Provincial Institute of Technology and Art - Record Yearbook (Calgary, Alberta Canada)

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.TECH-ART RECORD Technical Schools in Canada By Dr. W. C. Carpenter T echnical Education is a relatively new venture in educat on in Canada. Practical education has been a part of the system of education in Europe for many years. Some Russian handiwork from their schools was shown at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, which gave a large impetus towards the organization of Jthis work in the United States. In Canada, the first senous attempt at Technical Education in day classes was made in Toronto in 1900. Considerable interest in this type of educat onal endeavour had been developed over Canada through the gifts of Sir William MacDonald for the encouragement of Man¬ ual Training. Dr. James W. Robertson, administering the MacDonald fund, introduced several instructors from England. These were distributed throughout Canada, and beginnings in practical programs were instituted. In Toronto remarkable progress has been made. Eor fifteen years work was carried on m a modified building until 1915, when work was jbegun in the magnificent Central Technical Schoo ' , since when three very large and magnificent schools have been erected and filled to capacity. In Hamilton, Technical work was begun in 1909, since when the fine Technical Institute was erected and very Quickly filled to capacity; and a second school, in West Hamilton, had to be provided to meet the demands. London and Windsor- Walkerville have excellent schools, w.th heavy enrolments, and at the present time there is not a city of over 10,000 population that has not a Technical School as a part of its local system. Technical education is firmly placed on a permanent basis in Ontaro. In Quebec the Ecole Polytechnique was organized in Montreal in 1873. This has grown into a large and Important branch of L.aval University and carr es the engineering services of this large University. This ,school is not a Technical High School, inasmuch as its main function is more of a University grade. The Montreal Technical School was organized in 1907, offering practical courses of a sub-un ' versity grade. Since then large Industrial schools have been built at Quebec City, Hull, Three Rivers, Grande Mere, Shawinigan, Beauceville, Chicoutimi, Port Alfred and other places. These schools have been largely financed by the government of the Province of Quebec, the communities in which they are situated contributing towards their maintenance. In the Maritime Provinces, the first beginnings were made in the organization of the Nova Scotia Technical Cbllege in 1907. The main urge behind the plan in Nova Scotia was to provide a central school for the training of engineers which could not easily be Page Twelve

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done by the several colleges in the province pf University standing. All engineering work in Nova Scotia is done at this school, which at jhe same time caters to the needs of the demand for instruction of a type lower than that of University status. Nova Scotia has developed an elaborate smd strong department of Home Study Courses. In 1932 there were 23 municipalities in Nova Scotia carrying evening programs in Industrial Education. New Brunswick carries day programs in eight centres, the largest plant being found in Saint John, where a very fine new Voca¬ tional School has been recently ojrened which has proved very popular. Manitoba was well to the fore in the making of provision for Technical instruction when the city of Winnipeg, about 1912 and 1913, erected the two very fine plants, accommodating a composite school and known respectively as the Kelvin and Saint John Tech¬ nical Schools. These schools have had a vicarious experience during the years, so far as industrial education is poncemed, the work not progressing as in )the larger cities east and west. In Brandon City an interesting Motor School is conducted by the Government of Manitoba. This school has shown an interesting growth and has promise of a bright future along popular lines. Little has been done in Saskatchewan until recently Technical High Schools have been erected in the larger centres. The work in Saskatchewan has a promising outlook. Edmonton organized a Technical High School in 1914, using temporary quarters as a beginning. The school has had a rather uphill struggle and even yet is housed in a plant that is a made-over market building. It has recently shown new life and its work is very encouraging. In Calgary the Technical Institute was opened in 1916 and the magnificent new building entered in 1922. The instructional service in the day classes has increased from 40,685 student hours in 1920-21 to about 320,000 student hours in 1932- 33. In 1929 a very fine new Technical High School was erected in Calgary by the City School Board. This school has been popu¬ lar from the beginning, is filled quite to capacity and is doing a very fine piece of work. In British Columbia the progress made in Technical education is one of the bright records in Canada. There are eleven Techni¬ cal Schools in the province vvhich, with the Commercial Schools, report a day enrolment of 9,713 students in 1931-32. In Vancouver is to be found one of the finest Technical Schools in the Dominion, where a superior program is being offered and in which lies the high hopes of thousands of Vancouver youth. There were 2,582 students enrolled in day classes in the year 1931-32. Technical education is just begun in Canada. The assistance of the Federal Government from 1919 to 1929, when ten millions of dollars were disbursed to the provinces, has been greatly stimulating. There is a new Act awaiting official sanction which would) be of the greatest value during these troublesome times. In our province development will await recovery in the economic status of the people, but I believe it is safe to state that in the next period of progress Technical Schools will play a very important part. Pajr« Thirteen