North Island College (NIC) and 19 Wing Comox are building on their longstanding partnership with a new, temporary housing arrangement that will see Canadian Armed Forces members accommodated in tul'al'txw, NIC’s new student housing complex in the Comox Valley.
The partnership supports members who are training at 19 Wing Comox by providing access to up to 60 beds while the base advances longer-term housing solutions. The arrangement is expected to be until Summer 2027, with the potential for renewal as housing needs evolve.
“This partnership reflects how we can work together to respond to real and immediate needs, while staying grounded in shared values of learning, service and community,” said Lisa Domae, NIC President and CEO.
In addition to their training at the base, participating members will also be NIC students and will complete Journeying to Reconciliation. The new digital course, developed in partnership with the K’ómoks First Nation, includes specialized modules focusing on language, culture, history, colonization and contemporary context.
NIC and 19 Wing have long had a relationship rooted in education and community connection. For decades, the college has supported serving members and veterans through specialized admission advising, recognition of prior learning where appropriate and through membership in the Canadian Military, Veteran and Family Connected Campus Consortium (CMVF3C). NIC also offers CAF‑approved education programs, including the Non‑Commissioned Member Subsidized Training and Education Plan (NCMSTEP), that help members develop the skills and knowledge required for demanding roles while enhancing their professional growth.
This housing collaboration represents a new chapter in that important relationship, while also responding to current housing needs and reinforcing the college’s role as an educational partner for military members.
“This arrangement is another innovative approach to support our members as we prepare for significant growth in the years ahead. It reflects our commitment to working with local partners and advancing reconciliation,” said Colonel Christopher Shapka, Wing Commander, 19 Wing Comox.
19 Wing Comox is expected to grow by more than 600 regular force members over the next decade, and will see more than $1.5 billion in announced infrastructure projects, with several hundred-million more requirements in initiation phases. As part of broader national efforts to address military housing needs, 19 Wing continues to work with partners to identify interim and long-term accommodation options for members and their families.
This new housing arrangement reflects the shared commitment of NIC and 19 Wing to manage growth responsibly and collaboratively, while minimizing pressure on the local rental market. It also demonstrates how strong partnerships can respond to immediate needs while strengthening long-term connections between education, service and community.
About tul'al'txw student housing
Located on NIC’s Comox Valley campus, and on the traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation, tul'al'txw is the college’s new student housing complex. The complex includes linked buildings, such as gukwa'las and tl'emstan, offering a mix of single-occupant and shared units. Another building, ʔayɛs kʷ ǰɛǰɛnxʷɛgəs, provides on-campus family housing. In total, tul'al'txw offers 217 beds, including 157 individual beds and 60 family housing beds.
Developed in close collaboration with K’ómoks First Nation, NIC’s Indigenous Education Council and the K’ómoks Cultural Committee, the complex features Indigenous design elements, gifted Indigenous names and culturally supportive spaces. Built to CleanBC standards and achieving Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, tul'al'txw reflects reconciliation in action and long-term sustainability.