An announcement of new student housing coming to the University of Victoria, made Thursday by Premier John Horgan and the Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, Melanie Mark, aims to not only provide more housing for students but to also free up other rentals in Victoria for more affordable housing options for residents.

B次元官网网址淲e are a destination university with over 75 per cent of our students coming from outside the immediate catchment area,B次元官网网址� said Jamie Cassels, president of UVic who has been advocating for more on-campus housing for over a decade.

B次元官网网址淭hose students are coming to what we all agree is one of the most beautiful cities in the country but also one of the most difficult cities in the country in which to find affordable housing. With extremely low vacancy rates and very high rental costs, itB次元官网网址檚 very challenging for students to find a place to live, so this opportunity is extraordinary for our students.B次元官网网址�

Premier John Horgan and Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, announce new student residences at UVic that will increase on-campus housing by over 600-beds, a 25 per cent increase in student housing.

B次元官网网址� Keri Coles (@KeriColesPhotog)

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The $200 million funding announcement involves the construction of two new student housing buildings to house 782 students in addition to a new dining hall and multipurpose space. The project will replace three aging buildings and will be a net gain of 620 student homes.

The project is the second to access the BC Student Housing Loan Program, a $450-million initiative of the provincial government to make housing more affordable and available to students in B.C.

B次元官网网址淪tudents have been calling on government to take action to make their lives more affordable. They should be able to pursue their education without worrying about finding an affordable place to live,B次元官网网址� said Mark.

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B次元官网网址淏y increasing housing stock specifically for students, weB次元官网网址檙e also taking the pressure off local rental markets, giving more options to other renters,B次元官网网址� said Horgan.

At the announcement, Premier Horgan said itB次元官网网址檚 not just about student housing but also about B次元官网网址渞educing our carbon footprint.B次元官网网址�

The new builds will be constructed to the Passive House standard, the worldB次元官网网址檚 leading standard for energy-efficient construction. The buildings are projected to use 75 per cent less energy for heating and cooling, and at least 50 per cent less overall energy than a typical construction design.

Premier John Horgan and Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, have fun during a tour of student housing, after announcing they will increase UVic on-campus housing by 25 per cent, adding over 600 beds.

B次元官网网址� Keri Coles (@KeriColesPhotog)

Students joined the announcement to share how the expansion will affect their lives.

B次元官网网址淩esidence is a safe place that fosters growth. The buildings themselves become homes where students can create the community they want to live in,B次元官网网址� said Adri Bell, UVic student and senior community leader. B次元官网网址淚 know itB次元官网网址檚 been another good year as I watch a resident hug their building goodbye before heading home for the summer. The new residence buildings are going to help us expand the impact we are able to make in the lives of students.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭odayB次元官网网址檚 announcement isnB次元官网网址檛 just an investment in the university, this is an investment in the citizens and the future of this province,B次元官网网址� Cassels said.

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