About Vanier
Vanier College is a publicly-funded English language CEGEP located in Montreal. Named in honour of General Georges P. Vanier, a Canadian soldier, diplomat and former Governor General of Canada, Vanier College opened its doors on September 8, 1970 welcoming close to 1,400 students in its first cohort.
As a college, we value education as a transformative process through which students engage in achieving their potential. Deeply anchored in our local and broader community, Vanier has long been a site of rich learning, cultural diversity and growth. The openness to others and inclusive and welcoming environment found at Vanier are fundamental to our mission.
We believe in and cultivate:
- Creativity, critical thinking and excellence
- Accessibility, inclusiveness and diversity
- Lifelong learning and continuous improvement for all
- Commitment, community engagement and openness to the world
We believe in and strive for:
- Respect, integrity and responsibility toward self, other and the environment
- Cooperation, communication, transparency and accountability
- Fairness and equity
Mission
To provide a life-enriching learning experience that prepares students to succeed academically and professionally as engaged citizens of the world.
Values
Vanier College will be renowned and chosen for excellence, accessibility and inclusivity in education, achieved through innovative and effective practices, student engagement and a creative, committed college community.
Land acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the place in which we work and study is situated within the traditional unceded lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) peoples, part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. There is also a strong historic presence of Anishinaabe peoples in what is now known as the Greater Montreal area. Tio’tia:ke, or Montreal, has also long been, and continues to be, a gathering place for many First Peoples from all directions. We honour and thank the traditional custodians of this land and strive to work for the success of future generations.
Historical timeline
1847
A small group of nuns (Soeurs Marianites) were sent to Canada to create an educational institution for girls in the small village of Saint-Laurent. Their first school was named Maison Sainte-Marie. This school, once located on the grounds of Vanier's E Building, would eventually evolve into two large institutions: Pensionnat Notre-Dame-des-Anges (Convent of Our Lady of Angels) and Collège Basile-Moreau.
1897
The convent had grown considerably. With a wing added to the left of the Académie Sainte-Marie (chapel) in 1889, the entire facility was renamed Pensionnat Notre-Dame-des-Anges. The above structure includes what we now call the C Building (left) the center chapel (now the F Building) and the Continuing Education Center or E Building on the right.
1920
In this location, the sisters maintained a mini-farm for growing food which also included a chicken house and even a modern dairy operation.
1933
In 1933, the Sisters of Sainte-Croix created a second academic institution called Collège Basile-Moreau. It was first housed in some existing locations and then expanded considerably in the 1940s and 1950s.
1955
The new addition of what we call A building was originally called Collège Basile-Moreau, named after the founder of the Sisters of Sainte-Croix. This photo taken between 1955-57 shows the addition of the A Building on the left hand side. The old F Building visible at the end of the road was torn down and replaced with our much more modern F Building in the early 1960s.
1970
Here's an aerial view of the campus taken in the early 1960's just prior to the College's inception in 1970. Notice the new F Building (in the centre with the black roof) as well as the absence of the Sports Complex on the left side and the N Building on the far right.
2000s
The front of our campus as it appears today. From left to right are the B, C and F Buildings.