Selkirk College to close fine arts campus in Nelson at end of academic year

A college in southeastern B.C. is permanently closing a campus and discontinuing some fine arts programs due to the financial effects of federal restrictions on international students. 

Selkirk College says it will close one of its campuses in Nelson, B.C., at the end of the current academic year to help make up a financial shortfall between $3 million and $4 million in 2026-27.

Board chair Amed Naqvi says the closure of the Victoria Street campus is a “difficult but necessary” step to ensure the survival of Selkirk College, after changes to federal immigration policy cut the number of international students that colleges can recruit.

Selkirk College says the number of full-time international students has dropped by about 32 per cent this academic year, leading to “an unprecedented and sudden drop in tuition revenues.” 

The Victoria Street campus in Nelson can accommodate up to 33 students, and has been part of Selkirk College since 2006, when it absorbed the Kootenay School of the Arts first established in 1958.

The college says it will discontinue its Blacksmithing, Ceramics and Textile Arts programs, and a “small number of related community education programs” — all taught at the Victoria Street facility.

However, students who are currently enrolled in the programs will be supported through to graduation, and those enrolled in fall 2026 programs will be reimbursed, the school said.

Selkirk said the programs required small class sizes between eight and 15 students, which made it hard to achieve economies of scale, and added the cost of equipment and supplies was very high on a per-student basis.

Ten employees, including full-time, part-time and short-term workers, will be affected by the closure, according to Selkirk’s website. The school said it is working with the unions and employees to “support transitions wherever possible.”

The closure announced Friday is the latest measure by the institution to cut costs, following the closure of smaller learning centres in Kaslo and Nakusp in the spring of 2025.

Selkirk College is among several post-secondary institutions across B.C. that have laid off staff and cut programming because of federal changes to international student enrolment.

These restrictions have led to a loss of $9 million in revenue for the 2025-26 fiscal year for Selkirk College.

The college has two other campuses in Nelson, and one each in Trail, Grand Forks and Castlegar.