Student Housing on Silver King Campus Nears Completion
By Bob Hall
The buzz of contractors working diligently on the finishing touches at the student housing project on the Silver King Campus is only matched by the buzz of anticipation for what the new units will be bring to Selkirk College learners.
Scheduled to be complete and ready for move-in starting early 2024, the 35 units on the trades-based Nelson campus are part of a $33.9 million two-pronged housing solution that will also see 112 units added at the Castlegar Campus.
Breaking ground less than a year ago, the modular build project at the Silver King Campus is currently humming with more than 30 trades people working on flooring, drywall, painting, kitchen cabinets, elevator installation and exterior landscaping.
“It’s exciting to see this project get to a point where students will soon have this wonderful option for housing as they pursue their post-secondary goals,” says Margaret Sutherland, chair of the Selkirk College Board of Governors.
“It’s an important project that will help the college meet the needs of both students and the community. Proper housing is a critical element for learner success and the completed project will result in better outcomes across the institution.”
At its October regular meeting, Sutherland and members of the Board of Governors joined President Maggie Matear and leadership team staff for a tour of the Silver King Campus project.
The first on-site housing at the campus that has been a vital post-secondary educational facility for almost 60 years, the additional units will help foster more vibrant student life while creating better affordability and access to programs.
In alignment with the Provincial Government’s Homes for People Action Plan and funded by the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education & Future Skills—with a contribution of $1.65 million from Columbia Basin Trust — the finished projects at both sites will increase on-campus housing at Selkirk College by 71 per cent.
“A strength of Selkirk College is our ability to provide a vibrant community for learners,” says Associate Vice President of Student Success Brier Albano.
“Safe, affordable and accessible housing at the Silver King Campus will allow future students to focus even more on achieving their academic goals, access supports and create connections that they will take with them long after they graduate.”
A heavy rainfall event in late-August caused substantial damage to the project at Castlegar Campus, resulting in a delay of the timeline for opening.
Currently working through rectifying the damaged components, the opening of the Castlegar Campus student housing facility is targeted for the Fall of 2024.
Learn more about Selkirk College student housing at: https://selkirk.ca/student-life-support/student-housing
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