'CAPILANO COLLEGE
Opening Ceremony
West Vancouver Secondary School

Septetnber 10,

10&:.0

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Principal's Remarks
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Chairman, Mr. Minister, Distinguished Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen, Students.

Thank you for your very kind introductory remarks.

It is an honour and privilege for

me to be addressing this audience tonight as the principal of Capilano College.

The

position has been accepted as a challenge in keeping with a sense of service to the
community and to the students.
It is with a sense of pride which I speak to you for a few minutes:

Pride

in the students and what they represent as young Canadians seeking to improve their
usefulness to society and /\to enrich their lives through continuous learning experience:
Undoubtedly many students have enrolled with considerable sacrifice and great
personal concern to extend their formal education beyond high school.

I~

is to their

credit that they want to take advantage of the educational opportunities: to grow
in und~rstanding, to demonstrate the capacity of their abilities, and to exercise
personal initiative in a chosen field of study.
Pride in the faculty because it is through them that many learning
experiences will take on new meaning.

A College dedicated to a teaching mission is

not to be counted worthy of its role unless a faculty is qualified and can demonstrate
an excellence in communication.

Capilano College is fortunate to have procured an

outstanding faculty which will give unstintingly to provide new learning experiences
for students, and contribute to the development of a worthy curriculum.
Pride in the College Counc~l.

Without hesitation, we can assure you that

the representatives of the three School Districts and appointees of the Minister of
Education have contributed unselfishly to the formation of the College, befitting
the concept of the Department of Education in serving the people of our communities.

2.
The College Council has been most astute in providing for the post=secondary needs
of the community, a new broadening educational curriculum for both tertiery types of
education and career-oriented programs as they relate to the economics of
Region.

~he

It has been a most satisfying experience to see a job being executed so ably

by a Council
who knows of the benefits which will accrue to our communities ~ and
'
offers its time so that the newest educational development on the North Shore will
be successful.
Pride in the citizens

of the College ~egion, many of whom literally knocked

on doors to bring about a positive vote favouring the establishment of a college.
The program to establish other Regional Colleges is now underway and we are most
.fortunate to have a headstart on several other districts in the Province.

No small

amount of gratitude should be expressed to existing leading institutions:

V. C. C.,

Selkirk College and the B. C. Institute of Technology.

This headstart, as it were,

is by permission of the Department aqd by mandate of the people, .and rightly so, in
order that an orderly development may take place in B.C.

Yet, to the citizens of the

North Shore, who overwhelmingly supported the March plebicite must go the credit for
foresight and support.
Before moving on to other remarks I wish to include~ tribute to Mr.
Leslie Brooks, Dean of Instruction, a co=worker and leader with others in recent
years when vision, ideas, drive and purpose to form a Coll~ge were so vital.

It

is with respect and much pleasure that I look forward to our association on this
faculty, and in the development of Capilano in all aspects of administration and
instruction.
About us is an atmosphere of pride and achievement that Capilano College
has come about in 1968 instead of in the future.

The student enrolment has

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reached 715 - outstanding evidence of an overwhelming community response.

It is

most probable that such evidence of meeting our educational needs may be repeated
for several successive years.
more than 25% each year.

It is possible that enrolment may increase by

The proposal to erect a building to serve the College for

library storage has been made a reality even today - lights are on this evening.
Our library is to be known as a resource.centre- not just a book depository.
instructional media of a variety of kinds will be introduced.

New

An audio-visual and

independent study approach to learning will not be overlooked, in fact it will be
emphasized.

Several thousand volumes are already on their way for the library and it

is hoped to see the service operational within a week.
th~ stu~ents h~~

It is extremely urgent

tha~

" ~aetfnq placP other than the existing high Rchool facilities, and

it is hoped that an announcement will be possible in a very short time which will make
such a facility available to the students.
Each one of the three school Districts involved has educational needs
to be met.

Each one has contributed to a philosophy of education at the elementary

and secondary school levels.

Capilano in turn has no small responsibility to

recognize the outstanding contributions of such highly respected systems, representing
the two main levels of education.

Now, together, we are inaugurating a third

level in a comprehensive program beyond high school.

We can be certain that students

and faculty in the College recognize the, contributions of the School Boards and civic
governments in enabling Capilano College to open at this date.
The Provincial government through our Department of Education shares with
us a sense of pride in the development of this new kind of educational opportunity.
Great freedom has been given to Capilano College in Curriculum Development, choice of
staff, and in the introduction of administrative processes, and we would respond by
supporting the establishment of a provincial Community College system, second to
none in Canada.

The College serves the students who wish to transfer to other
institutions,

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those who are in pursuit of career-oriented programs of a terminal

kind, which are directly related to employment opportunities on the North Shore.
We will serve adults :-?h9. for upgrading, or cultural enrichment, are bent on
re-entering the formal, but not highly structured College stream.
T~ ~"''1~

students.

g~~" 6 r

that our students are characteristically arts and science

Som.e 65% are students taking five courses \vhich means that 35% are

"

partial students taking 1, 2, 3 or 4 college courses.

I think you are aware that

five vocational-technical programs are being offered in our first year, together
with a cooperative "Liason" package jointly offered by the B. C. I. T. and Capilano.
The five Capilano programs include:

Industrial Specialty, Art, Early Childhood

Education, Accounting and Secretarial Science.

The venture with B. C. I. T. provides

an opportunity to students who might otherwise be unable to begin their training at
B. C. I. T.

The first year of several programs is being offered to students who,

if successful, will be recommended for entry into 2nd year Diploma programs at
B. C. I. T. beginning September 1, 1969.

It is vital to the success of all programs that a working relationship
be developed bet~;v-een institutions of Higher Education and Capilano College, and
between business and industry and the College.

The former will be developed as

we meet with academic departments and university officials to explain our programs
and interpret. the achievement of our students.

It is to the Academic Board of

Higher Education that we look for guidance and advice in this vital relationship.
The relationship between the College and the business community will be encouraged
on our part through any number of contacts, and advisory committees to our
vocational-technical programs.

Representatives of the business community are to be

included in the development of new programs and on the advisement committees of our
current offerings.

5.

There is no question that we 1vant to relate to the needs of our community by
supplying graduates of t1vo year programs lvho will be highly trained, employ11ble
and worthy of a position in our North Shore economy.

There are at least three other mutually beneficial relationships which
are to be developed and encouraged.

First, the adult in the home, who is potentially

a College supporter or even a College student is of vital concern to the College.
We \vant to involve the whole conununity, not high school graduates alone.

Adult

education is a continuous learning experience and should be one notable branch of
the College services.

It will not be long before our adults will be speaking

enthusiastically of the opportunities open to them at Capilano.

Second, the relationship between the West Vancouver Secondary School and
the College is of special significance.

Can you imagine how a high school principal

and staff and custodial men have dreaded the impact of such an "intrusion" as
Capilano College into their midst?

Every means of assistance and cooperation has

been extended to us, and I have appreciated to a very great extent the support and
understanding that Mr. McKenzie, his staff and students, have offered.

I trust this

relationship will continue and that the College will be able to contribute to the
high school program in the temporary sharing of the West Vancouver Secondary Building.

Third.

A mutually beneficial relationship is anticipated between the

students and those who give leadership in the College.

We invite students to

participate in College affairs and become involved in responsible planning sessions.
It is expected that students will accept responsibilities for student government
and be prepared to express themselves on how best Capilano College students can serve
their interests.

It is expected that students will give voice to their ideas.

to relate to the needs of the students in educational pursuits and in preparing
for living in a changing and technical society.

We want

It is expected too,

i:hai: studenl:s \,rill have

and the meaning of life au ll affects them

i~:lme

to consider some of the yatues

pe~su11ally.

A student voice in college

affairs is a prime example of "' deinocTat:ic app:coach to responsible student faculty
relationships.

Capilauo CoLJ<-•ge Js
are both academic and

CJ

compi.eheus:Lve community college, i.e, the programs

CLnec~l-~·cn·J.ented,

t:be Co Liege is conununity minded and the

opportunities are at a post·-secondacy, college or adult level.
students for transter,

It seeks: to prepare

to prepace students to achieve occupational competence, to

prepare students for living in a conl:emporary society, to provide a counselling
service whteh enables the Gtudent t·.o discover his aptitudes for his future educational___ _
goal and career.

Opportunities to learn are to be provided through classes, seminars,

workshops and lecture series to meet the occt1pational and cultural needs of the
cormnun:ity.

Recent great nl:rides in learning L:echniques and methods of cqmrnunication

will enhance the educatiooal process for college students.

Capilano College is only begintJing.
students, faculty and the commu.nity

i~o

It will afford opportunities for

develop the curriculum, enlarge the Gcope of

its functions and serve the citizens for the betterment of our economy and well-being
in the Province, and specifically within the limits of our College Region.

The

student enr.olmen!: has demonstrated the iHmH:'cliate need to prepare for a new college
campus, the Council is even now

conside~ing

the feasibility of a site and separate

college facilities.

As principal, I express my appreciation to all concerned for their
assistance in the development of the College to this point.

It has been gratifying

to participate in this exciting new educational opportunity.

We aim to make Capilano

College progressive, flexible in curriculum, modern in its teaching techniques,
student and community-oriented.
on choosing

ilano Col

I wish every student success, and compliment him