The Thunderbird Dance Team is a student organized and performance-based dance team at UBC. Though we specialize in Hip-Hop and Jazz, we regularly practice all dance styles throughout the team. Through creative collaboration, we work together to choreograph our own pieces, but also enjoy working with other teams to create and perform at various events on and off campus. Performing is at the heart of who we are – you can find us dancing at UBC Varsity Athletics games, student-organized events, charity events, night club events, talent shows, and at our annual dance battle event, “Get Schooled”!

The Vitara Duo is a piano and violin duo made up of Kurt Chen violin and Anican Yu piano. They have an innate talent for improvisation and performing by ear, which means that this group can play almost any requested song given fair notice ahead of time to prepare without the need to arrange sheet music! The duo has also received accolades for their numerous videos on social media showcasing improvisation and their arrangements. Their strengths lie in repertoire consisting of jazz, ballads, and pop songs. The Vitara Duo members have experience performing at weddings, concert series, receptions, company events, and formals. Throughout the summer of 2019, the pair have been playing together at many occasions all throughout the Vancouver area. Their versatility allows them to play anywhere (as long as there’s an outlet for the electronic piano)!

Hi! My name is Stacy Yu and I am currently finishing up my undergrad at UBC studying Psychology. I’ve always had a passion for singing, acting, and dancing. I now find myself exploring other means to express my creativity, such as videography and video editing. My current favorite pass time is bullet journaling, which pairs perfectly with my ongoing obsession of Flaming Hot Sweet Chili Cheetos (they are bomb)! Between cats and dogs, I would ideally want one of each!

Connie Eaves directs an internationally recognized research program in normal and cancer stem cell biology, human leukemia, and normal and malignant breast stem cell biology. She has published more than 500 papers and has a long track record as a global scientific leader and conscientious mentor of trainees at all levels. She has also been a contributor to science policy and development in Canada and abroad and has received numerous national and international awards for her many accomplishments.

Deborah Tomlinson is a Clinical Research Nurse Specialist, working with Dr. Lillian Sung at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, since 2004. Obtaining her nurse education in the UK, she completed a Master’s Degree in Cancer Nursing at the University of Glasgow. She has many years of previous clinical experience both in the UK and in Toronto. Deborah also held lecturer positions at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and Cardiff University, Wales. She was involved in creating and setting up a distance learning post graduate degree in pediatric oncology nursing. Her current position has included several research projects focused on decision-making for parents with a child in a palliative phase of disease, and development of an instrument to measure oral mucositis in children receiving cytotoxic therapy. Current research involvement includes child report of symptoms and methods to optimise treatment for symptoms.

My name is Emmett, I live in Guelph ON and I am so happy to contribute to this incredible event! I am a ballet and contemporary dancer, I run a catering company and I first got interested in cocktails around the start of quarantine. I’m excited to share two of my favourite cocktails (with mocktail variations) as a part of the virtual learning series.

Emily Lau is a self-taught painter on a mission to awaken the hidden artist inside each of us. She has always loved painting but didn’t have the courage to pursue it when she was young. She always thought that people have to be very talented to become an artist. Until one day someone told her this: ”Talent is mostly a myth. Like 0.3% of people actually have talent. The only reason other people are better is from hard work usually. The word talent needs to be replaced with the word passion. Some of us have more passion and that is what separates us in most cases.” Passion! That’s it! What has she been thinking? Being able to paint shouldn’t be a super power. It’s a skill that we all can work on. Since then she has been making a lot of paintings and trying to understand what art truly means. She has been greatly involved in the art community. Her paintings were exhibited in local restaurants and art galleries. And she was 1 of the 10 selected ambassadors for BC Culture Days 2019/2020. Now she teaches painting and drawing in her home art studio. Emily wants to help people who were like her, who might want to give art a try but don’t know where to start, or don’t think that they’re talented enough.She is providing a fun, casual step-by-step painting tutorial, no experience necessary.