CAPILANO COLLEGE'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY N. Shore facility celebrates SOMETHING ROUTINE and something special happened at at North Vancouver's Capilano Coliege in September. By Sur} Rattan Newy Reporter The college, along with every other post-secondary education institution in B.C., went through the annual ritual of starting another school year, But while most of those who returned to Capilano College for another year of studies in September, and particularly those who walked through the college's doors for the first ime, might have that thought that September merely marked the start of another routine year at the North Vancouver col- lege, the facility's staff and faculty had big smiles on their faces for a special reason: September also marked the college’s 25th anniver- sary. Capilano College has gone through a many changes during the last 25 years, but some things have remained the same. One of those is Penny Le Couteur, who started teaching at the college when it first opened its doors in 1968. The chemistry instructor is still a member of the Capilano College Faculty Association, one of the very few original instructors who came aboard 25 years ago. “Lused to teach in Long Beach, California. When I came here, a friend told me they were looking for instructors for Capilano College,” says Le Couteur. At that time the college ’ s home Sunday, November 21, 1993 - North Shore News - 3 NEWS photo Mike Wakefield CAPILANO COLLEGE president Or. Doug Jardine said ha is proud of how the North Vancouver-based college has evolved during the last 25 years. He sald the opening of the college's new state-of-the-art brary is an important part of the college's 25th anniversary celebrations. was at West Vancouver senior scc- ondary school. The college’s day began in the late afternoon and evenings, after West Vancouver secondary school students were fin- ished for the day. “LT called the dean and he asked me to come in tor an interview on a Friday, and the college was opening the next Monday. “During the interview, the dean told me I was the first one to be interviewed for chemistry, “Lreccived a phone call at about four o’clock on Monday afternoon and began teaching that night,” said Le Couteur. She added that it was a major change for her to come from Long Beach, with its student population of 2,700, to Capilano College, with its student population of only 700. “But I enjoyed that. It was small enough that you knew everyone. You were able to contribute to the growth of the college. Cap expanded student opportunities to meet varied needs of community WHEN CAPILANO College first opened its doors to North Shore students in 1968, the educational institution offered academic courses in only 13 subject areas. © By Surj Rattan News Reporter There were also nine vocational and technical programs offered, five of which were in conjunction with the B.C. Institute of Technology. Twenty-five years later, Capilano College offers academic courses in 34 subject areas while the career and vocational division offers 25 programs. Former West Vancouver mayor Peter Jones, who was on hand to see the college open in 1968, said when the idea of a community col- lege for the North Shore was first proposed, he envisioned an educa- tional institution that offering pro- grams that: *led to careers in which citizens’ abilities were challenged; eprovided continuing education for adults: ~* eacted as a catalyst and focus for educational and cultural affairs of the community: *led to transfers to other post- secondary education institutions. “Those of us who conceived Capilano College believed strongly that the first priority was to provide programs that gave young people a further career option to the then available careers of university- based professions or unskilled labor. “Tam pleased that the career programs have flourished,” Jones wrote in a Capilano Coliege pubii- cation that looked at the college’s years from 1968 to 1978. R.D. McKenzie, who was prin- cipal of West Vancouver senior secondary school when the college began its uperations at the West Vancouver school in 1968, said secondary school principals were excited when the Capilano College concept was first introduced because of the need at the time to expand opportunities for further training at post-secondary educa- tion institutions. McKenzie said that not all high school students graduating in 1968 could go to a trade school, technical institution or university. “A flexible and diversified col- lege organized to meet the varied needs of the community was long overdue. “It was good to know that at long last British Columbia was about to embark on the develop- ment of a program of establishing regional colleges and that the Ministry of Education was consid- ering the North Shore as the site of one of the first of the proposed community colleges,” said McKenzie. West Vancouver senior sec- ondary was chosen as Capilano College’s first home because it was considered to have the best location on the North Shore at the time. CONSTRUCTION AT Capilano College’s Lynnmour campus began in 1974. Since then additional facilities have been built on the site, including a new classroom building, the Sportsplex and the new library. “I've seen a lot of changes over the last 25 years. | enjoy the infor- mal atmosphere of the college. It doesn't seem like it’s been 25 years,” said Le Couteur. Capilano College president Dr, Doug Sardine came to the North Vancouver campus in 1972 as one of the college's administrators. He says when he talks to people like Le Couteur, and others who have been with the college since it first opened, some are surprised ullestone that the cullege has managed to Last 25 years. “When | chat to the ones who have been here even before | was, its definitely a very good feeling on their part,” said Jardine, To mark its 25th anniversary, the college officially opened its new state-of-the-art library in October. While Capilano College has added several new lacilities to its site during the last 25 years, includ- jing the impressive Sportsplex sports complex, Jardine says he believes the new library best reflects the changes the college has gone through, “The aew library building, more even than the new classroom build- ing or the Sportsplex, T think has really captured people's imagina- tion, “We deserved a good library a long time ago anyway, but if vou're going to have it in any given year, it’s nice to have it in the 25th year,” said Jardine. He added that when people look back at the progress of Capilano College 10 years from now, the new library will be what they talk about most. “One of the characteristics of our institution over the past 25 years has veen its attention to the community, “In the earlier days of the col- lege, the universities were not a very warm place for women. Capilano was. “TE think that's significant.” Jardine points out that Capilano College was built, not only to serve the needs of students, but to serve the needs of the entire North Shore community. Photos Capilano College A GROUNDBREAKING ceremony for Capilano College’s North Vancouver campus was held in Nove:nher 1972. Taking part in the event were (from left) Bae Waflace, then the chairman of the Capilano College Council, then NV mayor R.C. Andrews, then Student Society president Marg Griffiths, Faculty Association member Sonja Sanguinetti and then principal Alf Glenesk. During its first year of operations Capilano College held classes at West Vancouver secondary schoo! in the afternoons and evenings. As enrolment grew, satellite campuses were opened in several other North Shore facilities such as this church.