Work is progressing towards the goal of utilizing a proposed land donation for a downtown campus of Okanagan College – but several hurdles remain.
Tom Styffe, board chair for Okanagan College, speaks positively of a meeting he and members of Salmon Arm council had with Premier Christy Clark and Minister of Advanced Education Amrik Virk at last week’s Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.
“We had a great conversation with the premier. We indicated right from the outset our optimism for the economy in Salmon Arm which we think is definitely on the upswing,” said Styffe.
He noted funding wasn’t part of the discussion, as several factors must be addressed before the need can be calculated. The point was to keep the premier updated on plans for the college after meeting with her about a year ago.
“We want to keep them involved as we proceed. At some point we will be asking for some funding.”
Now an academic plan specific to Salmon Arm is being created that must incorporate three criteria: significant student demand, industry support and a sustainable business plan.
The plan will focus on agriculture and skills programming in keeping with the province’s blueprint for skilled jobs training, Styffe said.
Once the academic plan is completed, the proposal for the land in question will go to the Agricultural Land Commission. That must occur within 18 months.
“We’re optimistic. We’ll be informally consulting with the agricultural land commission throughout the process to make sure we’re still onside,” he assured. “We’re right along our timeline. We see no reason for concern at this point.”
Regarding student numbers at the college – one of the province’s criteria – Styffe said numbers in Salmon Arm are flat, “which is actually pretty good.” He explains that although high school enrolment is in a decline, the college is drawing from people already in the workplace.
Regarding enrolment, the memorandum of understanding announced between the college and the University of the Fraser Valley in March of this year is expected to provide many opportunities for agricultural programming.
It was announced in December of last year that resident Jerry Thompson owned a 20-acre parcel of land within the Agricultural Land Reserve that he would be willing to donate to the college for the purposes of a campus in the downtown area. The land is located within parcels Thompson owns between 10th Street SW, 10th Avenue SW, Foothill Road SW and Shuswap Street.
The college, the city and the donor signed a letter of intent that focuses on the potential donation and the development of the property. The donation to the college would take place when and if the land commission allows it to be used for a campus.