Our Environment
The natural landscape of campus influences how students study, live and experience the Okanagan. Campus cascades down to the valley floor along the treed hills edging Dilworth Mountain—brick, metal and wood-clad residences and learning spaces intersected by green spaces and grasslands for recreation and relaxation.
Courtyard & Commons
Green spaces for concerts, gatherings, events, a little Frisbee or a lot of lazing in the Okanagan sun.
Volleyball Courts
Not quite on the beach, but the sandy courts are the perfect spot to challenge your friends to a mid-day match.
Trail System
Take a quick walk on the trails that loop around campus—more than five kilometres to choose from.
Getting Around: U-Pass Info | Maps, Directions & Tours | Transportation (getting to and from campus)
Collegia: Commuting to campus? No problem. We’ve got Collegia—student lounges with couches! They’re great places to relax, chat with friends or catch up on studies between classes. Collegia Program.
2,500+ EVENTS IN 365 DAYS…
AT LAST COUNT
Campus is buzzing all the time with workshops, speakers, symposiums, concerts and social events. Check out what’s happening.
STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS
CLUBS & GROUPS
Aerospace or anime…knitting or the outdoors…there are dozens of student groups at UBC Okanagan. Build confidence. Meet friends. Step outside your comfort zone. Find that perfect student group and find yourself.
HOUSING & DINING
Easy access to class. Amazing access to new experiences. Live in one of UBCO’s residences that make up our four housing communities. Traditional single rooms, connected rooms or shared suites and townhouses. Meal plan or cook for yourself. We have different options to meet the differing needs of students.
Where to eat?
Made-to-order sandwiches, spicy samosas, or sushi on-the-go—there are plenty of food options at UBC Okanagan. Some food spots also tailor their menus with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free and allergy-aware choices. And did we mention there is usually a daily rotation of food trucks?
ATHLETICS & RECREATION
Grab a bleacher seat and cheer on the Okanagan Heat or visit the Hangar fitness centre for a drop-in yoga class or solo workout.
Heat Varsity Athletics
Volleyball. Basketball. Soccer. And more. Get tickets for game
day or watch online. #feedtheflame
Personal & Group Fitness
Spin bikes, free weights, treadmills. Put on your playlist and
push your limits.
ARTS & CULTURE
UBCO’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies is not just the cultural catalyst of campus. The creativity of students and faculty in FCCS help feed the vibrancy of Kelowna’s arts scene.
FINA ART GALLERY
Dive into the expressions of students, faculty members and visiting artists at the Fina Art Gallery.
UNIVERSITY THEATRE
Laugh. Cry. Critique. Question. Take in a University Theatre production by students or performers beyond UBCO.
SPEAKERS & SPECIAL GUESTS
Learn from visiting guests: filmmakers, sculptors, painters,
writers and digital media artists.
STAY IN THE LOOP
FCCS Scoop Newsletter | FCCS Art Blog
CONNECTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY
Art on the Line | Draw by Night | Okanagan Short Story Contest
HEALTH, WELLNESS & SAFETY
UBC Okanagan is committed to a healthy, positive environment for students and our entire community. And we live it.
Health Clinic & Counselling
Prescriptions, assessments, referrals, lab tests, or health education and counselling. Students can access our clinical team for support.
Extended Health & Dental Plan
Students are automatically enrolled in the UBC Student Union Okanagan (UBCSUO) Extended Health and Dental Plan, which covers many services not covered by basic health-care. Students may opt out if covered by another plan.
Safety
UBC supports the university community to ensure campus is a safe place to work, study, and live.
UBC SAFE: A free mobile phone app. Call Safewalk, report an incident to Campus Security, request first aid, find a campus map and more. Download UBC Safe.
UBC ALERT: An emergency text-message system for UBCO. Sign up for UBC Alert.
SAFEWALK: A safe and reliable alternative to walking around the campus alone. Available 24 hours. Add Safewalk to your phone: 250.807.8076.
CAMPUS SECURITY: Phone 250.807.8111 or local 78111.
Non-Emergency Contact 250.807.9236
E-mail: security.ubco@ubc.ca
SEXUAL VIOLENCE: Report an incident or access support and prevention resources. Learn about Sexual Violence Prevention and Response.
Setting the course for healthy universities: The Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges was developed at UBCO with participation from educational institutions and health organizations—including the World Health Organization and UNESCO—from 45 countries. Read the Okanagan Charter.
CANINE COMFORT
Four-legged friends are a staple on UBC Okanagan’s campus. The B.A.R.K. (Building Academic Retention Through K9’s) program offers a furry stress-reliever for students. Swing by a B.A.R.K drop-in session for a quick snuggle or pet between classes. Pooches are also paired with students who request ongoing support.
KELOWNA: AN OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND WITH AN URBAN, START-UP SPIRIT
Kelowna has grown from a small, resort city known for summer vacations and the Ogopogo (think Canada’s Loch Ness Monster). But the city is now expressing a fresh, younger dynamic.
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Downtown Kelowna on a hot summer day.
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Knox Mountain is on the edge of downtown—perfect for a mid-day or early evening hike.
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Beaches, boating, the annual Polar Bear dip, or jogging on the boardwalk. Lake Okanagan is the heart of activity and fun in Kelowna.
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Big White ski resort is just an hour away for skiing, boarding, tubing and snowshoeing.
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Visit a local orchard and pick some fruit or check out the hundreds of wineries that dot the Okanagan Valley.
- Canada’s fourth fastest growing population. And youthful. Average age is 41, and 25-to-34-year-olds are the fastest growing age group.
- Funky shops, 30+ museums, galleries and arts venues, and a thriving downtown waterfront.
- #1 entrepreneurial region in Canada, with the $35-millon Okanagan Centre for Innovation and 633 tech businesses that contribute $1.3 billion annually to the economy.
- Canada’s 10th busiest airport in Canada, with connections to world via Vancouver and other Canadian cities.
Tourism Kelowna | City of Kelowna | Hello BC (Kelowna) | Invest Kelowna
“When I came here everything changed. I made some pretty great friends. I loved what I was learning. I found love and I got to experience so many firsts. And it was because of the support from the people on this campus… that allowed me to accept who I was.”
Blake Edwards, UBC Alumnus
& former UBCSUO President
