Photo courtesy KK Law
Today all that is left of the old King Edward
Campus is a low stone wall on the northeast corner of West 12th Ave. and Oak
St.
Originally King Edward High School, the
building gradually morphed into an adult education centre.
In the post-war years, the King Edward Campus
of Vancouver City College (VCC) was an educational hub for returning service
men and women restarting lives interrupted by the Second World War. It was
bursting at the seams and showing its age. Bouncing in the gym often brought
down parts of the ceiling. The playing field doubled as a helicopter landing
pad for next-door neighbour, Vancouver General Hospital. Something more,
something newer, something else was needed.
Then, in the early 1970s a new campus was
built. Originally known as the Langara site of VCC, it was built on Coast
Salish land, bought from the Canadian Pacific Railway. To celebrate the
opening, all involved marched from the old King Edward Campus to the new
Langara site. The newness and sheer room offered students a better environment
in which to learn.
In the intervening years there have been many
changes. Today, Langara sees 22,000 students pass through its halls of learning
each year. Langara looks to Richmond for one eighth of its students.
Wednesday, Oct 10 sees a new trek albeit a
shorter yet still meaningful one.
According to Mark Dawson, public affairs
manager for the post-secondary institution, “Today Langara College launches
Beyond 49, an 18-month long campaign that marks its 49th year of operations on
West 49th Ave. and its 25th anniversary as an independent public college. The campaign is a celebration of
Langara's history, an opportunity to recognize and reconnect with Langarans,
and aims to raise $2.5 million for student scholarships, bursaries, and college
initiatives.”
Dawson says the trek, led by the Coastal
Wolfpack drummers from the Musqueam First Nation, saw over 150 students, staff,
faculty, alumni, retirees, and local dignitaries walk from Cambie St. and 41st
Ave. to the Langara campus on West 49th Ave.
Calling today, “An homage to 1970's 'Great
Trek' in which original Langarans walked from the old King Edward Centre to the
college's current location,” Dawson says the ceremonial lead taken by the
Musqueam drummers was more than symbolic.
Langara has long worked to respect and
welcome Indigenous students. In 2010, the college opened the Gathering Space to
provide an environment for students from First Nations to get together on
campus, as well as being a home to a counsellor and the Elder in Residence.
In 2016, the college was honoured by the
Musqueam Nation with a name which means “house of teachings”
in their language. Langara, originally named
after Spanish Admiral Juan de Lángara, was the first public post-secondary
institution in BC to have an Indigenous name bestowed.
The connection with the Musqueam continues.
Just last month, in Sept. 2018, a house post was raised to welcome all visitors
to the traditional, unceded and ancestral territory of the Musqueam Nation on
which Langara resides.
"Langara has grown and changed in so
many ways over the course of its history. Throughout our 49 years, what hasn't
changed is our commitment to our students and their success," says Dr.
Lane Trotter, president of Langara College.
According to Dawson, “Beyond 49 will include
a number of events over the coming months, and 49 Langarans, a celebration to
recognize the 49 individuals who have had the largest impact on the college and
the communities it serves.” Clickfor more details.
Trotter says, “As amazing as our impact has
already been, Langara is just getting started. The Beyond 49 campaign is about
celebrating all that we have already achieved, and building for our next 49 years."
Dec-14-2018
Jaana is a long time Richmond resident who has been in the newspaper industry for more than 34 years.
An award-winning photographer, Chung has been capturing images of Richmond people, places and events for more than 25 years.
 was an educational hub for returning service
men and women restarting lives interrupted by the Second World War. It was
bursting at the seams and showing its age. Bouncing in the gym often brought
down parts of the ceiling. The playing field doubled as a helicopter landing
pad for next-door neighbour, Vancouver General Hospital. Something more,
something newer, something else was needed.
Then, in the early 1970s a new campus was
built. Originally known as the Langara site of VCC, it was built on Coast
Salish land, bought from the Canadian Pacific Railway. To celebrate the
opening, all involved marched from the old King Edward Campus to the new
Langara site. The newness and sheer room offered students a better environment
in which to learn.
In the intervening years there have been many
changes. Today, Langara sees 22,000 students pass through its halls of learning
each year. Langara looks to Richmond for one eighth of its students.
Wednesday, Oct 10 sees a new trek albeit a
shorter yet still meaningful one.
According to Mark Dawson, public affairs
manager for the post-secondary institution, “Today Langara College launches
Beyond 49, an 18-month long campaign that marks its 49th year of operations on
West 49th Ave. and its 25th anniversary as an independent public college. The campaign is a celebration of
Langara's history, an opportunity to recognize and reconnect with Langarans,
and aims to raise $2.5 million for student scholarships, bursaries, and college
initiatives.”
Dawson says the trek, led by the Coastal
Wolfpack drummers from the Musqueam First Nation, saw over 150 students, staff,
faculty, alumni, retirees, and local dignitaries walk from Cambie St. and 41st
Ave. to the Langara campus on West 49th Ave.
Calling today, “An homage to 1970's 'Great
Trek' in which original Langarans walked from the old King Edward Centre to the
college's current location,” Dawson says the ceremonial lead taken by the
Musqueam drummers was more than symbolic.
Langara has long worked to respect and
welcome Indigenous students. In 2010, the college opened the Gathering Space to
provide an environment for students from First Nations to get together on
campus, as well as being a home to a counsellor and the Elder in Residence.
In 2016, the college was honoured by the
Musqueam Nation with a name which means “house of teachings”
in their language. Langara, originally named
after Spanish Admiral Juan de Lángara, was the first public post-secondary
institution in BC to have an Indigenous name bestowed.
The connection with the Musqueam continues.
Just last month, in Sept. 2018, a house post was raised to welcome all visitors
to the traditional, unceded and ancestral territory of the Musqueam Nation on
which Langara resides.
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