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

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Contents . . .

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Brother Johnson was awakened, the alarm sounded and the boarders aroused. The slate-shingled roof prevented the flames from breaking into sight until going at a full in- tensity. In the rain the following morning everything look black in- deed. No one had been hurt, but resident students had to seek lodging with sympathetic neighbours until McCormack’s top storey was restored. The third floor was never rebuilt; the building was merely given a new flat roof. The total damage was estimated at approximately $50,000. Despite this fact, pupils coming for classes later that morning appeared surprisingly jubilant(?). This incident dampened the hopes of sports en- thusiasts as plans for erecting a gym had to be temporarily shelved. However by 1951, the long-awaited gymnasium, built with the assistance of V.C.’s alumni, opened for student, alumni and faculty use. Br. Bates took office in 1955 when the facilities of the College were beginning to be overstrained. Enrolment was well over 600. Classes were completely filled and applications were outnumbering the places available. Vancouver College was once again unable to meet growing demands. With a $125,000 donation from Henry L. Mackin, another hall was built to provide extra space for classrooms and a new cafeteria. Enrolment leaped to 850 by 1959. The gymnasium was ex- panded in the early Sixties, and later the fourth wing of teaching areas, Nichol Hall, was erected. During Br. Finch’s term (1960-1966) Nichol Hall and the extension to the gym added valuable space to the College complex. During Br. Bucher’s administration, (1967- 1975), the first floor of McCormack Hall was carpeted and re-designed in an open-area style so that the five classrooms opened on the new elementary school library. In 1974 the students’ residence was com- pletely redesigned, Brother Estrada being responsible for the design. In 1975, Brother Bates who had been principal from 1954-1960 again assumed the reins of office for two years. During this time the tennis courts were moved to the east side of the gym. Brother Bates resigned in 1977 and was replaced by the Dean of Studies, Brother Michael A. Maher. Br. Maher’s term of office has been almost entirely associated with building and construction. In 1978, the Junior Resident Students Dorm on the third floor of McCormack Hall was closed, and a faculty room, Library, seminar room and elementary change room were built in its place. Three classrooms replaced the Library - seminar room complex on the second floor and a beautiful little chapel took the place of the faculty room. During the 1978- 79 school year, a master plan was drawn up for the future development of the College’s campus - the first phase of which was to be the new Brother’s residence which was ready for use by September, 1981. The field was completely redeveloped and seeded. In addition bleachers covering a bunker were placed between the gym and the field. Early in August, 1981, St. Michael’s Hall, the old frame building which had served as the Brothers ' residence since 1924, was torn down to be replaced by a parking lot. In order to provide funds for these and other ambitious undertakings, the Van- couver College Foundation carried on the Diamond Jubilee Campaign during the 1980-81 school year. What is Vancouver College? This question can hardly be answered through historical references alone. It is an academic institution dedicated to preserve, transmit and extend man’s knowledge. More often than the student body realizes, it is a community working on several levels cooperatively: moral, academic and social. The important feature of Vancouver College is its privilege to unfold to its students the doctrine of the Church and the value and meaning of the Church’s ceremonies. Moral training is just as important for the student of the first grade as for the matriculation student. If the seeds of Christianity be not planted in the early season, they may never reach their maturity before the chilling blasts of winter destroy their tender growths. To these tasks, College has grown, throughout the past 60 years to high standards of teaching abilities; academic and moral, physical and cultural. 5

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