Great Plains College has officially opened a new student residence in Swift Current, Sask., completing a project years in the making that aims to widen access to post-secondary education across southwest Saskatchewan.
The college held a grand opening ceremony and tour on Monday at the residence, located at 45 Sidney St. E., drawing about 25 community partners, government representatives, elected officials and members of the public. The facility welcomed its first students this fall and currently houses eight residents. All 12 bedrooms are expected to be filled within the next six to 12 months.
Interim president and chief executive officer Keleah Ostrander said the project responded to a rising number of students moving to Swift Current from outside the city to attend the college, many of whom needed housing secured before they could commit to a program. She called the residence a long-standing goal for staff, board members and former students that took shape through years of planning, regulatory approval, renovation work and partnership-building.
Government and Community Backing
The opening ceremony included representation from multiple levels of government. Coun. Courtney Stewart spoke on behalf of Swift Current city council, while Doug Steele attended on behalf of Saskatchewan’s Advanced Education Minister Ken Cheveldayoff. Steele said the residence would help students build relationships on campus and stay focused on their studies, while also helping attract students to the region and support its long-term growth, adding that some may remain in the area to work after graduating.
Jeremy Patzer, MP for Swift Current-Grasslands-Kindersley, also attended and spoke about the college’s contribution to educating future generations, describing the residence as a valuable addition to both the institution and the community.
Financial and planning support also came from Innovation Federal Credit Union, which Ostrander singled out as a key partner. The credit union contributed $25,000 through its Legacy Community Development Grant and helped the college work through project financing. Mark Clements, the credit union’s vice-president of business advisors, said the organization was glad to support the initiative, noting the grant fund was created to back projects that strengthen local communities.
From Duplex to Student Housing
The residence was created out of a former commercial and residential property that required substantial upgrades to meet building code standards. Vim Parmar, the college’s manager of infrastructure planning and projects, said crews widened hallways, installed new fire safety systems and improved accessibility as part of more than $500,000 in renovations. The building, originally a duplex with attached office and commercial space, was converted into 12 single-occupancy bedrooms — eight on the upper level and four on the lower level — along with shared kitchen and lounge areas. Most of the renovation work was carried out by local contractors.
Parmar said the college studied student housing setups at other institutions while designing the project, with a goal of drawing students from beyond Swift Current who might otherwise choose other communities offering similar programs. He put the current monthly cost for a student to live in the residence at $700, which includes utilities and other services, adding that policies and procedures are still being refined as the first group of residents settles in.
Students began moving into the residence on Aug. 24, with the facility’s resident assistant — a power engineering student from Saskatoon — the first to arrive. He described the experience, his first time living away from home, as clean, affordable and welcoming.
Funding Model and Future Plans
The project was financed through a mix of college reserves, donor contributions and mortgage financing. Ostrander said the long-term aim is for the residence to be self-sustaining, covering its costs through rental revenue from students.
She said the college will track demand at the Swift Current residence before deciding whether to pursue similar housing projects at its other campuses in Maple Creek, Kindersley, Biggar and Warman, noting that each location has a different mix of programs and student needs.
Great Plains College Student Residence, by the Numbers
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