ARCHIVES AND COLLEGE DOCUMENTS CONESTOGA COI? " n 1965,when William G. Davis, as Minister of Education, announced Ontario's I intention to establish a system of colleges of applied arts and technology, he spoke of creating a new level and type of education. ..providing not only an equality of opportunity to all sectors ofourpopulation, but thefullest development ofeach individual to the best ofthat individual's ability. In 1967, a small but important meeting in Stratford resulted in a giant step being taken to make that vision a reality for the people of mid- western Ontario. There, a college was established to serveWaterloo, Wellington, Perth and Huron counties — Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology. Now, in what seems like the blink of an eye, 25 years have passed. From humble beginnings at Preston High School and muddy fields at Doon, Conestoga has grown to become a permanent and vital educational presence, fulfilling the promise of William Daws’ words. As well, Conestoga has effectively met the mandate originally given to Ontario’s colleges: "to provide opportunityforfull-time and part- time students. in day and evening courses, and planned to meet the relevant needs ofall adults within a community, at all socio- economic levels, ofall kinds of interests and aptitudes, and at all stages ofeducational achievement ’, but also keeping in mind that " Ontario'sfuture growth and well-being of its people depend upon our continued ability to improve our competitive position ... ". This book highlights the growth and achievements of Conestoga, a college well- prepared to face the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 with funding from Conestoga College https://archive.org/details/twentyfiveyearsoOOunse CONESTOGA COLLEGE SPECIAL THANKS... That this book was essentially a student project deserves special recognition. Because this is a book, it features the quality of skills of the journalism and graphic design students. However, they represent the thousands of graduates in Health Sciences, Business, Technology, Trades and Apprenticeship and Applied Arts who, over the past 25 years, have done themselves and the College proud, and have made a significant contribution to the economic and social well-being of our society. We wish to give well-deserved credit to Dean Robinson, Faculty, Journalism program, and to Matt Miller, Faculty, Graphic Design and Advertising program, who volunteered their time and the students of their programs to produce the stories and design for this book. Also, special acknowledgement needs to be given to the students themselves. With Dean's encouragement, support and occasional push, the journalism students researched, wrote, edited, found characters from the past and present, from Conestoga to California. With Matt's mentorship, the graphic design student sifted through photos from the 60's to the 90's , churned through design options , bug-eyed themselves on the computer until the overall look was right — their dedication to professionalism, their energy and persistence, interest and intensity was critical to the production of this book. The quality of the stories and the overall design and appearance speaks for itself. Dean Robinson's and Matt Miller's dedication to the professionalism of their students and personal time and energy were the main driving force behind the completion of this book. John MacKenzie Vice-President, Student Development and Human Resources May FOREWORD Monica Himmelman INTRODUCTION As founding president of the alumni association, it is an honor to Through 25 years Conestoga College has been many things. provide the foreword for this book — which commemorates the Mandates and mortar. Curriculum and context. Portables and 25th anniversary of Conestoga College. programs. Schools and rules. Deans and deficits. Budgets and boards. Hirings and firings. Principals and principles. It has been It has been my privilege and good fortune to have had a continued re-thought, re-structured and re-shaped. It has been enlarged, and varied connection with Conestoga College. As a graduating extended and expanded. It has been down-sized and consolidated. student from the social services program in 1970, I saw a small, informal learning centre which operated largely on goodwill and At times it was like a wayward child, a street kid in a gravel pit. At flexibility. other times it has been a guiding light, a leading edge, the way of the future. Its growing pains have not been a surprise, nor have Over the years we have grown, both physically and structurally, they been unusual. Conestoga was, after all, part of an adding programs as the needs of the community dictated. Although unprecedented step in Ontario education, part of a wave of we have expanded our services and buildings (I remember walking community colleges that added a new dimension to the delivery of across muddy planks to a portable classroom for my admissions applied arts and technology training in this province. Some interview — somehow that back parking lot looks strangely the predicted greatness, others talked of folly. Indeed, by some same these days) I believe that the commitment to students and standards, there has been a measure of both. community has remained true. Through it all, the College has maintained and fostered its ties to Continued hard work by dedicated, knowledgeable staff, and by the community, always listening, sometimes leading. And with and very capable and willing volunteers, have proven to be a winning for that community it has produced highly skilled, highly combination. It is truly a time for all of us to reflect and feel good motivated, highly employable people. A good number of those about our association with this unique college. people are now College employees — in administration, faculty and support staff — and the children of many more are Conestoga The future shines brightly on the horizon. As we embark on students. Few lives in any Ontario community have not in some another quarter century of learning, Conestoga College is staying way been affected by the community college system. on the leading edge. We continue to identify and plan for the many challenges facing the community. Our graduates will continue to This book is a celebration of all the people who have been and are be respected and sought-after ambassadors of the excellence — now associated with Conestoga College. It is not a definitive work, both technologically and academically — which reflects their years but a reflection — by Conestoga people, about Conestoga people. at Conestoga College. In some ways, it’s a toast to the future. It is my sincere hope that the strong network of alumni which has Dean Robinson started to build will continue to gain strength and make a very Faculty, Journalism May 1992 important connection between our past and our vision of the future. Monica Himmelman Diploma, Applied Arts (Social Services) 1970 21 1967-1992 CONTENTS CREDITS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS From Gravel Pit to Grand 5 Access with Success 66 Publication Director - John MacKenzie, College administration Editor - Dean Robinson, College faculty, Journalism A Centennial Challenge 8 To Your Health! 69 Co-ordinating Assistant - TinaTschanz, College administration Design Co-ordinator - Matt Miller, College faculty, Graphic Board of Governors 11 Taking Care of Business 73 Design and Advertising Production Co-ordinator - John Sawicki, College communications From the Ground Up 13 Enjoying the Dividends 75 Editorial Assistants (Conestoga College Journalism students) - Ken Cenerelli, M. L. Skomyak, Jamie Slater Transcending 16 Technically Speaking Researchers and Writers (Conestoga College Journalism students and graduates) - Troy Bridgeman, Paul Campbell, Ken Significant Others 19 Sparks of Innovation 83 Cenerelli, Garry Erb, Jennifer Goodhand, Cara-Mae D. Hackett, Sherrianne Hargreaves, Daniel Harrison, Nate Hendley, Heather Something Special 23 Designing a Future 87 Ibbotson, Rob Maddox, John Marshall, Lyn McGinnis, Douglas Reeve, K. Stephen Ross, Sandra Schuett, M. L. Skornyak, Jamie The Walker and the Wagon 25 On Air! 91 Slater, Neil Wells, Mark Wiese, Judy Willan Layout and Design - Lisa Schropp, Conestoga College Graphic A Walk and Three Strikes 29 Seasons of Sweat 95 Design and Advertising graduate History Resource Group (Conestoga College administration, Reaching Out 35 At Home Away from Home 98 faculty, staff) - Chris Burgess, Don Chester, Bill Cleminson, Fraser Cooper, Jill Douglas, Ron Dummer, Lorraine Gamer, Gord Griggs, Getting Physical 39 It’s the Law 1 0 Bob Hays, Jane Huffman, Harvey Hutton, Sherley Loucks, Mary Love, John MacKenzie, Lesley McConville, Matt Miller, Barry A View from the Library 43 Woodworks 105 Milner, Fred Mott, David Putt, MacRostance, Vicki Russell, Peter Schlei, Paul Scott, Marilew Smart, Delores Smith, Edith Torbay, Judy Gentle Man, Tough Job 44 A Program that Schmecks 1 09 Tremblay, Carol Trotter, Mary Wright, Dan Young. Thanks to Veronica Kerr, former chair of the board of governors, for Becoming Gruntled 47 Warm Hearts, Helping Hands 1 1 her research of the College’s formative years and for her help with that part of the manuscript. And to John Brown, former faculty Not Your Average Joe 50 In Whose Name... 117 member, for his permission to reprint sketches of College personnel. And especially to all those who provided suggestions, Top Seed 52 Convocation at Conestoga 1 23 encouragement, information and photographs, and read the original draft in an effort to weed out errors misconceptions. and More than Child’s Play 55 The End of the Beginning 1 25 Printing - Allprint Company Limited, Kitchener Published by Conestoga College 1992 Writing to Express 59 The Executive 1 28 The Global Classroom 61 Trading Up 63 OVERVIEW FROM GRAVEL PIT TO GRAND Heather Ibbotson ouffants and bellbottoms. Snow and sub-zero In 1965, William G. Davis, Ontario’s minister of education, introduced Bill 153 to the legislature. When passed, the bill enacted suits. temperatures. Sideburns and Dirt and the formation of colleges of applied arts and technology and was, in effect, the birth certificate for Conestoga College.