Student dormitories for Okanagan College’s Salmon Arm Campus are on the horizon.
On Friday March 5, British Columbia Prime Minister John Horgan announced a housing project for the college that will include 60 beds on the Salmon Arm campus, 100 beds in Vernon and 216 beds in Kelowna.
The total cost is estimated at $ 67.5 million, with the province contributing $ 36.3 million in grants, an additional $ 30.2 million in loans and OC contributing $ 1 million.
Construction is expected to start in 2022.
Shuswap-Revelstoke’s regional dean, Joan Ragsdale, was delighted with the announcement.
“It will be a game changer for our communities and our campus,” she said.
She pointed out that students are currently struggling to find accommodation, particularly from students outside the city and from rural communities in the area, as well as international students.
Regarding the location, she said she knows the building will be on Salmon Arm’s campus, but a decision on the specific location has not yet been made. This will be the next step in the process.
The overall project for the three locations includes 376 additional affordable student residences in five new student residences, including a combination of single, double and quad suites. This results in a 260 percent increase in the number of student beds available. Currently, Okanagan College has no student accommodation in Salmon Arm or Vernon and 144 student beds in a single building on the college’s Kelowna campus.
Evan Smith, a student at Salmon Arm Campus and a board member of the Okanagan College Students’ Union, said the student union is pleased with the announcement.
“There are so few affordable, student-friendly housing options here. This is a much needed and long overdue improvement… It is not acceptable to pay as much or more rent per month as tuition fees… ”.
College President Jim Hamilton also expressed his approval.
“This is one of those rare moments where… a vision becomes a concrete project that will benefit our communities as an economic engine, help address housing issues in our region, support our goal of reducing our carbon footprint and advance especially to increase access to post-secondary education. “
Prime Minister John Horgan noted that affordable housing is key to building strong, healthy communities.
“This new dormitory will help students focus on their studies and its solid wood construction will create good jobs for local workers.”
Solid wood is a renewable resource with a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional concrete structures, the press release said. The project is expected to create more than 500 direct and indirect local jobs.
The pre-recorded live stream of the announcement is available here.
Continue reading: The college wants a dormitory on the Salmon Arm campus
Continue reading: 2017 – The college is growing, but the council remains cautious
marthawickett@saobserver.net
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