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1947 - 1972

  • After pausing Vancouver College’s V.C. Annual for some years owing to war difficulties, this publication resumes and is re-branded as the Collegian yearbook. The first volume, with Brother G. J. Power as its moderator, is dedicated to the young men who sacrificed their lives in World War II.

    Vancouver College hires Gordon Olson as a part-time teacher to lead and revitalize the band program. Mr. Olson becomes a full-time teacher in 1979 and 10 years later, after serving the school for 42 years, Gordon retires and is succeeded by his son Larry (VC 1977). Over the years, VC’s bands have won many awards, launched many careers, and continue to provide musical enjoyment for so many.

     

    1947

  • Principal: Br. William C. Penny

     

    1948

  • The inaugural year of the Grade 1 class.

     

    1949

  • Under the leadership of Principal Brother William C. Penny, a prolonged dream is fulfilled with the completion of the gymnasium, which doubled as the school’s auditorium. Prior to “The Alumni Gymnasium”, students used the Boys Scouts’ gymnasium, later called Cartier Hall when purchased by Saints Peter and Paul Parish.

     

    1950

  • Brother Anthony C. O’Grady initiates the first Emerald Gloves boxing tournament in February at Vancouver College (Cartier Hall). Sports columnist Archie McDonald (VC 1955) describes the Emerald Gloves as “one of the best organized youth amateur boxing events in the Pacific Northwest and certainly in Canada.”

     

    1951

  • Basketball legend Bob Pickell (VC 1947) is the first VC alumnus to represent Canada in the Olympic Games, playing on Canada's Basketball teams at both the 1952 Helsinki and 1956 Melbourne games.

    Tennis courts are installed for the first time at Vancouver College, in the area that is now the Elementary playground next to O’Hagan Field.

     

    1952

  • Principal: Br. James C. Bates

     

    1954

  • Vancouver College’s Glee Club teams up with Little Flower Academy for the first time to put on a stage performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance. This joint VC and LFA performance is now an annual tradition for these two schools.

     

    1956

  • Mackin Hall, through the generous financial support of Henry Mackin, is opened to house the new cafeteria, science rooms, and additional classrooms. The Most Reverend William M. Duke, Archbishop of Vancouver, blesses the new building on November 10th.

    The inaugural Archbishops’ Trophy Football game against Notre Dame is held at Empire Stadium on November 11th. His Excellency, Archbishop Duke, and the Most Reverend Martin Johnson, Co-adjutor Archbishop of Vancouver, present the Trophy to College who prevail 38-14. This is the first high school football game ever played at Empire Stadium and the event becomes a yearly Inter High School Football Classic. Six of the Irish athletes who participated in this inaugural game went on to compete in professional sports after graduation.

     

    1957

  • After a 30-year hiatus the Alumni Association is revived with Lou Murphy (VC 1951) as its President and Brother Ron MacKenzie (VC 1950) as the first moderator. Hockey is introduced at Vancouver College, with Hockey Hall of Famer Walter (Babe) Pratt as the coach and his son, Tracy Pratt (VC 1961), a member of this inaugural team. Tracy went on to compete in the NHL, playing for a number of Canadian teams, including the Vancouver Canucks.

     

    1959

  • Principal: Br. F. Rupert Finch

     

    1960

  • The 1961 Fighting Irish football team, coached by Football Hall of Famer Cal Murphy (VC 1950), becomes the only undefeated team in the school’s history.

     

    1961

  • Nichol Hall, named after Monsignor T. M. Nichol, the school’s Chaplain for 40 years, opens and is blessed by Archbishop Johnson on April 19th. Nichol Hall is described as “a modern, three floor structure housing classrooms, a study room, up-to-date Science laboratories, and additional space that could be adapted to a classroom for Grade Thirteen in the event that is needed”.

     

    1964

  • The addition of two floors adjacent to the gymnasium is completed, “enlarging facilities for locker rooms and Glee Club practice rooms”.

    Principal: Br. J. Benedict Clarkson

     

    1966

  • With the 1965 reorganization of the BC curriculum, it becomes increasingly difficult for smaller schools to offer the range of choices proposed. In the Fall of 1967, Grade 11 and 12 students from Little Flower Academy, fondly called Colleyflowers, attend specialist options in Maths, Chemistry, and Physics at Vancouver College.

     

    1967

  • Principal: Br. H. Louis Bucher

     

    1968

  • Michael Kim, in his third of 25 years teaching Grade 7 at Vancouver College, is appointed Grammar School Supervisor, becoming VC’s first non Christian Brother administrator.

     

    1969

  • Vancouver College celebrates its Golden Jubilee with a dinner event at the Hotel Vancouver on February 19th. Alumni, students, families, and friends tour the campus the day before, followed by a thanksgiving Jubilee Mass at Saints Peter and Paul Parish.

    Paul Cote (VC 1961) is the first alumnus to win a medal in Sailing (Soling Class) at the Summer Olympics in Munich.

     

    1972