Happy 25th to Heritage College

This July marks the 25th anniversary of Heritage College as an autonomous English-language seat of higher learning.

First established in 1972 as an English pavilion of the Cegep de l'Outaouais (originally Cegep de Hull), the branch moved into its own modest space on Eddy Street in a renovated bowling alley, then to a renovated school on Maisonneuve Boulevard in 1977 and to another renovated school on rue Laurier in 1984.

After much lobbying by the anglophone community, focused by the efforts of advocacy group Outaouais Alliance, the pavilion earned independent status as a self-governing institution on July 1, 1988. The College finally got its own purposely-built campus in 1994, with a lovely facility and grounds nestled beside Gatineau Park on Cité des Jeunes Boulevard. 

I arrived at Heritage College in August 1988 and I ended up becoming a member of the executive of the first student association of the new College. I was at the school as part of the pre-university program and I took courses from the departments of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. 

I only spent a year at Heritage, as that one year made me eligible to apply to universities in Ontario. Although I had seriously considered schools in Quebec, I had made the decision to run away to Ontario, specifically Queen's.  It's been 25 years so I doubt that my amazing teachers are still teaching at Heritage. Standout faculty members I recall included Terry Nevins (Law), Geraldine Finn (Philosophy), Margaret McDoom (Philosophy), Jane Rabb (Psychology),  and the one-of-a-kind Gerry Cammy (Political Science).

I have very fond memories of my year at Heritage College. I blossomed under some excellent teachers, made some quality friends, and was solidly prepared academically for my demanding studies at Queen's.