'Work camp' student dorms on offer in northern B.C.

A Northern B.C. college is set to house students in new "work camp" rooms to ensure graduates are "camp-ready" for work in remote places.

Student in the trades will get first dibs on the new dorm rooms at the Terrace campus of Northwest Community College — giant ATCO trailers located on an old baseball diamond, surrounded on three sides by trees.

"We've actually put it as far away as possible from anything, deliberately," said Kerry Clarke, director of facilities and ancillary services.

"It's exactly the same as they would experience working in a remote camp in the middle of nowhere, at a mine, or at Alcan."

Forty-nine students will pay $425 per month for the single-occupancy rooms, which include a bed, desk, refrigerator, closet space and drawers, a flat screen television and Wi-Fi access. 

The rooms are all climate controlled, with air conditioning, and a covered, heated walkway that allows access in all weather. A separate wash-car houses private toilet rooms.

Apprentices struggling to adapt

Clarke says the trailer dorms will ease a student housing crunch and prepare apprentices for the reality of camp life. 

"Some of the feedback we've had from industry is that our students are well trained, but they struggle to adapt to life in a work camp.

"People can really struggle, so a big part of this is actually getting them used to what it's like in a real camp."

The $400,000 housing facility has been funded largely by a $375,000 contribution from B.C.'s Ministry of Advanced Education, with the remaining costs being covered by Northwest Community College.

Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson says the facility is an innovative housing solution as well as an experiential learning opportunity.

"Giving students exposure to industry camp conditions prepares them for career opportunities in a range of sectors including oil and gas and LNG critical to our growing economy," said Wilkinson.