UBC Okanagan campus size to double
$8.8 million purchase nets 256 acres of farmland adjacent to campus
6/29/10
Doug Owram, UBC Okanagan's Deputy-Vice Chancellor, announces the purchase of new lands at a press conference June 9th. (Photo by Andrew Bates)
The UBC Okanagan campus may look as different in five years as it does now from the university's Kelowna debut five years ago.
On June 9th, the university announced the purchase of 256 acres of farmland west of campus adjacent to Roberts Lake. The land effectively doubles the size of the current 260 hectare campus it acquired when it converted Okanagan University College's north campus into UBC O in 2005.
“These lands...are for the benefit of the research mission, the teaching mission, and all of the aspirations that make universities great,” said Brad Bennett, who was serving his last day as chair of UBC's Board of Governors.
The land was purchased with $8.8 million in endowment funds from the City of Kelowna, who itself had purchased the land in 2006. “By supporting the interests and needs of our younger, more diverse population, Kelowna will inspire young people to move and stay here,” said Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shephard.
She told the press conference, which took place at the far corner of campus, that current agricultural activities will continue on the land and parts of the land have been reserved for future use as alternate paths to campus. “We are all very pleased that this beautiful place will be dedicated to environmental protection,”she said.
“UBC Okanagan is growing, and continues to grow...[It is] trying to form an identity--honing in on the fact that they are a small school [with an] intimate environment.” said Ben Glassco, student representative to the Board of Governors. “Some of the signature aspects of UBC Okanagan are going to be strengthened. Nothing is really going to be changed.”
Possible uses of the land have been proposed, including a new bike path or road connecting to the Glenmore Road area and agricultural science programs. UBC operates a farm at its Point Grey campus, but it has been the subject of controversy in past years over potential plans to convert it to housing.
Currently, there are no firm plans for the land. “As time unfolds, and the university makes discoveries, explores research and teaching opportunities, these plans will be made available,” Bennett said. “I see a blank canvas. I see nothing but possibility, and I would be most concerned if we somehow try and impose predetermined limits and set boundaries for ourselves.”
Glassco confirms that internally, many suggestions have been made, “People have been throwing out ideas, like we can build this or we can build that, but really they just bought it.”
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