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The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia

UBC Okanagan Food Services

UBC Okanagan Food Services

UBC Okanagan Food Services

UBC Okanagan Food Services

Nechako

UBCO’s newest residence building, Nechako, is here!
 
Located just north of the UNC, this new residence building will feature 220-beds, a 500-seat dining hall, convenience store, commons block, study space, Student Housing front desk, as well as other campus amenities. Read on for more details!
  • Pritchard Dining Hall
  • All Access Meal Plan
  • About Nechako
  • FAQs

Pritchard Dining Hall

The Pritchard Dining Hall in Nechako Residence will keep UBCO campus energized and fueled,
with seating for close to 500 guests.

What makes this location unique is that it will feature an all-you-care-to-eat dining experience. Guests will be invited to peruse a large selection of food options available at multiple stations throughout the dining hall, allowing them to enjoy as much as their appetite desires.

Hot Meals

Come for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack in between classes and choose from a large variety of delicious made-to-order meals.

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Dietary Preferences

There will be options for students with specific dietary needs or preferences. Menus will include labels to help diners understand their choices. Click the image above to learn more.

Health-aware choices

Whole grains, fresh produce, and locally- and sustainably-sourced ingredients are important to us!

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Beverage Bar

An extensive beverage bar will include all-you-care-to-drink coffee, tea, infused water, and juice. Beverages are included in the meal plan.

All Access Meal Plan

Our amazing chefs will be creating delicious and nutritious hot meals from scratch featuring fresh, local ingredients, while taking into account the dietary needs and preferences of our campus community.

The All Access Meal Plan lets students enjoy the dining hall at any time and eat what they want without worrying about cost. Students swipe their card upon entering Pritchard Dining Hall and have access to everything being served, as often as they wish. More information in our FAQ section.

In addition to visiting the dining hall, students can use the Flex Dollars portion of their meal plan to make purchases at Nechako’s convenience store, as well as the other dining locations on campus!

All About Nechako

The Nechako building will be located north of the University Centre Building and Plaza, at the south end of the Commons Field. The building will be LEED Gold certified, and the new facility will include:

Student Residence Units

The new building will include 220 Winter Session residence beds for students living on campus.

Dining hall & Convenience store

Nechako will feature a 500-seat dining hall with central kitchen, as well as a convenience store.

Common area & study spaces

The commons block will offer social amenities for students in residence, as well as bright study spaces.

student housing front desk

Nechako will house the Student Housing and Conferences front desk for residents and seasonal hotel guests.

Business Operations offices

Offices for Student Housing, Residence Life, Conferences and Food, Parking and Building Services.

The dining hall facility is an essential requirement for any additional growth in student housing on the Okanagan campus and will help serve the needs of the overall campus community, including a growing summer use of campus opportunities.

FAQS

When will Nechako be open?

  • Construction will be completed in late spring 2021, and the building will be open in August.
  • The Residence Dining Hall will be open for the 2021 fall semester.
  • The hours haven’t been finalized yet, but it will be open 7 days a week, from early morning to late evening.

What is an All Access Meal Plan, and how does it work?

  • The All Access Meal Plan is the same as an All-You-Care-To-Eat meal plan, which is just what it sounds like! Students on this plan will have unlimited access to the Residence Dining Hall in Nechako (our new residence building!), with no restrictions on how often you enter, or what you eat.
  • This meal plan will be the new mandatory meal plan (the former being a declining balance meal plan) for students in Cassiar, Kalamalka, Nicola, Purcell, Valhalla, Skeena, Nechako, and Similkameen Place. 
  • The previous declining balance Meal Plan was similar to a debit card, in which each time a purchase was made, the cost was deducted from the meal plan. The new All Access Meal Plan does not have a declining balance. Student can go to the Residence Dining Hall in Nechako at any time, eat what they want, and not  worry about cost or frequency of visits.

Why has the meal plan changed?

There are several reasons for the change.

  • Food Security. University and college students across Canada are at risk of food insecurity. With a declining balance meal plan, if it is not budgeted for use spread out over 8 months, students can run low on money. An All Access meal plan ensures that all students with the meal plan have access to food throughout the school year, and nobody runs low on meal plan funds. Learn more here.
  • Healthy Food is generally more expensive. This meal plan removes barriers to nutritious food by offering a greater variety of meal options without diners feeling compelled to choose meals based on price.
  • Eliminating buyer’s remorse. When in restaurants people are less likely to try something new, since they may not like it and still need to pay. Students will have new and different options to try, with the option of choosing something else if it’s not for them.
  • The social aspect. There is more to eating than just the food. With all dining taking place in the dining hall, it creates a communal atmosphere. People eat together, promoting greater social interaction.
  • Sustainability. While not a direct reason to change to All Access (all you care to eat), an additional benefit is sustainability. Having meals only available in the dining hall eliminates takeout packaging, plastic bottles, disposable coffee cups, and the smaller portion size (since you can go back for more food) ensures that less food is discarded.

Who can purchase this meal plan?

It's open to all students!

  • The All-Access Meal Plan mandatory for students living in Cassiar, Kalamalka, Nicola, Purcell, Valhalla, Skeena, Nechako, and Similkameen Place.
  • Those living in suite-style residences or off campus can also purchase a meal plan. In addition to an Optional Meal plan (that is the equivalent to the above mandatory meal plan), they also have the option of purchasing a set number of meals that can be added to their UBCcard. Each time they enter the Residence Dining Hall, a meal is deducted.

What about diners who don't have a meal plan?

The Residence Dining Hall will be open for anyone on campus to eat. Diners not on a meal plan will pay at the entrance, and will then have the same access to all-you-care-to-eat while in the dining hall.

Can I use the All Access meal plan to eat outside of the dining hall?

  • The All Access portion of the meal plan is only for use in the Residence Dining Hall in Nechako. Due to the nature of the dining plan, there are no takeout meals.
  • For those looking for a quick breakfast on the way to an early morning class, there will be fruit, some baked goods, and coffee available to take outside of the dining hall.
  • If you are looking to dine outside of the dining hall, then flex dollars can be used at participating locations.

Are there still Flex dollars or Optional Meal Plans?

  • There will still be flex dollars and they can be used at any of the other dining locations on campus, including those operated by the UBCSUO and the off campus partners that we currently have.
  • Students in Lower/Upper Cascades and Monashee Place, as well as students living off campus can purchase an optional meal for added convenience and savings. These plans can be purchased here.

What happens to Carryover funds I have from previous years?

Any money that you have in Carryover from prior years can still be used at all dining location on campus, including those operated by the UBCSUO, and the off campus partners. Carryover can also be used to pay for an All Access meal at Nechako's Residence Dining Hall.

How much does it cost and where can I pay for it?

  • Information for Mandatory Meal Plans can be found here, and information for optional meal plans here.
  • Payments for Mandatory Meal Plans can be made in three instalments: Upon offer acceptance, late September, and early January. See this page.

What type of food will there be?

There will be a wide selection of food, spread across a half-dozen stations, each specializing in a different type of food. This will include plant-based options. The stations will have their favourites that are always available, but also rotating options that change daily.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

We pay close attention to the top allergens, and will have a wide range of vegan/vegetarian and made-without-gluten options. The nutritional information will also be available on Nutrislice.

We also have a Manager of Nutrition & Wellbeing that can help with finding the right items for you. Learn more here.

Nutritional Support

Read the Nutrition Blog

Learn tips and tricks to perform your best while attending UBC.

Nutrition Blog

Ask a Question

Students can email the dietitian with food or nutrition questions.

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We acknowledge that UBCO Food Services and UBC Okanagan is located on the traditional and ancestral, and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. We thank the Syilx Nation for its hospitality and support of our work.

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We acknowledge that UBCO Food Services and UBC Okanagan is located on the traditional and ancestral, and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan Nation. We thank the Syilx Nation for its hospitality and support of our work.

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