I am nervously looking at flight prices and was wondering when we find out the dates of our final exams so that I can book a ticket home without paying last minute prices...I understand the last exam date is the 21st and that classes resume on the 3rd of January but if I finish earlier I wouldn't mind heading home to BC earlier...

You won't find out till the end of October-beginning of November when the Registrar's Office determines the exact dates for each course.