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New Year, New Home

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By Roxanne Toronto

Posted on September 29, 2017 | Updated August 06, 2019, 9:06am

A new chapter in the history of Emily Carr University of Art + Design!

It's been a fantastic start to the new academic year!

We were incredibly honoured to have Premier John Horgan and Advanced Education Minister Melanie Mark, conduct our official ribbon-cutting event on September 5. The morning's activities included a welcome song from alumnus Xwalacktun, speeches by the Premier, Minister Mark, President + Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ron Burnett, Chancellor Geoff Plant, Board Chair Kim Peacock and alumna Tsema Igharas. Following the ribbon-cutting, tours of the new facilities took place.

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Global

Our new campus is the first purpose-built art and design education facility in Canada. And, for the first time in our 92-year history, we own both the building, and the land that it occupies. The new space allows us to meet increased student demand, accommodate current and emerging program areas, and build on our reputation as a leader in developing world-class creators.

The opening event marked the start of a new chapter in Emily Carr's history, and we were thrilled to have so many of our students, alumni, staff, faculty, friends, and supporters with us to share the moment.

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Bright and early, before classes began on September 11, our new campus played host to the live portion of Global's The Morning Show, featuring interviews and demonstrations for their television audience. Our thanks to Global's Jordan Armstrong, and to all who set their alarm clocks a little earlier to help showcase our fantastic new space!

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Later in the day, students, faculty, and staff were welcomed to the start of the school year with an incredible lunchtime performance by the Git Hayetsk Dancers, organized by Brenda Crabtree, Director, Aboriginal Programs. Led in partnership by Mike and Mique'l Dangeli, Git Hayetsk (which means the people of the copper shield in Sm’algyax) is an internationally renowned Northwest Coast First Nations mask-dancing group who have shared their songs and dances with audiences around the world since 2003.

Git Hayetsk Joined Image

Don't forget to mark your calendars for The Big Reveal - our Open House takes place October 27 + 28. We can't wait to show you around!

New Campus Quick Facts

Campus Facilities

  • The building is 4 stories high and occupies 289,730 square feet.
  • The building is designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification, and complies with the Wood First Act.
  • There are three floor-to-ceiling atria, enabling an abundance of natural light.
  • The entire campus is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology that will allow for integrated displays for learning and interaction. This includes exteriors that will allow for public programming.
  • The campus boasts a 400-seat, state-of-the-art theatre facility, The Reliance Theatre.
  • The campus features several galleries including - the Libby Leshgold Gallery, the Michael O’Brian Exhibition Commons, the RBC Media Gallery, along with our award-winning bookstore, READ Books.
  • Student common spaces are open and flexible, encouraging exchange between interdisciplinary artistic practices and informal social gatherings enhancing overall university life.
  • Vancouver artists and ECU faculty members Landon Mackenzie and Ben Reeves conceived the colour selections highlighting the exterior of the new building. The pair created a palette of fifteen colours to reflect and honour the work of the renowned BC painter Emily Carr (1871-1945).

Transportation + Parking

  • We’re on the Central Valley Greenway (CVG)! A 24-kilometre pedestrian and cyclist route in Metro Vancouver that runs from Science World in Vancouver to New Westminster through Burnaby. There are multiple bike racks located around the campus.
  • The campus is centrally located between two Skytrain stations; it’s a 13-minute walk from Main Street Science World on the Expo Line, and a 12-minute walk from VCC Clark on the Millennium Line. The #84 bus also travels along Great Northern Way past the new campus.
  • The campus will have 160 dedicated permit-parking spaces including electric vehicle charging stations and carpool spaces. Several additional parking options are within walking distance.


We would like to acknowledge that the land on which Emily Carr resides is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.