KSA Spotlight: Shannen Johnson-Barker

1. How did you come to work for the KSA?
I was originally hired by the KSA as a barista at Grassroots café. I worked as a supervisor at the café for many years. I was an international student and needed to find a job that worked well with my classes. Grassroots was perfect for this, it allowed me to integrate with fellow students while making money.

2. What is your position, and can you provide a brief summary of what you do?
I am now the events Coordinator for the KSA which means I get to be a part of planning all the fun events and activities that happen on campus!

3. What is your favourite thing about working here?
The people. I knew almost no one when starting at Grassroots. I was new to Canada and was incredibly shy. I found a home amongst my co-workers. I finally felt comfortable enough to come out of my shell and be myself. I have made friends great friends at the KSA.

4. Best activity to do on the weekend?
I’m not a very outdoorsy person but whenever the sun graces us with its presence I love to get out and spend time in nature, even if it’s just sitting in the garden in the sunshine with a cup of tea. I love Vancouver and take any opportunity to explore the city. I am a bit of a foody, so any weekend spent enjoying new and unique food with my friends is a good weekend.

5. What is something that makes you unique?
Maybe that I have an accent? Or that I’m incredibly sarcastic? I am sure that I have many personality traits that make me unique, but I honestly don’t know what they are. I tend to mother everybody. I’m usually pretty concerned about the well-being of those around me. I’m always checking that they have eaten well or if they need a cup of tea.

6. What is something most people don’t know about you? 
People are usually surprised that I am a trained special effects makeup artist and worked in the makeup industry before moving to Canada. I guess it is fairly surprising considering I never wear makeup. Most people assume I'm Australian or British when they meet me. I'm South African.

7. What is your favourite food?
Oh that’s a tough one. I can’t pick one so I’m going to go with my top three, in no particular order – Sushi, a perfectly tender rare steak, any and all veggies.

8. What is one of your best memories at the KSA?
I have so many amazing memories from working at Grassroots. Honestly almost every day was memorable. I worked with an amazing team and have so many great memories with them. One of my best so far from my new position is covering my veggie hating co-worker’s desk in obnoxiously happy pictures of fruits and vegetables for April Fools.

KSA Spotlight: Erin Pedersen

1. How did you come to work for the KSA?
I studied at KPU Langley campus in the Environmental Protection Technology program. As the program was about to finish, my instructor Paul Richard shared that the KSA was hiring for the position of Sustainability Coordinator. I was looking for a role where I could contribute to positive environmental and social change, so here I am!

Sediment sampling at KPU Langley campus with EPT

2. What is your position and can you provide a brief summary of what you do? 
I’m the Sustainability Coordinator. My job is to research and implement policies, events and initiatives to increase environmental awareness and reduce negative environmental impacts within the organization and the student body. I also advocate for increased environmental sustainability at KPU, and support student sustainability initiatives. Some of the programs I work on are the Kwantlen St. Market, Westerman Campus Garden, ecoDAYS Sustainability Fair, Clothing+ donation bins, and more.

3. What is your favourite thing about working here?
There’s a lot of variety in this job, and a great deal of freedom to experiment with new ideas and initiatives. Much of “business as usual” is inherently unsustainable, so I’m excited to work with an organization of young people who are willing to break norms and have fun while doing it.

4. Best activity to do on the weekend?
Hike. Climb. Ski. Mountains, Gandalf, mountains!

5. What is something that makes you unique?
Before going back to school, I worked as a boat driver and tour guide in Gwaii Haanas National Park in Haida Gwaii.

6. What is your favourite food?
Avocado toast. The more expensive, the better.

7. What is one of your best memories at the KSA? 
Soon after being hired, I was able to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with my coworker Michelle and two student delegates to attend the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Conference. It was a great opportunity to meet people from around North America working to make higher education more environmentally and socially sustainable.

Helping out at our ecoDAYS screening of KDocs Presents: The True Cost in March

- Erin (Sustainable KSA)

Meet Piper and Nate from Active KSA!

Farewell + A Corgi

Hello!

This post will just be a quick one from me, Kendell Kitt, the KSA's Clubs & Outreach Coordinator for the last 3 years. I'm the one who has been scheduling, planning and occasionally breaking the KSA blog since the beginning. If you ever saw our intro post, I'm the one who loves smoothies, waking up early and photos of corgis.

This post is to let everyone know that I am moving on from the KSA (to pursue a dream of living in a small town). As a result, this blog may be not be updated as frequently and you may notice a change in the 'voice' of the blog.

Me (Bottom) with my Street Team Volunteers! 

The past 3 years I've worked on a variety of student life and engagement projects that all aim at increasing the community and campus life here at KPU. It's been an absolute blast and I've met so many passionate students that are working hard to grow the sense of community here at KPU. My famous last words: Don't just go home after class! Get involved (volunteer, join a club, join a committee, enter a school contest, study on campus), go to events and make memories on campus that are unrelated to class!

Cheers (+ thank you for a great 3 years),

Kendell Kitt

ps. Here's a corgi.

KSA Spotlight: Alicia Poon

There are some pretty amazing people that work to support students at the KSA. Every month we'll feature a staff member (and occasionally Council member) so you can actually put a face to the name/event/project. This month, I invite you to meet Alicia, the Student Service Coordinator for the KSA Benefit Plan!

Here are a few things about Alicia... 

1. How did you come to work for the KSA?
I was a student at kpu back in the fall 2005 and ended up spending time in the Grassroots (formerly The Fishbowl or The Oasis lol) and got a job in the KSA run café for and a year later got the job as a part timer helper in the KSA Extended Health and Dental Office.

2. What is your position and can you provide a brief summary of what you do?
I am the Student Service Coordinator for the KSA Benefit Plan. I facilitate the plan for students. Help them understand what their plan is and how to best use it. I also do a lot of other jobs to help students utilize their plan.

3. What is your favourite thing about working here?
The environment. The people. I have been here for 13 years, 12 of which are in the health and dental office and I have always enjoyed it.

4. Best activity to do on the weekend?
Go to Whistler.

5. What is something that makes you unique?
I am fairly gutsy. I like to take on challenges, dares and am ruthless in competition. I once shoved a stranger is a glacier fed lake because he deserved it lol (if you find me on campus you can ask me the story-I swear I'm not mean)

6. What is your favourite food?
I love Asian food, most types.

7. What is one of your best memories at the KSA?
A few years ago at a staff retreat we got to go to a place I hadn't been since I was in grade 4 and I jumped in ice cold water with colleagues and we shared our life stories and it was a great time I wont soon forget.

Also every time Start Coordinator Steph Chee got pranked with a banana, that bit is classic.

Want to do more with the KSA? Volunteer with our START Program, Peer Support or the KSA Street Team. Looking to do more as a student? Consider attending a committee meeting or running in election next Spring. Want to work for us? Check out our job postings here.

KSA Spotlight: Nate Huggins

There are some pretty amazing people that work to support students at the KSA. Every month we'll feature a staff member (and occasionally Council member) so you can actually put a face to the name/event/project. This month, I invite you to meet our Active KSA Specialist, Nate!

Here are a few things about Nate… 

1. How did you come to work for the KSA?
I came to work for the KSA by joining the Grassroots team last September to pay for my tuition. It was my first job and I was welcomed into it with open arms by both the staff behind the counter as well as the folks down at the KSA. I'm really glad I worked at the Cafe first because not only did I get paid but I also got to meet so many cool new people within my first year at KPU.

2. What is your position and can you provide a brief summary of what you do?
My position is the Active KSA Specialist. So at Active KSA we organize events for students, and we give them an opportunity to explore and play within the community as well as go out and do things they normally wouldn't get to do on campus. We get to do all sorts of outdoor events such as canoeing, bike riding, hiking, stand up paddle boarding, and later this summer we plan to have a game of Quidditch at Stanley Park. 

3. What is your favourite thing about working here?
My favorite thing about working here is the people I work with on a daily basis, but also the people I get to meet on the events we run. Each event is different. The organization and execution of the event is more or less different each time, so it keeps me on my toes.

4. Best activity to do on the weekend?
My favorite activity to do on the weekend is hang out with friends or play video games with my brother.

5. What is something that makes you unique?
Something that makes me unique? I genuinely love to make people smile and laugh. Not to sound too cheesy, but I love to play in all aspects of my life. Be it on a screen, with cards, on a field with a ball, or just playing with different voices in an attempt to make people giggle. I've got a surplus of energy so this job is perfect for me. 

6. What is your favourite food?
My favorite food is Burgers. I could eat them for breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

7. What is one of your best memories at the KSA?
One of my best memories at the KSA was doing Open Mic Night with my Supervisor. We sang "This Kitchen is Not a Home" from SpongeBob. It was hilarious, I hope to be there for the next Open Mic as well. 

Want to do more with the KSA? Volunteer with our START Program, Peer Support or the KSA Street Team. Looking to do more as a student? Consider attending a committee meeting or running in election next Spring. Want to work for us? Check out our job postings here.

Council Recap: April 6, 2018

The incoming KSA Council met twice last week, on April 2 and and April 6.  The incoming councillors swore their oaths of office, and voted on the new Executive at the first meeting, and the second meeting was primarily taken up with appointing councillors to various committees.
Here are the FIVE things you NEED to know from this week's’ Council:

#5
One of the first orders of business for the new council is to appoint councillors to the various committees of the organization.  Committees are where new ideas are developed, and recommendations made for the Council to vote on. The committees of Council are the Appointments committee, the Environmental Sustainability committee, the External Affairs committee, the Finance & Operations committee, the Governance committee, the Social Justice and Equity committee, the Student Life committee and the University Affairs committee.  All of the committees have seats reserved for students - apply at kusa.ca/committees

#4
Murdoch de Mooy was elected VP University Affairs.  While de Mooy previously held the position of Arts Faculty Representative, he was defeated by Jazicka Rai in the 2018 General Election for Mature Students Representative. He continues to hold his seat on Council because he is a student representative on the University Senate.  If the Bylaw changes been approved at the 2018 AGM, senators would no longer be on Council, but the meeting did not have the required 200 people for quorum, and the bylaws were not changed.

This is not the first time that a student senator has been elected to an executive position.  
Christopher Girodat, appointed December 2011 as Director of Student Services and Executive Chairperson, was recently made an honourary member of the association for his contributions to the organization. Girodat is most well-known for his role in organizing students to introduce unprecedented levels of accountability in the society. Chris’s other accomplishments include replacing the entirety of the KSA bylaws, implementing accounting best practices, hiring a new general manager, increasing trust in the student body, as well as inspiring generations of KSA council members. Steven Button, appointed November 2013 as Director of Student Services and Executive Chairperson, was a quiet and stately presence at the KSA during his term, preferring to take care of the behind-the-scenes work so critical to the workings of the student association, and largely leaving the spotlight to his colleagues.  

#3
David Piraquive was appointed VP Student Life. Piraquive has been involved with the KSA as a student member since he was appointed to the External Affairs committee in September 2014.  He was elected as a Arts Faculty Representative in the 2017 general election, and successfully re-ran in the 2018 election. You might’ve met Piraquive collecting signatures for the Grants Now! campaign this past spring.

#2
Joseph Thorpe, the new VP Finance & Operations, is the ‘newest’ member of the executive team.  He was appointed as the Queer Students Liaison at the 2017 AGM, and continued to hold the position after the by-election, as no one ran to replace him.  He successfully ran in the 2018 General election. Thorpe has been working at Career Services at the University, and is an HR student. He was very involved in the Pride float for the 2017 Pride Parade, and we are excited to see what he has planned for this year!

#1
Caitlin McCutchen was re-elected Vice President External at the Council meeting on April 2, and following that was elected President by the Executive Committee.  McCutchen first got involved with the KSA for the 2015 get out the vote campaign, and went on to serve as a student at large, and then a Senate representative, before running as women’s representative in the 2017 election.  She is no stranger to leadership, having served as the Chairperson of the Alliance of BC Students since June 2017. In her first term as VP External, McCutchen oversaw many campaigns, including the a more mindful U campaign for mental health, and a campaign for student housing with the ABCS, which influenced the government’s commitment in the 2018 budget of $450 million dollars over three years to build student housing.  

You can keep track of what the new Council is doing here on the blog, and in the meeting minutes of KSA Council and Committees, which are available after approval on kusa.ca/committees.

2017 Recap

I cannot be the only one who feels like it was March all of 4 days ago. Yet here we are with the New Year right around the corner. Where did the year go? What happened? I can barely remember what I had for lunch 3 hours ago.

Here’s my best recap of what happened this year as remembered by me (and other staff that randomly walked by my desk while I was typing this)...

JANUARY 2017

Nicki, the KSA’s new Policy and Political Affairs Coordinator starts. She has no idea what is coming around the corner for her in May (re: provincial election). We took part in Orientation and visited all 4 campuses for Welcome Week.

FEBRUARY 2017

KSA Elections happened and a new Council is elected. No one can remember anything else from this month.

MARCH 2017

The KSA Council made Ryan Reynolds an honorary member of the association at our Annual General Meeting…..

…

…

…

…. Yeahhhhhh, let's just not talk about that one.

APRIL 2017

The parking lots started to clear up. Hooray for the upcoming Summer semester! April was also the month of the KSA/KPU Volunteer Recognition Dinner, where we celebrated hard working Kwantlen volunteers.

MAY 2017

The big news this month was the BC Provincial Election! 

JUNE2017

The KSA Executives mysteriously disappear. They say they were at numerous conferences meeting with other student associations, learning, growing and networking... no one knows for sure. Someone show me proof!

The BC Provincial Election is stillllllllll going. We cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, everyone is confused, this hasn’t happened before!

JULY 2017

The BC Provincial Election is basically figured out. But more importantly, this beautiful creation (KSA blog) started to become a thing.

Read our blog post on how the BC Provincial Election is the worst tinder date you've ever been on here.

AUGUST 2017 -- BIG MONTH!

August was a big month for the KSA.  

First, one of our own became a local celebrity! Our VP External Caitlin was featured on the FRONT PAGE of the Georgia Straight newspaper. It’s no Time Magazine Person of the Year but heck I’ve never been on the front page of anything, have you?

Secondly, Kelsey our new Records Coordinator and Archivist started, 1 week later she was buried underneath approximately 376 boxes of old files and re-evaluating her life decisions.

Lastly, we published our first post here!

SEPTEMBER 2017

September was a blur of student BBQ’s and putting tents up and doing events and talking to students and talking to more students and SO MUCH TALKING TO STUDENTS (we love it, we really do, but September is a lot).

OCTOBER 2017

October was a really funny month because we thought that we would get a break from all the talking and events and tabling in September but HA HA HA… October was essentailly September all over again minus a few burgers.

Let’s be real for a minute: September and October were incredible months for #KPUcampuslife we held a large number of events across various departments and really focused on student engagement.

NOVEMBER 2017

We had a stat holiday, made some bath bombs and watched Harry Potter. Our Marketing Coordinator also bought a Marshmellow gun, it only kind of worked properly (you win some, you lose some). More important than all of those things though, dogs came to campus as a part of Stress Relief Week!

DECEMBER 2017

I thought it was November for the first 5 days, we decorated our offices for the holidays... and I wrote this!

Note: These things really did happen, but we did so much more this year than what is listed above. For example… We ran numerous campaigns on issues that affect students such as housing and mental health. Throughout the year we hosted a large number of events focused on a variety of student interests (from mental health to sustainability to inclusivity to physical fitness). We attended some really great conferences and brought back innovative ideas to initiate here on campus. We supported Kwantlen students to attend conferences and workshops so they can learn, grow and bring back ideas of their own. We helped student clubs and provided student engagement opportunities through our 3 volunteer programs. We sent students to Victoria to speak with the government, did yoga in the garden, took students concerns to University staff and ate wayyyy too many burgers.

See you in 2018!

-- Kendell

Council Recap: November 24th, 2017

The last meeting of the Kwantlen Student Association was held on the Cloverdale campus, also know as KPU Tech.  Did you know they have horses at Cloverdale (for the farrier program)?

Here are the FIVE things you NEED to know from this week's’ Council:

#5

Four KSA staff members - Nicki Simpson, Policy and Political Coordinator, Kendell Kitt, Clubs and Outreach Coordinator, Stephanie Chee, START Coordinator, and Kelsey Silk, Records Coordinator & Archivist - presented to Council about their roles. Nicki and Kendell accused Stephanie and Kelsey of being keeners, because they made powerpoint presentations.  But really, how do you do a presentation without slides?

#4

The meeting schedule for the Spring semester was set.  Council will meet five times in the spring, including a special meeting on April 3rd. Council meetings will be on January 26th, 2018 at 10 am, February 23rd, 2018 at 10 am, March 23rd, 2018 at 10 am, April 3rd at 10 am, and April 6th, 2018 at 10 am.

#3

Vice President, Student Life Jay Reedy presented his report on attending the Canadian Federation of Students Annual General Meeting in Gatineau, PQ.  His report was not favourable, but President Tanvir Singh did remark that having a good number of representatives from dissident schools did allow for the minority to hold the executive accountable.

#2

A representative from Vancity attended to present on the state of the KSA’s financial investments.  Earlier this year, Council approved a Credit Union Policy, and began the process of transitioning all account from our previous bank to Vancity.  It is the belief of the KSA that credit unions generally have ethical and environmentally sensitive investment portfolios that include investing in the local economy which supporting jobs for KPU students and graduates.

#1

Four students were appointed to student member positions on the Student Life, Finance and Operations, Governance and Environmental Sustainability committees.  Did you know that all the committees of the KSA have student positions?  You can apply by emailing appointments.chair@kusa.ca, and directly influence decision making at the student union.

The full minutes of this meeting, and all other KSA Council and Committee meetings, are available after approval on kusa.ca/committees.

KSA Spotlight: Konny

Konny – Member Services Coordinator

There are some pretty amazing people on our staff and because we do a lot of the 'behind the scenes' work, students don't always get to know who we actually are. Every month we'll feature a staff member (and occasionally Council member) so you can actually put a face to the name/event/project. This month, I invite you to meet Konny!

Here are a few things about Konny…

1. How did you come to work for the KSA?

I was originally a student member of some committees at the KSA.

I was scouring Craigslist ads, trying to find a position that would allow me to work around an incredibly hectic 4-class schedule. I saw a job posting on http://kusa.ca/ and decided to go for it. I felt I had the experience and relevant client care skills necessary, and I guess my interview went okay!

2. Position title & summary of your job:

I am currently the Member Services Coordinator for all four campuses at Kwantlen University at the KSA. Essentially, I coordinate the member services and assist management with ensuring everything is running as it should be. Aside from working at Member Services on a daily basis, I help organize food bank logistics, design signage, set the schedule for Member Services staff members and send a lot of emails with GIFs in them. I just find GIFs make everything slightly more palatable. I kind of wish a GIF could be provided with this answer. I will work on making that happen.

3. What is your favourite thing about working here?

I think the best thing about working for your alma mater or your student association is that I'm finally able to give back to an institution that has given me so much in the capacity that I best can (I sincerely love you, KPU -- thank you). I enjoy being able to help someone in a pinch or resolving somebody's frustrating experience --whether it be not knowing where your classroom is or how to properly open those goshdarn combination locks we sell. There's also the people -- so many people I work with (both at the KSA & KPU) are absolutely wonderful!

4. Best activity to do on the weekend?

Going for a run early in the morning -- when I can drag my butt out of bed. Sweat before breakfast. It keeps you young.

5. What is something that makes you unique?

I don't really think I'm all that unique, even though like everyone else, I often yearn to be. I am good at the things I do and I'm a quick learner because I've been lucky to develop my perceptive skills and imagination by those who have helped and mentored me along the way! I can draw pretty well, and I know my way around pretty much anything technical. I love learning, and if I could get paid to do so I totally would. Seriously -- any takers? Will learn for food.

I've also been known to run a 5K in under 25 minutes. Which is something I don't think anyone else at the KSA outside of Matt Hunt can do. I hate you for that, Matt. You have guitar and piano. Let me have running.

I can speak like 4 languages (English, French, Russian, American Sign Language). My French is the rustiest. Seven if you count programming languages </(cough) nerd>.

6. Favourite Food?

Matzoh ball soup or my mum's recipe for eggplant spread (we call it 'caviar' in Russian). Also: real caviar. I see you judging me. Honestly, anything in the world of Russian cuisine is my jam.

7. Best KSA Memory:

To be honest, I've had many lovely memories at the KSA. Also a few not so great memories (it comes with the territory of working in proximity to the realities of student politics).... please vote. I'd have to say my favourite memories have all been made at START (http://kusa.ca/START) and ActiveKSA (http://kusa.ca/activeKSA) events where I get to goof around and get to know all sorts of students from so many walks of life! I find the more I learn of others, the more I learn about myself -- so that's always been something I enjoy thinking about.

- Konny

Want to do more with the KSA? Volunteer with our START Program, Peer Support or the KSA Street Team. Looking to do more as a student? Consider attending a committee meeting or running in election next Spring. Want to work for us? Check out our job postings here.

KSA Spotlight: Kelsey Silk

KELSEY SILK – RECORDS COORDINATOR & ARCHIVIST

There are some pretty amazing people on our staff and because we do a lot of the 'behind the scenes' work, students don't always get to know who we actually are. Every month we'll feature a staff member (and occasionally Council member) so you can actually put a face to the name/event/project. This month, I invite you to meet Kelsey!

Snuggling a koala.

Here are a few things about Kelsey…

1. Position and brief description of your job..

I'm the Records Coordinator and Archivist at the KSA.  Mainly that means taking minutes in all the meetings, and organizing the records of the Society.

Working at dog daycare. All the cuddles!

2. How did you come to work for the KSA?

I was working for the Capilano Students' Union, and the manager there is a former KSA executive, and the Policy Coordinator there used to work for the KSA.  The manager shared the job posting with me in the summer, as I was on a temporary contract there, and it was a perfect fit.

3. What is your favourite thing about working here?

The tater tots from Grassroots!

Adventure with my dog at Lighthouse Park. 

4. Best activity to do on the weekend?

Hanging out with my dog.  We like to go hiking and we also like to nap.

5. What is something that makes you unique?

I used to work in the film industry, doing costumes.  I once worked on a movie with Donald Sutherland.

In the UK, near Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey (see it in the distance? The house was closed when we were there, so we couldn't do a tour)

6. Favourite Food?

If I have to pick one thing, I guess cheese.  Brie cheese, aged gouda cheese, melty mozzarella cheese, swiss cheese, cheese fondue....yum.

7. Favourite KSA Memory so far..

Dispensing corn on the cob at Welcome Week!

Want to do more with the KSA? Volunteer with our START Program, Peer Support or the KSA Street Team. Looking to do more as a student? Consider attending a committee meeting or running in election next Spring. Want to work for us? Check out our job postings here.