(flickr.com)
Camosun College students will soon have access to on-campus student housing for the first time with funding approved for a new 423-bed student housing project at the Lansdowne campus.
“Our government has been making historic investments in on-campus student housing to support students in their academic journeys, including the very first student residence at Camosun College,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “This project builds on the thousands of student beds already built or underway across B.C., making it easier for students to get the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow.”
The total project cost is $154.7 million, with the provincial government providing $151.7 million and Camosun College providing the remaining $3 million. The project is expected to be complete and ready for students to move in for fall 2027.
“Secure, stable and affordable housing is essential for students to succeed in their studies,” said Murray Rankin, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. “Having student housing available at Camosun College’s Lansdowne campus will also help alleviate pressure on Victoria’s rental market, a lasting benefit to our entire community.”
The six-storey building will have 423 student beds in single, studio and quad unit types. The building will be constructed using mass timber elements, while targeting LEED Platinum Standards.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the provincial government in helping the college achieve its priority of affordable on-campus student housing,” said Lane Trotter, president, Camosun College. “On-campus housing brings various social, academic and personal benefits, including greater retention rates, while freeing up rental spaces in the surrounding communities.”
A backgrounder follows.
Backgrounders
The Province is investing in student housing as part of Homes for People, which commits more than $2 billion to the housing action plan that includes building 12,000 on-campus student housing beds. To date, 9,095 new beds are complete or underway, enabling more people in British Columbia to have affordable housing to pursue post-secondary education and taking pressure off local rental markets.
Provincially funded projects include:
Interior:
New student housing open
- 533 beds at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Total project cost is $38 million ($25.5 million provincial funding). Completed September 2019.
- 220 beds at University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna. Total project cost is $25 million ($18.7 million provincial funding). Completed September 2020.
- 100 beds at the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook. Total project cost is $19 million ($12.9 million provincial funding). Completed December 2020.
- 148 beds at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Total project cost is $19.5 million ($10.9 million provincial funding). Completed November 2023.
New student housing underway
- Okanagan College campuses in Vernon (100 beds), Salmon Arm (60 beds) and Kelowna (216 beds). Total project cost is $75.1 million ($73.5 million provincial funding).
- Selkirk College in Castlegar (114 beds) and Nelson (36 beds). Total project cost is $37.7 million ($35.6 million provincial funding).
- Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (30 beds). Total project cost is $19.6 million ($19.6 million provincial funding).
- Okanagan College Penticton campus (101 beds), Total project cost is $24.0 million ($23.5 million provincial funding).
Lower Mainland:
New student housing open
- 383 beds at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. Total cost is $115.6 million ($73 million provincial funding). Completed May 2023.
New student housing underway
- 398 beds at University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford. Total cost is $105 million ($87.6 million provincial funding).
- 362 beds at Capilano University in North Vancouver. Total cost is $58.2 million ($41.5 million provincial funding).
- 470 beds at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Burnaby. Total cost is $141.7 million ($129.9 million provincial funding).
- 368 beds and an academic space at Douglas College in New Westminster. Total cost is $332.5 million (government contribution of $232.3 million; $74 million in provincial funding for the academic part of the project and $158.3 million for the student housing from the BC Student Housing Program).
- 333 beds at Capilano University in Squamish. Total cost is $55 million ($48 million in provincial funding).
- 445 beds at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. Total cost is $187.6 million ($132.2 million provincial funding).
Northern B.C.:
New student housing open
- 108 beds at Coast Mountain College in Terrace. Total project cost is $21.6 million ($20.6 million provincial funding). Opened October 2021.
- In Prince George, the College of New Caledonia opened 12 beds in September 2021. Total project cost is $5.3 million, fully funded by the province.
Vancouver Island:
New student housing open
- The University of Victoria opened its first 398-bed building with dining facilities in September 2022. The second 385-bed building opened in September 2023, for a total of 783 new beds (621 net new and 162 replacement beds). Total project cost is $242.5 million ($127.7 million provincial funding).
New student housing underway
- 217 beds at North Island College. Total cost is $77.9 million ($75.9 million provincial funding).
- 266 new student housing beds at Vancouver Island University. Total cost is $87.8 million ($87 million provincial funding).
- 423 beds at Camosun College (Lansdowne). Total cost is $154.7 million ($151.7 million provincial funding).
https://news.gov.bc.ca/31301
Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
