Vancouver College - Collegian Yearbook (Vancouver, British Columbia Canada)

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In 1922, four members of the Christian Brothers, headed by Br. M.J. Lannon arrived in Vancouver to open Vancouver College. To illustrate the interest the Brothers aroused in Vancouver, 91 students turned up on the opening day of school. Sept. 5, 1922. The Brothers residence was at 1112 Broughton St. whereas the school was in what is presently Rosary Hall on Richards Street. The Shaughnessy Heights location was purchased with the aid of Fr. W. O’Boyle and Charles Stafford. The original wing, now known as Lannon Hall, was opened in 1925. McCormack Hall, built through the generosity of J.D. McCormack, was built in 1927 and housed thirty boarders. After completion of this wing, the enrollment rose to 300 students. During the Depression years, the enrollment fell to 200 students. College growth was somewhat stunted during this period. In 1939 at the Depression’s close, Br. E.B. Walsh became principal of Vancouver College. He served V.C. for 28 years as an administrator and teacher. By the end of his term in ' 1945, he had been successful in raising $45,000 toward a Gymnasium for the College. 4 TOP OF PAGE: Vancouver College before the great fire of 1946. ABOVE: The construction of Mackin Hall, our present Cafeteria and grades ten and eleven hallways. RIGHT: The early construction of Nichol Hall. UPPER RIGHT ON 1ACING PAGE: the basic plan in Nichol Hall shows the present placement of the grade eight hallway.

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Mount St. Francis Monastery, the Brothers, first house in North America. It is the residence for the Brothers who teach at St. Patrick ' s Hall, St. John’s. The introduction of the Christian Brothers into the schools of Newfoundland raised the attendance from sixty-six students to over three hundred in the first month of their instructions. The increase in students was so incredible that “...many others who had applied for admission had to be denied entrance for lack of ac- comodation. The system was far superior to anything which had obtained in the classes since their establish- ment in 1832.” This problem of expansion was solved by the subcription of $13,000 by the Benevolent Irish Society to erect a new school. In July of 1877, the cor- nerstone of St. Patrick’s hall was laid. The construction of this structure began only six months after the first foundation of Mt. St. Francis Monastery had been laid. Three years later, both buildings were completed, and although this extra space was provided, overcrowding was still a large problem. As a result. Holy Cross School in St. John’s was erected in 1890. From here, the Christian Brothers moved strongly across Newfoundland, then slowly spread into the rest of Canada and the United States. In August of 1889, the Brothers officially took over St. Bonaventures College. In 1898 Mount Cashel Orphanage was opened in N ewfoundland. In 1906, the Brothers’ first American school was opened in New York City. Since then, a number of schools have been opened in the States, coming as far west as Washington. Br. J.S. Nash, Left; Assistant Superior General of the Brothers, along with Br. Bates, our school principal. In 1915, St. Louis College in Victoria was taken over by the Brothers. It had previously been run by the Oblate Fathers and the Sisters of St. Ann. From here, the in- fluence of the Christian Brothers spread to Vancouver, where Vancouver College was opened in 1922 in Rosary Hall on Richards Street. In 1924, the College moved to its present property. From this time on, the Christian Brothers have opened a large number of schools across North America including O’Dea High School in Seattle, Iona College in New Rochelle, Cantwell High School in Montebello, Los Angeles, St. Joseph Academy in Antigua and St. Mary’s Academy in Dominica, to mention just a few. For one hundred years, the Christian Brothers have been going strong in North America, spreading their good works across the continent. We pay a special tribute to them in their centennial year and hope that their work will persist for centuries to come. 3

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THE DEVELOPMENT OF VANCOUVER COLLEGE A year later a more urgent building need arose. A fire broke out ruining the top floors of McCormack and Lan- non Halls. A new roof was built without the charac- teristic peak seen on the school prior to the damage. Growth continued and the long-delayed gymnasium was built and opened in 1950. Enrollment rose to 600 under Br. W.C. Penny’s term as principal (1948-54). During this term, tennis courts were built in front of the gymnasium and the driveways were blacktopped. During Br. Bates’ first term as principal (1954-60) crowding in the school forced expansion. $125,000 was provided by Henry J. Mackin for the building of a new wing. This extension provided a cafeteria and extra classroom space. In 1959, $50,000 was spent to blacktop a play area east of the gymnasium and drain tiles were in- stalled beneath the surface of the field. Br. F.R. Finch (1960-66) made further additions to the top of the gymnasium, adding locker space and shower facilities. Nichol Hall, facing 38th Ave. was constructed, housing six more classrooms and two laboratories. The addition was named after Monsignor T.M. Nichol, a long-time friend of the College. Since this time. Brothers Clarkson, Bucher, and Bates have succeeded as principals, with Br. Bates, just com- pleting the first year of his second term. Vancouver College has fought strongly to survive and grow throughout this century. We hope to see it spread further, lending its direction to more and more students in the years to come. The great fire at V.C. The top floors of McCormack and Lannon Halls were destroyed and ha d to be reconstructed.