More students will be able to live on campus and close to classes at Vancouver Island University.

The B.C. government was at VIUB次元官网网址檚 Nanaimo campus on Friday, Sept. 2, to announce it is providing $87 million B次元官网网址� 99 per cent of the total project cost B次元官网网址� to build 266 new student housing beds and a new dining hall.

Anne Kang, B.C. minister of advanced education and skills training, was at VIU to make the announcement, stating post-secondary need access to affordable housing to complete their studies, remove barriers to education and lay the foundation for their future.

B次元官网网址淧ost-secondary students need access to affordable housing to complete their studies, remove barriers to education and lay the foundation for their future,B次元官网网址� the minister said in a press release.

The new accommodations will increase VIUB次元官网网址檚 on-campus housing from 536 beds to 802.

B次元官网网址淚t will help relieve the pressure on the rental markets in Nanaimo too, something that weB次元官网网址檙e keeping a very close eye on,B次元官网网址� Kang said.

A nine-storey B次元官网网址渉ybrid mass-timberB次元官网网址� building is envisioned, according to the press release, with construction expected to begin in 2023 and be completed in time for the fall semester in 2025.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 promising to be a really gorgeous place, I promise you that,B次元官网网址� Kang said.

Deborah Saucier, VIU president, said the universityB次元官网网址檚 strategic plan commits to supporting a larger and more diverse student population. She hopes the new housing will have a positive effect on Nanaimo.

B次元官网网址淲e have a 300-person wait-list right now, so this will clear a backlog, but importantly, for every student that doesnB次元官网网址檛 get in to space here on campus, thereB次元官网网址檚 one rental unit out there in the community, so itB次元官网网址檚 almost double the effect,B次元官网网址� said Saucier. B次元官网网址淚t will actually do a lot to ameliorate some of the housing concerns in Nanaimo, particularly around affordable housing.B次元官网网址�

The benefit of the dining hall will be multi-faceted, said Saucier. In addition to feeding students, it will also offer learning opportunities.

B次元官网网址淩ight now, our current cafeteria has a separate function where the culinary students also provide affordable, nutritious food and weB次元官网网址檒l be looking at trying to figure out ways in which we can not only provide culturally appropriate food, but ways in which we can engage our students to help other students with their needs.B次元官网网址�

Cole Reinbold, a VIU student and student residence community leader, said more housing will benefit studentsB次元官网网址� social lives. They get to be close to like-minded people and it makes it easier for lifelong connections.

B次元官网网址淚n my first year, I was known as a room-dweller, that means a person who stays in their room, doesnB次元官网网址檛 go to events and then my community leader pulled me out of my room,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 started as an introvert when I came to VIU and now IB次元官网网址檇 say IB次元官网网址檓 almost on the extroverted scale, just because I was gently pushed into socializing through the residence.B次元官网网址�

The province noted that the new residences will be built to Step 4 standards in the B.C. Energy Step Code and will connect to VIUB次元官网网址檚 geo-exchange system that utilizes former coal mining shafts underneath the university campus.

Indigenous elders will be consulted when it comes to naming the new residence, Saucier told the B次元官网网址 Bulletin.

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