successes and the many, many
key players have each gone the
extra mile on more than one oc-
casion to make today a reality.

As well as the hard work and
dedication of those who make it
happen, the College/School
Board relationship has been en-
hanced by some fundamental
principles which have served us
as well.

In the early days when the
Douglas College region was estab-
lishing its role and purpose the
college community included 8
School Districts - Richmond,
Delta, Surrey and Langley - south
of the river and Burnaby, Coquit-
lam, New Westminster and
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows on
the north.

These 8 School Districts had a
varied capacity and commitment
to respond to their respective
adult communities.

This recognition of the differing
needs and resources by the col-
lege played a part in the
developing role of the college in
the various communities and as-
sisted in the establishment of a
philosophy for the comprehen-
sive community college.

The fact that the College sees it-
self as an institution committed to
providing and initiating educa-
tional services to its respective
communities while respecting
and supporting the role and man-
date of other institutions has
enabled the College to become a
partner in a very real way. The
College has managed to maintain
a non threatening and supportive
presence in a region of many spe-
cialized institutions such as S.F.U.
- B.C.L.T. and the unique Continu-
ing, Education programs of the 4
remaining School District’s of Bur-
naby, New Westminster,
Coquitlam and Maple Ridge/Pitt
Meadows.

This commitment to respond to

 

community/student need and to
have the most appropriate institu-
tion provide a program has
insured a continuum of learning
for many individuals in our com-
munities.

The bridging of institutional
boundaries is a delicate and time
consuming process during the
best of times. It becomes an even
more difficult task when competi-
tion for dwindling education
money restricts our much needed
flexibility. None the less it is a
commendable and necessary exer-
cise - it provides for better use of
tax dollars by maximizing the use
of our facilities and equipment
and of much more importance by
allowing our educators to share
their expertise in providing more
relevant and cost effective
programs for our students.

The long history of sharing and
cooperation between the School
District and the College had been
largely involved with the adult
community. However without
the firm support of boards and
government, both morally and
financially, we would not be ina
position to proceed with this next
phase today.

 

The new initiative of the Com-
munity Fducation Contre
encompasses the same concept
but includes one more partner -
the secondary schools.

The planning has been done -
the process is a proven one- We
have in place a dedicated and en-
thusiastic team - We have the
support of boards, government,
community and those who will
have the challenge of making it
happen - the instructors in the col-
lege and the teachers in the
schools, Our ultimate success
depends on the professional
dedication of those who imple-
ment and deliver our programs.

The beneficiary will be the stu-
dents and our community. We
are in the process of taking one
more step in providing a true con-
tinuum of learning in our
education system.

Congratulations for a job well
done. Our successes to date are
our assurance that the Com-
munity Education Centre will
add a new and dynamic dimen-
sion to education in Maple
Ridge/Pitt Meadows.

  

A concept opened....MLA’s Mr. Norm Jacobsen and Mr. Austin Pelton
and Minister’s of Education Hon. Stan Hagen and Hon. A. Brummet_ un-
veil the plague which officially opened the Community Education Centre

in Maple Ridge on November 19.