Welcome to the history of your Students’ Union—where passion, advocacy, and a bit of orange cheese dust shaped the foundation of UBC Okanagan’s vibrant student life. Whether you’re new to campus or just curious about how far we’ve come, this journey from SAK to SUO is packed with resilience, change, and community spirit
🎬 Part 1: The Birth of SUO – From OUC to UBCO
Before there was UBC Okanagan, there was OUC—Okanagan University College. And before SUO? We were known as SAK (Student Association Kelowna), operating out of what is now the Admin building.
How It All Began
In the early 2000s, the BC government recognized a growing need for accessible post-secondary education in the Okanagan. In 2004, Premier Gordon Campbell and UBC President Martha Piper announced a transformative shift: OUC would be dissolved, and UBC would establish a new campus in Kelowna.
📅 2005 marked the official launch of UBC Okanagan, and with it, the UBC Students’ Union Okanagan (UBC SUO) was born.
Back then, things were… minimal. The campus had just four buildings: Admin, Arts, Science, and the Library. SUO was a tiny operation with only six staff members, working out of the Admin building. The campus had no food services, limited student hangout spaces, and around 4,000 students total.
Did you know? The Well, the original student bar, used to be where IT Services is now!
First Big Challenge: Tuition Hikes
In those early days, student life wasn’t all sunshine and sushi. The first major challenge? Tuition fees increased by 30% over just three years. SUO sprang into action, focusing its efforts on student affordability and advocacy—a theme that continues today.
🏗️ 2009: A Game-Changer – The UNC Is Born
Everything changed with the opening of the UNC (University Centre) in 2009. For the first time, SUO had its own proper space. Offices, student services, and hangout zones came together in one dynamic building.
From there, SUO began expanding services that truly shaped student life:
- 🍣 Koi Sushi (formerly The Egg)
- ☕ The Green Bean Café
- 🛍️ Paper & Supply Co. (formerly Green Text)
Fun fact: There used to be a bank where Fusion is now. The RBC kiosk wasn’t even there!
As more students enrolled, SUO rebranded from “UBC SUO” to simply “SUO of UBC”, reflecting our growth, independence, and role within the wider UBC community.
🎬 Part 2: From Small Space to Big Impact
With our space secured, SUO turned its focus to amplifying student voices and services.
📣 Protest to Policy: The Evolution of Student Advocacy
Back in the early 2000s, student activism was loud, dramatic—and highly effective.
🧀 Legend has it: In 2003, during a Board of Governors meeting on tuition hikes, students stormed the room with boxes of Kraft Mac and Cheese. Every time the board tried to speak, students would shake the boxes. One even ripped open a cheese packet, releasing a cloud of orange dust. The chaos forced the meeting to relocate. Iconic.
While things have calmed down since then, SUO’s approach to advocacy has become more strategic and organized. Today, student leaders collaborate closely with university officials to address key issues like mental health, affordability, and inclusivity.
From President to Coordinators (and Back Again)
SUO’s leadership structure has shifted over the years:
- Originally, we had a President and 3 VPs.
- This changed to a coordinator-based system to streamline responsibilities.
- Recently, the classic President-VP model returned, reflecting the growing complexity of student needs.
🛠️ SUO Services Through the Years
Early free services included:
- Public phones
- Web-based campus radio
- A carpool registry
Today’s services are broader, student-led, and more digitally connected like the Universal Bus Pass (U-Pass), Pantry Food Bank and the SUO Health and Dental Plan.
🍝 Spaghetti, Sushi, and Student Success
Staff like Stephanie, who joined SUO in 2006 as a bartender at The Well, have seen it all—from wild campus events to major rebrands. In 2009, she became Food Services Coordinator, helping open many of the student-run businesses we now rely on.
“Even back then, the goals and values were the same—to serve students first.”
🕰️ Looking Back, Moving Forward
From OUC’s Admin building to the beating heart of campus in the UNC, SUO has grown with and for the students. What started with just 6 staff members and one makeshift bar has transformed into a full-fledged organization with:
- 8+ full-time employees
- Student-run businesses
- Evolving leadership
- Strategic advocacy
- And a vibrant student voice
But the story doesn’t stop here. We’re still writing it—every day, with you.
🏁 This Is Just the Beginning
The SUO has been a pillar of student life since day one. Through change, challenge, and growth, one thing has remained constant: our mission to serve and support UBCO students.
So next time you’re grabbing sushi from Koi or printing notes at Paper & Supply Co., remember—you’re part of a legacy. And you’re helping shape the future of campus life.
Let’s keep making history. 💙
