Student Union of UBC Okanagan (UBCSUO)

What Student Union of UBC Okanagan (UBCSUO) does

The Students' Union Okanagan of UBC (SUO) is a non-profit, democratically governed student organization incorporated in British Columbia, Canada, founded in 2005 (formerly operating as SAK, the Student Association of Kelowna). It represents all undergraduate students at UBC's Okanagan campus in Kelowna, delivering a portfolio of essential services that include Health and Dental coverage (up to $1,100 annually for mental health counselling), the U-Pass transit program, Food Pantry access, SUO Community Meals (over 4,000 free meals served since 2025), Student Legal Aid, an Advocacy Office, and resource centres including the Indigenous Peoples Collective, Pride Resource Centre, Peer Support Network, Women's Resource Centre, and Disability United Collective. The SUO also administers the University's 150+ student associations and course unions, operates on-campus dining and retail venues (The Well pub, Koi Sushi, Fusion Express, paper & supply co., RBC On-Campus), and hosts signature events such as EXPO, Frosh, Carnival, and the HEATWAVE concert series.

The SUO operates with no proprietary technology platform, relying instead on standard website infrastructure (suo.ca) and physical service delivery through its headquarters in the University Centre (UNC) building at 3272 University Way, Kelowna. Funding derives from mandatory student fees (recurring subscription model), supplemented by targeted sponsorship revenue (e.g., $40,000 secured for Community Meals in 2025, exceeding the $35,000 goal by 14%) and ancillary commercial income from campus dining and retail operations. The organization is governed by an elected Board of Directors and executive team (President and four Vice-Presidents) chosen via annual general elections, with decisions ratified through AGMs and referendums (e.g., U-Pass referendum passed 1,670 to 322 in 2026; GSA formation referendum passed 434 to 23 in 2025).

The union's go-to-market is community-led, engaging the ~11,841 eligible undergraduate voters through digital channels (website, Instagram, Facebook, email), event programming, and direct office contact. Advocacy is a core operational function, with the SUO pursuing multi-level government engagement (federal MPs, BC MLAs, UBC Board of Governors) through coalitions with the BC Federation of Students, JISU, SFSS, AMS, and GSC, having secured $1.2 million in funding for student food security in 2025. Following a 2025 referendum, graduate students have formed a separate Graduate Students' Association, meaning the SUO's mandate is now narrower (undergraduate-only) but its focus on this segment is correspondingly intensified.

Name

Student Union of UBC Okanagan (UBCSUO)

Legal name

Students' Union Okanagan of UBC (SUO of UBC)

Website

https://suo.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Students' Union Okanagan of UBC (SUO) is a non-profit, democratically elected student organization that represents UBC Okanagan undergraduate students, delivering mandatory-fee-funded services including health and dental coverage, transit access, food security programs, advocacy, legal aid, and campus dining and retail operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Union Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Student Organizations & Club Administration (EDALAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF)

Keywords

• Student union services
• Student advocacy
• Campus health dental
• Student transit pass
• Campus community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kelowna

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Student Fees: Mandatory student fees collected from undergraduate students at UBC Okanagan fund the SUO operations and services.
2. Sponsorship Funding: The VP External office secured $40,000 in sponsorship funding for the SUO Community Meals program, exceeding the original $35,000 goal.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Students' Union Okanagan of UBC (SUO) is the official student representative body for undergraduate students at UBC Okanagan, delivering a portfolio of services including Health & Dental coverage, U-Pass transit access, food security programs (Pantry and Community Meals), advocacy, legal aid, a tutor registry, and resource centres. The union operates the University Centre (UNC) building hosting dining (The Well, Koi Sushi, Fusion Express), retail (paper & supply co., RBC On-Campus), and student spaces, while providing democratic governance through annual elections and referendums.

Product overview

The Student Union of UBC Okanagan (SUO) is a student union organization serving UBCO students, not a technology product company. It offers a portfolio of student services including Health & Dental insurance, U-PASS transit, food security programs (Pantry and Community Meals), advocacy services, legal aid, and tutor registry. The organization manages student associations through its directory and registration system, operates campus dining (The Well pub, Koi Sushi, Fusion Express) and retail (paper & supply co., RBC On-Campus), and provides governance structures including elections, board of directors, and AGM/SGM meetings. The SUO also hosts events and maintains a blog for student communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SUO Community Meals: Free breakfast and lunch program providing meals to UBCO students, operating in partnership with UBC's Picnic space in the UNC building.
• EXPO
• HEATWAVE
• The Well

Products and services

• Health & Dental Plan Extended health and dental insurance coverage for UBC Okanagan undergraduate students, covering up to $1,100 annually for mental health counselling services. Administered via partnership with Studentcare.
• U-PASS Transit Affordable, unlimited access to local Kelowna transit via BC Transit bus pass for commuting students.
• Pantry Food pantry service providing food security support to UBC Okanagan students.
• SUO Community Meals Free breakfast and lunch program for UBC Okanagan students, offering vegan and meat-based protein options, operated in partnership with UBC's Picnic space on campus.
• SUO Advocacy Office Advocacy services for student concerns and issues, including support with academic, administrative, and personal matters affecting UBC Okanagan undergraduate students.
• Student Legal Aid Legal assistance services for UBC Okanagan students on issues ranging from tenancy and contracts to disputes and other legal matters.
• Tutor Registry Registry connecting UBC Okanagan students with tutors, including tutor listings and an application form for tutors to register.
• Resource Groups Support groups including Indigenous Peoples Collective (IPC), Pride Resource Centre (PRC), Peer Support Network (PSN), Women's Resource Centre (WRC), and Disability United Collective Okanagan (DUC-O).
• The Well Student Pub On-campus pub in the UNC building serving food and hosting events including trivia nights, paint nights, karaoke, and parties.
• Koi Sushi On-campus sushi restaurant located in the UNC building.
• Fusion Express On-campus food service location in the UNC building.
• paper & supply co. On-campus supply store for student academic and office supplies.
• RBC On-Campus Student Advice Centre On-campus RBC bank branch providing student banking services.
• Student Association Directory Directory of student associations with information on how to join, register, and participate in over 150 student organizations at UBC Okanagan.
• SUO Elections Annual election system for student leadership positions including President, Vice Presidents, and Board Directors with 11,841 eligible voters in the 2026/2027 cycle.
• AGM / SGM Annual General Meeting and Special General Meeting for student governance and decision-making.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BC Federation of Students (BCFS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026Ongoing collaboration with BCFS for long-term post-secondary funding reform advocacy. The VP External portfolio works with BCFS to challenge the outdated 20+ year post-secondary funding model and advocate for systemic change at the provincial level.
• JISU and SFSScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026Coalition partners for federal advocacy efforts. Together with SUO President and VP External, these student unions met with government and opposition MPs to forward advocacy priorities including IRCC stability, Canada Student Grant stability, public transit investment, and increased federal transfers to post-secondary education.
• MPs (Liberal and Conservative)coreOthers · 4 May 2026Federal advocacy partners including MPs Beech, Dhaliwal, Saini, Arnold, Dalton, Kibbel, Konanz, Church, Bardeesy, and Sawatsky. Engaged during federal advocacy trip May 4-8, 2026 to discuss IRCC stability, Canada Student Grant, transit infrastructure, and post-secondary funding.
• MLA Gavin Dew and BC3coreOthers · 4 May 2026Coalition-building with provincial representatives for transit advocacy and post-secondary funding reform efforts.
• AMS and GSCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Joint advocacy coalition with Alma Mater Society (AMS) and Graduate Student Society (GSC) to UBC's Board of Governors. Together secured $1.2 million for student food security.
• AesthetiksminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2026Local Kelowna partnership secured to strengthen UBCO connections and student engagement opportunities in the broader community.
• Relay for Life SUOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 November 2025Student association organizing Sweet Treat Tabling events to raise funds for Canadian Cancer Society as part of Relay for Life fundraising goal of $50,000.
• Canadian Cancer SocietyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 November 2025Charitable beneficiary of Relay for Life SUO fundraising efforts. Proceeds from Sweet Treat Tabling events go to support cancer research and programs.
• Psychology Course UnionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 10 October 2025Student course union organizing OPURC Awards Night and Dinner event for psychology students.
• Picnic (UBC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Partnership with UBC's Picnic wellness space to deliver SUO Community Meals program. The program provides free breakfast and lunch to students every Wednesday (8:30-10:30am) and Thursday (12-1:30pm) at the Picnic location on the first floor of the UNC building. Picnic serves as more than a kitchen—it's a wellbeing space encouraging food literacy, sustainability, and community building. The initiative has served over 4,000 meals since launch.
• Filipino Student AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 September 2025Student association organizing events through the SUO platform, including gingerbread ticket sales for annual gingerbread competition.
• Campus and Community Partners (EXPO)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 January 2025Partners participating in annual EXPO event: GEO, Costco, Wireless World, Big White Ski Resort, Quail Ridge Dental, and more. These partners showcase at the event and engage with students.
• Third Space CharitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2024Partnership providing accessible, supportive care counselling to post-secondary students. Graduate student interns provide services online and in person at offices in Landmark District of Kelowna and on campus at the Student Union building. Services are free to students.
• Here2TalkminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 September 2024BC government service promoted to students providing free, 24/7 counselling and community referral services in multiple languages. Available to all UBC students including domestic and international, worldwide.
• HeadsUpGuysminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 September 2024Free, research-based men's mental health and suicide prevention resource developed at UBC. Promoted as resource for UBCO students with self-help tips, recovery stories, self-guided courses, and therapist directory.
• StudentcareminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 September 2024Health insurance partner providing access to extended Health and Dental plan information and claims processing for UBCO students.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• McMaster Students Union (MSU): Ontario-based student union operating the same suite of services (health/dental, transit, advocacy, clubs, food security) funded through mandatory fees with elected leadership.
• Carleton University Students' Association (CUSA): Ontario student association providing member-elected governance, advocacy, and student services including health/dental insurance. Comparable in governance structure and revenue model to SUO.
• University of Alberta Students' Union (UASU): Large Canadian student union with a comparable full-service model — elected executives, advocacy offices, health/dental plans, food security programs, and a physical student union building.
• University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU): Large multi-campus student union with a similar mandatory-fee-funded model, elected executives, advocacy programming, and club administration at scale comparable to SUO's mission.
• Trent Central Student Association (TCSA): Mid-sized Canadian student association using the same fee-funded governance and advocacy model, providing representative and service functions for its undergraduate membership.
• Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS): BC-based student society using the same mandatory-fee structure and providing a comparable portfolio of health, transit, advocacy, and club services. Has jointly lobbied with SUO during federal advocacy trips.
• University of Victoria Students' Society (UVSS): BC university student society with similar fee-funded, member-elected structure and advocacy orientation. Operates overlapping services including health/dental, advocacy, and food security programs.
• Alma Mater Society of UBC Vancouver (AMS): The UBC Vancouver student society, sharing the same university, governance structure, and member-funded service model. SUO explicitly coordinates with AMS on food security advocacy and represents the most direct functional analogue.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Federation of Students (CFS): National federation of student associations that SUO actively partners with for provincial and federal post-secondary funding advocacy. Functions as the umbrella organizing body above individual student unions like SUO.

Others

• Studentcare: Third-party insurance and benefits administrator that powers the SUO's Health & Dental plan. Operates as an ecosystem enabler rather than a competing union, providing infrastructure critical to SUO's member offering.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/student-union-of-ubc-okanagan-ubcsuo-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Student Union of UBC Okanagan (UBCSUO)