Since 1903.
We may all know that phrase from the tail-end of our jingle, but it’s easy to forget the weight it carries. That is 120 years of education that spans World Wars, the birth of digital technology and the internet, and countless trends being born and fading away in time. Through it all, Sprott Shaw College has remained and thrived. We are proud of our history and the tens of thousands of alumni representing our college in their local communities. On August 17th, 2023, we threw a celebration at every Sprott Shaw campus in honour of our 120th anniversary, our history, and the people that make it all possible.
Celebrating 120 Years of Education
Food, trivia, campus tours, and fun were had with hundreds of students, alumni, staff, friends, and family in attendance. After an overview of Sprott Shaw’s storied history, lucky trivia winners went home with exciting door prizes such as Amazon gift cards and gift baskets. Special guests, community leaders, and members of government were also in attendance, including the Mayors of Abbotsford, Nanaimo, Surrey, and Burnaby, to name a few. We had local radio favourites such as Z95.3 and Virgin Radio in attendance at the Surrey and Vancouver campuses respectively, and a performance by First Nations dancers at the Chilliwack campus made for a perfect way to kick off the event. Kids in attendance had a great time partaking in the carnival-style games at the Abbotsford campus, winning plenty of candies and treats along the way.
These are just a few of the highlights of our celebrations across the province; we wanted to thank everyone at all our campuses for attending and making this afternoon special, including our incredible staff that made this all possible.
An Ever-Evolving History
Sprott Shaw College’s history is one of always evolving, adapting, and growing to meet the changing needs of British Columbia’s workforce. During times of war, we taught aviation to train pilots. After the war, we designed programs to retrain military personnel and build careers. When radio’s popularity exploded, Sprott Shaw offered training in broadcasting, launching the career of famous radio personality Jack Cullen. In modern days, we increasingly deliver programs online to provide extra flexibility for the hectic schedules of the digital age. Whether it be becoming the first private college to offer a Practical Nursing program, or expanding into high-demand industries such as Early Childhood Education, our college’s adaptability has played a defining role throughout our history, and will continue to do so in our future.
Our Purpose
Our college’s purpose statement is:
Enriching lives and bettering communities by training people today for the careers of tomorrow.
With well over a century of educating students and thousands graduating yearly across BC, we believe we deliver on our purpose statement. Sprott Shaw strives to design programs that address the needs of the community, and the impact of this effort is felt through our graduates every day. Thank you to all students and staff, past and present, for making Sprott Shaw College an institution to be proud of.
Here’s to 120 years, and to many more to come!
