65 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Housing is coming to Lansdowne:

Camosun College students will soon have access to on-campus student housing for the first time with funding approved for a new 423-bed student housing project at the Lansdowne campus.

“Our government has been making historic investments in on-campus student housing to support students in their academic journeys, including the very first student residence at Camosun College,” said Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “This project builds on the thousands of student beds already built or underway across B.C., making it easier for students to get the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow.”

The total project cost is $154.7 million, with the provincial government providing $151.7 million and Camosun College providing the remaining $3 million. The project is expected to be complete and ready for students to move in for fall 2027.

“Secure, stable and affordable housing is essential for students to succeed in their studies,” said Murray Rankin, MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. “Having student housing available at Camosun College’s Lansdowne campus will also help alleviate pressure on Victoria’s rental market, a lasting benefit to our entire community.”

The six-storey building will have 423 student beds in single, studio and quad unit types. The building will be constructed using mass timber, while targeting LEED Platinum Standards.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support of the provincial government in helping the college achieve its priority of affordable on-campus student housing,” said Lane Trotter, president, Camosun College. “On-campus housing brings various social, academic and personal benefits, including greater retention rates, while freeing up rental spaces in the surrounding communities.”

A backgrounder follows.

[Nparker]

...The building will be constructed using mass timber, while targeting LEED Platinum Standards...

Are there less expensive construction options?

[aastra]

Normally I would be complaining about the bleak and repetitive plainness (this building won't be tall but it will have a massive footprint, far and away the largest residential building in that part of town... and yet again we're going with the penitentiary look). But in this case I'll mix things up a bit and complain about the siting of this building. Are you telling me they have that massive empty parking lot to work with but they're choosing to build in a place where they'll need to rip out garry oak trees?

[aastra]

I'm hoping the "E" shape is going to leave a fair few trees in place. But I'm still getting that "you're being trolled" feeling, as per absolutely everything else in our cuckoo-bananas contemporary world. Wouldn't a reversed "C" configuration involve minimal tree chopping?

 

--

 

Edited by aastra, 17 July 2024 - 02:00 PM.

[aastra]

"Attend college in Victoria and marvel at the plaques and info boards which show what the city's unique local environment used to be like before we ripped it all out in favour of generic standardization and de-contextualization."

[aastra]

Anyway, I hope I'm blowing this out of proportion. But I suspect not.

[Nparker]

...this building won't be tall but it will have a massive footprint, far and away the largest residential building in that part of town and yet again we're going with the penitentiary look...

But mass timber construction! LEED Platinum Standards! You want it should be beautiful as well? 

[Victoria Watcher]

Students at Camosun College will be able to live on campus by the fall of 2027, when a new student residence is expected to be completed.

 

The $154.7-million project was announced Wednesday, and will provide 423 beds for students in a six-storey building on the Lansdowne campus.

 

The province will provide the bulk of funding for the project — $151.7 million — while the college kicks in $3 million.

 

Olivia Bult, women’s director for the Camosun College Student Society, said the residence will relieve some of the pressure for students to find accommodation in a tight rental market.

 

“It’s quite the challenge to find affordable housing,” she said. “The competition is high. I’ve been to places where I know that they’ve met with 10 other people for one apartment.”

 

Living on campus can also provide a real sense of community for students, said Bult.

 

Another benefit is that creating student housing will free up spaces in the rental market in Greater Victoria, by taking some students out of the mix, she said. “It’s amazing news, very exciting.”

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...-campus-9235435

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 July 2024 - 10:01 PM.

[aastra]

Seriously, there seems to be maybe 30-40 oak trees in the vicinity of "ground zero" for this project. How many of them are they planning to tear out? You'd hope the building's odd footprint would be intended to preserve a bunch of trees in the gaps between the wings. But to my eye it's not looking like that's actually the case except maybe to a minimal token degree.

[Nparker]

...there seems to be maybe 30-40 oak trees in the vicinity of "ground zero" for this project. How many of them are they planning to tear out...

The LEED certification and mass timber construction are better than any oak trees that might be lost. Trust in the carbon tax philosophy and all will make sense.

[aastra]

Good point. Let's give it a go:

 

The oak trees aren't supposed to be there;
They're the wrong kind of trees for the changing climate;
Planting a different variety of tree -- maybe something native to the southeastern USA or Australia -- would make much more sense;
Surface parking is sacred;
Bland panel cladding and small windows are sacred;
God and/or self-balancing natural processes have screwed up big time, but brilliant and brave people will point the way to...

 

Darn it all, I'm making my best effort but it's just not working.

[Victoria Watcher]

Sharp drop in international students triggers layoffs at Camosun

The college says it has 400 fewer international students than it budgeted for in 2025/26 and numbers are expected to decline further, resulting in a projected deficit of at least $5 million

 

https://www.timescol...camosun-9805239

[Victoria Watcher]

They had budgeted for around 2,200 international students, but this dropped to 1,800.

 

 

https://www.saanichn...rolment-7645768

 

 

 

 

For the life of me I find there is almost nothing you could learn at Camosun that you can't learn for free on YouTube.  Education is such a crock, in the internet age.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 November 2024 - 08:38 AM.

[Barrister]

Time to really par back the international students, maybe down to a hundred. Sure would be a great start for reducing the housing crisis. Do the same at UVic.

[Victoria Watcher]

It's interesting that the TC article does not even tell us the real numbers.  Just the drop amount.

[HarrisonGreene]

Nobody:

Camosun's architect: E

[Victoria Watcher]

It's interesting that the TC article does not even tell us the real numbers.  Just the drop amount.

 

I'm almost sure that if you are reading that article, you would go "interersting, I wonder how many foreign students they have?".  Is it 1,000, 4,000 or 10,000?  The article never tells us.

 

I'm not sure all of what your learn in 4 years of J-school, but surely at least one course is on anticipating readers' thoughts and questions and then responding.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 November 2024 - 10:21 AM.

[Mike K.]

Did we know about this?

 

Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation and Seaspan announce $5.26M for new trades training centre

Released: October 31, 2024 | Last Updated: November 12, 2024

 

In an effort to support maritime education and workforce development, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, in conjunction with Seaspan, is donating $5.26 million for a new Trades Training Centre at Camosun College's Coastal Centre.

 

Support for maritime trades education and workforce development

Adjacent to Victoria Shipyards, the training centre will adopt an 'Indigenous First' approach, offering scholarships and prioritized access to Indigenous students. By allocating $200,000 towards scholarships, this initiative seeks to empower Indigenous students and help them overcome financial and systemic barriers to education.

 

Designed to be modern and fully equipped, the facility will provide specialized trades training in a culturally responsive environment, fostering inclusivity and community engagement. It will feature advanced classrooms and adaptable shop spaces, tailored to meet the evolving demands of the marine trades. To ensure graduates are job-ready, programs will also offer a broad array of training options, including safety certifications and specialized maritime training.

 

Expanding opportunities in the nautical trades

This investment underscores our dedication to promoting the growth and sustainability of British Columbia’s maritime industry, while also providing direct support to students pursuing careers in the marine trades. By enhancing workforce development and offering resources for students entering the trades, the Trades Training Centre will be instrumental in tackling the pressing national shortage of skilled professionals in this sector, which is essential for Canada’s economic stability.

 

“The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is honoured to support Camosun College in its work to develop a diverse marine trades workforce through the establishment of the Trades Training Centre. This investment will ensure the next generation of skilled tradespeople are supported and ready to meet the future challenges of the marine industry.”

 

- Jon Bennion, Executive Director, the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation

 

“The $5.26 million grant will establish a new Trades Training Centre next to the Camosun Coastal Centre and significantly expand our ability to support the marine industry including Seaspan. The college is grateful for the generous support of the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in conjunction with Seaspan and values the relationship that goes back almost 25 years. We can all do better work together.”

 

- Lane Trotter, President, Camosun College

 

"The Trades Training Centre is crucial for closing the existing skills gap in the marine trades while also developing a diverse and inclusive workforce. Seaspan, in conjunction with the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, is proud to invest in a training centre that will be a game changer for students who are interested in pursuing a rewarding, lifelong career in the marine industry.”

 

- John McCarthy, CEO, Seaspan Shipyards

[Matt R.]

They had budgeted for around 2,200 international students, but this dropped to 1,800.[/size]


https://www.saanichn...rolment-7645768

For the life of me I find there is almost nothing you could learn at Camosun that you can't learn for free on YouTube. Education is such a crock, in the internet age.

A lot of trades apprenticeships require thousands of hours of hands on the tools under supervision and you can’t do that on YouTube.

Actually I take that back, I think even a lot of the trades classroom instruction can be done online now via camosun.

Edited by Matt R., 14 November 2024 - 10:42 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

I'm almost sure that if you are reading that article, you would go "interersting, I wonder how many foreign students they have?".  Is it 1,000, 4,000 or 10,000?  The article never tells us.

 

I'm not sure all of what your learn in 4 years of J-school, but surely at least one course is on anticipating readers' thoughts and questions and then responding.

 

 

 

TC updated the article:

 

 

 

Camosun said this week the caps have led to 400 fewer international students than budgeted for this fall — 1,800 instead of the 2,200 expected, an 18 per cent drop. International students make up about 15 per cent of the student population.

 

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 15 November 2024 - 06:21 AM.