Medicine Hat College is celebrating its 60th anniversary this September after officially opening its doors back in 1965. The college has released historical photographs to celebrate the milestone.--SUPPLIED PHOTOS
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In September 1965, fewer than 100 full-time and 11 part-time students attended the new Medicine Hat Junior College for the first time after it opened its doors in the same building Medicine Hat High School is located now.
At that time the college only offered university transfer programs in subjects that included commerce, household economics, arts, nursing, law and physical education and science.
As well, the college offered transfer programming in nursing as well as pharmacy. Sixty years later MHC is still renowned for its health-care programming and is introducing a new pharmacy technician program this fall.
By 1970, the name junior was dropped and Medicine Hat College began offering certificate and diploma programs now guided by the ‘Colleges Act of Alberta.’ The college also began the construction of its permanent campus located beside the Trans-Canada Highway.
In 1971, the new campus welcomed facility and staff under the new college motto “scientia mentem sustient” meaning “science and knowledge sustain the mind,” and an official coat of arms was designed by the Community Art Club.
By 1977, Medicine Hat College had more than 4,000 students enrolled in community education courses and included new programs open throughout the early 70s, including Nursing, Forest Resource Management and Commercial Cooking.
In 1982 the college would expand its borders after former Medicine Hat mayor and known-businessman Harry Veiner donated land east of Brooks to build a permanent campus that would open in 1990.
Moreover in 1982, the Medicine Hat campus would also officially open its student residences.
The following year in 1983 Medicine Hat College would open the Culture Centre as well as initiate its Adult Basic Education Program.
A year after the Brooks campus opened in 1990, a Child Development Centre was established in 1991.
In 1996, Medicine Hat College made its first presence on the world wide web and launched online services that included program and college information and applications.
During the 90s the college also launched new programs that included Hospitality and Tourism Management, Health Care Aide, Technical Illustrator and Police and Security.
In the new millennium the college officially opened the B Wing and expanded its library in 2003 after an $18-million expansion was announced in 2001. The library would be named after Vera Bracken.
The college’s front foyer, Centennial Hall, was officially opened in 2005, marking MHC’s 40th anniversary, and the F Wing officially opened in 2011.
In 2014 the college opened its visual communications building and launched its centre for innovation in 2023.
Currently the campus welcomes more than 2,000 students annually and offers more than 40 certificate, diploma, degree, university transfer and apprenticeship programs.
College president and CEO Kevin Shufflebotham says the anniversary reflects the thousands of students and staff who worked and attended the college over its years.
“It is an honour to be part of Medicine Hat College’s story. We are grateful to those who have come before us and built a strong foundation for this institution. We are excited to embrace new ideas and possibilities that contribute to the vitality of our communities in the years ahead,” said Shufflebotham.
Looking forward, Medicine Hat College says its committed to providing students new educational opportunities that are “learner focused and regionally aligned,” as well as expanding dual credit opportunities for postsecondary and high-school students.
At the beginning of 2025 Medicine Hat College received its largest donation in history as local philanthropist Bill Yuill and the Yuill Family Foundation gifted $5 million to expand and support health-care education at the college.
“Medicine Hat College will continue to grow and evolve to meet the needs of our region. We invite our community to join us as we come together for a shared future,” adds Shufflebotham.
To celebrate its 60th anniversary MHC has released more than 100 historical photographs online that can be found by visiting its website.
