Capilano University has reached an agreement with Primacorp Ventures and purchased the Quest University campus property. The purchase was made for $63.2 million, with $48 million in funding from the provincial government.
The 18-acre purpose-built campus includes academic teaching and learning spaces, a library, an athletic centre and sports field, and a cultural and creative activity area. The campus will enable CapU to begin serving students and collaborating with local partners with research and innovation activities in the Sea-to-Sky corridor relatively soon, the University said.
Stay informed ! Sign up for local news alerts from Squamish Reporter
Registration for classes at the new Squamish campus is expected to start early next year for classes beginning in fall 2024.
CapU has long planned to expand its presence in Squamish. In March 2022, CapU announced it had entered into a purchase agreement to develop a campus at the Oceanfront Squamish. The term of that agreement ended in spring 2023; the Primacorp property became available for purchase in February 2023 and the University shifted its focus to pursuing the already-built university campus.
“The District of Squamish shares Capilano University’s values of collaboration, innovation, transparency and belonging, and deep commitment to truth and reconciliation,” said Mayor Hurford. “Together, we have an established 40-year history of collaboration and shared vision for Squamish and the district is thrilled CapU has returned to Squamish in this way. We look forward to new opportunities and renewed connections as we begin this next chapter.”
Stay informed ! Sign up for local news alerts from Squamish
In addition, CapU will be exploring options for operating a new 74-space child care centre on the campus property in Squamish. The university is also exploring options to offer housing for students at the Squamish campus. “The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) has worked closely with Capilano University for many years. We are pleased to support the return of in-person learning to the District of Squamish. The new campus will provide opportunities for our youth in Squamish to seek post-secondary education close to home. We look forward to continuing discussions with Capilano University about how to best serve our members and how we can help Indigenize the university’s programs,” said Wilson Williams (Sxwíxwtn), spokesperson for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation).
“We are grateful to the Province, the District of Squamish and the Squamish Nation for their support, and look forward to continuing to build a relationship with the community, the Squamish Nation, and multiple partners to design and offer academic programs that match the education and skills training needs of the community and region,” said Paul Dangerfield, CapU president.
“Being an early childhood education student at CapU has changed my life for the better,” says Capilano University student Tatiana Moraru. “Now, more people who live in the Squamish region will have access to affordable and accessible post-secondary education to bring their passion and potential into reality.”
Planning for the campus is underway and details on programming, academic activities and student service offerings will be shared in the coming months.
Larry Murray says
Indeed, some good news from the terrible series of events that took Quest University down. Yes, the good news is Capilano will hopefully follow through on David Strangway’s dream of delivering education in a 21st Century model – from textbook centred to student inquiry centred. Having known David as a fellow educator and as a member of the Oceanfront Board of Directors, I recall the wonderful discussions we shared during those early Quest years. Now, the bad news is that issues that brought Quest to its knees will be forgotten and those responsible for the series of ugly events will not be held accountable. Now, that, indeed, would be bad news.
Peter Legere says
Please elaborate, Larry. Name names, please.
larry murray says
Peter….check out BC CTV news today