Wake Up Call

Marissa Nahanee has lived in Vancouver all her life and decide to enroll in the Event Planning program at The Art Institute of Vancouver in 2006. The program was exactly what she was looking for to start her career as an Event Planner.

Marissa defines her experience at The Art Institute as a “wake up call” to the real world. She loved the program courses and really benefited from the diversity and knowledge her fellow classmates brought to her learning experience. She also appreciated the caliber of instructors and staff at The Art Institute of Vancouver and felt that they certainly added to the quality of her experience at school. Marissa is thankful in particular to her Academic Director Mike Granek and the school library team for providing invaluable support.

After graduation in 2007, Marissa decided to further her education at the Native Education College. She made a brace choice to turn down numerous job offers during this period in order to complete her studies. This choice paid off and as soon as she was finished with her studies she was offered the amazing opportunity of working on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Marissa accepted a position with one of the VANOC partners and is currently working on Event Planning for Four Host First Nations.

Marissa enjoys working with her team, whose purpose is to ensure unprecedented aboriginal participation in the Vancouver 2010 games and she has been working on the planning for the Olympic torch relay.

After the Olympics, Marissa wants to get a degree and open up her own business that will specialize in planning “aboriginal infused” events. Her advice for aspiring students is to “never underestimate the advice from your instructors.” She learned that it is wise to ask for help and that eventually you will have your breakthrough moment.