Explore the work of ACE-WIL BC/Yukon. Here you will find inspirational stories from students, profiles of all our award winners, news, events, resources and wisdom from the wonderful humans that contribute to the vision of ACE-WIL.
Innovative Parts and Solutions Ltd. (IPS) has received an Honourable Mention for the 2025 Industry Partner of the Year (Co-op) Award in recognition of its exceptional commitment to inclusive, high-quality experiential learning.
Island Savings, a division of First West Credit Union, has been named the 2025 Industry Partner of the Year (Co-op) in recognition of its outstanding commitment to student learning and career development through co-operative education at the University of Victoria.
Milestone Equipment Contracting has received an Honourable Mention for the 2025 Industry Partner of the Year (WIL) Award in recognition of its long-standing commitment to supporting students in Vancouver Island University’s Heavy Equipment Operator program.
The Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) team at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) is the recipient of the 2025 Industry Partner of the Year (WIL) in recognition of their outstanding commitment to student learning and work-integrated education in partnership with Vancouver Island University (VIU).
During her co-op, K’sana worked with Dr. Laura Arbour and Dr. Leigh Anne Swayne, who study genetic variants and their impact on the health of the Gitxsan People. Genetic variants such as KCNQ1 p.V205M, ANK2 p.S646F, and CPT1A p.P479L are found in the Gitxsan First Nation and have been linked to many health concerns, including heart and brain issues such as arrhythmias, fainting, seizures, and potentially brain aneurysms. This project’s subject matter directly affects K’sana’s family members and loved ones. During her co-op, her project contributed to understanding the health issues affecting her community.
Jennifer describes her work-integrated learning experience as a transformative step in her journey to teaching, allowing her to connect her life experiences, commitment to public service, and passion for supporting young learners in meaningful and practical ways.
Fabiana describes her co-op experience as a turning point in her academic and professional journey. Through work-integrated learning, she was able to connect classroom knowledge with real-world challenges, gaining firsthand experience in how policy, data, and governance shape decision-making within public institutions. For Fabiana, co-op represents the value of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and turning knowledge into action. These experiences transformed uncertainty into direction and curiosity into confidence, showing her how learning and leadership can come together to create a meaningful impact..
Trang Vu is a Bachelor of Business Administration student at Douglas College specializing in Accounting with a Real Estate concentration. As a co-op student with QuadReal Property Group’s Tax team, she has gained exposure to both Canadian and U.S. tax compliance and reporting for real estate investment structures. Trang is recognized for consistent work ethic, reliability, and attention to detail in delivering high-quality results. Outside of work and school, she is an avid runner and enjoys Lagree – a low-impact, high-intensity training that matches her disciplined approach to goals.
Makayla Silvey had an amazing time during her co-op student placement. One of her highlights was participating in marine machinery performance trials at sea aboard a frigate. The experience brought her confidence, strengthened her sense of belonging in mechanical engineering, and showed her that she can meaningfully contribute to an engineering team.
My WIL placement has contributed to my personal development by improving my confidence and professionalism. Working while learning allowed me to push myself to becoming an effective communicator and managing my responsibilities better. Through this I became more self-aware of my own faults and accepting criticism or feedback from others.