By Vanessa Broadbent (The Cascade) – Email
Being a student is expensive. We spend all of our savings (or take out student loans) on tuition, and then on top of that, there’s textbooks.
But the people behind UFV Bookstore understand the struggle and hosted their fourth annual customer appreciation day on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 to thank students for spending the little money they have there.
“I know there are new avenues for getting books, but we’re here all the time,” Cameron Roy, director of ancillary services explained. “We want to recognize that you’ve used us as an option for your course materials.”
Despite the gloomy weather and the bookstore’s somewhat isolated location on the Abbotsford campus in the first floor of the Baker House residence, Roy says the event was a success.
“Today was outstanding,” he said. “I really, really appreciate the effort that people have made to come. It’s a bit marginalized by our spot on campus, but students came out.
“This year’s turnout was much better than last year and the previous years.”
As well as discounts and prizes, the event featured a fashion show of UFV merchandise and a talent show, which Roy highlighted as an incredibly rewarding part of the event.
“Some of these kids come in quiet, and they get up on that stage, and I think, ‘Wow, this is incredible!’ I’m really proud of those kids who can do that. To me, that’s the reward for putting this on.”
Roy also sees the event as somewhere that students can showcase their talents, and he hopes to attract more UFV staff in the future.
“Some of the kids that I ask to come out have never performed in public before,” he said. “I’d like to attract more of the university community and employees to come and see how incredible our students really are.”
This was also the first year that the event partnered with the Lifesaver program.
“The Lifesaver program helps students in need,” Roy explained. “There are emergencies in student’s lives, and I see it as our corporate responsibility to respond where we can. I’m always confused when I hear that a student at UFV is homeless, or needs money for groceries and food.”
Roy’s main goal is still that the event is a way to thank students.
“It’s our way of giving back to students and clients and customers,” he said. “I really wanted to spend a whole day just saying, ‘Thank you.’ We’re here, we have jobs, because of students.”
