Q and A with Valentijn Helmus

Tell us a little bit about yourself.  Where did you go to high school/college?  What program are you in at SFU and what led to your interest in this program?

I grew up on Gabriola Island and in Ucluelet, BC. I initially started my post-secondary studies at Camosun College in Victoria before transferring to the SFU Human Geography program. I’m currently completing a minor in Indigenous Studies. The Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ and Snuneymuxw landscapes I grew up on inspired my interest in geography and especially community planning. I am an artist and have worked with pottery since I was quite young, and always thought I would end up in a fine arts degree, but human geography caught my interest because of the intersections of art, human and more-than-human relationships, and landscapes; it's a poetic connection that I first encountered while studying at Camosun College and I haven’t looked back since.  

Are you involved in any extra-curricular and/or volunteer activities and how do these contribute to your experience as a student?

At SFU, I have volunteered with Embark Sustainability, assisting with their Food Rescue program to reduce food waste and increase access to fresh foods on campus. Volunteering with Embark has fostered community connection and a sense of belonging for myself on campus and fed my interest in food sovereignty. Working in food justice and gathering around food is a space of so much joy.

Outside of campus, I participate in invasive species removal, native species planting, and community events with Still Moon Arts Society. Still Moon Arts Society has become a source of community connection in Vancouver for me, and I volunteer in the arts-centered Harvest Festival they hold at Renfrew Ravine each fall. Spaces and events centered around place-based creative and ecological practice within a dense and urban landscape is what I love about studying human geography.

What have you enjoyed most about your SFU experience so far?

The dedication and passion of the educators here has been incredible. In both the geography department and in Indigenous studies, the support and encouragement I’ve received from my instructors has helped guide me to the end of my undergrad and inspired me well beyond the classroom.

What have you found most challenging about the transition to university studies and how have you worked to overcome this?

Time management while juggling work, school, family, friends, and creativity hasn’t been easy. I’ve found that having a community to rely on has been hugely helpful, asking for support can be scary but is so important! Moving to a new city to start my studies meant that community wasn’t always obvious, and it was something I had to seek out. Volunteer activities have helped to build those relationships and support systems for me.

What have you learned and/or what skills/knowledge have you developed through your program at SFU?

The most important skill I’ve learned is to approach questions with a holistic view, centered in relationships. So much of what we study in human geography is relationships; relationships to each other, to space and place, to animals and plants. These relationships are the very intersection where knowledge is shared and ideas are made. I’ve also learned how to bring creativity, engagement, and a community focus into my research and especially in the sharing of my work.

What advice do you have for future students in this program?

My advice would be to not be afraid to bring your own specific interests or twist to geography. When I first entered university, I felt that my art and my studies had to be separate and struggled to identify how they could intersect. In actuality, my interest in ceramics and art-based methodologies has enriched my learning and assignments. It has given me a path within human geography that has made geography a very part of who I am as an artist, and creativity a vital part of who I am as a geographer.