MHC celebrates 60 years of service to the region
In the early 1960s, establishing a regional college in Medicine Hat was just an idea raised by the local school board, but by September 1965, Medicine Hat Junior College (MHJC) opened its doors to 97 full-time and 11 part-time students.
Originally housed at Medicine Hat High School, MHJC offered only university transfer programming in the areas of agriculture, arts, commerce, education, household economics, law, nursing, pharmacy, physical education, and science. Within the first five years, the name “junior” was dropped, certificate and diploma programs were introduced, the Conservatory of Music & Dance was established, and construction started on the present college site.
Fast-forward six decades to a thriving campus that welcomes over 2,000 students annually from across the country and around the world and offers 40+ certificate, diploma, degrees, university transfer, and apprenticeship programs in a variety of disciplines.
MHC History at a Glance
- 1965 (Fall): Medicine Hat Junior College (MHJC) opens its doors to 97 full-time and 11 part-time students in shared facilities at Medicine Hat High School. University Transfer programs are offered in agriculture, arts, commerce, education, household economics, law, nursing, pharmacy, physical education, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-veterinary medicine, science. Dr. N.O. Matthews serves as Dean for MHJC.
- 1968-1969: New programs are offered including College Preparation, Office Technology and Business Administration program followed by certificate and diploma programs in Secretarial Science, Engineering, Business Science and Accounting.
- 1969 (Fall): Conservatory of Music and Dance is established. "Junior" dropped from the name as operations are now guided by the "Colleges Act of Alberta."
- 1970 (Spring): Construction starts at present site with 128 construction workers, technicians, and management working approximately 3,100,000 hours to complete the College complex.
- 1971 (Summer/Fall): New Medicine Hat College facility welcomes staff and students. Dr. E. Stanley Chace is appointed President. College motto "scientia mentem sustinet," is introduced which means science and knowledge sustain the mind. A coat of arms is designed by the Community Art Club.
- 1971-1974: New programs, including Nursing, Commercial Cooking, Forest Resource Management, are added. English as a Second Language is offered by Community Education.
- 1976: Mr. Robert Edward Sackley is appointed President.
- 1977 (Winter): 4,200 people are registered in community education courses, compared to 280 people who were registered in 1971.
- 1978: New programs in early childhood development and visual communications are offered.
- 1979: Ministerial authorization is given in the spring to establish a campus at Brooks, Alberta, official opening of the Brooks campus in the old hospital is held later that year. Mr. Charles Joseph Meagher is appointed President.
- 1982 (Spring): Former Brooks area resident, former Medicine Hat Mayor, and Medicine Hat businessman, Harry Veiner, donates 26 hectares of land east of Brooks to the province of Alberta for the College to build a permanent campus in Brooks. Sod turning for Cultural Centre. Ladies Basketball Team wins the bronze in the National Championships.
- 1982 (Fall): Official opening of student residence at the Medicine Hat campus
- 1983 (Fall): Official opening of the Cultural Centre. Community Education initiates the ABE Program (Adult Basic Education).
- 1988: Medicine Hat College hosts its first college-wide graduation ceremony.
- 1989: MHC wins the Canadian National Curling Championships.
- 1990: Dr. Frederick J. Speckeen is appointed President. Sod turning for the new Brooks Campus.
- 1991: First international chapter of the student honours society, Phi Theta Kappa, is established at MHC.
- 1991: A Child Development Centre is established on campus with the cooperation of the City of Medicine Hat. Dignitaries officially open the new Brooks Campus.
- 1995: Ralph Weeks becomes new MHC President. More programs are offered, including Child and Youth Care, Environmental Science, Watershed Management, Health Care Aide Training and Civil Engineering Technology and Massage Therapy.
- 1996: Medicine Hat College establishes its presence on the internet. This is the first time all the college services are online, including applications, program information, and college information.
- 1997: New programs launch including Technical Illustrator, Police and Security, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Child and Youth care diplomas are offered. Health Care Aide, Community Nursing, and Massage Therapy certificates are offered.
- 1998: Groundbreaking for a $3.2 million expansion is performed with a Clydesdale horse and a handplow.
- 1999: Medicine Hat College Library is renamed the Vera Bracken Library.
- 2001: Groundbreaking for an $18 million expansion, which will house the new Vera Bracken Library and B Wing.
- 2003: Grand Opening of the B Wing and rededication of the Vera Bracken Library.
- 2005: Grand Opening of Centennial Hall, the new front foyer and promenade. MHC commemorates its 40-year anniversary with a homecoming celebration. First honorary degree awarded to Terry Brekko.
- 2006: Medicine Hat College is granted a University of Alberta Bachelor of Education Degree. Randy Eresman receives MHC's honorary degree. Brooks Campus receives 26 additional seats in the Practical Nurse Program.
- 2007: Honorary degree is awarded to Jim Horsman.
- 2008: Honorary degree goes to Dr. Ken Sauer.
- 2009: Dr. John Moldon receives honorary degree. Official opening of Encana Power Engineering Technology Centre.
- 2010: Bob Porter named the 2010 honorary degree recipient.
- 2011: Official opening of the F-Wing. Dr. Richard and Deborah Northcott are named the honorary degree recipients. MHC partners with Mount Royal University to offer Bachelor of Business Administration degree on campus.
- 2012: Honorary degree is awarded to Dr. Roy Wilson. MHC receives largest donation to date with $2.2 million from the Rodgers family.
- 2013: MRU agrees to offer collaborative education degree. Dr. Robert McCulloch named interim president. Rob Renner receives honorary degree award.
- 2014: Dr. Denise Henning appointed president. Grand opening of the visual communications building . MHC hosts grand opening for the Sunrise Rotary Trail.
- 2015: Larry Henderson receives the honorary degree.
- 2016: Two honorary degrees are presented to Jack Snedden and Austin Curtin.
- 2017: Bill Yuill is awarded the honorary degree.
- 2018: Wayne Resch is appointed acting president. The honorary degree awarded to Lorne Taylor.
- 2019: Kevin Shufflebotham appointed president. Parvin Camphor receives the honorary degree. A new agreement with Prairie Rose School Division and Medicine Hat Public School Division brings high school outreach and academic upgrading under one roof with Coulee Collegiate.
- 2020: MHC, along with the rest of the world, is disrupted by COVID-19. David J Carter is named honorary degree recipient, MHC holds drive-thru event in lieu of convocation. Legacy donation provides hope for community mental health through the Beej Project.
- 2021: COVID disruption continues, cancelling the traditional convocation ceremony for a second year. Gerry Labas is named the honorary degree recipient.
- 2022: Elder Charlie Fox receives honorary degree at MHC's first convocation ceremony at Co-op Place, recognizing grad classes from 2020, 2021 and 2022. The college launches three new programs in the fall including Sport & Event Marketing Management, Sustainable Innovation, and Service Dog and Canine Studies Management diplomas, becoming the is the first post-secondary institution in Canada to the credentials for the latter two programs. MHC also celebrates the opening of the health, wellness and athletics expansion that October.
- 2023: MHC launches new Centre for Innovation to support regional entrepreneurs and businesses, providing expertise, technology, and space to turn ideas into solutions. . The honorary degree is awarded to Bob Wanner. MHC and JBS Canada partner to delivery automation training in Brooks
- 2024: MHC launches new KNES diploma and dual credit programming with regional high schools. The honorary degree is awarded to Nichole Neubauer.
- 2025: The college receives its largest donation to date in January 2025, with $5 million pledged by the Yuill Family Foundation. MHC celebrates its 60th anniversary, July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026.
Upcoming Events
MHC Stampede Breakfast
Monday, July 21 / 8 - 10 a.m.
Outside main entrance
Check back for more events throughout our anniversary year!
