Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2008) |
 | |
| Motto | Sharing Knowledge - Preparing Leaders |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1983 |
Academic affiliations | CICan, CCAA |
| Chairperson | Lennard Joe |
| President | John Chenoweth [1] |
| Students | 670 (2024-25 FTE)[2] |
| Location | |
| Campus | Multiple sites |
| Colours | Red & green |
| Website | nvit |
Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) is the only public Indigenous post-secondary institution[3] in the Canadian province of British Columbia, Canada. It started in 1983.[4] As B.C.’s only Indigenous-led public post-secondary institution — founded by the five First Nations of the Nicola Valley and fully governed by a First Nations board of governors — NVIT has a mandate to provide post-secondary education and support services to Indigenous students across British Columbia.[5]
History
[edit]NVIT is British Columbia's Aboriginal public post-secondary institute. NVIT was formed as a private institute in 1983 by the First Nations bands of Coldwater, Nooaitch, Shackan, Upper Nicola and Lower Nicola. NVIT was designated as a Provincial Institute under the British Columbia College and Institute Act in 1995. NVIT spent years in the downtown core of Merritt, British Columbia. The Eagles Perch campus opened in 2002.
NVIT is a member of the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association (IAHLA), which was created in 2003 to represent and work on behalf of Aboriginal controlled adult and post-secondary education institutes in British Columbia.[6]
Due to its work with Northern BC First Nations, including the Wit'suwit'in,[7] Nisga'a,[8] and Lake Babine First Nation,[9] has explored a Northern campus.[10][11] In 2019 the province of BC provided $2.7 million for Indigenous teacher education.[12][13] In 2022 NVIT received $3.4 million in funding for mobile training units devoted to healthcare and Information Technology education.[14]
NVIT terminated CFO Ernie Gran in September 2023.[15] CEO Ken Tourand was terminated August 14, 2024.[16]
Campus
[edit]Merritt
[edit]The Merritt Campus is at 4155 Belshaw Street Merritt, British Columbia V1K 1R1. Housing on the campus is set to increase to 110 units by 2027.[17]
Vancouver
[edit]The Vancouver campus is at 200-4355 Mathissi Place, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 4S8. In 2022 BC announced $2.5 million in funding for a new Vancouver campus.[18]
Cybersecurity
[edit]A ransomware cybersecurity incident in December 2019 wiped out most of NVIT's technology systems.[19][20]
Programs
[edit]| Part of a series on |
| Indigenous peoples in Canada |
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 Indigenous North Americas.svg){kind=small} Canada portal |
NVIT programs and courses are accredited within the province of British Columbia.
- Aboriginal Community and Health Development
- Aboriginal Community Economic Development
- Aboriginal Early Childhood Education (Merritt only)
- Academic and Indigenous Studies (University Transfer)
- Access to Practical Nursing
- Administrative Studies (Merritt only)
- Bridging to Trades
- College Readiness (Merritt and Vancouver Campus)
- Community Education
- Information Technology
- Health Care Assistant
- Law Enforcement Preparatory Program (Merritt only)
- Natural Resource Technology (Merritt only)
- Social Work
See also
[edit]- List of institutes and colleges in British Columbia
- List of universities in British Columbia
- Higher education in British Columbia
- Education in Canada
- Institute of Indigenous Government
References
[edit]- ^ "Dr. John Chenoweth". www.bc.net. Retrieved 2025-09-10.
- ^ "2024_25_Student_Full_Time_Equivalent_Enrolments_at BC_Public_Post_Secondary_Institutions". BC Government. Retrieved 2025-09-01.
- ^ James, Paul. "Nicola Valley Institute of Technology gets family-friendly investment". Radio NL - Kamloops News. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
- ^ Condé, Laísa (2023-09-18). "Nicola Valley Institute of Technology celebrates 40 years in Merritt". Merritt Herald. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Keller, Josh (2022-08-29). "NVIT receives $3.4 million to buy mobile training units for healthcare, IT programs". Post-Secondary BC. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association
- ^ "Adult Education | Kyah Wiget Education Society". Kyah Wiget Education. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. "BC Gov News". news.gov.bc.ca. Archived from the original on 2024-11-03. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "New programs offered this year in Burns Lake through NVIT". My Bulkley Lakes Now. 2017-09-22. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "NVIT eyes northern BC for potential third campus". My Bulkley Lakes Now. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Balzer, Kyle (2017-09-26). "NVIT set on establishing Northern campus". My Prince George Now. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. "Opening doors and creating pathways for Indigenous teachers | BC Gov News". news.gov.bc.ca. Archived from the original on 2024-04-28. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Murray, Nick (2019-06-18). "Province invests $2.7 million in Indigenous teacher education training". The Abbotsford News. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "NVIT receives $3.4 million to buy mobile training units for healthcare, IT programs - Kamloops News". www.castanetkamloops.net. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "NVIT executive compensation disclosure statement 2023-24". Government of BC. 13 May 2024.
- ^ "NVIT executive compensation public disclosure statement 2024-25". Government of BC. 12 May 2025.
- ^ Condé, Laísa (2025-03-28). "NVIT to expand Merritt campus housing and child care for students and families". Merritt Herald. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ Schisler, Cole; Moman, Sobia (2022-05-06). "B.C. funds concept plan of new urban Indigenous education centre". Terrace Standard. Retrieved 2025-09-02.
- ^ "Ransomware Cyberattack at NVIT" (PDF). University of Victoria. 13 December 2019.
- ^ "How NVIT turned a cyberattack into an opportunity". Compugen. 2020.
