300 new international students leads to housing challenges for Algoma U

With a new year and a new academic term quickly approaching, Algoma University officials are seeking solutions regarding accommodation for a wave of new students who will begin their studies at Algoma in January.  

“We do anticipate at least 300 international students to commence their studies in the winter term,” confirmed Brian Leahy, Algoma University communications director, in an email to SooToday Wednesday.

“An intake of this size will put additional pressure on the housing market. Fortunately a number of students will be finishing their studies this term which will result in some natural activity in the market as some return home and others move in,” Leahy wrote.

Algoma staff have been working with other entities within the community, including Sault College, to find solutions to offset the pressure, Leahy wrote.

Officials from Sault College, which has itself experienced a significant influx of international students, were not immediately available for comment.

Leahy wrote a private developer will be welcoming students into the former Windsor Park Hotel building starting in January, the historic building now known as Windsor Park Place.

The Windsor Park once served as an Algoma University-owned and operated student residence before the institution sold it in 2015. Since then, the building has changed ownership twice.

The recently-purchased, privately-owned Windsor Park Place is billing itself as a student rental facility for Algoma University and Sault College.

“We can take, right away, 100 students, and one week after, 50 more before January,” a Windsor Park Place management official told us Wednesday.