Columbia College and Quest University Are Merging Into BC's Newest University
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 19, 2026 • Canadian Universities & Colleges, Canada Higher Ed News & Policy
Columbia College and Quest University Canada announced on March 5, 2026 that they plan to merge into a new non-profit university based in Vancouver. The plan needs approval from BC's Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills, and has drawn political scrutiny over Quest's finances.
📅 Announced March 5, 2026, still awaiting ministry approval.
🎓 Combines Columbia College's associate degrees with new allied health programs, including ultrasound and respiratory therapy training.
🏛️ Quest University closed in 2023 after filing for creditor protection in 2020.
⚠️ A local MLA called for an investigation into how Quest's assets moved through the bankruptcy.
💼 About a third of Columbia College staff were laid off as merger talks continued.
Two BC non-profits plan to combine
Columbia College and Quest University Canada announced on March 5, 2026 that they intend to merge into a single new university based in Vancouver, according to a joint announcement from Columbia College . Columbia College has run as one of Canada's longest-serving non-profit colleges for 90 years. Quest University Canada was Canada's first independent non-profit liberal arts and sciences university, based in Squamish.
Why Quest needed a partner
Quest University filed for creditor protection in 2020 after years of debt, then announced in February 2023 that it would close due to a lack of funding. Its governing society voted in May 2025 to let the board negotiate merger terms with Columbia College, subject to final society approval. The merger is Quest's path back into operation, folded into a larger, financially stronger partner rather than reopening on its own.
What the combined university plans to offer
The merged institution plans to offer a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree, Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, and specialized allied health programs including training for ultrasound technicians and respiratory therapists. The proposal is under review by the BC Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills, and classes start only after that approval comes through.
Political scrutiny
The Sea to Sky MLA called on the province to investigate the merger, according to The Tyee . Concerns center on how Quest's real estate and other assets moved through its 2020 creditor protection process, and on a foundation that had lent Quest 23 million dollars losing its charitable status with the Canada Revenue Agency in June 2026. Staff at Columbia College also raised concerns after roughly a third of the workforce was laid off while merger talks continued, saying the cuts contradicted messaging that the merger would protect jobs.
What this means if you are choosing between them
Neither Columbia College nor Quest University operates as a standalone university under this plan. If you are applying to a program listed above, confirm directly with Columbia College whether ministry approval has come through, and which campus and start date apply to your program, since the timeline depends on a regulatory step that had not closed as of mid-2026.