Image Credit: Michele Young / Thompson Rivers University

By Adam Campbell

TRU

Thompson Rivers University celebrates grand opening of Coyote Den residence

Nov 22, 2023 | 3:06 PM

KAMLOOPS — Thompson Rivers University (TRU) hosted the grand opening ceremony of its newest student housing expansion in Kamloops.

In a ceremony hosted Wednesday (Nov. 22), TRU marked the official unveiling of the residence, named Sk̓elepéllcw (Coyote Den) in recognition of the traditional territory of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

Staff, faculty and community partners were invited to the ceremony, marking an important milestone for the institution in a landscape of ever changing student needs and housing markets.

The new building is located at East Village and features 80 rooms and 148 student beds with a mix of single and double occupancy quarters. Other facilities include common study and kitchen spaces.

Coyote Den will provide students with much needed affordable housing near campus, with almost 25 of them accepting the offer to move in mid-semester.

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Around $10.85 million was provided by the B.C. government for the $18-million development, with TRU contributing about $8 million. The facility was built in under seven months using modular construction that was fabricated off site.

TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Brett Fairbairn said not only does this new building enhance the student experience, but it also shows TRU’s commitment to addressing BC’s housing shortage.

The development is the first of three new buildings planned by the university.