Feature Article
RED DEER GETS ITS VERY OWN JUNIOR COLLEGE: 1964
Written By: Michael Dawe
Published By: Red Deer Advocate Centennial Book
Article Used with permission. © Copyright Michael Dawe and the Red Deer Advocate, 2007
2007-01-01
; "Red Deer gets its very own junior college")
On Friday, Nov. 27, 1964, an important milestone occurred in the history of education in Central Alberta.
A crowd of500 turned out for the official opening ceremonies for Red Deer Junior College at its temporary quarters in a new wing at the Lindsay Thurber Composite High School.
The idea of having a public college in Red Deer was not a new one.
There was a widespread feeling that such an institution would make post-secondary education more available to students in Central Alberta.
It would likely be more affordable than the universities in Alberta’s two largest cities.
It would also improve the transition for students from high school to university with smaller classes and greater individual attention to students.
Red Deer had colleges in the past.
The Alberta Ladies College was built by the Presbyterian Church on the East Hill in 1913.
Unfortunately, it was forced to close due to financial difficulties during the First World War.
In 1929, the Northern Bible College, later renamed the Canadian Nazarene College, was constructed on the south side of Red Deer.
However, in 1960, a decision was made to sell the campus and move the college to Winnipeg.
In November 1951, Dr. Lindsay Thurber, superintendent of the rural Red Deer School Division, proposed that a public junior college be established in Red Deer.
Initially, not much happened with his idea.
In 1955, the Red Deer Public School District put the proposal to the provincial minister of education.
He replied that such an institution would have to be a purely local effort as the department had no intention of taking the initiative of establishing a college in Red Deer and turning it over to local control.
When Margaret Parsons became the chair of the public school board in 1959, she became an active advocate of the junior college idea.
She pointed out that Lethbridge had secured such a college in 1957 and she saw no reason why Red Deer could not follow suit.
In March 1959, a joint agreement was made between the Red Deer Public School District and the Red Deer (rural) School Division to push ahead with securing a junior college for Red Deer.
In October 1963, the Red Deer Separate School District and Counties of Lacombe, Ponoka and Mountainview formally joined the two original partners and applied to the provincial government for the incorporation of Red Deer College.
It was agreed that the Red Deer Public School District would take the lead as the official sponsoring board.
Temporary space for the college was to be provided in a new wing being constructed at the Lindsay Thurber High School.
G. H. Dawe, the public school superintendent, was named the chief administrative officer.
The University of Alberta board of governors gave their official approval and agreed that Red Deer College would be an official affiliate of the U of A.
Meanwhile, a search was made for a permanent campus site.
One spot north of the city was to be investigated, but a large security dog kept the officials from inspecting the site,
Another proposed location was in Oriole Park.
Finally, the farm of Lawrence Banting, south of West Park, was selected as the best future site for the college.
On Nov. 18, 1963, the official order-in-council was issued by the provincial government incorporating Red Deer Junior College.
The first formal college board was created with representatives from each of the six partners.
Staff were hired and Peter Raffa was appointed the first dean.
When classes started in September 1964, there were 107 full-time students and 13 part-time students, well above predictions of an inaugural enrolment of 65.
At the official opening ceremonies two months later, one of the U of A’s official representatives was its new chancellor, F. Philip Galbraith, the publisher of the Red Deer Advocate.
In 1966, work began on the permanent campus on the south side of Red Deer.
Official opening ceremonies took place on Nov. 2, 1967 to coincide with the visit of the new Governor-General of Canada, Roland Michener to Red Deer.
The building was actually not finished and the dignitaries nearly froze to death as there was no heat.
In September 1968, classes commenced in the new permanent campus.
Greatly expanded over the years, it continues to serve as the major post-secondary institution for Central Alberta.
Thousands of students have secured their education and started their futures at Red Deer College.
This article was written by Michael Dawe for the Red Deer Advocate’s Centennial Book. The Heritage Community Foundation would like to thank Michael Dawe and the Red Deer Advocate for permission to reprint these materials online. Please visit the Red Deer Advocate online.The images in the article are part of the collection of the Red Deer Archives. Please visit them online.