Thoughts on Capilano College—

by Mayor Peter Jones of West Vancouver

I have been re-reading the 1965 "North
Shore Regional College Study" by Dr.
Walter Hardwick and R.J. Baker. I
heartily recommend it as 1978 reading
for all Capilano College counsellors,
faculty and friends. You should read it
as an overall view of the concept that
gave life to and which should continue to
guide the 10 year old Capilano College.
It envisaged an institution offering four
eategories of programs to the citizens of
the community:

1. Leading to careers, in which the
citizens' abilities are challenged,
and which contribute to the regional
economy;

2. Leading to other institutions or
further formal education;

3. For continuing education of adults;
4. Which act as a catalyst and focus

for educational and cultural affairs
of the community.

Peter Jones was part of the dream of a
North Shore college, and Rob McKenzie
helped to realize that dream with him.

2

Those of us who helped conceive
Capilano College believed strongly that
the first priority was to programs that
gave young people a further career
option to the then available careers of
University based professions or unskilled
labour. I am pleased that the career
programs have flourished.

We knew that academic courses at the
first and second level would be well
supported. We knew they would be
beneficial in providing smaller classes
and a teaching oriented faculty, and that
they would result in savings in dollars
and time to the students of the North
Shore. We feared, however, an over
emphasis on the academic, the
establishment of an ivory tower type of
mini-university, and the consequent
killing of the community college
concept.

Continuing education was a new concept
in 1965 but it is obviously working well
at Capilano College as could easily be
seen by those of us that attended the
1978 graduation ceremony.

The fourth program type is a relatively
minor one. Although the College has
provided some good community programs
its relatively remote location is
inhibiting this aspect.

The Hardwick study recommended a
central location, one that was clearly
and visually identifiable to North Shore
residents. It recommended against such
"eecentric" sites as the present site. In
1965 we were concerned that the natural
propensity for faculty, staff and
students, for those who were already in
the College, would be to resist a central
location and to turn inward to the
seclusion and quiet of a remote campus.

A community college should be involved,
aecessible and visible and I weleome the