BC Gov News

Katrine Conroy, MLA for Kootenay West –

“As a representative of this region and a proud Selkirk alumna, I’m thrilled to see our government invest in student housing that benefits both our students and local communities. These new spaces at Selkirk College will provide affordable, below-market housing options for learners, allowing them to focus on their studies without the stress of finding a place to live. This investment supports the future of our workforce, while also easing pressure on the tight rental market in our region.”

Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston –

“Having been a student at Selkirk College, I know how important safe and affordable housing is to student success. These new residences are more than just a place to stay, they offer an environment where students can build community and thrive academically. I’m excited to see this kind of progress at the college and the positive impact it will have on students and the community.”

Donna Drover, director of facilities and business services, Selkirk College –

“The new student housing facility in the Castlegar campus exceeds our expectations. It required a tremendous amount of dedicated work from our own team and all of the contractors who helped build this stunning new home for students. By providing this important option to current and future learners, these units will also help ease pressure on the local housing market and play a role in strengthening the region overall.”

Adrianna Froese, third-year rural pre-medicine program student, Selkirk College –

“The new student housing is gorgeous. Incoming students should be excited about on-campus housing because there is so much opportunity to mix with people from other programs and other countries. It’s a built-in community while you go to school where you will meet new friends, and it’s resulted in me achieving better results in the classroom.”

Expanding access to student housing is part of the Homes for People action plan. Since 2018, government has committed more than $2 billion toward developing 12,000 student beds on campuses throughout the province. To date, 10,766 student housing beds are underway in the province, and 5,523 of these are open. This investment in student housing will help students access post-secondary education and will further ease pressure on the local rental markets.

Provincially funded projects include: 

Interior:  

New student housing already open: 

• 533 beds at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Total project cost is $38 million ($25.5 million provincial funding). Completed in September 2019. 
• 220 beds at University of British Columbia Okanagan in Kelowna. Total project cost is $25 million ($18.7 million provincial funding). Completed in September 2020.  
• 100 beds at the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook. Total project cost is $19 million ($12.9 million provincial funding). Completed in December 2020.  
• 148 beds at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Total project cost is $19 million ($10.9 million provincial funding). Completed in November 2023. 
• Okanagan College campuses in Vernon (101 beds) and Kelowna (216 beds). Total project cost with Salmon Arm campus is $75.1 million ($73.1 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). 

New student housing underway:

• Okanagan College Salmon Arm campus (60 beds). Total project cost with Kelowna and Vernon campuses is $75.1 million ($73.1 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 million ($23.5 million provincial funding). 

Lower Mainland:  

New student housing already open:

• 386 beds at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby. Total cost is $115.6 million ($73 million provincial funding). Completed in 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 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 student housing from the B.C. 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).  
• 1,508 beds (1,333 new and 175 replacement beds) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Total cost is $559.9 million ($300 million provincial funding).  

Northern B.C.: 

New student housing already open: 

• 108 beds at Coast Mountain College in Terrace. Total project cost is $21.6 million ($20.6 million provincial funding). Opened in 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 already 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 beds (621 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 $103.6 million ($102.8 million provincial funding). 
• 423 beds at Camosun College (Lansdowne). Total cost is $154.7 million ($151.7 million provincial funding).