With the opening of the long-awaited Squamish campus, an exciting new chapter of Capilano University’s history begins this Fall semester.
Yasmine Modaresi (she/her) // Crew Writer
Liza Borrisova (she/her) // Illustrator
The Squamish CapU campus, funded by $48 million from the B.C. government, will be the first publicly funded student housing in the Sea to Sky corridor. The scenic Squamish landscape isn’t the only appeal of the new campus, the building is equipped with 333 beds in nearby housing units only a short walk from the main campus. Situated in one of the lower mainlands most diverse adventure settings, Squamish-residing CapU students will have full access to activities like parasailing, rock climbing, and backcountry hiking in Garibaldi Provincial Park, and hitting the slopes all within an hour’s drive from campus. Students have the ability to live parallel to the Squamish village while still having the convenience of being a short walk from their classes.
One benefit of the new campus is the increased access to higher education in more remote areas, which has historically been a problem across Canada with the more prestigious institutions being concentrated in the Lower Mainland. CapU students who have to commute long distances to campus miss out on a lot of the resources that a university can offer. The opening of the Squamish campus will make accessible involvement in student-work programs with professors and school organizations (e.g. student council, clubs, childcare, etc). Capilano, furthermore, will positively impact the local economy by creating new jobs and posturing partnerships with local businesses. Through direct collaboration with Indigenous communities, the University aims to enhance programs that enhance Indigenous collaboration.
In campus’ operational infancy, there are a plethora of issues that have yet to be addressed. The campus is extremely small and if enrollment increases, the university will need to create infrastructure to house students without overcrowding in the surrounding village. The course selection is also currently limited at the Squamish campus, with the only current programs being within the of arts and childhood development care.
If Capilano University’s venture into Squamish proves fruitful it could become a vital catalyst in B.C.’s journey towards increasing university enrollment in rural areas. This will only be true if Capilano University succeeds in providing a reputable education that grants credentials equally as employable as those granted by larger institutions such as UBC and SFU. It’ll be fundamental to keep an eye on the strategies employed by the university to enhance the campus’s academic and career opportunities.