MUN should be doing more to help house those displaced by Canada Games prep, students say

Preparation for the Canada Summer Games means select residence buildings on Memorial University's St. John's campus will be closed from April to September.

And although two students say notice was given, they believe the university should be doing more to help students who won't have a place to live.

"I would say it was only a couple of weeks ago [that we] received the message from the housing office," James Chang-Yu, a student living in residence for 1 ½ years, told CBC News this week.

"It's really hard for us to navigate the system. Like trying to find off-campus housing."

The affected residences will house athletes participating in the Canada Games. The campus itself is serving as the athlete's village, a hub for athletes to eat, sleep and participate in events outside of competition.

Memorial first relayed the news in May 2024 that students living in Guy and Gilbert Courts, along with Paton College and MacPherson College, would have to move out by April 23 to allow repairs and maintenance to happen in the lead-up to the Games, according to MUN Canada Games planning lead Jordan Wright.

Other notifications have since followed, with the most recent one being sent on March 4.

Chang-Yu said he knew about the plan, but wished students were better informed — saying a posting on MUN's website can be easily ignored.

Kohana Takeuchi, an exchange student from Japan, said that although she's known about the move since the start of the fall semester, finding housing has still been a challenge.

"I want to stay here," Takeuchi said. "I'd love to live in campus, cause it's close and we don't need to take transport. We don't have a car, so we need to take a bus, so I try to find as close [a] place as possible."

Chang-Yu said it's also important for him to be on campus, especially as an international student.

"It's kind of like the first contact point [for] international people who came to Canada," he said. "It feels like a community."

Advisors can help students find housing: MUN

Wright told CBC News that around 100 students live in the affected buildings. Some of them, however, would be moving out in April anyway as they complete their programs.

He empathized with students who may be currently left without housing, and said MUN has already taken steps to ensure students are supported.

"We do have an off-campus housing advisor who is working with any students…. But also, specifically for this summer, knowing that we would have increased need and some increased inquiries, we do have a staff person who is helping students right now."

Wright said about 30 students have reached out to the advisors since the last notice on March 4, and about a third of them have found places to live.

The buildings designated for residence will be closed from April to September for maintenance and use during the Games. Hundreds of work orders are in place, Wright said.

The university has also shared a list of landlords with students who seek help from the housing advisor — but said landlords aren't vetted by MUN.

Takeuchi told CBC News she received the list, but only one landlord responded.

Wright said any student who wants to return to campus living in the fall will have a place in residence, Wright said.

"We recognize that this does cause some disruption, and we certainly want to support our students."

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