President's welcome — Fall 2026
Dear VCC community,
I’m excited to welcome you to the 2026–2027 school year. As president of Vancouver Community College, I extend my warmest greetings to the new students joining us this fall, and welcome back our returning students, faculty and staff.
As summer winds down, Vancouver is coming off an especially exciting few months. From welcoming the world during FIFA World Cup 2026 to enjoying everything our city has to offer, it’s been a busy and memorable summer. Now, our Broadway and Downtown campuses are coming back to life, bringing with them the energy of a new academic year.
September is always a special at VCC. It brings new classes, new faces and new opportunities to connect, learn and build community. Whether you’re joining VCC for the first time or returning to continue your journey, I encourage you to get involved, meet new people and take advantage of all that our college community has to offer.
At the same time, we continue to build for VCC’s future through our ambitious Campus Plan. Construction is progressing on our signature project, the Centre for Clean Energy and Automotive Innovation, at our Broadway campus. Once complete, this new Centre will be a focal point along the Great Northern Way corridor and a hub for hands-on training in the clean energy, automotive, and transportation sectors.
That future is already taking shape. Several new programs focused on in-demand clean energy skills are already being offered. These programs are helping prepare learners for the jobs of today and tomorrow while supporting B.C.’s transition to a more sustainable economy.
Fall Welcome Week will be a wonderful opportunity to come together, with events happening on both campuses. I encourage you to take part, meet new people and make the most of the supports, services and resources available to you. You’ll also find a short video below highlighting services designed to help you succeed.
Be sure to check out our Welcome Back resources as well.
I wish you all the best in your studies this semester. I’m looking forward to an exciting year ahead and to seeing you on campus.
Sincerely,
Ajay Patel
President and CEO