Monday, Oct. 22, 2018 marked 20 years to the day since the college opened its groundbreaking Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, then referred to as the Glendale Campus, and the college community came together to celebrate and reflect.
College president Dan Patterson, regional councillor Bart Maves, who was MPP for Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake when the campus opened in 1998, then-Student Administrative Council president Don Woodruff and associate vice-president, academic and learner services Dave Taylor shared their memories of the historic day, cut a cake, and re-enacted photos taken 20 years ago, highlighting the constant change and improvements wrought by 20 years of continuous progress.
L-R: Regional councillor Bart Maves, who at the time of the NOTL Campus opening in 1998 was MPP for NOTL and Niagara Falls, 1998 Student Administrative Council president Don Woodruff, NC president Dan Patterson and associate vice-president, academic and learner services Dave Taylor, pose with a plaque commemorating the opening of the NOTL Campus opening in 1998.
Representatives from the Niagara College Retirees association, including Mary Hornack, NC’s first ever employee, hired in 1967, also shared in the occasion. Photos of the construction and opening of the campus brought back memories for many, as did a video incorporating news footage from that day showing the evolution of the campus, all the way to the present.
“Our 1998 opening truly was a pivotal moment in the history of Niagara College,” said Patterson. “It thrust us on the post-secondary stage as an up-and coming-school, which would quickly gain us a reputation as top notch.”
The original $33 million campus has steadily transformed into one of Canada’s most unique learning facilities. Patterson noted that the college’s pre-emptive spirit has led to the campus being home to Canada’s first Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery and Teaching Distillery, as well as world-leading programs like Commercial Cannabis Production, Commercial Beekeeping, and Culinary Innovation and Food Technology.
The campus has grown in that time too, from an initial body of just over 1,500 students in 1998 to over 4,600 in 2018.
“I would challenge anyone to find a more unique learning environment than this beautiful campus,” added Taylor.
New logo, new cake, same President. Twenty years ago today, we opened our #niagaraonthelake campus; an unforgettable project for President Patterson, seen here with @bartmaves, Don Woodruff and Dave Taylor. #niagaracollege pic.twitter.com/2z2aJJYMGl
— Niagara College (@niagaracollege) October 22, 2018
