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When the possibility of establishing a
community college on the North Shore
was first raised, it was met with
enthusiasm by secondary school
principals because the need _ for
expanding the opportunities for further
training for post secondary school
students was great. Not all graduating
students were in a position to avail
themselves of the trade _— school,
technological institute or university
opportunities. A flexible and diversified
eollege organized to meet the varied
needs of the community was long
overdue. Many years ago American
educators established the colleges to
complete the range of _ training
opportunities needed by high school
graduates. It was good to know that at
long last British Columbia was about to
embark on the development of a
programme of establishing regional
eolleges and that the Ministry of
Education was considering the North
Shore as the site of one of the first of
the proposed community colleges. Even
more pleasing to us was the fact that
West Vancouver Secondary was deemed
to possess the best available facilities on
the North Shore for temporarily housing
the college.

But how could a very active high school
of about 1,600 students also serve the
needs of a college without seriously
impairing its own programmes? Suffice
it to say that after visiting a similar set-
up in Bellevue, Washington the school
and college officials decided to proceed
and Capilano College was launched in
September, 1968 as an evening college
with classes commencing at 4:00 p.m.

CONNECTION

by Mr. R.D. McKenzie, Principal of West
Vancouver Senior Secondary School in
1968 when college opened.

Obviously a host of problems relating to
room and equipment’ use, parking,
custodial care and the like had to be
resolved. It was because both the school
and the college administrators realized
the importance of the venture that
virtually no problems of a lasting nature
were encountered. The spirit of co-
operation between the two_ bodies
inhabiting the same building was really
quite amazing. Each appreciated the
services the other was able to offer and
speaking for West Vancouver Secondary I
ean attest to the generosity of the
college staff in making available to the
secondary school staff and _ students
items such as science, audio-visual and
printing equipment and library books.
Our part was in providing much needed
housing for the ever expanding classes
offered by the college.

Very quickly the college was forced to
surround West Vancouver Secondary with
many portables. It was encouraging to
all of us to see the college population
rapidly expand as the North Shore public
seized the opportunities for further
education provided by the academic
transfer, the career and the community
programmes.

Finally the day came when it was
necessary to move to a more permanent
home. It was with some regret that we
saw the portables disappear during the
summer of 1973 when the Lynnmour
campus opened. But it was also with a
feeling of satisfaction that in some
measure we had made it possible for
Capilano College to get its start. =

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