The ribbon has officially been cut on Yorkville University’s newly opened, 25,000-square-foot campus in New Westminster, B.C.
Yorkville University officials were joined by students, staff and local community leaders on Friday, March 6 to celebrate the grand opening of the new learning space in British Columbia’s ‘Royal City.’
“As a university in New West, we are open for business. Today is the day,” Dr. Daren Hancott, Vice President Academic of Yorkville University’s BC campus, said during his remarks.
“We want partnerships with business groups, associations, colleges and universities who share our vision for high-quality, post-secondary education for their employees and students to continue on their educational journey or personal growth pathway with us.”
Speaking on behalf of the New Westminster Chamber of Commerce at the event was its President, Scott McAlpine, who expressed his excitement at having a business partner in New Westminster of “the size and stature of Yorkville University.”
“It’s not every day that a new university opens, and it’s not every day that a new university campus opens, and it’s certainly not every day that a new university campus opens in New Westminster, so this is just absolutely awesome,” McAlpine said.
“Occasions like this give me pause, as a post-secondary educator, to reflect on the crucial role of post-secondary education. No society or economy or people have ever, ever advanced based on less education and wisdom. Indeed, quite the opposite is true.”
Spanning 25,000 square feet, Yorkville’s campus location at 88 Sixth St. in downtown New West includes 17 classrooms, student lounge and kitchen, computer lab, and learning commons, among other amenities.
Opened to students in the fall, the campus can now accommodate upwards of 1,500 undergraduates enrolled in Yorkville’s range of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree programs – including the General BBA stream, as well as the program’s specializations in Accounting, Project Management, Supply Chain Management, and Energy Management.
Yorkville University President Dr. Rick Davey said he, for one, is more than delighted with the new, accessible location, as well as the welcome the school’s received from city officials, local businesses, and all the new faculty, employees and everyone else who has “contributed so much to creating this new campus.”
“Ultimately, a campus’ true success is about the environment that we create for students to interact with their faculty and their advisors. Do the students feel welcome and connected? Do they feel encouraged and safe and respected in their classrooms?” he said.
“Our faculty and staff are primarily responsible for creating that success, but the built environment has its role. And certainly, at least from my perspective, Yorkville University’s New Westminster Campus has provided the physical attributes required to realize that success.”
