Students attending the Nechako Region campus of the College of New Caledonia (CNC) in Vanderhoof will have a new education and training facility following the purchase of several buildings that sit on 2.38 acres (0.96 hectares) of land.
The current building campus is leased. It has served adult learners in 10 communities with a total population of more than 16,000 for over 30 years. In 2015-16, the college had 74 full-time equivalent students.
The new campus will consolidate a variety of programs including trades to one location in a much newer building. It is located on 139 East First Street and has more than an acre that can be developed in the future depending on demand and approvals. The new building will allow the college to move the trades program onto the same location as other programs.
The Province of British Columbia provided the College of New Caledonia with funding to purchase the property for approximately $1.7 million and will assist in the renovations and upgrades to accommodate students.
There are three buildings located on the property. The newest building is a large 10,000 square-foot (929 square-metre) retail outlet building constructed in 2014. The second building is an older 3,744 square-foot (347 square-metre) office building and the third building is a 1,250 square-foot (116 square-metre) equipment building.
Student occupancy is expected in fall 2018, once the appropriate re-zoning and renovation work is completed.
“It was huge for me to stay in my hometown and go to school” said Carmen Funk, former CNC student and now health care worker. “The new CNC location is more central and will be easier for students travelling to CNC from rural areas.”
