¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

History of ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

The university is named after Simon Fraser, loyalist, fur trader and explorer, who in 1808 completed a great journey in the annals of Canadian history by descending the river which today bears his name. In January 1963, a report recommended the creation of a new university in the Lower Mainland — two months later the establishment of ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV received formal assent in the British Columbia Legislature and Dr. Gordon M. Shrum was appointed the first chancellor.

From a variety of sites, the chancellor recommended the top of Burnaby Mountain, with its magnificent views of Burrard Inlet, the Coast Mountains, the Fraser River and Vancouver harbour – the unceded, traditional and occupied lands of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, and Kwikwetlem peoples.

The Vancouver firm of Erickson/Massey won the design competition, but the four runner-up architects each designed at least one building within the overall plan. Construction began in the spring of 1964 and 18 months later on September 9, 1965, ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV opened to 2,500 charter students.

Since then, the university expanded to downtown Vancouver and the Surrey Central district. The Vancouver campus has grown from a modest storefront offering night school classes in the early ‘80s to the largest post-secondary institution downtown. ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Vancouver’s nine sites offer degree and continuing studies opportunities for students and include several galleries, innovation centres, a student residence and the internationally renowned Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue. ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV’s Vancouver campus celebrated 30 years of learning, research and community engagement in 2019.

Since 2002, ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV’s Surrey campus has helped define and shape Surrey’s city centre. The campus offers a diverse number of undergraduate, graduate and continuing studies courses and is home to world-class, leading edge research in health, energy and creative technologies. The Surrey campus also supports a thriving entrepreneurial learning environment. The campus currently occupies a stunning facility designed by renowned architect Bing Thom. In the fall of 2019, ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV’s Surrey campus opened its newest 160,000 square foot building, the last project designed by the late Thom. The building houses ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV’s new School of Sustainable Energy Engineering featuring innovative labs and a 400-seat lecture theatre for both academic and community use.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV has been characterized by its adventurous spirit, openness, willingness to embrace bold initiatives and its commitment to reconciliation. ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV’s unique educational programs, inspired research and vibrant community relations set it apart from other universities — in B.C. and in Canada.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV respectfully acknowledges that its three campuses reside on the traditional, unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), sÉ™lÌ“ilwÌ“É™taʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xÊ·məθkÊ·É™yÌ“É™m (Musqueam), kÊ·ikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Kwantlen, q̓ícÌ“É™yÌ“ (Katzie), Qayqayt, Semiahmoo and Tsawwassen peoples.