September 9, 2009
Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
$19.6 million in renovated buildings open at UFV Abbotsford
Students and staff at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Abbotsford campus have improved learning and working conditions following a $19.6-million major renovation funded by the Province, Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development announced today.
“This Government’s continued commitment to providing more post-secondary choices and increased access is evident in this latest investment in UFV,” said Stilwell. “This renovation will allow students to stay closer to home, saving students thousands of dollars in travel and accommodation costs. This project ensures UFV students have a quality learning environment as they obtain the knowledge and skills they’ll need to pursue rewarding careers in the future.”
The renovations to Building C transformed the former welding, carpentry, electronics, and electrical workshops into a new space for the visual arts program. The new area includes more space for studios and classrooms, as well as offices with improved workspace. The former automotive and heavy duty mechanical bays were demolished to construct a new two-storey wing that houses 43 offices and nine “E-Room” classrooms. It is also the new home of the departments of business and economics. In Building B, the lower floor has an expanded kitchen and cafeteria facility and expanded seating capable of hosting conference activities. It also houses a new high-tech data centre.
“Students and staff will now enjoy a much larger and more accommodating building that meets the needs of their specific area of study,” said Michael de Jong, MLA for Abbotsford West. “We have been in full support of UFV as it continues to grow and provide greater access to post secondary education for students throughout our region.”
“With these latest renovations, the university is utilizing its current building space as well as providing students the newest in equipment and technology,” said John van Dongen, MLA for Abbotsford South.
“It was not long ago that the people of the Fraser Valley witnessed their local college become an accredited University,” said Randy Hawes, MLA for Abbotsford-Mission. “We are moving quickly to make sure that this school is among the top institutions in the province.”
“With the recent opening of our new Trades & Technology Centre on the Canada Education Park in Chilliwack, we were able to reconfigure the former trades training space on our Abbotsford campus to accommodate our growing Business and Visual Arts programs. This provided much improved learning space for our students,” said Dr. Mark Evered, president and vice-chancellor at UFV. “We expect demand for these programs to continue to increase, and we are now well positioned to give our students in these disciplines the excellent, hands-on learning experience that they expect and deserve.”
Since 2001, the Province has invested more than $1.8 billion in new funding for more than 840 capital projects on post-secondary campuses around B.C., opened seven new universities and added 35, 500 seats. Capital investments at the University of the Fraser Valley since 2001 total almost $61 million. The institution was granted university status in 2008.
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Contact:
Craig MacBride
Public Affairs Officer
250 356-7882 250 213-1649 (cell)
Kim Lawrence
Director of Marketing & Communications
University of the Fraser Valley
604 864-4611
604 302-6257 (cell)
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at
www.gov.bc.ca.
