Centre for Global Studies; as well as fundraising and administration offices. *Student Union Building – popularly known as the "SUB", it houses a movie theatre, many restaurants, a stationary stores, several book vendors, and the headquarters of several clubs, societies, and campus organizations, including the University of Victoria radio station (
CFUV CFUV-FM is a campus/community radio station broadcasting on 101.9 FM in British Columbia, Canada. It serves the University of Victoria, Greater Victoria and, via cable, Vancouver Island and many areas in the Lower Mainland. It is owned and run ...
). There is also a large student bar located in the SUB, known as Felicita's Campus Pub. *Jamie Cassels Centre – Formerly known as University Centre, but renamed in 2020 after departing President Jamie Cassels. A major complex with a distinctive copper-roof adjacent to West Quad. It includes the Registrar's Offices, as well as many administrative departments (Admissions, Accounting, Payroll, Academic Advising, Career Services), the main public restaurant, and the Farquhar auditorium. The university offers on-campus housing for over 3,200 students. A variety of housing is available, including single and double dormitories, Cluster Housing (apartment-style housing with four people per unit), bachelor and one-bedroom apartments, and family housing. Four buildings in one of the oldest residential complexes at the university are named for
Emily Carr Emily Carr (or M. Emily Carr as she sometimes signed her work) (December 13, 1871 – March 2, 1945) was a Canadian artist and writer who was inspired by the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. One of the painters in Canada to ado ...
, Arthur Currie,
Margaret Newton Margaret Brown Newton (20 April 1887 – 6 April 1971) was a Canadian plant pathologist and mycologist internationally renowned for her pioneering research in stem rust ''Puccinia graminis'', particularly for its effect on the staple Canadian a ...
, and David Thompson. Construction on the South Tower Complex was completed in January 2011. The largest residence building in terms of capacity is Ring Road Hall, which holds 294 beds and is split into three wings. The campus has become increasingly cycling-friendly. Much of the university estate and endowment lands have been preserved as a nature setting, notably
Finnerty Gardens Finnerty Gardens is a public woodland garden located on and maintained by the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Its main feature is the sizeable collection of rhododendrons artfully arranged throughout the 2.7 hectare ...
and
Mystic Vale Mystic Vale is a forested ravine that was acquired by the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, in 1993. It is located outside the ring road to the southeast of campus. Its tree canopy is dominated by large specimens of Douglas-fir an ...
, a forested area and park. The large campus is home to deer, owls, ravens, squirrels and many other wild animals native to the area. A large population of domestic
rabbit Rabbits, also known as bunnies or bunny rabbits, are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also contains the hares) of the order Lagomorpha (which also contains the pikas). ''Oryctolagus cuniculus'' includes the European rabbit sp ...
s was a feature of the campus previously. In May 2010, the university began trapping and euthanizing the rabbits as they had been known to put athletes at risk in the playing fields and cause extensive damage to university grounds. Local veterinarians offered to perform neutering of the male rabbits. As of July 2011, the UVic campus is free of rabbits. 900 rabbits were saved and sent to shelters. The majority of rabbits moved to shelters died between 2011 and 2016, after which the remaining survivors (147 rabbits) were relocated to a private sanctuary in Alberta.


Libraries and museum

The University of Victoria Libraries system is the second largest in British Columbia, being composed of three 'on-campus' libraries, the William C. Mearns Center for Learning/McPherson Library, the Diana M. Priestly Law Library, and the MacLaurin Curriculum Library. The Library System has undergone significant growth in recent years thanks to the university's investment in library purchases and research. Amongst the highlights in the
University of Victoria Archives and Special Collections A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, the ...
are priceless items from Imperial Japan, to carbon dated original manuscripts of the Sancti Epiphanii. The collection also includes extensive histories of colonial Victoria and the Colony of Vancouver Island among other documents. The library's digitization programme is becoming increasingly active in making materials available. Renovations and new construction over the past decade have included special collections classrooms, an innovative Learning Commons and an art gallery. The UVic libraries collection includes extensive digital resources, over 2.0 million books, 2.3 million items in microforms, plus serial subscriptions, sound recordings, music scores, films and videos, and archival materials. The University of Victoria houses the Education Heritage Museum, which displays educational history artifacts in the main hallway of the MacLaurin building. The collection consists of manuscripts, texts, photographs, audio-visual material, lesson plans, posters, bells, ink bottles, fountain pens, desks, maps, athletic clothing, photographs, and school yearbooks used in kindergarten to grade 12 schools in Canada from the mid-1800s to the 1980s. The University of Victoria has two art collections (University and Maltwood) which host loan exhibitions, and exhibits of the works of students and faculty in the University Centre Exhibition Gallery. The University Collection, founded in 1953 by Dr. W.H. Hickman, Principal of Victoria College (1953-1963), consists of 6,000 works, mainly by contemporary artists practicing in British Columbia. The Maltwood Art Museum and Gallery, founded through the bequest of English sculptress and antiquarian, Katharine Emma Maltwood, F.R.S.A. (1878-1961), reflects her and her husband John Maltwood's taste. The collection of 12,000 works of fine, decorative and applied arts includes Oriental ceramics, costumes, rugs, seventeenth century English furniture, Canadian paintings and Katherine Maltwood's own sculptures.


Transgender Archives

The transgender Archives are a part of the University of Victoria Libraries and are committed to preserving the histories of pioneering activists, community leaders, and researchers who have made contributions to the betterment of trans, non-binary, and
two-spirit Two-spirit (also two spirit, 2S or, occasionally, twospirited) is a modern, , umbrella term used by some Indigenous North Americans to describe Native people in their communities who fulfill a traditional third-gender (or other gender-varia ...
people. Since 2007, at the Transgender Archives there has also been an active collection of documents, rare publications, and memorabilia of organizations or persons that had a hand in activism by and for trans, non-binary, and two-spirit people. The Transgender Archives are free and accessible to the public and can be found at the University of Victoria's main campus at the Mearns Centre for Learning- McPherson Library. The Transgender Archives are the largest in the world, and were rated in the top 12 Most Enlightening LGBTQ Museums in the World in 2019. The records are over 160 metres in distance and go back over 120 years, spanning 15 languages, 25 countries, and 6 continents Collections of the Transgendered Archive includes the Rikki Swin Institute collection, the Reed Erickson, the University of Ulster Trans-Gender Archive collection, and the Zenith Foundation. The second edition of the Transgender Archives book, 'Foundations for the Future', was released in 2016 and is available for free online at the University of Victoria's Transgender Archives home page. The book is written by Founder and Academic Director of the Transgender Archives, Aaron Devor. With the support of Grants and Awards Librarian Christine Walde, it was published by the University of Victoria Libraries. The book focuses on the history of trans activism and research, and also includes information regarding the origin of the Transgender Archives as well as multiple examples from the collection. The book's first edition, which was released in 2014, was a 2015 Lambda Literacy Awards finalist in LGBT nonfiction. In the same year, the book finished first for best offset print book at the 2015 College and University Print Management Awards. Some key members of the Transgender Archives include Aaron Devor, the university's Chair of Transgender Studies; and Lara Wilson, a university archivist and the director of special collections at the University of Victoria, as well as she is chairperson of the Canadian Council of Archives. She has a master of archival studies from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Victoria. Michael Radmacher he completed his MA in Political Science at the University of Victoria and also a Masters of Library and Information Science degree. He is the Administrative Officer to the chair in Transgenderd Studie
Chair in Transgender Studies
and works with the Transgendered Archive.


Off-campus facilities

The University of Victoria has acquired a portfolio of properties around
Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Gre ...
, and across
Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
. These include the Legacy Gallery in downtown Victoria, the University Club, the Inter-urban campus, a former Saanich-based lodge and retreat, the Swans Hotel and Restaurant complex, and the Queenswood Property. The large, partially forested Queenswood property has been proposed as a site of future expansion for the university. In 2017, the University of Victoria announced plans to develop a downtown campus/accommodation centre in the historic area of Victoria, BC including accommodation for students and other facilities. The new downtown campus will be centered in buildings donated to the university and located around the historic Broad Street area, beside the old Bay Centre. The downtown development has been suggested as a possible future home for UVic's
Peter B. Gustavson School of Business The Peter B. Gustavson School of Business is a business school at the University of Victoria located in the municipality of Oak Bay, British Columbia.
. The UVic endowment (estimated at $374 million) and large private donations have allowed for the university's estate to continue growing and for facilities to be upgraded and expanded on an ongoing basis.


Administration

Below is a list of undergraduate faculties, departments, and schools within the University of Victoria system. *Education, which includes Education, Kinesiology, and Recreation and Health Education *Engineering and Computer Science, which includes Biomedical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Mechanical, and Software Engineering, as well as Computer Science *Fine Arts, which includes the departments of History in Art, Music, Professional Writing, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Writing *Human & Social Development, which includes Child and Youth Care, Health Information Science, Indigenous Governance, Nursing, Public Administration, Public Health and Social Policy and Social Work *Humanities, which includes English, French and Francophone Studies, Gender Studies, Germanic Studies, Greek and Roman Studies, Hispanic and Italian Studies, History, Indigenous Studies, Latin American Studies, Linguistics, Medieval studies, Medieval Studies, Pacific and Asian Studies, Philosophy, Religion Culture and Society, and Slavic Studies *Law, which includes the
Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice l ...
(J.D.) program and Juris Indigenarum Doctor (JID) *Peter B. Gustavson School of Business, which includes Commerce *Science, which includes the departments of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Ocean Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, and Physics and Astronomy *Social Sciences, which includes Anthropology, Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology UVic also offers a number of interdisciplinary undergraduate programs, including Applied Ethics, Arts of Canada, European Studies, Film Studies, Human Dimensions of Climate Change, Indigenous Studies, Latin American Studies, Social Justice Studies, and Technology and Society.


Peter B. Gustavson School of Business

The
Peter B. Gustavson School of Business The Peter B. Gustavson School of Business is a business school at the University of Victoria located in the municipality of Oak Bay, British Columbia.
, formerly the Faculty of Business, was renamed following a donation by local entrepreneur Peter B. Gustavson. This business school offers a wide range of programs including the BCom, MBA and other business degrees, EQUIS and AACSB accredited. The program starts with two years of general studies (with 5 required classes) and then the 3rd and 4th year are business intensive. Three co-op work terms are also required. MGB Program: The Peter B. Gustavson School of Business is also offering a program called the Master Of Global Business. This program is in partnership with Montpellier Business School (France) and Sungkyunkwan University (Korea). In September, The Peter B. Gustavson School of Business welcomes 35 students from 13 countries. The module mostly focuses on MBS courses such as Finance, Supply chain management, marketing etc.


Engineering and Computer Science

The Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science admits approximately 400 students into first-year programs each year. Students can specialize in the following disciplines:
Biomedical Engineering Biomedical engineering (BME) or medical engineering is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes (e.g., diagnostic or therapeutic). BME is also traditionally logical sciences ...
,
Civil Engineering Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewa ...
,
Computer Engineering Computer engineering (CoE or CpE) is a branch of electrical engineering and computer science that integrates several fields of computer science and electronic engineering required to develop computer hardware and software. Computer engineers n ...
,
Computer Science Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...
,
Electrical Engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...
,
Mechanical Engineering Mechanical engineering is the study of physical machines that may involve force and movement. It is an engineering branch that combines engineering physics and mathematics principles with materials science, to design, analyze, manufacture, ...
, and
Software Engineering Software engineering is a systematic engineering approach to software development. A software engineer is a person who applies the principles of software engineering to design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate computer software. The term '' ...
.


Fine Arts

The Faculty of Fine Arts splits into five different departments: Art History and Visual Studies, the School of Music, Theatre, Visual Arts and Writing. UVic's Department of Art History and Visual Studies has a long tradition of scholarship in the areas of Islamic art, South and Southeast Asian art, and Native arts of North America. It is one of few schools that has traditionally held two chairs of Islamic art, most recently filled by Anthony Welch and Marcus Milwright. Esi Edugyan, two time winner of the
Giller Prize The Giller Prize (sponsored as the Scotiabank Giller Prize), is a literary award given to a Canadian author of a novel or short story collection published in English (including translation) the previous year, after an annual juried competition b ...
, is a graduate of the creative writing program


Humanities

The Faculty of Humanities consists of ten departments (English, French, Genders Studies, Germanic and Slavic Studies, Greek and Roman Studies, Hispanic and Italian Studies, History, Linguistics, Pacific and Asian Studies, and Philosophy), as well as three Programs (Latin American Studies, Medieval Studies, and Religious Studies). The faculty offers certificates, minors, and majors leading to both BA and BSc degrees, as well as MA and PhD degrees. Languages, narratives, philosophies, histories—the Faculty of Humanities brings these all together in a critical context of analysis, interpretation, research, and communication.


Law

The University of Victoria Faculty of Law is consistently ranked as one of the best and most-applied to law schools in Canada. It offers a hands-on work experience program for young lawyers and an intensive environmental law program, featuring a course at Hakia Beach, BC in association with the Tula Foundation. UVic Law has been deeply involved with many Aboriginal, ecological, and environmental cases in British Columbia, and continues this tradition today.


School of Earth & Ocean Sciences

The university's School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, within the Faculty of Science, has produced a large number of influential findings in its history. The School of Earth & Ocean Science also collaborate with the VENUS and NEPTUNE research institutes. The university was a founding member of the Western Canadian Universities Marine Sciences Society. UVic maintains this field station on the west coast of Vancouver Island, which is jointly run by the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary.


School of Public Administration

The UVic School of Public Administration specializes in its M.P.A. and PhD. programs but also offers a selective admission minors program for political leaders and mid-career civil servants.


Continuing Studies

Continuing education has been an integral part of the University of Victoria since its inception in 1963. Today, the Division of Continuing Studies provides adult and continuing education programming in co-operation with UVic faculties and community partners. The Division of Continuing Studies offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs in a range of academic disciplines, using diploma, certificate and other programming models to serve adult, part-time and internationally dispersed students.


Graduate programs

UVic is one of Canada's largest graduate schools, offering more than 160 graduate programs across the university's faculties and departments. Their most popular graduate degrees are in the following areas: *Business, The Gill School of Business. The UVic Gill Business School is known for its particular focus on International Business and Energy. *Political Science, includes a multi-disciplinary approach involving Economics, Geography, and Law. *Education, which includes Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Psychology & Leadership Studies, Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education, and Indigenous Education *Social Sciences, which includes Economics, Environmental Studies, Geography, Anthropology, Psychology, and Sociology *Engineering, which includes Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Software Engineering. *Fine Arts, which includes Art History & Visual Studies, the School of Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Writing *Humanities, which includes English, French, Germanic and Slavic Studies, Greek and Roman Studies, Hispanic and Italian Studies, History, Linguistics, Pacific and Asian Studies, and Philosophy. The history department has a reputation for Digital History. *Human and Social Development, which includes Child and Youth Care, Community Development, Dispute Resolution, Health Information Science, Indigenous Governance, Nursing, Public Administration, Public Health and Social Policy, Studies in Policy and Practice, Social Dimensions of Health, and Social Work *Science, which includes Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Ocean Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Neuroscience, and Physics and Astronomy *Law UVic's Graduate programs range from individual interdisciplinary programs to graduate research programs. The university also offers students specialized degree options and doctoral options.


Academic profile


Admissions

Admission to the University of Victoria is based on a selective academic system and is highly competitive. Each year, the university receives far more applications than there are spaces available, making it one of the most applied to institutions in Canada. Applicants are required to submit applications with their grade points average (GPA) and personal statements in order to be considered for admission. The university may also accept qualified applicants studying under IB programs, AP programs or other international distinctions. Given its endowment, the University of Victoria is able to offer scholarships and financial aid to a large number of students.


International exchanges

The University of Victoria has partnered with a number of research institutions to provide UVic students with the opportunity to gain research experience abroad. International conferences and study abroad opportunities are encouraged for all students, with many students completing a gap year before commencing their studies. Both UVic undergraduate and graduate students may travel abroad with UVic's many partner universities. The University of Victoria has partnered with institutions around the world, including
Sciences Po , motto_lang = fr , mottoeng = Roots of the Future , type = Public research university'' Grande école'' , established = , founder = Émile Boutmy , accreditation ...
,
University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degr ...
,
University of Washington The University of Washington (UW, simply Washington, or informally U-Dub) is a public research university in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1861, Washington is one of the oldest universities on the West Coast; it was established in Seatt ...
, Hong Kong University,
Utrecht University Utrecht University (UU; nl, Universiteit Utrecht, formerly ''Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht'') is a public research university in Utrecht, Netherlands. Established , it is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands. In 2018, it had an enrollme ...
, and the
National University of Singapore The National University of Singapore (NUS) is a national public research university in Singapore. Founded in 1905 as the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School, NUS is the oldest autonomous university in th ...
.


Reputation

The University of Victoria has ranked in a number of post-secondary rankings. In the 2022 ''
Academic Ranking of World Universities The ''Academic Ranking of World Universities'' (''ARWU''), also known as the Shanghai Ranking, is one of the annual publications of world university rankings. The league table was originally compiled and issued by Shanghai Jiao Tong Universi ...
'' rankings, the university ranked 301–400 in the world and 13–17 in Canada. The 2023 ''
QS World University Rankings ''QS World University Rankings'' is an annual publication of university rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). The QS system comprises three parts: the global overall ranking, the subject rankings (which name the world's top universities for th ...
'' ranked the university 359th in the world, and fourteenth in Canada. The 2023 ''
Times Higher Education World University Rankings The ''Times Higher Education World University Rankings'' (often referred to as the THE Rankings) is an annual publication of university rankings by the ''Times Higher Education'' (THE) magazine. The publisher had collaborated with Quacquarel ...
'' ranked the university 301–350 in the world, and 14–15 in Canada. In the 2022–23 '' U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Ranking'', the university ranked 327th in the world, and 13th in Canada. The Canadian-based ''
Maclean's ''Maclean's'', founded in 1905, is a Canadian news magazine reporting on Canadian issues such as politics, pop culture, and current events. Its founder, publisher John Bayne Maclean, established the magazine to provide a uniquely Canadian pers ...
'' magazine ranked the University of Victoria second in their 2023 Canadian comprehensive university category. Along with academic and research-based rankings, the university has also been ranked by publications that evaluate the employment prospects of its graduates. In the ''Times Higher Education's'' 2022 global employability ranking, the university ranked 183rd in the world, and seventh in Canada. In ''QS's'' 2022 graduate employability ranking, the university ranked 301–500 in the world, and 10–17 in Canada.


Research

In 2018, Research Infosource named the University of Victoria the 19th best research university, with a sponsored research income of $114.922 million, and an average research income of $170,000 per faculty member in 2017. The university's research performance has been noted in several bibliometric university rankings, which uses citation analysis to evaluate the
impact Impact may refer to: * Impact (mechanics), a high force or shock (mechanics) over a short time period * Impact, Texas, a town in Taylor County, Texas, US Science and technology * Impact crater, a meteor crater caused by an impact event * Imp ...
a university has on academic publications. In 2019, the Performance Ranking of Scientific Papers for World Universities ranked the university 374th in the world, and 15th in Canada. The University Ranking by Academic Performance 2018–19 rankings placed the university 370th in the world, and 17th in Canada. Research facilities operated by the University of Victoria include: *Bamfield Marine Research Station The university maintains a field station on the west coast of Vancouver Island to conduct marine research. The facility is jointly run by the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary. Undergraduates at the University of Victoria have full access to research and learning at this facility. *SEOS Oceanic Vessel In 2011 the university, in collaboration with the provincial government purchased and modified a state of the art ocean vessel capable of launching 'deep sea submersibles' and conducting long-range marine biology research expeditions. The 'floating laboratory' is undergoing upgrades and expansions currently and was scheduled to be in service by late 2011. *VENUS/NEPTUNE The School of Earth & Ocean Sciences is also home to the
VENUS Venus is the second planet from the Sun. It is sometimes called Earth's "sister" or "twin" planet as it is almost as large and has a similar composition. As an interior planet to Earth, Venus (like Mercury) appears in Earth's sky never f ...
and
NEPTUNE Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun and the farthest known planet in the Solar System. It is the fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 time ...
research institutes responsible for seismic, oceanic and climate change research. *Centre for Law Located in the Greater Victoria area the university's legal centre provides free legal assistance to the disadvantaged as well as dealing with important environmental cases in British Columbia. The UVic Law Center is the only full-time, term clinical program offered by a Canadian law school. The program reflects the faculty's emphasis on integrating legal theory, legal skills, and community service while providing students with unique education and research opportunities. *Vancouver Island Technology Park (VITP) Located in the Greater Victoria area the
Vancouver Island Technology Park Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The ...
is a state of the art, 35 acre commercial research facility. It is the largest university-owned technology centre in BC. The venture allows the university to work with leading technology and biomedical companies while provided students with unparalleled research opportunities. The facility focuses on fuel cell, new media, wireless, and life science/biotechnological research. The UVic Genome BC Proteomics Centre and a number of other research institutes are based out of the research park. The Capital Regional District is a major commercial hub for technology companies.


Culture and student life


Greek life

Several fraternities, sororities, and secret societies exist on the University of Victoria, despite the fact that the Students' Society does not recognize fraternities, sororities, or societies on the basis that they, by definition, seek to exclude portions of the membership. This issue was once a topic of debate in student politics at the University of Victoria in 2010. Many years ago, University of Victoria students started a fraternity, two sororities and one non-exclusive, non-profit social-service club. Although the fraternities and sororities have no affiliation with the University of Victoria itself, they continue to thrive and have purchased nearby properties. The fraternities and sororities on campus are as follows: *The international fraternity Delta Kappa Epsilon chartered the Beta Tau chapter in 2010, currently estimated at 150 members. *The international sorority Kappa Beta Gamma chartered a chapter in 2011, currently estimated at 100 members. *The local sorority,
Alpha Chi Theta Alpha (uppercase , lowercase ; grc, ἄλφα, ''álpha'', or ell, άλφα, álfa) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of one. Alpha is derived from the Phoenician letter aleph , which ...
, was chartered in 2013, and is currently estimated at 55 members. *The Omega chapter of
Phrateres Phrateres ( ) is a philanthropic-social organization for female college students. History Phrateres was founded at UCLA in 1924 by the dean of women, Helen Matthewson Laughlin.
was installed in 1961.


Radio station (CFUV)

CFUV CFUV-FM is a campus/community radio station broadcasting on 101.9 FM in British Columbia, Canada. It serves the University of Victoria, Greater Victoria and, via cable, Vancouver Island and many areas in the Lower Mainland. It is owned and run ...
is a long-standing campus radio station focusing on the campus and the surrounding community. CFUV serves Greater Victoria at 101.9, and via cable on 104.3,
Vancouver Island Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
and many areas in the
Lower Mainland The Lower Mainland is a geographic and cultural region of the mainland coast of British Columbia that generally comprises the regional districts of Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley. Home to approximately 3.05million people as of the 2021 Cana ...
and northwestern
Washington state Washington (), officially the State of Washington, is a U.S. state, state in the Northwestern United States, Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. Named for George Washington—the first President of the United States, U.S. p ...
.


Residence halls

The University of Victoria maintains several residence halls on campus, which were originally based on the
Oxbridge Oxbridge is a portmanteau of Oxford and Cambridge, the two oldest, wealthiest, and most famous universities in the United Kingdom. The term is used to refer to them collectively, in contrast to other British universities, and more broadly to de ...
Collegiate model of constituent colleges which serve as a smaller, more personal home environment to the students of the wider university. The university no longer operates these halls as individual colleges, but rather as halls of residences (as well as dormitories and apartments) as part of the Residence Life and Education department. Today, all halls of residence are equipped with Common Rooms and high-speed internet for students. Most UVic students live on campus or within a few blocks of the main site. The oldest and most famous of these residence halls is Craigdarroch, which features large stone-clad buildings and ivy covered walkways and courtyards. The modernist Lansdowne Halls feature six buildings connected by a series of bridges, walkways, and tunnels, including the popular 'UVic Underground'. Gordon Head and Ring Road Hall feature rooms and amenities for students, organized around a series of large courtyards. In the centre of the Residence Village is the Cadboro Commons and a number of restaurants operated by the university, where students may eat and study. A mixture of dorms, single rooms, apartments, cluster studios, and family housing are available but decided by lottery system. First year students are guaranteed accommodation in one of the Residence Halls of campus.


Student newspaper

UVic's oldest and most recognized weekly student newspaper, founded in 1948, is '' The Martlet''. It is distributed all over campus and the Greater Victoria area. The paper is named after the legendary martlet bird, whose inability to land is often seen to symbolize the constant quest for knowledge, learning, and adventure. ''The Martlet'' is partly funded by student fees. ''The Martlet'' is the only independent campus newspaper at the University of Victoria, and therefore one of the only publications that has the time and resources to fully hold both the University of Victoria and the University of Victoria Students' Society (UVSS) accountable. ''The Martlet'' regularly reports on UVic Board of Governors and Senate meetings, as well as University of Victoria Students' Society Board meetings and elections. Today, ''The Martlet'' has a wide circulation and can be found in coffee shops, theatres, grocery stores, offices, and street corners throughout
Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Gre ...
. The newspaper maintains its strong editorial line and commitment to politics and activism. Many national journalists and columnists in Canada have gotten their start in writing journalism at ''The Martlet'' and it continues to produce opportunities for student writers to become professionals. Notable ''Martlet'' alumni include Andrew MacLeod of the Tyee, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, and Leader of the B.C. Green Party Andrew Weaver. In recent years, ''The Martlet'' has broken stories about UVSS spending deficits, UVic's reputational enhancement project, divestment lobbying efforts by UVic student activists, issues with UVic's sexualized violence policy, the arrival of Starbucks on campus, problems in the UVic Sociology department, international student tuition hikes, student groups' support of the Unist'ot'en First Nation camp, pro-life vs. pro-choice protesters on campus, racism and antisemitism on campus, and the ongoing battle for UVic student Lilia Zaharieva to receive her life-saving medication for her cystic fibrosis. Martlet stories are regularly picked up by larger publications including the CBC, CTV News, the Times Colonist, and Chek News.


University traditions, myths, lore


Cadborosaurus

Cadborosaurus ''Cadborosaurus'', nicknamed Caddy by journalist Archie Wills, is a sea serpent in the folklore of regions of the Pacific Coast of North America. Its name is derived from Cadboro Bay in Greater Victoria, British Columbia, and the Greek root word ...
is a mythical sea serpent in the folklore of regions of the Pacific Coast of North America that is rumored by students to live in Cadboro Bay, adjacent to the University of Victoria. The Cadborosaurus, or 'Caddy' as he is colloquially named, has become a favourite for students.


Fight song

Notable among a number of songs commonly played and sung at various events such as commencement and convocation, and athletic games, is 'Rack and Ruin', a reminder of the tradition of the founding Victoria College. "Rack and Ruin,
Blood and Gore,
Victoria College
Evermore!"


Finnerty Gardens

UVic maintains an extensive series of gardens on campus which serve as a place of respite and peace for students, staff, and members of the public who visit them. The Garden's include some of the largest collections of West-Coast plants and are cared for by the Friends of Finnerty Gardens, a charity which raises funds and helps support the garden's growth. The Finnerty Gardens include ponds, trails, flower gardens, and benches throughout. The University Multi-Faith Centre is nestled neared the gardens.


Martlet icon

The martlet and its red colour adorn many parts of the University of Victoria, including the crest, coat of arms, and flag representing the university's previous affiliation to
McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Univer ...
which also uses the martlet. The legendary martlet bird's inability to land is often seen to symbolize the constant quest for knowledge, learning, and adventure. The oldest student newspaper on campus, '' The Martlet'', is named after the bird.


Weeks of Welcome

UVic Orientation/Weeks of Welcome takes place each year for all new students to the school. UVic Orientation includes events, activities, and workshops to help students adjust to university life. The main event of UVic Orientation, which takes place on the day immediately preceding the first day of classes, has gone by a number of names over the years. This event is currently referred to as New Student Welcome, and is UVic's largest Orientation event.


University Club

The University Club of Victoria is a private club located on the campus of University of Victoria. Faculty, Staff, and students are all members of the club and outside organization may also use the dining halls, meeting rooms, and other facilities. Alumni of the university often become members as well. The catering staff host dinners and awards celebrations frequently and the Holiday Roast Pig is a classic event on campus. The University Club (formerly called the Faculty Club) opened on March 16, 1982. The building, located on campus, is surrounded by high trees in a quiet, wooded area.


The University of Victoria Students Society (UVSS)

The
University of Victoria Students' Society The University of Victoria Students' Society (UVSS) is a student society that represents undergraduate students at the University of Victoria. The students' society was founded in 1921 and incorporated in 1964. It provides services and operates bus ...
is the second largest student society in British Columbia and represents the UVic undergraduate student body, plans campus wide events and operates the Student Union Building. The student society's leadership is elected annually during campus wide undergraduate student elections. As a multimillion-dollar organization, the UVSS is one of the larger student unions which exist in Canada. The UVSS also negotiates with local government and healthcare providers for Student Transit Passes and health insurance. In 2014, the UVSS Student Union building underwent a major overhaul and renovation. In 2015, the university expanded and doubled the capacity of the public transit hub on campus which is adjacent to the Student Union building. In 2016, plans began for the fundraising and building of a new, much larger Student Union Building to accommodate the growing student population.


The University of Victoria Graduate Student Society (GSS)

The University of Victoria has one of the highest percentages of graduate and doctoral students in the country. The GSS offers services and academic support for UVic's 3,000 Graduate students. The society's services include the Grad House Restaurant, health and dental plan, funding for grad student events, and reduced-cost membership in the Victoria Car Share Co-operative.


Athletics

The Victoria Vikes (more commonly known as ''Vikes Nation'') represent the university in a number of competitive sports, including rowing, swimming, rugby, and basketball. The Vikes have especially long ties to competitive rowing having competed for several international titles.
Sailing Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, windsurfer, or kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' ( land yacht) over a chose ...
remains an important sport at the university and the UVic Sailing Club (UVSC) maintains training facilities and boats at the nearby Cadboro Bay. Significant endowments, scholarships, and bursaries allow the university to recruit the best student-athletes, regardless of financial standing. UVic is a participating partner in the
Canada West Universities Athletic Association Canada West is a regional membership association for universities in Western Canada which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases abo ...
(CWUAA) (the western division of ) and in the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) established in 1940, is a college athletics association for colleges and universities in North America. Most colleges and universities in the NAIA offer athletic scholarships to its stu ...
(NAIA). Basketball games were traditionally played in the 2,500 seat, McKinnon Gymnasium which was built in 1975. An athletics facility was completed in 2015, which provides considerably more space and facilities for athletics. The $77 million Centre for Athletes, Recreation, and Special Abilities (CARSA), opened its doors on May 4, 2015. The university currently has both men's and women's teams in each of the following sports: *Rowing *Sailing *Basketball *Cross country & track *Field hockey *Golf *Rugby *Soccer *Swimming


Rowing

UVic maintains a boathouse on Elk Lake in
Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Gre ...
.


UVic and UBC rivalry

As the two oldest universities in the province, the University of Victoria (UVic) and the
University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks among the top thr ...
(UBC) have long been fierce rivals in sports and athletics, including in Rowing, Rugby, and Soccer. The UVic Vikes and UBC Thunderbirds rivalry is a symbol of good sportsmanship, but has sometimes resulted in violence and less-than-polite behaviour by both sides. The "Annual UBC I UVic Soccer Classic" is one of the largest university sporting events in Canada and pits the UBC Men's Soccer Team against the UVic Men's Soccer Team. The annual classic alternates between the UVic Centennial Stadium and the UBC Thunderbird Stadium. Vikes Nation fans and UBC Thunderbird fans pack into the Centennial stadium for the classic, with the UVic Cheerleaders and Marching Band also present. In 2015, UVic also constructed a new and expanded Athletics Facility (CARSA) which includes a major auditorium/gymnasium for Vikes Basketball Teams, and significantly more seating, stands, and court facilities.


Centennial Stadium

The Centennial Stadium is a historic stadium located on the campus of the University of Victoria in
Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Gre ...
, Canada. The large facility was built as a 1967 Canadian Centennial project to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Canadian confederation, but has undergone many repairs and upgrades since then. Today, it is one of the largest university stadiums in British Columbia and is home to the UVic Vikes.


Sports Hall of Fame

UVic Charter Inductees are: *Lorne Loomer: Rowing Coach – Builder/Administrator *Wally Milligan: Men's Soccer Coach – Builder/Administrator * Gareth Rees: Rugby – Athlete Category * Ken Shields: Basketball – Coach Category *Kathy Shields: Basketball – Coach Category *Johnny Franklin: water polo (All-Star)- Athlete Category (50in'15) Championships
Men's basketball: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1997
Women's basketball: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2003
Men's cross-country: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2015
Women's cross-country: 1981, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Women's field hockey: 1985, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2018, 2019, 2021
Men's soccer: 1976, 1988, 1997, 2004, 2011
Women's soccer: 2005 Canadian University Championship Titles
Men's rugby: 1998, 1999, 2020
Men's rowing: 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2009, 2010, 2021
Women's rowing: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012
Men's golf: 2003, 2005, 2006 Canadian Western Universities Championship Titles
Women's field hockey: 2015


Sport clubs and societies

UVic has 25 sport clubs that are administered by Vikes Recreation and run by students.


People


Chancellors


Presidents

*
W. Harry Hickman W. may refer to: * SoHo (Australian TV channel) (previously W.), an Australian pay television channel * ''W.'' (film), a 2008 American biographical drama film based on the life of George W. Bush * "W.", the fifth track from Codeine's 1992 EP ''Bar ...
, 1963–1964 (acting) *
Malcolm G. Taylor Malcolm, Malcom, Máel Coluim, or Maol Choluim may refer to: People * Malcolm (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Clan Malcolm * Maol Choluim de Innerpeffray, 14th-century bishop-elect of Dunkeld Nobility * Máel ...
, 1964–1968 *
Robert T. D. Wallace The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
, 1968–1969 (acting) *
Bruce J. Partridge The English language name Bruce arrived in Scotland with the Normans, from the place name Brix, Manche in Normandy, France, meaning "the willowlands". Initially promulgated via the descendants of king Robert the Bruce (1274−1329), it has been ...
, 1969–1972 *
Hugh E. Farquhar Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...
, 1972–1974 *
Stephen A. Jennings Stephen Arthur Jennings (May 11, 1915 – February 2, 1979) was a mathematician who made contributions to the study of modular representation theory . His advisor was Richard Brauer, and his student Rimhak Ree discovered two infinite series ...
, 1974 (acting) * Howard E. Petch, 1975–1990 * David F. Strong, 1990–2000 *
David H. Turpin David Howard Turpin (born 14 July 1956) is a Canadian scholar and the former university president. Turpin was the president and vice-chancellor of the University of Alberta (2015–2020) and the University of Victoria (2000 to 2013). In 2010 ...
, 2000–2013 *Jamie Cassels, 2013–2020 *Kevin Hall, 2020–present


Notable faculty

Some of the university's noted faculty members, past and present, are: * Alan Astbury, physics professor emeritus who played a part in the Nobel-prize winning discovery of a new subatomic particle and winner of the Rutherford Medal and Prize for physics *
Taiaiake Alfred Gerald Taiaiake Alfred is an author, educator and activist, born in Montreal, Quebec, in 1964 and raised in the community of Kahnawake. Alfred is an internationally recognized Kanien’kehá:ka professor. Early life and education Alfred grew up ...
, noted Indigenous scholar and founding director of the Indigenous Governance Program at UVic *
Mowry Baden Mowry Baden (born in 1936 in Los Angeles) is an American sculptor who has lived and worked in Canada since 1975. He is known for his gallery-based kinaesthetic sculptures and for his public sculpture, both of which require a strong element of bodi ...
, sculptor and winner of the 2008 Governor General's Award in Visual Arts *
David D. Balam David D. Balam is a Canadians, Canadian astronomer and a research associate with University of Victoria, University of Victoria's Department of Physics and Astronomy, in Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia. Specializing in the ...
, astronomer and namesake of asteroid 3749 Balam *Brendan Burke, Aegean Bronze Age archaeologist *Benjamin Butterfield, internationally acclaimed operatic tenor *
Brian Christie Brian Christie (died January 17, 2021) was an American television news journalist, talk show host, and anchor. Career He was host and executive producer of ''The Boomer Show''. For over a decade, he was a primary news anchor and reporter for ...
, Associate professor of Medicine and Neuroscience and active researcher *Louis D. Costa, neuropsychologist * Ronald I. Cheffins, professor emeritus of law and political science, first lawyer to be appointed directly to the British Columbia court of appeal (1985), a Canadian Constitutional expert, advisor to five past British Columbia lieutenant-governors, Vice-chair on the Law Reform Commission of British Columbia (1991), special commissioner appointed by Lieutenant-Governor
Clarence Wallace Clarence Wallace (June 22, 1893 – November 12, 1982) was a Canadian shipbuilder and the 18th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, he fought in World War I and was wounded at Ypres. After the w ...
(1953) *
Harold Coward Harold Coward (born 1936) is a Canadian scholar of bioethics and religious studies. A Bachelor in Divinity (Christian Theology), he earned a doctoral degree in Philosophy in 1973 from the McMaster University. He was a professor at University of ...
, world-renowned scholar in religious studies and a president of Academy 2 of the
Royal Society of Canada The Royal Society of Canada (RSC; french: Société royale du Canada, SRC), also known as the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada (French: ''Académies des arts, des lettres et des sciences du Canada''), is the senior national, bil ...
*
Lorna Crozier Lorna Crozier, OC (born 24 May 1948) is a Canadian poet who holds the Head Chair in the Writing Department at the University of Victoria. She has authored fifteen books and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2011. She is credited as ...
, recent recipient of the
Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the cen ...
*
Aaron H. Devor Aaron H. Devor (born 1951), is a Canadian sociologist and sexologist known for researching transsexuality and transgender communities. Devor has taught at the University of Victoria since 1989 and is the former dean of graduate studies. Gartner, ...
, sociologist and sexologist known for transgender research and holder of the university's Research Chair in Transgender Studies, a world's first *William Gaddes, noted psychologist and one of the first specialists in learning disorders in British Columbia * Werner Israel, physicist who discovered the important phenomenon of mass inflation, and together with Stephen Hawking, coeditor of two important celebratory volumes * Stephen Arthur Jennings, mathematician who made significant breakthroughs in the study of modular representation theory *Mary Kerr, production designer for the 1994 Commonwealth Games opening and closing ceremonies *
Boualem Khouider Boualem Khouider is an Algerian-Canadian applied mathematician, climate scientist, academic, and author. He is a professor, and former Chair of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Victoria. Khouider has published more than 100 papers ...
, mathematician and climate scientist * Patrick Lane, poet and the recipient of almost every major Canadian literary prize * Hal Lawrence, World War II veteran and historian *
Tim Lilburn Tim Lilburn (born 27 June 1950) is a Canadian poet and essayist. Lilburn was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He obtained a B.A. from the University of Regina, a Master's Degree in Philosophy from Gonzaga University, and his PhD from McMaster Uni ...
, poet and winner of the Governor General's Award * Stephen Lindsay, cognitive psychologist in the field of memory *
Joan MacLeod Joan MacLeod (born 1954) is a Canadian playwright.Joan MacLeod
Canadian Theatre Encyclo ...
, playwright and creative writing professor *Marshall McCall, scientist and expert on the chemical evolution of galaxies * Giselle O. Martin-Kniep, educator focusing on learning communities *Erich Mohr, researcher in experimental therapeutics for central nervous system disorders * Julio Navarro, astrophysicist involved in formulating a density profile for dark matter halos *Jesse Read, musical conductor, composer, and bassoonist * Jillian Roberts, child psychologist and children's book author *Otfried Spreen, neuropsychologist and aphasia researcher * James Tully, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Law, Indigenous Governance and Philosophy *
Don VandenBerg Dr. Don VandenBerg is Professor Emeritus of astronomy (Ph.D. Australian National University) at the department of physics and astronomy at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He is internationally acclaimed for his work on modell ...
, internationally acclaimed astrophysicist for his work on modelling stars * Andrew Weaver, one of the world's leading climate researchers, member of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which was co-awarded the 2007
Nobel Peace Prize The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments (military weapons and equipment) manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiolo ...
along with former
U.S. vice president The vice president of the United States (VPOTUS) is the second-highest officer in the executive branch of the U.S. federal government, after the president of the United States, and ranks first in the presidential line of succession. The vice pr ...
Al Gore Albert Arnold Gore Jr. (born March 31, 1948) is an American politician, businessman, and environmentalist who served as the 45th vice president of the United States from 1993 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Gore was the Democratic ...
, member of the British Columbia Climate Action Team, MLA for
Oak Bay-Gordon Head Oak Bay-Gordon Head is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. Demographics Geography After restructuring prior to the 2017 election, Oak Bay-Gordon Head consists of the entirety of Oak Ba ...
from 2013 to 2020 and Leader of the BC Green Party from 2015 to 2020. *Anthony Welch, art historian and one of the foremost authorities on Islamic art & architecture *
Christine Welsh Christine Welsh is a Métis people (Canada), Métis Canadian filmmaker, feminist and associate professor at the University of Victoria. Early life Welsh was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. She is the great-grand-daughter of Norbert Wel ...
,
Métis The Métis ( ; Canadian ) are Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples who inhabit Canada's three Canadian Prairies, Prairie Provinces, as well as parts of British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and the Northern United State ...
filmmaker * Jin-Sun Yoon, 2015 recipient of 3M National Teaching Award * Anne Zeller, physical anthropologist specializing in the study of primates *
Chase Joynt Chase Joynt is a Canadian filmmaker, writer, video artist, actor, and professor. He attracted acclaim as co-director with Aisling Chin-Yee of the documentary film ''No Ordinary Man'' (2020),Pat Mullen"Canada at Cannes: Documentary in the Time of C ...
, joined the University of Victoria in 2019 as an assistant professor of Gender Studies. He teaches three courses; Queer Cinema, Popular Culture and Social Media, and Gender, Power and Difference. According to the University of Victoria undergraduate calendar - January 2021, GNDR 344 - Queer Film surveys "queer" representation in popular film. Particular attention is paid to critical analyses of gay, lesbian, straight, queer, transgender and transsexual embodiment on the screen. According to the University of Victoria undergraduate calendar - January 2021, GNDR 200 - Popular Culture and Social Media critically examines representations of gender, race, class and sexualities in popular culture and social media with a consideration of how historical, ideological, social and political forces influence media practices. According to the University of Victoria undergraduate calendar - January 2021, GNDR 100 - Gender, Power, and Difference is an interdisciplinary introduction to gender studies. Considers the way gender (i.e., our idea of what it is to be a "real" woman or man) is constructed across class, race/ethnicity, sexualities, (dis)abilities, age and geographical location. Examines the impact of these intersecting identities on social inequality through diverse topics, such as media, culture, language, work, health, globalization, colonization and activism. Situates Canadian topics in a broader, transnational context, emphasizing connections between the "local" and the "global." *Thea Cacchioni, currently an associate professor and chair of the gender studies department at the University of Victoria. Her research focuses on the medicalization of sex, gender, and sexuality; as well as specifically focussing on specific diagnoses such as Female Sexual Dysfunction and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Cacchioni has testified twice at the US Federal
Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food ...
against ‘ pink viagra,’ an ineffective desire drug designed for women with harmful side effects. *Sikata Banerjee, is a Gender Studies professor who joined the University of Victoria in 2000. Banerjee offers six courses including; Gender Studies Seminar, Women, Race and Empire, Imagining India from Empire to Bollywood, Masculinities, Women in Contemporary India, and Gender, Nation, and War. *Annalee Lepp, an associate professor in the Gender Studies Department at the University of Victoria since 1993. Lepp teaches four courses which include; GNDR 201 - Gender, Food and Power, GNDR 302 - Sex Work, Trafficking and Human Rights, GNDR 400A - Critical Research Practices, and GNDR 400B - Research Seminar for Independent Project. *Andrea Walsh is an associate professor and Smyth chair in Arts & Engagement at the University of Victoria and a curator. Dr. Walsh is a visual anthropologist, specialized in 20th-century contemporary aboriginal and visual culture in Canada. Since 2011 Walsh has been the director of the Visiting Arts Program out of the Department of Anthropology as part of one of her courses; as well as teaching a course on museums and anthropology. She has been a curator in eight different exhibitions since 2000. Walsh's most recent exhibition, also curated by Dr. Sharon Fortney, “There is Truth Here: Creativity and Resilience in Children’s Art from Indian Residential and Day Schools,” featured surviving artwork attained from
residential A residential area is a land used in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas. Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single-family housing, multi-family resi ...
and day schools from several different places across Canada; this was featured in the
Museum of Vancouver The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) (formerly the Vancouver Museum and prior to that the Centennial Museum) is a civic history museum located in Vanier Park, Vancouver, British Columbia. The MOV is the largest civic museum in Canada and the oldest museu ...
. This exhibit was part of her work as an Honorary Witness to Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. For her work on this exhibit in partnership with the survivors of the residential and Day Schools in Canada, she received a Community Award in 2020 from the BC Achievement Foundation. *
Christine Sy Christine may refer to: People * Christine (name), a female given name Film * ''Christine'' (1958 film), based on Schnitzler's play ''Liebelei'' * ''Christine'' (1983 film), based on King's novel of the same name * ''Christine'' (1987 fil ...
is an Ojibway
Anishinaabe The Anishinaabeg (adjectival: Anishinaabe) are a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples present in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. They include the Ojibwe (including Saulteaux and Oji-Cree), Odawa, Potawa ...
professor of Gender Studies at the University of Victoria (British Columbia) from Bawatig (Sault Ste. Marie, ON). Sy is from obiishkikaang Lac Seul First Nation in Ontario, and is makwa odoodem meaning Bear Clan. Sy also has ancestry from north of Sault St. Marie, Ontario, in Island Lake. In 2016, Sy began as a lecturer at the University of Victoria, and in 2018, became an assistant professor. Sy's teaching and research specializes in Indigenous gender studies, and the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land, and the politics surrounding their ongoing relationship with the more-than-natural world. Sy's recent research centres the sovereignty of the
Anishinaabe The Anishinaabeg (adjectival: Anishinaabe) are a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples present in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. They include the Ojibwe (including Saulteaux and Oji-Cree), Odawa, Potawa ...
g peoples, and uses feminist interpretive lenses to examine the relationships of Anishinaabeg women with the sugar bush across space and time. Sy holds her relationship with the Lekwungen and WSÁNEĆ lands, waters and peoples as a priority, as well as her relationship with her own nation in her research, her education and in her creative life.


Notable alumni

The university has over 88,000 alumni. Listed below are some of UVic's noted alumni:


Alumni in the arts

*
Kim Adams Kim Adams (born 17 December 1951) is a Canadian sculptor who is known for his assemblages combining prefabricated elements, often parts of cars or other machine-made structures. His visual style is influenced by industrial design, architecture a ...
, internationally known sculptor * Bill Burns, conceptual artist *
Mark Chao Mark Chao (, born 25 September 1984) is a Taiwanese-Canadian actor and model. He made his television debut in the television series '' Black & White'' (2009), for which he won the Golden Bell Award for Best Actor. Since then, he has starred in fi ...
, Chinese/Taiwanese singer, actor and model *
Calvin Chen Calvin Chen ( zh, t=辰亦儒, w=''Chen I-Ju'', poj=Sîn E̍k-jû, p=Chén Yìrú; Pha̍k-fa-sṳ:Shìn Yi̍t-yî; Teochew pronunciation in Tâi-lô: Sîng Iā-dzû) is a Thai Chinese actor, businessman, model, singer, and television host. H ...
, singer and actor as a member in the popular Taiwanese boy band Fahrenheit *
Kyle Christie Kyle Christie is a Hong Kong cricketer. In 2016, Christie responded to an advert that Cricket Hong Kong posted on Facebook for Hong Kong-born cricketers who are overseas. Later that year, he made his international debut for the Hong Kong nation ...
Journalist * Esi Edugyan, novelist * Nathan Fielder, writer and comedian * Leah Gibson, actress * Rick Gibson, sculptor and performance artist * Lori Hallier, actress *
Aislinn Hunter Aislinn Hunter (born 1969 in Belleville, Ontario) is a Canadian poetry and fiction author. She studied art history and writing at the University of Victoria where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Her Master of Fine Arts degree c ...
, poet and fiction author * Erin Karpluk, actress currently starring as Erica Strange on CBC's ''Being Erica'' *
W. P. Kinsella William Patrick "W. P." Kinsella (May 25, 1935September 16, 2016) was a Canadian novelist and short story writer, known for his novel '' Shoeless Joe'' (1982), which was adapted into the movie ''Field of Dreams'' in 1989. His work often concer ...
, novelist well known for his 1982 novel ''Shoeless Joe'' which was adapted into the movie ''Field of Dreams'' *
Eva Markvoort Eva Markvoort (March 31, 1984 – March 27, 2010) was a woman from New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada who died from cystic fibrosis at the age of 25. She blogged about her life, family and experiences, including undergoing a lung transplant ...
, author who chronicled her life with cystic fibrosis which became the subject of the film 65 Redroses'' *Aaron McArthur,
Global News Global News is the news and current affairs division of the Canadian Global Television Network. The network is owned by Corus Entertainment, which oversees all of the network's national news programming as well as local news on its 21 owned-an ...
BC television reporter * Charles Montgomery, writer *
Janet Munsil Janet Munsil is a Canadian playwright based in Victoria, British Columbia.Amy Smart"Playwright puts own touches on condensed classic". ''Victoria Times-Colonist'', October 1, 2014. She is most noted for her plays ''That Elusive Spark'' and ''Be St ...
, playwright and theatre director *
Peter Outerbridge Peter Outerbridge (born June 30, 1966) is a Canadian actor, best known for his role as Ari Tasarov in the CW action series '' Nikita'', Dr. David Sandström in the TMN series ''ReGenesis'', Henrik "Hank" Johanssen in ''Orphan Black'', Bob Corbet ...
, Genie-nominated actor in such movies as ''Kissed'' and ''Saw VI'' * Nilesh Patel, noted filmmaker *Chris Perry, Royal Canadian Navy Historian *
Eden Robinson Eden Victoria Lena Robinson (born 19 January 1968) is an Indigenous Canadian author. She is a member of the Haisla and Heiltsuk First Nations.Melanie Siebert, poet *
Bren Simmers Bren Simmers is a Canadian poet and writer. She is the author of three collections of poetry, ''Night Gears'' (Wolsak and Wynn 2010), ''Hastings-Sunrise'' (Nightwood Editions 2015), and ''If, When'' (Gaspereau Press 2021). She is also the author ...
, poet *
Jessica Stockholder Jessica Stockholder (born 1959) is a Canadian-American artist known for site-specific installation art, installation works and sculptures that are often described as "paintings in space."Kino, Carol"Go Ahead, Play With (And On) the Art,"''The ...
, artist *
Richard Van Camp Richard Van Camp (born September 8, 1971) is a Dogrib Tłı̨chǫ writer of the Dene nation from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada.
, short story writer and novelist * D.W. Wilson, writer


Alumni in business

* Stewart Butterfield (B.A. '96), entrepreneur, businessman, co-founder of the photo sharing website Flickr and its parent company Ludicorp; founded the team communication app Slack *Peter Ciceri, former vice-president,
Compaq Compaq Computer Corporation (sometimes abbreviated to CQ prior to a 2007 rebranding) was an American information technology company founded in 1982 that developed, sold, and supported computers and related products and services. Compaq produced ...
Computer Corporation, United States *Bob Cummings, Executive Vice-president, Guest Experience and Marketing of
WestJet WestJet Airlines Ltd. is a Canadian airline headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, near Calgary International Airport. It is the second-largest Canadian airline, behind Air Canada, operating an average of 777 flights and carrying more than 66,130 ...
*Richard Flury, former chief executive of BP *Mark Hill, co-founder and former vice-president of WestJet *
Ryan Holmes Ryan Holmes (born December 30, 1974) is a Canadian computer programmer and internet entrepreneur. He is best known as the founder and CEO of Hootsuite, a social media management tool for businesses with more than 18 million users and Holmes' fifth ...
, founder and CEO of the online social media dashboard, Hootsuite *
Jeff Mallett Jeffrey Mallett (born August 7, 1964) is a Canadian entrepreneur and investor. He is best known for building internet giant Yahoo!. Described as Yahoo's "wizard behind the curtains pulling all the levers," Mallett manages a portfolio of Interne ...
, former president and chief operating officer of
Yahoo! Yahoo! (, styled yahoo''!'' in its logo) is an American web services provider. It is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California and operated by the namesake company Yahoo Inc., which is 90% owned by investment funds managed by Apollo Global Mana ...
*Tim Price, chair and director of Trilon Financial Corporation * Sheridan Scott, vice-president of Bell Canada; former head of the Competition Bureau of Canada *Benjamin Philip George, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer of George Healthcare Berhad *Alistair Vigier, chief executive officer and co-founder of ClearWay Law *Kyle Vucko, chief executive officer and co-founder of Indochino


Alumni in government and public affairs

*
George Abbott George Francis Abbott (June 25, 1887 – January 31, 1995) was an American theatre producer, director, playwright, screenwriter, film director and producer whose career spanned eight decades. Early years Abbott was born in Forestville, New Y ...
, former BC Liberal cabinet Minister and member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Shuswap. * Rona Ambrose, Interim leader of the
Conservative Party The Conservative Party is a name used by many political parties around the world. These political parties are generally right-wing though their exact ideologies can range from center-right to far-right. Political parties called The Conservative P ...
and
Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...
, and federal cabinet Minister under
Stephen Harper Stephen Joseph Harper (born April 30, 1959) is a Canadian politician who served as the 22nd prime minister of Canada from 2006 to 2015. Harper is the first and only prime minister to come from the modern-day Conservative Party of Canada, ...
. * Jody Wilson-Raybould, former Liberal Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and current MP for
Vancouver Granville Vancouver Granville is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 2015. The district includes all or significant portions of the Kerrisdale, Marpole, Oakridge, S ...
. She was Canada's first Indigenous Minister of Justice. * Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly, public policy scholar and editor of the ''Journal of Borderlands Studies'' *Ric Careless, one of British Columbia's leaders in wilderness preservation, named Environmentalist of the Year (1991) by Equinox Magazine and River Conservationist of the Year (1993) by American Rivers *
Murray Coell Murray Coell (born 1955 or 1954) is a Canadian politician. He is a former member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, representing the riding of Saanich North and the Islands, a suburb of Victoria, from 1996 through 2012. He is a BC Li ...
, former BC Liberal cabinet Minister and member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for
Saanich North and the Islands Saanich North and the Islands is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It is located in the northern suburbs of the provincial capital, Victoria, and includes the southern Gulf Islands. Saanic ...
and former mayor of Saanich. *
Fin Donnelly Fin Donnelly (born May 27, 1966) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the House of Commons of Canada to represent the electoral district of Port Moody—Coquitlam. He is a member of the New Democratic Party. Donnelly was first elected a ...
, former NDP Member of Parliament for New Westminster-Coquitlam and current member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for
Coquitlam-Burke Mountain Coquitlam-Burke Mountain is a provincial electoral district in British Columbia, Canada. It was established by the ''Electoral Districts Act, 2008'', created out of parts of Port Moody-Westwood, Coquitlam-Maillardville and Port Coquitlam-Bu ...
. * Rob Fleming, NDP provincial cabinet Minister and member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Victoria-Swan Lake. * Barbara Hall, mayor of Toronto (1994–1997) *
Colin Hansen Colin Hansen (born 1952) is a former provincial politician for the Canadian province of British Columbia from 1996 to 2013. Hansen's most recent cabinet position was Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier from June 10, 2009 to March 13, 2011. He ...
, former BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for
Vancouver-Quilchena Vancouver-Quilchena is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. According to the 2006 Census, this riding is the second-wealthiest in British Columbia with an average family income of $91,822, b ...
. *Lydia Hwitsun, former Chief of Cowichan Tribes * Judi Tyabji, former BC Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Okanagan-East. *
Gary Lunn Gary Vincent Lunn (born May 8, 1957) is a retired Canadian member of Parliament for the British Columbia riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands. He served in the House of Commons from 1997 to 2011, first as a member of the Reform Party of Canada an ...
, former Conservative federal Minister, former Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands. *
Lorna Marsden Lorna Marsden, (born March 6, 1942) is a Canadian sociologist, academic administrator, and former politician. She is the former President and Vice-Chancellor of both Wilfrid Laurier University and York University, and a former member of the Se ...
, former president of York University * Rabbie Namaliu, Prime Minister of
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
(1988-1992) *
Adrian Norfolk Adrian is a form of the Latin given name Adrianus or Hadrianus. Its ultimate origin is most likely via the former river Adria from the Venetic and Illyrian word ''adur'', meaning "sea" or "water". The Adria was until the 8th century BC the main ...
, Ambassador of Canada to Qatar *
Barry Penner Barry Penner, is a Canadian licensed lawyer and former politician in the province of British Columbia. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) for Chilliwack-Hope for 16 years. He also served as Attorney Gene ...
, former BC Liberal provincial cabinet minister and member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for
Chilliwack-Hope Chilliwack-Hope was a provincial electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, established by the ''Electoral Districts Act, 2008''. It was first contested in the 2009 British Columbia General Election. The riding was formed from an amalga ...
and former president of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER). * Andrew Petter, Canadian constitutional law scholar, former NDP Attorney-General of British Columbia and member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for
Saanich South Saanich South is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It was created by 1990 legislation dividing the previous two-member district of Saanich and the Islands which came into effect for the 19 ...
, and current president of Simon Fraser University * Carla Qualtrough, Liberal Member of Parliament for Delta and federal Minister. * Tamara Vrooman, former Deputy Minister of Finance of British Columbia and current Vancity CEO


Alumni in the sciences

*
Laurel Schafer Laurel Schafer is a Canadian Organic chemist. She is a full professor at the University of British Columbia and Canada Research Chair in Catalyst Development. Schafer's research is at the intersection of organometallic and organic chemistry. E ...
,
Canada Research Chair Canada Research Chair (CRC) is a title given to certain Canadian university research professors by the Canada Research Chairs Program. Program goals The Canada Research Chair program was established in 2000 as a part of the Government of Canada ...
in Catalyst Development * Robert Campbell Aitken, a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers *Trevor Van Damme, Aegean archaeologist


Alumni in sports

*
Kirsten Barnes Jennifer-Kirsten Barnes (born March 26, 1968) is a Canadian rower and Olympic champion. Barnes was born in London, UK, in 1968. She competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in the Coxless pair A coxless pair is a rowing boat used in the s ...
, winner of two Olympic gold medals in rowing in 1992 in Barcelona * Ryan Cochrane, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in men's 1500m freestyle swimming, and 2012 Olympic silver medalist in 1500m freestyle swimming *
Stephanie Dixon Stephanie is a female name that comes from the Greek name Στέφανος (Stephanos) meaning "crown". The male form is Stephen. Forms of Stephanie in other languages include the German "Stefanie", the Italian, Czech, Polish, and Russian "S ...
, swimmer, gold medalist in the Paralympic Games in Athens (2004) and Sydney (2000), and numerous medals in the Pan American Games * Kyle Hamilton, gold medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics in men's eights in rowing * Sarah Kaufman, former Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Championship holder, professional mixed martial artist, formerly with the
Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...
, current Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion * Gareth Rees, CEO for Rugby Canada and Canada's all-time leading goal scorer in rugby * Ken Shields, former head coach of the Canadian national basketball team *
Alison Sydor Alison Jane Sydor (born September 9, 1966) is a Canadian retired professional cross-country mountain cyclist. She began cycling at age 20 and is a graduate of the University of Victoria. She won a silver medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in mou ...
, three-time world mountain bike champion and recipient of the Velma Springstead Trophy as Canada's top female athlete in 1995 and 1996 * Lauren Woolstencroft, eight-time Paralympics gold medalist in alpine skiing


Asteroid 150145 Uvic

The asteroid
150145 Uvic Fifteen or 15 may refer to: *15 (number), the natural number following 14 and preceding 16 *one of the years 15 BC, AD 15, 1915, 2015 Music *Fifteen (band), a punk rock band Albums * ''15'' (Buckcherry album), 2005 * ''15'' (Ani Lorak album) ...
was named in the university's honour on 1 June 2007. UVic was the first university in BC to have an asteroid named for it.


Coat of Arms


See also

* Adaptive Public License * Akitsiraq Law School * Camosun College, a nearby college *
Education in Canada Education in Canada is for the most part provided publicly, and is funded and overseen by provincial, territorial and local governments. Education is within provincial jurisdiction and the curriculum is overseen by the province. Education in ...
* Higher education in British Columbia * List of universities in British Columbia *
University of Victoria Students' Society The University of Victoria Students' Society (UVSS) is a student society that represents undergraduate students at the University of Victoria. The students' society was founded in 1921 and incorporated in 1964. It provides services and operates bus ...


Notes


References


External links

*
Official athletics website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Victoria, University of 1963 establishments in British Columbia Educational institutions established in 1963 University of Victoria Universities in British Columbia