Vernon campus of Okanagan College (File photo/Vernon Matters)

By Pete McIntyre

Kelowna

New student housing for Okanagan College

Jun 27, 2022 | 1:15 PM

The B.C. government has announced funding for more student housing at Okanagan College.

After earlier announcements of 100 beds at the Vernon campus and 60 in Salmon Arm, the province today unveiled plans for 216 more beds at the Kelowna campus, increasing the total to 360.

It will be the first on-campus student housing to be added at the Kelowna facility in more than 30 years.

Construction will start later this year on the student housing in Vernon and Salmon Arm. The province is investing $66.5 million into the three residences, with a total project cost of $67.5 million.

By campus, the province has invested:

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• Kelowna, $36.4 million;
• Vernon, $18 million; and
• Salmon Arm, $13.1 million.

• More than 500 jobs will be generated by these projects.

“New student housing at Okanagan College will ensure students have affordable and convenient housing options, while reducing some of the pressure on the local rental market,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee. “With low vacancy rates in Kelowna, Vernon and Salmon Arm, this is good news for everyone who calls the region home.”

Construction on the Kelowna buildings is expected to be completed in winter 2023. The Vernon project is anticipated to start later this summer and be completed in early 2024, while the Salmon Arm project is expected to start in fall 2022 and be completed in spring 2024.

“Over the past two years, living in student housing has helped me to exceed my academic expectations by creating a sense of community that I never knew I needed,” said Connor McGuinness, a student at the Okanagan College Kelowna campus. “The unwavering support I’ve received from my fellow residents and student housing staff has given me the confidence to tackle the many challenges that have come my way.”