Langara’s Story

49 years in the making. 

Did you know that many of Langara’s programs started at the then Vancouver City College (VCC) King Edward campus? Our journey on 49th Avenue started in 1970, but our story started long before then with strong connections to the Vancouver School Board and VCC. Take a trip through our journey over the past 49 years. The highlights below are only a small part of Langara’s story. Every Langaran has their own unique story to share, meet some of your fellow Langarans and share yours.

1900

Our History

1905

Langara's roots trace back to the King Edward High School, located at Oak and West 12th Ave. King Edward was Vancouver's first and only secondary school until 1925.

1909

Vancouver School Board (VSB) expands its adult education activities by starting night school classes at King Edward High School.

1963

The King Edward Senior Matriculation and Continuing Education Centre (renamed King Edward High School in 1962) offered a number of courses, including a telecommunications class using what was then considered state-of-the-art-technology.

1965

VSB establishes BC's first community college - Vancouver City College. Classes are offered at King Edward Centre, our first home. VCC brought together the Vancouver Vocational Institute, the Vancouver School of Art, the Vancouver School Board’s Night School Program, and the King Edward Senior Matriculation and Continuing Education Centre.

1965

A new campus is in the works as VSB purchases 20 acres of land from the Canadian Pacific Railway to build the new VCC Langara campus.

1965

Langara's theatre training program, Studio 58 begins at VCC King Edward Centre. Original founder Antony Holland would continue as Artistic Director until 1985.

1970

1970

Langara's journey on 49th begins. The VCC Langara campus opens at a cost of $5.3 million for the building and another $1.5 million for furniture and fittings (about $19 per square foot). VCC's first principal Mr J.D. Newberry welcomes over 4,700 students to campus.

October 1970

To celebrate the opening of the new campus, students, teachers, and administrators walk or drive from the King Edward Centre to VCC Langara, a historical event coined as 'The Great Trek'.

Nina Laflamme

I will always remember my experience with Langara as a flourishment of passion. During the photography program, I was given such infinite opportunities to excel…

Read More

1970

Athletics starts at VCC Langara with men's & women's soccer teams forming the Langara Falcons. Over the past 49 years, the Falcons have racked up 25 CCAA National and 172 provincial championship titles.

1971

VCC Langara celebrates its first cohort of graduates. Most students started their studies at VCC King Edward Centre.

1973

A fire destroys VCC King Edward Centre. A low stone wall from the original King Edward site still stands today outside VGH on Oak and 12th as a reminder of its place in history.

1974

Falcons mens basketball wins first championship.

1974

Vancouver City College changes its name to Vancouver Community College (VCC) and becomes a college independent of VSB.

1980

1980

The tradition of cake at Langara begins. A cake cutting ceremony launches a 10-day celebration of Langara campus' tenth birthday.

1981

VCC Langara establishes the Co-op Education Program, the first of its kind in BC. The program continues today, providing practical experience to help students launch their careers.

1983

VCC Langara offers its first international field school to Latin America.

1983

The Langara Falcons women's basketball team wins the national championship.

1989

Langara's Publishing program releases the first issue of Pacific Rim Magazine.

1990

1994

Langara becomes an independent public college, separate from VCC. Linda Holmes becomes the College's first president & CEO.

1997

The B Building, a new classroom and office facility, opens on campus.

1997

Continuing education grows at the College with the creation of Langara Continuing Studies. Until 1997, all continuing education courses were offered by VCC.

49 Facts — NO. 34

Langara played host to a TEDx conference in November 2011.

1998

Biology instructor, Mike Holmwood, is named the Outstanding Community College Professor of the Year by the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE).

1998 & 1999

The Langara Falcons men's basketball team is crowned back-to-back CCAA national champions.

2000

2003

Langara offers its first online career program, Nutrition & Food Service Management Diploma, the first of its kind in Canada.

2007

The campus continues to grow as Langara opens the LEED Gold Certified Library building.

Deland Jessop

Current School of Management Instructor My favourite memory is about a student in one of my presentation skills classes.

Read More

2007

Langara holds its first Outstanding Alumni Awards to celebrate the achievements of alumni. The inaugural OAA recipients are Lucy Barney, Laurie Lowes, Ajay Patel, and Richard Parent.

2008

Baccaleureate degrees are awarded for the first time in Nursing and Business Administration.

2008

Dr. David Ross is appointed as Langara's second president & CEO.

2009

The new Langara Students' Union and renovated C Building open on campus.

2009

Langara partners with BC Hydro to develop an energy management and sustainability plan to improve building energy efficiency.

2010

2010

The Gathering Space opens at Langara, providing a environment for Aboriginal students to connect while on campus. The Gathering Space is also home to a counsellor and Elder in Residence.

2010

Langara College partners with Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as a Community Contributor. The College hosts an Olympic Torch Relay celebration.

October 2010

Langara celebrates 40 remarkable years on 49th avenue with an on-campus party for the community and an alumni reception.

2012

The Langara Falcons men's basketball team is ranked #1 in Canada.

2012

Langara re-opens its nursing simulation centre, home to 27 electric beds equipped with oxygen, air, and more, to mimic real hospital situations.

2012

Baccaleureate degrees are awarded for the first time in Recreation Management.

2012

Langara is the first college to offer bioinformatics programming in Western Canada.

2012

Langara launches the Registered Massage Therapy Program - the first of its kind to be offered at a public post-secondary institution.

2013

Langara honours its first emeritus faculty and staff: Dean of Continuing Studies, Doug Soo, Studio 58 Founder Antony Holland, and biology instructor Mike Holmwood.

2014

Studio 58 founder and award-winning thespian Antony Holland receives the Order of Canada for his lifetime service to theatrical arts. Anne Lippert, Chair of Langara's Board of Governors, is also honoured with the Order of British Columbia.

Gladys Ka Hei Lai

I graduated from the Langara BSN program in December 2008. I started my career at VGH on a high…

Read More

January 2014

Dr. Lane Trotter joins Langara as its third president and CEO. As part of the installation ceremony, President Trotter receives the Musqueam name 'Takaya', which means wolf.

2014

Langara celebrates its 20th year as an independent public college.

2015

Langara's Journalism department, the oldest in Western Canada, celebrates its 50th anniversary with a series of events including a panel with some of Vancouver's key media leaders. .

September 2015

Studio 58 celebrates its 50th Anniversary with Mayor Gregor Robertson officially proclaiming September 12, 2015, as Studio 58 Day in the City of Vancouver.

January 2015

Langara officially unveils its Coat of Arms which was designed in part by members of the Langara community. The ceremony is attended by his Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, who bestows arms on the College.

Play

2016

Langara's Aboriginal Studies Department, in partnership with the Fine Arts Department, offers a unique Aboriginal reconciliation carving series open to all students.

2016

Langara's Library and Information Technology program celebrates its 50th anniversary.

2016

Langara was given the name snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ by the Musqueam people, which means “house of teachings” in the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language. Langara is the first public post-secondary institution in BC to receive this honour.

October 2016

Langara opens the Science & Technology Building. The building would later receive Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold status in 2017 as well as the Illumination Merit Award.

2017

Langara launches the India Connect Program offering students the opportunity to gain international work experience.

May 2018

The Langara School of Management celebrates the 10th anniversary of the first graduating class of the Bachelor of Business Administration program.

September 2018

A house post is raised to welcome all visitors to the traditional unceded territory of the Musqueam People on which Langara resides.

Explore Stories from the Community