A Peek at CapU Squamish
Published16 April, 2024
Photo credit Patrick Leung
University president shares insights on new campus, which will connect learners, community and leadership opportunities along the Sea-to-Sky Corridor.
In August 2023, Capilano University made a big splash with the acquisition of a new property – an 18-acre purpose-built site in Squamish, BC, that is home to the University’s new Squamish campus. Since then, work has been underway to prepare CapU Squamish to welcome students for its inaugural 2024 Fall term.
With just over a year from the date of purchase to the first day of instruction, some might say ‘careful what you wish for.’ But not Paul Dangerfield, president and vice-chancellor of Capilano University.
Paul is well aware of the ambitious list of to-dos that must be crossed off before the doors open in September – from upgrading technology to reconfiguring academic spaces, to hiring faculty and staff – and the team is busy delivering.
We sat down with Paul to find out more about his plans to create a distinct university experience for learners and to positively contribute to the Sea-to-Sky region.
What is your vision for CapU Squamish?
Capilano University’s vision is inspired by imagination, and that will be amplified in Squamish.
As a university committed to cultivating life-enhancing experiences, we are grounded in important things like health and well-being, community, Truth and Reconciliation and sustainability. The Squamish campus will be a significant part of that, and it will also be a hub where we can try new things, experiment, and pilot novel approaches that are truly creative and innovative.
When I think about the sheer beauty, nature, growth and vibrancy of the Sea-to-Sky region, I can’t think of a better place to stimulate imagination and new ideas.
You referenced “cultivating life-enhancing experiences.” What will that look like for learners in Squamish?
We plan to attract students from around the world, the province and locally that are going to have experiences on campus, in the community and with local businesses and partners. Those experiences will make them better leaders and better contributors to the community.
If you want to push the boundaries of imagination, if you are connected to nature, if you want to learn more about Indigenous communities, if you really want to do something exceptional, CapU Squamish is going to offer that. It’s an opportunity that you won’t find in many other institutions around the world, let alone in Canada.
Join us at CapU Squamish
Learn more about CapU Squamish program offerings and apply now for programs starting in the fall.
Learn moreHow has the Sea-to-Sky region shaped the courses offered at CapU Squamish?
We’ve been very thoughtful about our programming for Squamish and opportunities for extraordinary work-integrated learning.
Our programs are critically important for the region. For example, we know there’s a growing demand for early childhood educators, so we are offering a degree and diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), and we are planning to open a new child care centre in the future. Fall term programs also include Tourism Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, along with Adult Basic Education – with more programs to be added in 2025.
Learners from the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations will have a new opportunity to study locally at CapU Squamish, and we are having collaborative discussions with Indigenous communities to explore new options for programming specific for Indigenous learners.
Our innovative courses – now and into the future – will create thought leadership and action around things like sustainable tourism, climate action and decolonization. Students will be able to take knowledge and learning and put it into practice.
Why did the University choose the District of Squamish as the location for the new campus?
For many years, Capilano University has had a strong connection with the Sea-to-Sky corridor. Our mandate is to be a regional university, and we have an obligation to serve the corridor communities.
What’s most exciting, though, is that the District of Squamish, Whistler and Lillooet are at a really pivotal point in their history. We are going to see change, growth and new and young communities. To be included in that will be really special.
But we’re not just taking advantage of an opportunity.
“We realize with growth and with our presence comes a lot of responsibility – to the Indigenous Nations there and the community. It’s really important for us to be good stewards, partners, friends and neighbours along the way.”
What kind of feedback are you receiving from the community? Are they enthusiastic about CapU Squamish?
They are very, very excited. Whether it’s a business leader, a mayor, a high school counsellor, or a local resident – they have been very positive. They have high expectations and high standards of what they are looking for, and I welcome that.
I think the community appreciates that we have listened to what is needed in the region. And I think we’re the right size, with the right values and the right attitude.
I am appreciative of the tremendous welcome we have received. I have personally felt it, and I know our faculty and staff have felt it too.
It’s a special part of the world, and I’m grateful we have the opportunity to be part of it.
