Stories

How the costuming program came to CapU

One table, two sewing machines and an iron.

A canoe named Skw’cháys

A canoe named Skw’cháys

As Squamish Nation master carver, Ses siyam carved Capilano University’s 50th anniversary legacy canoe, a story from his youth began to show itself to him and he knew that this would be the name of the canoe.

Bookstore as a living lab

Bookstore as a living lab

As a young person just starting out in the workforce, it can be challenging to land a job if you don’t have experience, and difficult to gain experience without a job—even more so, if you have a learning disability.

Celebrating CapU’s 50th around the world

Celebrating CapU’s 50th around the world

Venturing around the world to promote Capilano University to international students is just a typical day for Cristian Cano, Capilano University’s international recruitment manager, but this recruitment season was especially sweet.

The making of CapU’s legacy canoe

The making of CapU’s legacy canoe

The 30-foot-long seaworthy hunting canoe, named “Skw’cháys” in the Squamish language, was carved from an 800-year-old red cedar from the Elaho Valley northwest of Whistler, BC.

Big ideas and aspirations: CapU’s campus master plan

Big ideas and aspirations: CapU’s campus master plan

Student residences, expansion of the Centre for Sport and Wellness and a new road onto campus are just a few of the big ideas proposed in Capilano University’s first campus master plan, which was unveiled in December 2018.

Costume and identity

Costume and identity

As a fashion historian, Ivan Sayers thinks as much about the time and place of a garment’s origins as he does the clothing itself.

A legacy for future generations

A legacy for future generations

When Shasha McArthur heard the news that Capilano University was commissioning a Coast Salish artist to carve a traditional canoe on campus, the film student knew she had to be involved.

CapU lights up the night

CapU lights up the night

The colourful light show inspired by the University’s brand palette started with a bang, then built to a sparkling finale.

Terry Brown

Terry Brown

The Capilano University 50th anniversary celebrations proved to be the perfect opportunity for many to return to the campus to reminisce and consider current opportunities for students.

Brett McGillivray

Brett McGillivray

Geographer Brett McGillivray originated and led international field schools that presented hands-on learning experiences across Europe and Asia.

Indigenizing the academy

Indigenizing the academy

A member of the Stó:lō Nation, Capilano University’s Indigenous faculty advisor, David Kirk, was one of the only Indigenous students in his school in Burnaby where he was often bullied, and eventually dropped out of school.

Backstage at the BlueShore Theatre

Backstage at the BlueShore Theatre

“Our first big show sold out,” says Fiona Black, longtime director and programmer of Capilano University’s BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts.

Loblaw in Lebanon

Loblaw in Lebanon

When Capilano then-College business instructor Doug Loblaw and then-vice-president Bill Gibson first travelled to the site of a future college 25 kilometres south of Beirut in May 1998, they encountered derelict buildings, walls scarred with graffiti and 10 acres of overgrown land.

Capilano College in China: customs & cash

Capilano College in China: customs & cash

Customs officials holding textbooks was the first of two major challenges Capilano then-College organizers faced when they established a joint program with Dalian University for Minorities in China in 1998.

CapRocks kicks off 2019

CapRocks kicks off 2019

Co-hosted by the CSU and Capilano University, the CapRocks concert on Friday, January 11 kicks off the spring 2019 term and the second half of the University’s 50th anniversary.

Honouring CapU history through design

Honouring CapU history through design

The challenge was to design a poster commemorating CapU’s 50th anniversary and third-year Bachelor of Design student Brynn Staples didn’t hesitate to dive in.

A tribute to Bill Manson

A tribute to Bill Manson

As we reflect on the past 50 years as a college and then university, we want to honour some of the founding builders of Capilano University. The late Bill Manson was one of them.

Students run with the news

Students run with the news

“Should students hire teachers?” reads a front-page headline in Capilano then-College’s first student newspaper, The Id. Page 2 features a story about a fictional “south-sea paradise” where sex is commonplace and eating is taboo.

Books and bras

Books and bras

Tia Strachan was 31 and married with three kids when she enrolled in a special two-semester General Studies Program at Capilano then-College in 1971.

Holy smokes!

Holy smokes!

It’s unheard of today, but up until the mid-1980s, it was common to see students and faculty members puffing away on cigarettes in Capilano College classrooms and offices.

Carbon Neutral

Carbon Neutral

Capilano University first became carbon neutral in 2010 and has continued to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions ever since.

Capilano College symbol is unveiled

Capilano College symbol is unveiled

Coming up with a symbol to represent Capilano College was no easy feat. It took three years, several contests and lengthy consultation before the final symbol was unveiled in 1971.

The early days of Women’s Studies

The early days of Women’s Studies

When Margaret Kirk, a member of the Capilano College Council, was invited by the Women’s Studies group at the College to a seminar on the problems of women in education in 1976, she wasn’t sure what to expect.

Cap Connections

Cap Connections

Lisa Hubbard contracted meningitis while travelling around Europe when she was 20. When she returned to North Vancouver, she attended physiotherapy in the mornings and then took the HandyDART to volunteer at a childcare centre.

The legendary Cafetheatre

The legendary Cafetheatre

Who remembers Capilano College’s Cafetheatre, or The Pit as it later became known? It was a kind of sunken amphitheatre with a stage surrounded by five tiers of seating built below the ground level of what was then a bustling cafeteria.

Rugby scrums, road trips and ice cream

Rugby scrums, road trips and ice cream

How do you ensure a rowdy bunch of beer-loving rugby players are in tip-top shape for Saturday morning games? Bob Bagshaw, the coach of Capilano College’s rugby team from 1974-1980, had a creative strategy.

The class of ’71: Janet MacDonald

The class of ’71: Janet MacDonald

Janet MacDonald worked full-time at a five-and-dime in 1969 while she studied Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) at Capilano (then-College), which had just been established the year before.

Escape at CapFest

Escape at CapFest

Racing against a deadline in an escape room to problem-solve sounds like a situation to be avoided to some. For others, joining forces with friends to achieve a common goal sounds like fun.

How Cap Love Tuesdays help students in need

How Cap Love Tuesdays help students in need

When you wear one of the items from the Cap Love Tuesdays (CLT) apparel collection, you’re not only demonstrating good fashion sense, but you are also helping students in need.

Cap Cookery

Cap Cookery

“MASH IT! POUND IT! KNEAD IT!” says Maureen Strasdine’s recipe for aggression cookies, which appears in the 1993 edition of Cap Cookery.

Five Alarm fun at CapFest

Five Alarm fun at CapFest

How do you do that for so long and not fall over? is the question members of Five Alarm Funk typically face following one of their signature high-energy shows.

Origins of The Capilano Review

Origins of The Capilano Review

When writer and artist Pierre Coupey was hired by Capilano College, English department head Bill Schermbrucker issued the challenge: “Make a contribution, man! Do something—you’re not just here to teach.”

Adventures of an outdoor reckie

Adventures of an outdoor reckie

If it weren’t for a Bunsen burner accident, the Outdoor Recreation Management (OREC) program at Capilano University might never have come about.

Banding together

Banding together

Bud Kurz’s looks, musicality and domestic prowess swiftly stole Heidi Durstberger’s heart when she first met him in the music program at Capilano then-College in 1981.

A short history of Cap on ice

A short history of Cap on ice

Who knew Capilano had a hockey team in the 1970s? The Capilano College club team skimmed the ice beginning in 1973, practicing on a rink in Lynn Valley.

Sportsplex satisfaction

Sportsplex satisfaction

Seeing the Sportsplex approved and then open in 1991 was a highlight of Neil Chester’s 20-year career as athletics director at Capilano then-College.

Athletics at Capilano

Athletics at Capilano

From six rubber balls to soccer supremacy, Capilano University’s first athletics director recalls how the athletics program grew.

EarthWorks: Inspiring Change

EarthWorks: Inspiring Change

Capilano University’s public lecture, film and event series that explores environmental issues from a multidisciplinary perspective.