In lieu of the new dining hall set to open on UFV’s Abbotsford Campus for fall 2025, The Cascade interviewed Cameron Roy, UFV’s director of Ancillary Services and member of the project management team. Roy shared the status of the project, what it will bring to the school, and how it aligns with catering to new students living on-campus.
The dining hall building has two floors with an elevator. The first floor includes a more expansive seating area that is welcoming for eating and studying, whereas the second floor will cater for takeout orders. Roy noted that the new addition to campus was built with students’ needs in mind.
“The design is not just a cookie cutter dining hall … it was designed for the sole purpose of enhancing the student experience.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic halting much of the production, it’s been in the works for at least five years. Roy expressed his enthusiasm for the cafeteria’s official launch on Sept. 3 and emphasized the importance of meeting the scheduled timeline.
“I didn’t want to rush it, but I wanted to make sure that we were available for students in the first week of class. That to me was the biggest challenge.”
As co-chair of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and Feed BC, Roy wanted to ensure there was quality food and variety. The new dining hall has eight stations that include fresh sushi, stir-fry, a bakery, a rice pot station, and a fire pizza oven.
Roy mentioned that the food is locally sourced and made from scratch as opposed to deep fried items. However, he also clarified that he has no intention of removing fries from the menu, and confirmed that UFV will not be getting rid of Triple O’s.
“White Spot is a very attractive brand … it’s exclusive to B.C. and we’re proud of it too.”
Food security on campus was another top priority for Roy, as well as having enough physical space to meet the needs of students and the culinary team.
“I’ve always argued that for a student to do well in the classroom, they have to eat well.”
He explained further that first-year students in campus housing are required to buy a meal plan to remove uncertainty around food availability.
“We have a mandatory meal plan [for] students that are coming first year to housing, to ensure that their quality of food is secured.”
Roy emphasized that his top priority was to inspire the culinary team, but he also aimed to create a space where students could unwind and spend time together.
Roy said that the campus’ new addition will surely boost student wellness, which was another major reason for the expansion. Besides the variety of food, having a social space that has a view of the campus green, is sunlight-motivated, and has comfortable seating will automatically benefit mental health.
“Student Affairs [wants] to make sure students have places and activities outside the classroom to support them. I see this as a natural space to enhance that ability… I really do think we have a huge contribution to building community.”
Roy is confident that the new dining hall is a big step in maintaining the culinary enjoyment of the UFV community.
Although the cafeteria has officially opened its doors, construction remains underway. The Cascade will continue to monitor progress and provide updates as they become available.
Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
Veronica is a Staff Writer at The Cascade. She loves to travel and explore new places, no matter how big or small. She is in her second year at UFV, pursuing the study of Creative
Writing.