Celebrating 65 Years: Assiniboine College opens a window into its past

Assiniboine College has kicked off the celebration of our 65^th anniversary Wednesday morning with the opening of a time capsule dating back to September of 1966. The capsule, which was housed in the main entrance to the college’s Victoria Ave. East campus, dates to the official opening of the Manitoba Vocational Training Centre, in the fall of that year.

“We hope the unveiling of this time capsule will be a really unique glimpse into the history of the college,” said Mark Frison, President of Assiniboine. “As with anything of that era, it is a product of its time, so we aren’t sure what might be housed in the capsule. Our wish though is that the items contained inside will highlight some of the activities our predecessors were engaged with in imagining the institution.”

First mentions of vocational training in Brandon dates to 1961, with the college first occupying our current space on Victoria Ave. East in 1966. At the time, some 500 people gathered for a ceremony to witness the laying of the cornerstone by then Education Minister Dr. George Johnson (1920-1995), on behalf of Premier Duff Roblin.

The Manitoba Vocational Centre would later be renamed Assiniboine Community College (now Assiniboine College) as part of the first major revamp to programming in December 1969, some five months after the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Attending that dedication ceremony on December 15, 1969, was the late Honourable Len Evans (namesake of our Len Evans Centre for Trades and Technology at the North Hill Campus), acting in place for then Minister of Education Saul Miller. At the time, Mr. Evans was quoted in the Brandon Sun as saying, “launching a new enterprise in vocational education will help signify the expanded role (of colleges) in going beyond just vocational training,”. His words ring true to this day with Assiniboine College offering more than 75 certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, and apprenticeship programs to over 3,700 full-time students and 6,000 part time students each year.

Over the coming months, the college has several activities planned to recognize our history and celebrate the 65^th anniversary in true Assiniboine fashion.

“This is really the start of what we feel will be a fun year of celebrations for our college,” added Frison.

The college invites former faculty, students, staff, and those whose lives have been impacted by Assiniboine to connect with the college to help share your unique Assiniboine College memories. To do so, please visit assiniboine.net/shareyourstory.