by Bill MePhee

Ten years is a long time to look back -
especially to look baek to the beginning
of Capilano College and to gather
together the names of all the people who
brought the College to life and then to
remember the many events that took
place in these ten years - happy times,
sad times, crises and victories.

At the same time, one must think of the
people who throughout the ten years
have contributed, year after year, to the
growth and success of Capilano College.

It would be relatively easy to list
chronologically the history of the college
- however, I would rather talk about the
struggle to open the college, to find
classrooms and a permanent home.

Baek in 1962, Dr. John B. Macdonald,
President of the University of British
Columbia, was the author of a 120 page
report entitled "Higher Education in
British Columbia and a Plan for the
Future" in which he assessed the position
of higher education in B.C., made certain
recommendations and arrived at several
conclusions. Among his recommend-
ations was one that supported the
creation of two-year regional colleges in
various areas of the province. And, one
of his eonelusions was
"The number of young people qualified
for and seeking higher education by
1971 will more than double. The task
of providing for them requires a "new
look" in higher education in the
Provinee, planned for immediately,
and followed by prompt action. The
requirements include new institutions,
new methods of financing, new
methods of organization and a new
dimension in our approach to providing

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the FIRST 10...(an overview)

the highly qualified specialists needed
to staff all our institutions of higher
learning."

From the time of the release of the
Macdonald Report until the spring of
1968 many groups and _ individuals
throughout the province debated the
recommendations and conclusions of the
Report.

On the North Shore (North Vancouver,
West Vancouver, Howe Sound and
Sechelt) a North Shore’ College
Coordinating Committee was formed
very early and was responsible for the
very successful plebiscite of March 7,
1968.

Early in 1968 the North Shore Interim
College Committee sponsored a "College
Now" campaign which included large
information advertisements in local
papers, TV interviews on Channels 6, 8
and 12 and a open line programme on
CKNW.

However, one of the most important
activities created to support the college
plebiscite of Mareh 7, 1968 was the
formation of the 300-women team of
volunteers led by Mrs. Shirley Hunter of
West Vancouver and her 34 zone
eaptains. The four school districts were
systematically covered by the volunteers
who left faet sheets and information
about the proposed college with all
households.

The Capilano College of 1978 owes its
very existance, in part, to the zeal and
enthusiasm of this group of women whose
efforts resulted in the 68.1% approval of
the plebiscite.