MERRITT, B.C. – The Government of British Columbia is putting $19.6 million towards on-campus family housing at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT).
The project will include two six-unit townhouses for families, with a mix of two- and three-bedroom units to accommodate as many as 30 students and family members.
The project will provide housing primarily to Indigenous students and families. As an Indigenous-led institution, the project is designed with Indigenous connections and culture in mind, including gardens for native and medicinal plants, a release said. The child care facility will be operated by the Conayt Friendship Centre.
“As B.C.’s only Indigenous public post-secondary institution, the addition of this housing will enhance the overall student experience and further contribute to the success and well-being of our NVIT community, making education as accessible as possible for those learners coming from rural as well as remote Indigenous communities,” NVIT president Ken Tourand said in the release.
The project also includes a 36-space child care and health program expansion and addition of a mobile training trailer compound, the release said. The buildings will be constructed using wood-frame with mass-timber elements while meeting Step 4 of the B.C. Energy Step Code.
The project is expected to be complete and ready for students to move in for fall 2026.
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