A Hub of Innovation in the Heart of the Okanagan

Each year, students from within BC, across Canada, and around the globe make their way to the Central Okanagan to pursue post-secondary education in a close-knit community at one of the world’s top-ranked universities. The University of British Columbia’s Okanagan Campus (UBCO), located in Kelowna within the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan people, employs 2,000 faculty and staff who annually welcome nearly 12,000 students from over 100 countries.

“It’s an exciting time to be here in the Okanagan—and much of that excitement is driven by the reciprocal relationship between the region and the university,” says Dr. Lesley Cormack, UBC Okanagan’s Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. “As we grow and develop together, both the region and the university are strengthened by one another; both enhance one another’s identity.”

UBC Okanagan (UBCO) students, graduates, faculty and researchers offer an essential contribution to the fabric of the local community, supporting and diversifying both industry and the region itself. The university directly supports several local industries, including clean technology.

In 2022/23, UBCO attracted nearly $45 million in research funding to the Okanagan. In 2020, the Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) provided $1.9 million in funding to help the university develop its innovative Cleantech Hub, where researchers and industry partners work together to develop new technologies and products. While the Hub works at advancing regional clean technologies, its sights are set on becoming a global cleantech contributor that helps Canadian companies further their reach and supports Canada in achieving its carbon elimination goals.

“We’re proud of our research partnerships with business and community organizations who are also growing along with our region. With over 1,000 active research projects, UBCO’s researchers are helping investigate a multitude of industry and community challenges,” says Dr. Cormack. “This includes everything from next-generative battery development alongside a leading local energy storage company to supporting municipalities with key issues like transportation, homelessness, waste, and water management.”

UBCO’s desire to collaborate also extends to Okanagan College (OC), elevating the research power of the region and providing students with opportunities that align not only with their own needs but with those of local industries, too.

“With both UBCO and Okanagan College embedded in our community, the Okanagan is punching above its weight,” notes Dr. Cormack. “For a mid-sized region like ours to have an outstanding college and a campus of a world-leading research university, it’s truly unique in Canada.”

Through a formal partnership, UBCO and OC have established a Green Construction Research and Training Centre (GCRTC), fostering innovation as students gain critical skills from hands-on learning opportunities. Collaborations within the industry have been established thanks to the GCRTC, contributing to economic development in the region.

“What I love about the Okanagan is what I love about UBCO,” notes Dr. Cormack. “We’ve got the perfect mix of close-knit communities and global renown. We live in an exciting, 21st century urban environment, yet we’re surrounded by stunning natural beauty. We’ve got everything to succeed today, and unlimited opportunities for tomorrow.”

For more than 60 years, Okanagan College has been offering students a wide range of post-secondary education opportunities, all in the pursuit of its mission to transform lives and communities. Today, the college boasts more than 60,000 alumni from its multiple campuses, including Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Salmon Arm.

“Whether it is through hybrid and online course delivery, workplace integrated learning—where the “classroom” is actually the workplace—or experiences in labs and classrooms, people who choose to live here have an incredible amount of opportunities,” says Okanagan College President, Dr. Neil Fassina.

The institution’s impact in the community is undeniable, with Okanagan College students and graduates successfully contributing to a wide array of local industries including tourism and hospitality, health care, construction, business, technology and much more. The college is constantly innovating and expanding its programs, too.

Earlier this year, Okanagan College received $44.8 million in funding from the provincial government for its new Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism, which is set to open in 2026 and will include modern teaching spaces, food labs, research and development facilities, and more. The centre will allow Okanagan College to significantly expand enrollment in its culinary and hospitality and tourism programs.

In 2023, thanks to funding from the Royal Bank of Canada and Accelerate Okanagan, the School of Business plans to launch its new Experiential Entrepreneurship program pending ministry approval, allowing students to not only imagine their business but set it up as well. 

The college champions sustainability, too, incorporating green practices through its day-to-day operations, award-winning campus facilities, and wide range of programs. The Kelowna trades complex, for example, was constructed to meet LEED Platinum standards, while the state-of-the-art Health Sciences Centre is one of 16 projects in the Canada Green Building Council’s Zero Carbon Pilot Program. The College’s programs include environmental studies, water engineering technology, and sustainable building technology, all of which contribute positively to local, regional, and national green initiatives.

Okanagan College is also a collaborative partner with the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan Campus (UBCO), joining forces to provide faculty and students of both institutions with innovative research and learning opportunities.

“Together, we help build and sustain local opportunities for learning, training, education, and research,” notes Dr. Fassina. “Our collaboration fuels innovation, entrepreneurship, our very social infrastructure—to be able to learn close to home means graduates will stay close to home.”

The Wilden Living Lab is just one example of the shared success between Okanagan College and UBCO have had—students participated in building an attainable net-zero home alongside trades professionals, contractors, and homeowners. As research continues in Wilden, the results are shared across the country, furthering nationwide progress and growth in this important sector. “The future is bright for both institutions, and as pillars of social and economic development in the Central Okanagan, that translates to a bright future for the region,” adds Dr. Fassina.

“Okanagan College is a community of learning, rich with cultural diversity and academic support,” notes Dr. Fassina. “With smaller class sizes, industry-experienced professors, hands-on learning with co-op and practicum opportunities, and affordable tuition, we put learner success at the heart of everything we do.”