Qualicum College

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Qualicum College is a former private school located in Qualicum Beach, Canada. The school was founded in 1935 and closed in 1970.

History[]

During the Great Depression, Robert Knight decided to open an independent boarding school, in Qualicum Beach, Canada, with the assistance of Aubrey Muskett, former headmaster of the Collegiate School in Victoria.

The Qualicum Beach School, as the academy was first known,[1] was founded in September 1935 with nine students. It was located in a rented house during its inaugural year. In 1937, the school was relocated to a specially-designed building amid 17 acres (69,000 m2) of seaside property.[2] Knight's younger brother George, joined him in a partnership and the school (renamed Qualicum College in 1949[1][2] ) was incorporated as a limited liability company.[2]

The building in 2008

By the early 1960s it had an enrollment of about 70 students, most of whom were boarders.[2] But towards the end of the decade, costs increased and enrollment began to decline. While instruction in British Literature was excellent, other studies tended to be rote, aimed at the government exams. Undoubtedly, the increasing irrelevance of the curriculum, along with the use of the cane and other corporeal punishment, led to a decline. Sports participation was universal and passionate, especially in rugby. A military cadet program contributed outings such as war games and camping trips, but detracted from intellectual growth. A proctored three hour long nightly study hall enforced rote learning, however those who used the time to read benefited. In all, these retrograde educational programs became obsolete. Public education was making strides during this era, advances difficult to replicate in a discipline based curriculum. In 1970 the Knight brothers closed the college.[3]

The school's playing fields were subsequently subdivided for a housing estate; the Tudor-style main building was purchased by a group who transformed it into the Qualicum College Inn.[2]

In the mid-1970s, the Inn was the main location for It Happened at Lakewood Manor, a made-for-television film that premiered in December 1977.[4]

The hotel owner had sought permission to redevelop the property as a 90-unit residential condominium in 2007 but the application was withdrawn.[citation needed] Demolition of additions to the building added in the 1970s began in January 2008.[5]

In 2010, the Aboriginal Issues Press at the University of Manitoba published a history on the school.[6][7][8]

By 2011, developers began to convert the hotel and surrounding property into Qualicum College Heights, a complex of 40 condominiums.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "The staff and students of what was known initially as Qualicum Beach School, and became Qualicum College in 1949; MS-1327". Visual Records Catalogue. B.C. Archives. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Qualicum College". The Homeroom: British Columbia's History of Education. Archived from the original on 2001-05-04. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  3. ^ "The History of Qualicum College Heights" Archived October 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  4. ^ Horner, Neil (November 25, 2011). "Get the creepy-crawlies in Qualicum Beach". Parksville Qualicum Beach News. pqbnews.com. Retrieved 2013-06-08. That’s where the other local star of the show comes in. Lakewood Manor was played by The College Inn in Qualicum Beach. The film — somewhat less than a box office smash — came to the attention of Qualicum Beach Museum manager Netaja Waddell recently ...
  5. ^ Horner, Neil (2008-01-01), "Year in Review: New owners set to demolish two building wings", The News, bcnewsgroup.com, retrieved 2008-05-07[dead link]
  6. ^ "Voices from the Dorms". Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources. University of Manitoba. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  7. ^ "Qualicum College School for Boys". Jill E. Oakes. University of Manitoba. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  8. ^ Voices from the Dorms: Qualicum Boys School 1935-1970 (ISBN 0986726125)
  9. ^ "About Qualicum College Heights Luxury Condos in Qualicum Beach". Archived from the original on 2011-10-13. Retrieved 2013-06-08.

External links[]

Coordinates: 49°21′27″N 124°25′37″W / 49.3575°N 124.4270°W / 49.3575; -124.4270

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