Take a Trip Down Memory Lane

Northwestern Polytechnic’s story has been written in time. Our identity today is very much a product of the great milestones achieved over the years. 

1948 (FV) The Department of Agriculture was looking to build a college in the Peace Region. Fairview was the ideal candidate, but the lack of a water supply was hindering the process. To overcome this obstacle, the current Mayor formed a committee to raise money to upgrade the water supply. They raised $50,000 in a short period of time.
1949 (FV) Burns and Dutton of Calgary was hired to construct a college in Fairview.
1951 (FV) Opened as the Fairview School of Agriculture and Home Economics.
1951 (FV) Mr. J.E. Hawker was appointed as the first principal, serving until 1956.
1953 (FV) First graduating class.
1956 (FV) Mr. Peter Jamieson was appointed as principal, serving until 1958.
1958 (FV) Fire broke out in the mechanics building and gymnasium; no one was injured, but both buildings were destroyed. The future of the college was uncertain, with proposals coming for other uses of the college land.
1960 (FV) College was reopened following a huge public outcry.
1960 (FV) V.W. Osbaldeston was the principal following the fire.
1962 (FV) The new mechanics building was constructed.
1964 (FV) The new gymnasium was completed.
1974 (FV) Western Canada's first Animal Health Technologist program began here.
1978 (FV) Renamed Fairview College.
1978 (FV) Dr. Fred Speckeen was named the first president of the Fairview College, serving until 1984.
1978 (FV) Obtained full status as a Board- governed institution.
1978 (FV) Mr. Ian Macdonald was appointed as Chair of the College's first Board of Governors, serving for 6 years.
1981 (FV) The Tatawasin and Mootchigan dormitories were constructed.
1987 (FV) Mr. Ian Macdonald returned for a second term as Chair of the Board of Governors at the request of the Minister of Advanced Education, becoming the longest serving board Chair in the history of Alberta's college system.
1988 (FV) Mr. Fred Trotter was named President, serving until 1997.
1991 (FV) The Dr. Fred Speckeen Theatre opened its doors.
1999 (FV) Mr. Daniel Dunwoody is named President, serving until 2004.
2003 (FV) Fairview College and NAIT announce a partnership to enhance post-secondary education in Northwestern Alberta.
2003 (FV) Fairview College joins up with international ed2go to expand their online presence.
2004 (FV) Mr. John Campbell is appointed the new Dean for Northwest NAIT.
October 1951 (FV) 51 students registered in the inaugural year; 36 in agriculture and 15 in home economics.
March 1956 (GP) The first official request for a post secondary institution in the Peace River country was initiated.
April 1958 (GP) The Public Junior Colleges Act was passed by the Alberta government.
March 1965 (GP) Organizational meeting of the Provisional Junior College Board.
May 1965 (GP) Government of Alberta enacted order-in-council No. 809 incorporating Grande Prairie Junior College.
August 1965 (GP) Henry Anderson appointed for one year as Dean of Grande Prairie Junior College.
May 1966 (GP) First complete staff hired.
September 1966 (GP) 69 full-time students registered for inaugural year of GPJC. A total of 119 students showed up for the first day of classes!
23 November 1966 (GP) Official inaugural ceremonies, Grande Prairie Junior College.
June 1968 (GP) Board established a building committee to design a broad plan for college campus.
May 1969 (GP) Douglas J. Cardinal, architect, was hired to prepare a master plan of campus development for board approval. See also: Douglas Cardinal Biography
August 1970 (GP) College renamed Grande Prairie Regional College.
10 May 1971 (GP) Sod turned for new college.
January 1973 (GP) Construction began on Cardinal building.
September 1974 (GP) Classes began in new facility.
June 1976 (GP) GPRC Theatre opened.
August 1981 (GP) Dorothy Rowles appointed new president of GPRC.
September 1983 (GP) New college residence, Anderson Hall, ready for student occupancy.
July 1985 (GP) Field, Field, and Field architects hired to design college expansion.
June 1990 (GP) Degree-granting status actively sought by GPRC.
May 1991 (FV) Site dedicated for the new Fairview College & Community Cultural & Recreational Centre.
August 1991 (GP) William McCracken appointed president of GPRC.
November 1991 (GP) Official opening of Phase II, GPRC.
1991/92 (GP) 25th anniversary of GPRC.
August 1995 (GP) Gordon Gilgan appointed president of GPRC.
September 1995 (GP) GPRC offers its first degree, Bachelor of Applied Forest Resource Management
July 1997 (GP) Tom Thompson appointed president of GPRC.
September 2000 (GP) First on-campus Friendship Centre opened at GPRC.
July 2001 (GP) Al Bromling appointed president of GPRC.
September 2001 (GP) Student Village residence officially opens first pod.
July 2002 (GP) James Henderson appointed president of GPRC.
2003-2004 (FV) The Tatawasin and Mootchigan dormitories were torn down as the new fourplex residences were constructed.
2003-2004 (FV) The Fitness Centre was upgraded with a new cardio room and new weight equipment.
2003-2004 (FV) In partnership with the Alberta Online Consortium Career Technology Studies- Joint Learning Initiative, the College was one of 20 finalists (out of 900 global applicants), for the "Stockholm Awards" in Sweden. The award is for advancing electronic education, as developed under the Warehousing program.
February 2004 (GP) College theatre renamed in honour of Douglas J. Cardinal.
May 2004 (FV) Fairview College Legacy House Museum was announced, as a means to preserve the history of the college for the future.
May 2004 (FV) The Lasting Legacy Project was announced as a way to recognize those who've made exceptional contributions to the college, by naming rooms and buildings in their honour, with walnut & zinc plaques.
21 June 2004 (FV) The Alberta Lieutenant Governor "disestablishes" Fairview College and "dissolves" the Board of Governors, in anticipation of the merger with NAIT.
30 June 2004 (FV) Fairview College and NAIT officially become one organization, with NAIT assuming administrative responsibility for the Fairview Campuses in High Level, La Crete, Peace River, Fairview, Grande Prairie, and St. Albert.
April 2007 (GP) GPRC's Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI) is established
May 2007 (GP) Don Gnatiuk appointed President and CEO.
September 2008 (GP) GPRC designated a Comprehensive Community College.
July 2009 (FV) GPRC takes over the administration of Fairview College from NAIT, and the College is renamed GPRC Fairview College Campus.
November 2011 (FV) The 60th anniversary of Fairview College was celebrated with a pleasing attendance, and especially large numbers of alumni from the first graduating classes.
November 2011 (GP) The main road through Grande Prairie Campus named in honour of Dr Henry Anderson.
November 2011 (GP) Grande Prairie campus' Anderson Hall Residence is demolished.
June 2012 (GP) Nursing SIM lab opened, providing the opportunity to learn nursing skills in a simulated situation prior to contact with human patients.
September 2012 (FV) Shell Canada donates equipment and buildings to GPRC's Fairview Campus for the Shell Canada Learning Lab, providing an authentic training experience for students pursuing oil & gas careers.
September 2012 Ribbon cutting ceremony for GPRC's National Bee Diagnostic Centre in Beaverlodge.
September 2012 (GP) Master of Social Work program offered at Grande Prairie Campus in collaboration with the University of Calgary.
January 2013 (GP) President and CEO Don Gnatiuk honoured with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
January 2013 (GP) GPRC achieves eligibility to apply for research funds from the SSHRC, opening the door for a broad range of applied academic research at the College.
04 March 2013 (FV) Classes for the Welder-Wire Process Operator apprenticeship program begin for the first time in Alberta at GPRC Fairview Campus.
April 2013 GPRC's National Bee Diagnostic Centre begins accepting samples for diagnosis.
June 2013 (GP) GPRC is awarded the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's 2013 Prix du XXe Siècle for the Cardinal architecture of the Grande Prairie Campus building.
26 June 2013 (FV) Reunion of the Fairview School of Agriculture and Home Economics, classes of 1951 through 1954 held at GPRC Fairview Campus.
02 December 2019 Dr. Robert W. Murray is appointed President and CEO.
20 November 2020 (GP) Evaskevich Centre for Health Research and Innovation is announced.
17 March 2021 Dr. Glenn Feltham is appointed Acting President and CEO.
02 November 2021 Mr. Justin Kohlman is appointed GPRC’s 10th President and CEO.
08 December 2021 Polytechnic transition and new name, Northwestern Polytechnic, approved by the Provincial Government.
26 July 2023 Vanessa Sheane is appointed Acting President and CEO.
14 November 2023 Vanessa Sheane is appointed NWP's 11th President and CEO.
June 2024 (FV) The Animal Health Technology program is renamed to Veterinary Technology.