History

From the time of its first campus affectionately known as 'the barn', to today's high-tech and environmentally-friendly additions, Mount Royal has embraced change in order to meet the needs of the people and community it serves. We've expanded our facilities and programs since our founding in 1910, but our purpose remains the same — to provide personalized learning that fosters the success and satisfaction of our students.

Milestones

1910

On Dec. 16, Mount Royal College, named for a prestigious new residential development in Calgary, is granted a charter from the Alberta government.
Rev. Dr. George William Kerby, a Methodist minister, becomes the first principal of the private Methodist institution.

1911

On Sept. 5 at the corner of 7 Ave. and 11 St. SW, in downtown Calgary, Mount Royal opens its doors for a reception and open house.
On Sept. 7 classes officially began. The total enrollment for 1911/12 was 179 students.
The College offers primary and secondary schooling, including courses in commercial and stenographic work, music, fine arts, household arts and physical culture.

1914

Start of the First World War. A red cross was added to the roll of honour beside the names of 16 students who did not return from the war.

1925

Mount Royal becomes a secondary school of the United Church of Canada.

1931

Mount Royal becomes a junior college affiliated with the University of Alberta. It begins offering first-year university transfer courses. The primary school is discontinued and enrolment rises to 382.

1942

At the age of 82, George W. Kerby retires as principal of Mount Royal and Rev. Dr. John Garden succeeds him. Dr. Kerby dies two years later.

1944

An amendment to the junior college charter enables the College to begin offering engineering courses.

1945

Veterans fill Mount Royal's classrooms and Junior College affiliations are extended to American universities — including Oklahoma's petroleum engineering program.

1948

Mount Royal's first adult evening and continuing education programs start.

1949

The Kerby Memorial Building and the Dr. G.D. Stanley Gymnasium are completed.
The Mount Royal Conservatory senior symphony is disbanded to join the Calgary Symphony Orchestra, today's Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

1956

The Business Administration Department of the Mount Royal Junior College is established.

1959

Rev. Dr. W.J. Collett becomes principal of Mount Royal.

1960

The Reflector, the independent newspaper of Mount Royal's student body, is established.

1961

The Kerby Memorial Building is remodeled and a new wing is added. The new addition includes a snack bar, canteen, library, classrooms, science rooms and a student lounge.

1965

When enrolment reaches capacity in 1964, the campaign for a new Lincoln Park campus begins. Mount Royal competes with the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede for the land, the site of an abandoned Second World War airbase on the southwest outskirts of Calgary.

1966

On Aug. 30 the provincial government passes the Mount Royal College Act, making us a public college.

1967

The two-year Nursing diploma program begins, the first diploma-based nursing program in Canada.

1968

Dr. Walter B. Pentz becomes the president of Mount Royal College.
The Students' Association of Mount Royal College (SAMRC) is incorporated.

1972

Mount Royal's main campus relocates to Lincoln Park.

1976

Douglas M. Lauchlan becomes president of Mount Royal. 

1980

Dr. Donald N. Baker becomes president of Mount Royal.

1981

Nine years after the move to Lincoln Park, Mount Royal re-establishes its presence in the city core with satellite campuses.

1989

A $73-million facility expansion is completed and Mount Royal Student Residence, East Court, originally built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, opens.
Thomas L. Wood is appointed president of the College.

1990

City Centre Campus opens in downtown Calgary.

1991

The Mount Royal College Foundation, which encourages and supports donor investment in students, is established.

1995

Canada's first two applied baccalaureate degree programs are introduced to Mount Royal College.

1996

The first Morningside Music Bridge international summer school music program is offered by the Conservatory.

1997

Course delivery via the Internet begins with Forensic Health Studies.

1999

Mount Royal College opens its third campus, the Centre for Complementary Health Education, on the site of the former Holy Cross Hospital.
The athletic program receives the inaugural Canadian Colleges Athletic Association Supremacy Award for 25 years of excellence.

2000

Credit enrolment in the fall semester tops 10,000 for the first time.
The men's soccer team wins the Alberta College's Athletic Conference Championship for the ninth consecutive season.

2001

The Mount Royal women's soccer team wins their fifth consecutive Alberta College Athletic Conference title.

2002

The Mount Royal Recreation facility and the East A buildings open. A $5 million donation establishes the Bissett School of Business in honour of David and Leslie Bissett one of Calgary’s most influential businessmen and dedicated philanthropists.

2003

The Bissett School of Business moves to the new East B building.
The men's and women's golf teams win the Alberta College Athletic Conference titles.

2004

The Centre for Communications Studies officially opens and becomes the most advanced communications training facility in Canada.

2005

Construction begins on the new Learning Centre, a high-tech, environmentally-friendly learning facility to be completed in 2006.
The Bachelor of Applied Nonprofit Studies graduates its first class.

2006

David Bissett and his wife Leslie donate an additional $7 million to Mount Royal’s Bissett School of Business. Their combined gifts equal an unprecedented $12 million, the largest individual gift to a Canadian college or technical institute.
Mount Royal’s first endowed chair — named for former Alberta premier Ralph Klein — is established in the Faculty of Communication Studies.
The Bridge to Canadian Nursing Program, which trains internationally-educated nurses for employment in the Canadian health care system, is launched.
The Centre for Continuous Learning opens. The new high-tech, environmentally friendly building is given gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

2007

Mount Royal launches its first independent baccalaureate degree — the Bachelor of Nursing.
The Iniskim Centre, designed to foster academic success for Aboriginal students and increase awareness, opens at Mount Royal.
Former Alberta premier Ralph Klein begins his duties as the first endowed chair in the Faculty of Communication Studies.

2008

Five more baccalaureate degrees start in September — Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts — Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Communication, Bachelor of Science.

2009

The June 5 Convocation includes the first 29 graduates of Mount Royal’s own bachelor’s degrees.
Mount Royal becomes Mount Royal University. On Sept. 3, the Government of Alberta, on the advice of Minister of Advanced Education and Technology Doug Horner, grants Mount Royal the right to use the name university.
Mount Royal's seventh baccalaureate degree — Bachelor of Computer Information Systems — starts in September.

Mount Royal's acceptance as a member of The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) — is announced in November.
 

2010

Mount Royal unveils a new logo.

2011

Mount Royal's eighth baccalaureate degree — Bachelor of Education, Elementary — is announced in February.
Mount Royal's ninth baccalaureate degree — Bachelor of Midwifery — is announced in May. test