Capilano University
Capilano University is a teaching-focused public university based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, located on the slopes of the North Shore Mountains, with programming that also serves the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and the Sunshine Coast. The university is named after Chief Joe Capilano, leader of the Squamish people from 1895 to 1910.
Capilano University's degree programs are approved by the Government of British Columbia's Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. The degree-granting powers of the university are legislated by British Columbia's University Act. In 2012, CapU became Canada's first university to receive accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities in Washington, one of six major regional agencies in the U.S. that are recognized by the United States Department of Education.
Capilano University's sports teams, the Blues, have won 15 national titles in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, and 61 provincial titles in the Pacific Western Athletic Association.
The university was originally founded as Capilano College by school boards and residents of the North Shore and Howe Sound in 1968 based on the need for a public institution serving the local communities immediately northwest of Vancouver. Initial enrolment was 784 students. In 2008, the province changed Capilano College's designation to a university and, as of 2019, it has grown to enrol approximately 12,700 students per year. Capilano University's academic offerings include nationally and internationally recognized liberal arts, professional, and career programs which lead to degrees, diplomas, and certificates. It is especially known in British Columbia and Canada for its programs in visual and performing arts.
History
Founding
The school boards of North and West Vancouver, Howe Sound and Sechelt formed a committee to determine the need for a community college to serve the region. The proposal to build a college on the North Shore passed by a plebiscite in North and West Vancouver and the Howe Sound in 1968. The provincial government granted approval, and Capilano College had its name selected from submissions made by North Shore residents, in honour of Chief Joe Capilano of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Coast Salish nation. Capilano College opened on September 10, 1968, with 784 students attending classes after hours at West Vancouver Secondary. The Capilano College Foundation was created in 1970 to provide scholarships and bursaries for students.In 1970, construction began on the North Vancouver campus in the Lynnmour area. Three years later, the permanent North Vancouver campus opened with 1,965 students in attendance. The first vocational programs were offered in portable buildings brought from West Vancouver Secondary. The first permanent structure at the North Vancouver campus, the original library building, also opened. In 1975 Capilano College opened the Squamish Learning Centre and Community Information Services at 38038 Cleveland Avenue in Squamish. In 1976, the Arbutus building opened at the North Vancouver campus and the Fir building opened in 1982. In 1991, the Cedar building, the Sportsplex, and Horticulture building were completed. Two years later, a new library replaced the former at the North Vancouver campus, tripling the size of existing library space. In 1996, the Birch building at the North Vancouver campus was completed, housing a performance theatre, classrooms, student services, and teaching space. The Child Care Centre also opened the same year. With regards to its other locations, the university opened the Capilano kálax-ay Sunshine Coast campus in Sechelt in 1977, the CapU Lonsdale location in 2019, and the CapU Squamish campus in 2024. It also holds classes at Ts̓zil Learning Centre in Mount Currie, BC.
Expansion
Capilano College offered its first bachelor degree, a collaborative degree in music therapy, with the British Columbia Open University in 1990 and added a second music degree in jazz studies in 1992. Business administration degrees were first offered in 1993. That year, Capilano College also conferred its first associate degrees, which are now available to students in a variety of subject areas from Interdisciplinary Arts, Creative Writing, English, Global Stewardship, Psychology, Interdisciplinary Sciences and Biology. The college was authorized by the provincial government in 2003 to become the first college in British Columbia to independently grant applied degrees after the dissolution of the B.C. Open University. In 2004, Capilano College was also named by the provincial government as host of the British Columbia Centre for Tourism Leadership and Innovation, in preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Centre addressed tourism issues, helped provide tourism education, and was part of the larger British Columbia Tourism and Hospitality Education and Training Consortium. In 2008, the centre was merged into Link BC, an education network for tourism and hospitality with industry organizations which resulted in partnerships with organizations and opportunities for students. In 2008, the provincial government changed Capilano College's designation to Capilano University. CapU also joined the OpenCourseWare consortium, and began the process for accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.Campuses
Capilano University's main campus is located at 2055 Purcell Way in North Vancouver, on Metro Vancouver's North Shore. It is approximately a 30-minute drive from Downtown Vancouver. The majority of the programs are offered at this campus. There is also a smaller regional campus, referred to as the kálax-ay Sunshine Coast Campus in Sechelt, British Columbia that serves the communities of the Sunshine Coast. In September 2019, CapU admitted students to CapU Lonsdale, the Shipyards Development in North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale.The CapU Squamish campus, located at 3200 University Boulevard, Squamish, British Columbia, opened in Fall 2024. The 18-acre purpose-built campus includes academic teaching and learning spaces, student housing, a dining area, a library, an athletic centre and a FIFA-grade turf field. The location was the former campus Quest University in Squamish. Capilano University purchased the campus in August 2023, after Quest University ceased operating in February 2023 due to financial difficulties.
The university also holds classes at the Ts̓zil Learning Centre in Mount Currie, British Columbia.
Academics
Profile
Capilano University offers 97 programs through 5 faculties: the Faculty of Arts & Sciences; the Faculty of Business & Professional Studies; the Faculty of Education, Health & Human Development; the Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts; and the Faculty of Global & Community Studies.Within the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, there is the School of Social Sciences ; the School of Humanities ; and the School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics or STEM.
The Faculty of Business & Professional Studies includes is the School of Business ; the School of Communication; and the School of Legal Studies.
The Faculty of Education, Health & Human Development includes the School of Access & Academic Preparation ; the School of Allied Health ; and the School of Education & Childhood Studies.
Its Faculty of Fine & Applied Arts offers the IDEA School of Design ; the School of Motion Picture Arts ; and the School of Performing Arts.
The Faculty of Global & Community Studies offers the School of Global Stewardship; the School of Human Kinetics; the School of Outdoor Recreation Management; the School of Public Administration ; and the School of Tourism Management.
Capilano University offers joint partnerships and projects as part of the university's commitment to international education. It has dual degree and post graduate programs, as well as development partnerships with a number of schools abroad.
Scholarships, bursaries and awards
Capilano University provides over 250 scholarships and bursaries for current and returning students. The university provides scholarships for academic achievement, bursaries based on financial need, and awards are given based on a combination of top marks, athletic achievement, extra-curricular activities or other special achievements, and sometimes are also based on financial need.These include the Capilano University Achievement Access Award, Wong and Trainor Award, Capilano University Athletic Award, Xats’alanexw Siyam Award, Indigenous Students Bursary, Borden Ladner Gervais Scholarship, Mary Neil Bursary and Neptune Terminals International Experience Award.
CapU residence and housing
North Vancouver
The CapU student residences currently accommodate up to 293 students. The residences are located on Dollarton Highway, 10 minutes from main campus.The real estate development company, Woodbridge Northwest Communities, is proposing a Capilano University Village including a six-floor condominium tower, three and four-floor townhouses, 60 dormitories for CapU students, and an amenities building at the North Vancouver campus. The company's plan also includes personalized student kitchens, a swimming pool, clubhouse and children's play area.
Another North Vancouver developer is offering to build rental apartments exclusively for Capilano University's students and staff. Darwin Properties has submitted an application to build 346 units of rental housing in two six-storey buildings. The company also wants to build an adjacent cafe.