Winter weather is being blamed for a delay to the opening of a new student housing facility being constructed at Okanagan College's Salmon Arm campus. 

The college announced Thursday, July 18, that the 60-bed building wouldn't be ready in time for students this September as planned. The college anticipates the building will be ready for the winter semester in January 2025.  

The college explained the "unexpected cold snap that hit the region last winter had a cascading impact on the construction schedule." Efforts were made to make up the time, and though the project is nearing end stages of construction, the building won't be opening for this year's fall semester.  

The college explained the construction schedule for January and February would have seen drywall installed; however, "the unusually cold and wet weather forced a delay, and by the time the conditions were more favourable, the availability of skilled trades professionals was limited."

鈥淲hile we had planned for the student housing in Salmon Arm to be completed this summer, that鈥檚 just not the reality today, due to factors beyond our control,鈥� said Dr. Samantha Lenci, OC鈥檚 provost and vice president academic, in the media release.

Lenci said Okanagan College is contacting students who expressed interest in on-campus housing in Salmon Arm this fall, "and we will help them identify alternative solutions in the meantime.鈥�

鈥淭he delay is not what we wanted 鈥� but it is worth the wait," said Lenci. "Once this building is fully constructed and open, it will have a significant impact on our Salmon Arm campus and learners from across the Shuswap and the Interior鈥� who need a place to call home while they鈥檙e completing their studies.

"Whether that鈥檚 students from communities such as Revelstoke and Clearwater or beyond, we know that this new building will bring opportunities that aren鈥檛 available right now." 

In March 2021 the B.C. government announced new student housing projects for Okanagan College's 琉璃神社, Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses. Construction began in 琉璃神社 in 2022, while the Vernon and Salmon Arm projects broke ground in spring 2023.

The college said the buildings in 琉璃神社 and Vernon are on schedule to open this fall. In Vernon, this includes the onsite Sunflower Childcare Centre, operated by Maven Lane.

Students who have applied for student housing in Salmon Arm, Vernon or 琉璃神社 and who have questions about the status of their application are invited to contact the College鈥檚 student housing team at: info@okanaganhousing.ca or 250-762-5445 ext. 5422.