Summary:

• Nearly 400 new beds for students are open at University of the Fraser Valley Abbotsford campus
• There are now almost 600 student beds on campus for the 15,000-student capacity university
• A newly renovated, expanded dining hall has opened, which more than doubles seating capacity and improves food service

Students now have access to more housing options and an expanded dining hall at the University of the Fraser Valley Abbotsford (UFV), with nearly 400 new beds and an additional 230 dining seats now open.

“Students need convenient housing so they can focus on learning, not on finding a place to live,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “This new housing and expanded dining hall at UFV more than triples the available on-campus housing for students in the Fraser Valley, ensuring more students have access to the housing and services they benefit from to thrive.”

Student housing

The six-storey mass timber student housing building adds nearly 400 new beds for students, tripling the number of available on-campus accommodation and taking pressure off the local rental market. It includes:

• 60 four-bedroom units, 50 studios and two one-bedroom apartments for staff – all with washrooms, kitchenettes and lounge space
• 106 single-bedroom dorms with access to shared kitchens, lounges and laundry facilities
• office space, parking and cultural spaces for prayer and ceremony

The building is currently referred to as Lá:léms Ye EverGreen [la-lums-yuh-ever-green], a name that reflects a sense of home, belonging and continuity grounded in the Halq’eméylem language, and the deep connection between people and place on Stó:lō territory. The name and spelling were guided by Siyamiyateliyot (Elizabeth Phillips), an Elder from the Stó:lō Nation who received an honorary degree from UFV in 2018 and continues to provide guidance to the university. This name serves as an initial option, while UFV continues a broader, consultative process to determine a permanent name for the building.

The project also included construction of a new active transportation hub adjacent to the student housing building, which provides secure indoor bike storage and shower facilities to students living on campus as well as the wider UFV community.   

Dining hall

The Cascade Café dining hall has also been renovated and expanded, increasing the seating capacity from 121 to 350 seats and adding a second floor and feature staircase. This dining hall offers improved food service and much-needed space to support the additional students living on campus along with the UFV community.

“Campus dormitories are more than just a place of residence,” said Afeef Alam, a third-year bachelor of science student who lives in UFV’s Lá:léms Ye EverGreen residence. “Students meet, study and work with a lot of people in the dedicated collaborative spaces in the new building, which creates an environment that is conducive to both the academic and personal growth of the students.”

Supporting post-secondary education in B.C.

Since 2017, the Province has committed more than $4 billion in post-secondary education infrastructure:

• $2 billion for student housing, creating nearly 7,300 new student spaces throughout the province that are complete, with thousands more underway
• more than $2 billion for other post-secondary campus infrastructure, including new campuses and specialty buildings
• These investments include $127 million shared between the Province and UFV for the new student housing and expanded dining hall, nearly $7 million to create instructional space and capacity for heavy mechanical, automation and farm technology programs, and $8 million to revitalize the UFV Mission campus.

“Having a place to live on campus helps students build friendships, focus on their studies, and feel a true sense of belonging,” said James Mandigo, president and vice-chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley. “We thank the Province for supporting this important investment that will help more UFV students live, learn and thrive in the Fraser Valley.”

The Province is committed to continuing to work with post-secondary institutions to ensure students have the housing and supports they need to succeed.

Quotes:

Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills –

“New student housing creates opportunities and a stable foundation for students to learn, grow their curiosity and confidence and experience the full extent of a post-secondary education. By investing in safe, affordable homes on campus, we’re helping ensure students have every tool they need to succeed and excel in their education.”

Learn More:

For the previous announcement about the new UFV Student Housing and Dining Hall, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022AEST0029-000738