continues to lead the way towards a stronger, healthier, more inclusive tomorrow for students, staff and the community as a whole.
The university is working with the provincial government to enhance primary care and access to family doctors all across B.C., by building the first medical school in Western Canada since 1967. Simon Fraser University anticipates opening the doors to their brand in the fall of 2026. The school curriculum will prepare graduates to meet the needs of B.C.鈥檚 diverse communities with patient-centred, community-level care that is socially accountable and embedded with Indigenous knowledge systems.
鈥淲hile we鈥檝e made enormous progress to strengthen public health care over the last five years, we know that many British Columbians are struggling to find a family doctor and waiting too long for care on a waiting list or in an emergency room,鈥� says Premier David Eby. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檙e taking action to train, recruit and retain family doctors now 鈥� and taking these steps with Simon Fraser University to train the health workforce we鈥檒l need in the future. This investment in the first entirely new medical school in Western Canada in 55 years will mean more family doctors graduating each year to provide care for people.鈥�
New Student Residences
The announcement of a new medical school isn鈥檛 the only exciting news out of SFU in recent months. The completion of SFU鈥檚 鈥樷�� has brought more affordable student housing to Burnaby. The new building provides an additional 383 beds to the campus, alleviating some of the ongoing housing pressure within the community. It marks the completion of phase two of a five-phase plan from SFU, which will eventually see enough accommodation at their Burnaby campus to house 3,250 students, or approximately 10 per cent of the student population by 2035.
Growing community connections
SFU is also continuing their long history of growing and maintaining strong relationships with the host Indigenous Nations that their campuses are located on. The recent announcement of construction starting on their is just the next step in continuing to honour those relationships and promote an inclusive, safe environment for community members to learn, teach, gather and connect.
鈥淯pholding Truth and Reconciliation is a priority for SFU鈥攁s it is for our Provincial and Municipal partners鈥攁nd I鈥檓 thrilled at the support we鈥檝e received for the First Peoples鈥� Gathering House,鈥� says SFU President Joy Johnson. 鈥淩econciliation is a shared responsibility, and I鈥檓 grateful for every partner and collaborator who is helping us build a safe and welcoming cultural space for Indigenous students, faculty, staff and community members.鈥�
For more exciting news out of Simon Fraser University visit them online at and follow them on , and for the latest updates.
READ MORE: SFU envisioning a new medical school with a purpose-built take on medical studies