To view a brochure of CREATE programs click here: CREATE flatsheet
Equity in education requires an understanding of the unique challenges and barriers faced by individual students. For the Columbia College community, this means spreading access to transformative education across diverse populations through specific systems and supports to help overcome those barriers. Since 2016, Columbia College has demonstrated both commitment and leadership in growing and expanding equitable opportunities to access an education.
Responding to the wave of Syrian Refugees arriving in Canada in 2016, Columbia College introduced Bursaries under our Student Refugee Program to help remove financial barriers to students with Refugee Backgrounds. Students in this program currently come from various conflict regions like Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Burundi, Myanmar, Ethiopia, and have carved a new path to leading Universities in Canada. They have achieved monumental success in re-launching their educational journey.
Unfortunately, forced displacement is still one of the most powerful trends impacting youth around the globe. In 2019 there were over 79 million people worldwide who were forcibly displaced. Access to education remains as one of the main barriers refugee youth experience over their lifetime.
In this environment, building on our success, the College has committed to expanding supports available for youth and aspiring students who have been forcibly displaced. With your support we can equip more youth from around the world to restart their education and begin a pathway to becoming successful leaders in the workforce of tomorrow.
The CentRe has four primary programs to support youth facing barriers to access a higher education, described further below:
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Bursaries for Refugee Students
a. 2024-2025 Internal Claimant Bursary Info Sheet
b. 2024-2025 Resettlement Bursary Info Sheet -
Student Refugee Program World University Services of Canada
a. WUSC Local Committee
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Equitable Access to Education
Success Stories
Our initiatives
Columbia College Community Cupboard
The CCCC is a food support program operating since May 2022. We offer healthy food options that supplement students cupboards at home. Students can access CCCC supports independently or by asking a Nurse for help.
Currently the CCCC is supporting students 3 ways:
1. Food Runners / Food Stash grocery donations are available in the student lounge. Columbia College partners with a couple amazing organizations to reach a shared goal.
- Food Stash Foundation “has a two fold mission: to prevent good food from to waste and provide dignified food access to promote a thriving planet and a healthy community.”
- Our other Partner is Vancouver Food Runners, they believe “good food belongs to people, not landfills.”
- Students can take what they need to supplement their cupboards at home. Bring a reusable grocery bag on Mondays, Thursdays or Saturdays. No registration required. Groceries are available as long as quantities last. Students and staff are also welcome to leave nonperishable food items they are not using that might otherwise go to waste in the lounge at any time.
2. Healthy snacks can be found at the Nursing Station or at Student Services. Snack kit items may vary but most include oatmeal, or yoghurt, cheese, fruit, trail mix and chips and or granola bar. Available as long as quantities last.
3. Community resource referrals and grocery gift cards are available through a CC Nurse, email nurses@columbiacollege.ca or go to Rm 223 on the Main Campus and Rm 403 on the North Campus to ask about this option.
Ride for Refuge - 2020
Ride for Refuge 2020, Biking
Ride for Refuge 2020, Biking
Ride for Refuge 2020, Fitness Day
During the month of September, Columbia College participated in the Ride for Refuge challenge to raise funds and awareness for World University Services of Canada Student Refugee Program.
To pay tribute to our next student’s journey, the team’s goal was to combine walking, biking, running, and/or hiking to reach 13,866 KM, the distance between Canada and Somalia, as well as raising $2000 with all proceeds going directly to the Student Refugee Program.
Thanks to all involved, the Columbia College team had over 47 students, staff and community members participating, raising a total of 15,600km and $2,570.
