University of the Fraser Valley to triple student housing by 2024
Finding affordable housing is tough at the best of times.
And perhaps it’s even more difficult for students on a tight budget.
But there’s some good news for future students at the University of the Fraser Valley.
“We are investing in $70.3 million to almost triple the…student housing here at UFV on campus,” said Anne Kang, B.C.’s minister of advanced education and skills training.
“We know that finding housing near UFV’s Abbotsford campus can be a challenge,” she said, noting that many students often face long commutes.
The funding will go toward an $82.3 million project to increase on-campus accommodations for students from 200 to 598 beds.
The money will also be used to expand existing food service on campus, doubling the size of the dining hall.
UFV’s associate vice-president of campus planning, Mark Goudsblom, said the additional housing is crucial “for students to live on campus who otherwise struggled finding affordable housing in Abbotsford and our local communities.”
He said there are always students wait-listed to get into housing, so additional accommodations will help ease that.
“If we look at what the current…rental rates are in our surrounding enivornment, it’s significantly higher than what we’re expecting to be putting out for rental rates for our units here,” he explained.
The new structure will be built next to the current student housing complex.
He also said the new dorms will help improve campus life and create more of a community at the university.
Construction will create 445 direct and 270 indirect jobs.
Work on the project is expected to begin early next year and be complete by 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.