Candidate Platforms
VIU Students’ Union Board of Directors Candidates
One candidate will be elected in each position below, except for Director at Large where 5 candidates will be elected and the Student Representative on the Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Commitments which will elect 2 candidates.
Full platforms are posted in the accordion menu on this page.
Breeanna McCallum-Miller
Candidate: Student Rep on Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Commitments
Leah Vaisanen
Candidate: Student Rep on Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Commitments
Samantha Allan
Candidate: Student Rep on Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Commitments
Candidate Platforms
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Bachelors of Psychology Student from beautiful Terrace, BC situated on traditional Tsimshian territory. As a Gitxsan woman, I pride myself in being patient, empathetic and kind. My path is that of the healer; a person who values and respects others strengths and ensures their success. I hope to stand as the Aboriginal Student Representative to give Indigenous students at VIU a voice and the ability to share their experiences, opinions and aspirations going forward. We often find ourselves feeling alone on our path through education, and sometimes simply in life. This position will afford me the opportunity to remind you that you have a space, a purpose and a community behind you.
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Hello! My name is Elissa Miranda, I am a Criminology and Psychology student here at VIU and I am running for the VIUSU Chairperson position! If elected, this would be my second year working as your Students Union Chairperson.
I am passionate about getting involved in my community, building connections, and professional development. I am very lucky to be a part of such an engaging campus community that embodies all of this!
Through my involvement with different campus clubs, teams and organizations I have learned how special our VIU students are. Our students deserve every opportunity possible and a team of student representatives who will listen and support them throughout their university experience.
If I am elected chairperson, I will work to create opportunities for students to be recognized for the work they do contributing to campus. I will create safe avenues of communication to make sure that all VIU students feel heard and supported through their time here. I will strive to create equitable environments on campus for student success.
I would be honoured to support VIU students as VIUSU Chairperson. Let’s make this university experience all that it can be, for everyone!
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Paula was born in Mexico and is of Venezuelan, Portuguese, Japanese, and Spanish Heritage. She has diplomas in Broadcasting for TV and Radio and also Acting, as well as her certification for Personal Training. In her free time, she enjoys playing ukulele and singing, exercising, going for walks, drawing, reading, and watching movies.
She is studying at VIU to complete her Degree in Digital Media Studies after transferring from Capilano University where she was the Vice President of Student Life. In that role, she worked hard to raise more awareness for mental health through several events, and also focused on creating an atmosphere where students felt part of a community.
Paula has decided to run for VIUSU Director of Events with the idea of helping to create a stronger student community, continue raising awareness for mental health including de-stressing events through the year, and to create activities where she and her fellow students get to experience the wonderful multiculturalism that VIU offers. Her experience, education, and passions help to make her uniquely suited to fill that role.
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Hi there,
My name is Cole Reinbold, and I’m running for Director of External Relations. I’ve been involved with the student’s union since 2017, this year I had the opportunity to be your Women Students’ Representative. I’ve loved every second of my years at the union.
In my time I’ve sat in on many board meetings, served up plenty of hotdogs to students, but my greatest achievement was getting the entirety of the BC Federation of Students to support the Public Childcare Now campaign. This campaign is advocating for the use of public school spaces for before and after school care. With over 170,000 students in the BC Federation of Students, our support of this campaign will surely make a difference. In my term I will work to drive social change, as was done for the Public Childcare Now campaign.
I’m passionate about student advocacy and social justice, and it’s these qualities that will allow me to succeed in my role of Director of External Relations. It is my goal to enrich the students' experience. I will work to see more attention paid to the wellbeing of students by VIU.
Vote Cole Reinbold for Director of External Relations.
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Hello! My name is Kurtis Johnstone and I am a second(ish) year Digital Media Studies student from Cobble Hill, BC. My background is in technology but I have enjoyed expanding my horizons with both in-class and co-curricular learning throughout my experience thus far at VIU! I am currently holding a VIUSU Director at Large position and decided when my term was up to pursue an executive role; Director of Internal Relations. This position was very interesting for me as it works directly with the club system and student leaders on campus! If elected, I aspire to expand upon club fair events and pursue collaboration opportunities with various campus and community programs. Outside of university, I enjoy working on passion projects, fitness, music, and spending time with friends/family. I hope to see you on campus in 2022!
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Hello everyone, I am Ananya an international student and I am in my second year of Bachelor in Psychology. A fun fact about me is that I wanted to create my own identity at the age of 13, so I initiated it by changing my name to Ananya and since then I have been making my identity everywhere I go. I am a person who values other opinions, passionate about learning new concepts, and am someone who always puts their best effort. My experience includes encouraging women to come up front and raise their voices against unfair practices. Coming from a place where women still have to fight for their basic rights, I understand the core value that feminism holds which is equality. If I acquire the position of a Women Students’ Representative, I will ensure that every human is treated fairly.
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Hello! To start, I would like to acknowledge and thank the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun and Tla’amin First Nations, on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge. My name is Sarah Mei and I'm a first-year BA student from Singapore. I'm Malay by ethnicity and if you'd like to know more about my culture, I'd be happy to share. As a person, I'm genuine, open, thoughtful, and adaptable. I believe that my communicative and approachable demeanor will help to co-create a safe, collaborative, and welcoming environment for all.
Some of the values I believe in are meaningful representation, diversity, mental wellness, fair redistribution of resources, and gender and sexuality parity. I strongly advocate for elevating the voices and stories of marginalized communities, such as womxn, the trans community, students of color and Indigenous populations, as well as people with disabilities. My vision is for us to live in radical joy and possibility, so that together we can leave the world better than how we found it, and to first embody this in VIU.
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Hey everybody!
My name is Bruce Caulfield, and I’m a first-year undeclared student. I’m running for Director At-Large because I’m keen to get more involved with our school’s community and do what I can to improve our time here. Another inspiration was volunteering with the VIUSU throughout my first semester, of which I enjoyed every moment. I’m a mature student with previous work experience in management and logistics; I believe that will help me be a competent Director. I promise I will do my best to represent your interests.
Thanks for your consideration.
Best wishes,
Bruce Caulfield
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Community Is Power
Power is found in numbers; when we rise together, stand together, we achieve success together. As a student representative, my goal is to continue the growth of our VIU community and represent students, their values, and issues respectfully to the best of my abilities. My focus as Director at Large will be first and foremost as a student representative, maintaining fair student fees, continued access to the health benefits for all students, stronger environmental initiatives on campus, and fostering connections to further equip students in access to non-academic activities and student lead initiatives on campus. My experience in finance, social media management, Education NGO, Environmental NGO, climate lobbying, and event organization, as well as my position with the Office of Co-curricular Learning and Engagement, make me a well-suited and strong candidate to be one of your Directors At Large. I encourage all students to vote this term and to reach out to me personally if you have any questions.
Together we can continue to make our VIU community strong even amidst the pandemic.
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Greetings. I am running for Director at Large. With 20 years experience in both the International Aerospace and Machinist Union and the Local Operating Engineers, I know how a union works and how to get things done. I also know we need to work together to ensure a smooth flow on our path to higher education. I'm here to look out for the little guy. I may not have all your answers, but I will find out who does.
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Hello,
My name is Emma Hender and I am running to become the Director at Large for our student union! I am a 3rd year student in the Bachelor of Arts program minoring in sociology and political studies. I believe that I am the best candidate for this position as I am outgoing, adaptable and can give voice to the needs of VIU students. I have a strong understanding of the union as I had been the Cowichan Campus Representative in the past. If elected to be your representative, I will work my hardest to have your voices heard and to build upon the strong student community which VIU is renown for. I have taken a diverse set of courses with VIU. This has allowed me to become familiar with the many departments and to understand the student experience. Thank-you for taking the time to read my platform. Please remember to vote on Election Day.
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Hello! I am Krystal, and I am from China, and I can listen, speak, read and write Mandarin, Cantonese and English. This year is my third year of study in the Bachelor of Tourism Management program at VIU. In my free time, I like hiking, travelling, dancing, singing, and chatting with people. I am thrilled to be one of the members at VIU Student Union, and I am willing to work with student support team to help to make sure the best support is available, making VIUSU is the best place for students to gather together:)
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Hi, I am Nirbhay Narang from New Delhi, India. I’m a 2nd Semester MBA student who is eager to be a member of the Student’s Union Board. I am currently contesting for the position of Director at Large.
I have a history of successfully executing corporate events and actively addressing concerns of the public with the respective authorities. As your representative, I would work to increase public awareness of the board's critical role by providing opportunities for students to interact with the board. I believe that by increasing representation and participation, the disparities between board members and students will be bridged.
As a consequence, the Student’s Union Board can align with the ongoing challenges and requirements of students. Some of the important agenda’s in my vision are -
1. Opposing Tuition Fee Increments
2. Strive for Extra Funds for Students Support
3. Enrich and Enhance Student Experiences, Interactions and Activities.
If you have any questions or concerns with regards to my platform, feel free to reach out to me.
Student Representative to the Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Commitments (SSCIC) Candidates (2 seats)
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Bachelors of Psychology Student from beautiful Terrace, BC situated on traditional Tsimshian territory. As a Gitxsan woman, I pride myself in being patient, empathetic and kind. My path is that of the healer; a person who values and respects others strengths and ensures their success. I hope to stand as the Aboriginal Student Representative to give Indigenous students at VIU a voice and the ability to share their experiences, opinions and aspirations going forward. We often find ourselves feeling alone on our path through education, and sometimes simply in life. This position will afford me the opportunity to remind you that you have a space, a purpose and a community behind you.
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My name is Leah Vaisanen. I am of Dene and Vietnamese descent. I was born in Edmonton by my late grandmother Florence Hardisty. She was born in Liidlii Kue First Nation. I am a first-generation learner, and I would like to acknowledge that I am on the traditional unceded territory of Snuneymuxw First Nations.
I currently sit on the Indigenous Commitments Committee, and I would like to resubmit my name for renewal and continue to be the Indigenous student representative. When I attended the first couple of meetings, I felt unsure and wondered how the work would unfold. However, I realized that my voice does matter and the contributions that I make are important. This committee has allowed me the opportunity to be part of a shift in change within the post-secondary system. We have discussed how faculty should be encouraged to introduce protocol into the classroom at the beginning of a term; I believe this will be a start in the right direction towards truth and reconciliation. The committee is looking at ways to move forward through an Indigenous lens and dismantling a colonial structure. Remaining on the committee will allow me to continue to do the work.
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Hello Mariners!
My name is Samantha Allan and this past semester I received the honour of sharing my voice on the Senate Standing Committee on Indigenous Commitments as an appointed representative. My experience as a ‘su’luqw’a’ Community Cousin, as an Indigenous woman, and as first-generation student has equipped me with a strong voice to advocate for the indigenization and cultural enrichment of our campuses, programs, and institutional practices.
I will focus on bringing the faculty and senate more awareness of student experiences in the Indigenous context, prioritize engaging the Senate on Indigenous issues, and advocate for education informed by inclusion and equity. This is a new Senate Standing Committee and it excites me to have the opportunity to contribute to its continued growth and impact at VIU.
I am Neskonlith from the Secwepemc Nation, and so I thank and acknowledge the Snuneymuxw First Nation on whose land I have the privilege to live, work, and share knowledge. As a representative on this committee, I will continue to be a voice for meaningful change at our institution! Thank you for your consideration, and don’t forget to vote March 1 – 3, 2022.
Important Dates
Campaigning Opens: Monday February 7, 2022 at 9:00am
Campaigning Closes: Tuesday March 1, 2022 at 12:00am
Voting: Electronically on March 1, 2, 3
All students will receive a unique link to vote online via email on March 1. To find out more about the election or referendum, visit the VIUSU office in building 193 on Nanaimo campus or email elections@viusu.ca.
