Visited the Culinary Institute of Vancouver Island, located in the Discovery Room inside the upper…read morecafeteria Thur Feb 11, 2016 for dinner, party of 6. Pros The room has seating for about 20 guests. The view of the campus is amazing, and it felt like a fine dining experience. The pappardelle pasta portion was more generous and it was excellent. Octopus appetizer looked and tasted great. They have bar service available. They have a coat check. They have daily printed menus. Service was very attentive. Cons Called earlier in the day to make reservations and they were full. I was on the waitlist and then there was a cancellation. I ordered the Lamb cooked well, the portion a bit too small for $15.95. There were 6-8 many students hanging around before the guests arrived which felt like they were watching us, not sure if it's because of the teaching environment. Pro tip - they recommend 90 minutes to experience a 3-course dinner. Not sure if I would take a date here, but it was was a unique experience still. Damage $42 for 2 people tip included.

The Discovery Room - This is a little known delight in Nanaimo well worth a visit. I had lunch…read morethere today with my husband and we really enjoyed it. It is a training ground for students; the food is good and well presented and very reasonably priced, and the view is great. I recommend it! Call 250-753-3245, local 6338, to make reservations. Go to http://viu.ca for a campus map and look for building 300.

It's nearly impossible to find work with my HCA certificate. No one takes me seriously and I've…read morerealized I didn't learn the same materials that are taught at VIU, Camosun, or NIC. Recently, I was denied a position with island health due to my credentials coming from Sprott Shaw college. Sure, it was easier to get accepted into the college here initially, but had I known, I would've upgraded my high-school courses and just attended VIU. VIU is much more respected in areas beyond Vancouver island as well. Don't even try working outside the island with a certificate from here.

As a graduate of the Business Administration Management program, this college suited my needs…read moreperfectly. At the time of my decision to go back to school and earn an education (I use the word earn as there is nothing "pay to pass" about this college) I had been out of school for over 10 years. The thought of going back to school after being away from it from that long was a very nerve-wracking decision that weighed on my mind for many months before finally committing to speaking to the Career Advisor. Upon finally meeting face to face with the Advisor, the only questions she asked of me were simply, "What do you find interest in, and what do you think you could see yourself doing for a career?" She based her suggestions on my responses. Never once did she try and sign me up for a program that same day. In fact I was given all the information I needed and was told to go home and read over everything given. Upon making a decision on what I wanted to do, the courses themselves not only provided relevant information, but were kept engaging to the point that I never felt like I wasn't learning something new daily. The instructors that I had the pleasure of learning from were all very knowledgeable. I found the course load to be manageable, especially since for the majority of the time enrolled in the program, I had also been juggling outside employment. The continuous intake model that they use is very beneficial to someone like myself, who benefits most when I have the opportunity to only focus on one course at a time, rather than attempt to put enough focus on multiple courses at once. It catered to my learning style. All of the staff were forthcoming with support and information throughout my time there. They aided in me finding employment. (I managed to secure a temporary contract with the Federal Government during my time at Sprott Shaw, and certainly could not have been accepted to that body of work without their help) As someone who despised school as a child/teen, I have to say, that Sprott Shaw does an amazing job in getting someone interested in attending and working towards a certification in the field of their choosing. I would sincerely recommend at the very least, going into the campus and gathering information if even the slightest part of you wants to know what it would be like to revisit your quest for an education.