With an anticipated budget shortfall of $3-4 million in 2026-27, Selkirk College has decided to close its Victoria Street campus in Nelson at the end of the current academic year.
“The board of governors recognizes that closing the Victoria Street Campus is a difficult but necessary step to ensure the long-term sustainability of Selkirk College,” said board chair Amed Naqvi.
“We’ve made this decision because we’re committed to managing our finances responsibly, while making sure we’re offering programs that help students build strong careers.”
The college has been experiencing financial challenges ever since the federal government limited the number of international students colleges can recruit last year, “dramatically reducing revenues in a very short period,” stated the school’s website.
Selkirk College began operating the Victoria Street campus in 2006, when it absorbed the Kootenay School of the Arts (KSA), which was established in 1958 and was facing the threat of closure.
After the campus closure, the college will suspend intakes in the ceramics, textile arts and blacksmithing programs housed at the campus.
All current students will be supported through to graduation. The college added that it is working closely with unions and impacted employees
“This has been a very hard decision, but the cost to deliver these programs and maintain a standalone campus just isn’t feasible,” said Maggie Matear, president.
“The program capacity limits and the space and infrastructure requirements put financial sustainability out of reach.”
This past April, the college announced it would be closing its learning centres in Kaslo and Nakusp as the school anticipates a loss of $9 million in the 2025/26 school year.
The Kaslo centre closed its doors on June 30 and the Nakusp centre is slated to close at the end of December.
