B.C. kicks in $48M for Capilano University to take over Quest's Squamish campus (original) (raw)
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B.C. kicks in $48M for Capilano University to take over Quest's Squamish campus
While finances of the defunct Quest remain under a cloud, Capilano U is moving ahead to expand its classes into the Sea to Sky region.
Published Aug 16, 2023 • Last updated Aug 17, 2023 • 3 minute read
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Quest University opened as an innovative undergraduate liberal arts university for 500 students, suspended its academic program in February and wound up course work in April after running into financial difficulties. Photo by Supplied
The province will contribute $48 million for North Vancouver’s Capilano University to buy the campus of financially troubled Quest University Canada in Squamish to expand its offerings in the Sea to Sky corridor starting in spring, 2024.
The total purchase to take over the purpose-build campus will cost $63.2 million, a deal that Selina Robinson, minister of post secondary education and future skills, says has been in the works with private owner Primacorp Ventures Inc. since it purchased the property in 2020.
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Privately operated Quest, which opened as an innovative undergraduate liberal arts university for 500 students, suspended its academic program in February and wound up course work in April after running into financial difficulties.
“If former Quest students wanted or were interested in taking any of the programs that Capilano University were to offer, or at any of our universities or post-secondary institutions, they’re welcome to do that,” Robinson said. “But my understanding is that Quest worked with all of their students as they wound down operations.”
A student works in the library of Quest University in Squamishin 2011. When Quest opened, it cost roughly $40,000 a year for students. Photo by Ian Smith /Vancouver Sun
The new campus for Capilano University, however, is scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2024 to 100 students in early childhood education, education and literacy programs, and close to another 400 students in arts, science and business programs and courses in the fall.
Capilano University president Paul Dangerfield said the university worked closely with the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) to expand education opportunities for the Nation’s youth and programming will include outdoor recreation and community-specific courses for the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Líl̓wat Nations.
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“It’s a key-ready institution right here,” Robinson said, adding that this helps expand post-secondary education in the region under government’s commitment to deliver it closer to where people live.
“It’s key to help people attain that training, that education that they need so that they can get in-demand jobs today as well as prepare for the ones tomorrow,” Robinson said.
Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford said the university’s choice of early childhood education and outdoor recreation show a “strong alignment” with the community’s values.
Capilano University’s purchase of the former campus closed Aug. 10, according to the announcement, but a cloud of controversy shrouds the finances of Quest University’s former operations.
A group of Quest alumni, under the name Save Quest Team, issued a letter last week calling on the province to pause any purchase of the former campus for at least 45 days to allow for investigation into university foundations.
In the letter, the group notes that a Canada Revenue Agency audit into three of Quest’s foundations resulted in the revocation of charitable status, plus some questions regarding the value of gifts to Quest.
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During the announcement, Robinson said the province conducted its own “due diligence” to protect its investment in the transaction and any questions about the CRA reports and controversy should be directed to Quest.
“These were their dealings. They were a private institution, they were not a public institution,” Robinson said. “In 2020, Primacorp purchased the campus from Quest and Primacorp is who (Capilano University) had their dealings with.”
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