MHC celebrates 60 years of service
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 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: agriculture, arts, commerce, education, household economics, law, nursing, pharmacy, physical education, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, pre-veterinary medicine, science.
- 1967 (Fall): City of Medicine Hat grants the College 107 acres in the Marlborough subdivision between Kin Coulee and Connaught Golf Course.
- 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.
- 1971-1975: New programs, including Nursing, Commercial Cooking, Forest Resource Management, Power Engineering Technology, Basic Plant Operation and more are offered.
- 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 communciations 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 held later that year.
- 1981 (Summer): Agreement with the City of Medicine Hat results in the decision to build the Cultural Centre on Campus.
- 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 College 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 is on the internet. This is the first time all the college services are on line, 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. The expansion will house 14 different programs previously spread around campus. Library receives $278,700 grant from the province.
- 1999: Medicine Hat College Library is renamed the Vera Bracken Library.
- 2001: Groundbreaking for the three-storey structure, an $18 million expansion, which will house the new Vera Bracken Library.
- 2003 October Grand Opening of the 3-storey building and Rededication of the Vera Bracken Library
- 2005 Grand Opening of Centennial Hall, the new front foyer and promenade at Medicine Hat College. Advanced Education Minister Dave Hancock, Mayor Garth Vallely, MP Monte Solberg and MLA Len Mitzel in attendance. The North American Solar Challenge, the longest solar car races in the world, makes a pit stop at Medicine Hat College. A Memorandum of Understanding Is signed with the University of Alberta to increase access to post secondary learning opportunities for students in southeastern Alberta. Medicine Hat College and York College of Industry and Technology sign an agreement that will see four MHC programs (business, police and security, ecotourism, and information technology) offered at the Ontario school. Grand Re-opening of the Medicine Hat College Student Employment and Career Centre. Medicine Hat College commemorates its 40-year anniversary with a homecoming celebration. 2005 40th anniversary celebrated with first homecoming. Official opening of Centennial Hall. First honorary degree awarded to Terry Brekko