CHC Student Housing Corp. announced it is joining forces with Dundee Acquisition to create one of Canada’s largest student housing owner-operators. The combined entity will manage 4,700 beds in 20 properties across 13 markets.

Student housing appears to be a negligible factor in Canadian investment strategies for 2016, even though interest in the multi-residential sector remains strong.

A new $40-million residence could be on the horizon for students at University of Alberta. Scheduled for completion in 2018, construction of Lister Hall Five will proceed as soon as the province approves borrowing the money to build the new facility, which aims to accommodate 520 first-year students.

The Unité de travail pour l'implantation de logement étudiant (UTILE), a non-profit organization focused on student housing in Quebec, has launched a new trilingual website for students seeking housing information in Montréal. The site, Likehome.info, was developed after survey results from over 11,000 students revealed a need to improve the City’s ability to offer proper living conditions to students. Information is available in French, English and Mandarin.

A 17-storey luxury hotel in downtown Vancouver, known as the Viva Suites Hotel, has been acquired by CIBT Education Group’s (CIBT) wholly owned subsidiary, Global Education City Holdings Inc. (GEC), with the intent to convert it into a 230-bed student housing development for foreign students. The total value of the project, including purchase price and renovations, is approximately $37-million.

Greg Romundt of Centurion Asset Management outlines the latest student housing trends, providing snapshots of the Canadian and US markets.

What are some effective ways to work with a university or college? The University of Waterloo's housing officer, Glen Weppler, provides his expert opinion.