Photo: Colin Dacre

OK College students Megan Potter and Sara Wood before city council Tuesday, seeking support for student housing initiatives.

Okanagan College students were before city council Tuesday to ask the city to consider supporting student housing projects.

Council held one of its regular meetings Tuesday at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus, in an effort to engage youth and promote local government awareness. 

While the gallery was mostly void of students, two representing the OK College student union lobbied council to consider housing for those attending post-secondary. 

“Our campus and community cannot continue to grow if we are not serving and providing for post-secondary students,” said Sarah Wood. “Affordable, convenient and secure student housing in Penticton will provide more opportunity for students to come to Penticton from all over the Valley.”

Council previously heard from regional dean Eric Corneau that the growing campus has cracked the 1,200 student mark for the first time this year.

“Bringing student housing to Penticton will allow for more growth of our student population and institution,” said student Megan Potter. “A larger institutional population will mean larger, longer programs which in turn keep students in Penticton longer and hopefully permanently for many of them.”

The students suggested a 20 to 60-unit development could easily be supported. Councillors seemed receptive to the idea, but had more questions than answers for the students.

Coun. Jake Kimberley noted “land is scarce” in Penticton for such a project, while others asked the students how UCBO has managed to build so much student housing.

Potter told council UBCO residences were usually partnerships between the schools, government and private sector. 

“Good decisions come out of good data,” said Coun. Julius Bloomfield, suggesting the students work with city staff to gather more information on the needs for student housing in the city.