Campus structure and buildings are always important to check out, Olds College being no exception! And while we’re at it, why not learn a little history about the institution?
History
Olds has a very unique History, in that over the years of its existence, the expansion and accomplishments of the school are quite notable, and even sometimes pretty monumental. At the start in 1913, the institution opened as the Olds School of Agriculture and Home Economics, and between 1916 and 1920 saw the first extension programs offered and the Olds College Alumni Association founded. A few years later, the fields of soil study and pest control became prominent, and not long after in 1926, the first student residence opened, with the establishment of the Alumni Association’s first museum following not long afterward.
From 1934 to 1942, the popularity of the institution grew, with the domestic sciences program reaching a number of 71 women enrolled! From then, the Olds School of Agriculture established the first livestock artificial insemination laboratory in the province, and within another 10 years, the Plant Science Building and Metal Building were opened, and new majors in Animal Science, Plant Science, Mechanics and Farm Management popped up and were implemented. During the 60s and 70s, the college’s first farrier program was offered (which the college is well known for with its current program today), and the Animal Health Technology program was formed.
A shift then occurred in the 70s, as the status of the institution was changed from being a government-administered institution to now a public college. Just after the turn of the century, the Olds College eCampus service was launched, and the College Courts Townhouses residence opened. Interestingly, between 2009 and 2012, the Fine Arts & Multi-Media Centre opened, and the fossil remains of an ancient reptile were found on campus grounds! In 2013, Olds celebrated its centennial year with the Hospitality and Tourism Program debuting, and the Dual Credit Hairstylist Program opening.
A year later, the Centennial Village student residence was built, and in 2016 the Apparel Innovation Centre opened in Calgary. That same year, a new Equine Reproduction Certificate program was also launched. That takes us to where the college is today! Clearly, Olds College has a very rich past with different interesting features and pioneering in the study of agriculture, trades, animal health, apparel innovation, fine arts, and farming!
Buildings and Infrastructure
Now that our mini-history sesh is complete, why not learn about the campus’ buildings and what is important to Olds College. First off, the Main Campus (click the link for a virtual tour!) is located in Olds, Alberta, with various facilities, including an Animal Health building, Botanic Gardens and Constructed Wetlands, the Community Learning Campus building, Duncan Marshall Place, Equine Barns, and Riding Arenas, the school’s Farm, the Land Sciences Centre, and a Metals Building. The Fashion Institute Campus is situated in Calgary, Alberta, in the downtown area surrounded by restaurants, shopping, theatres and museums! The Centre hosts a variety of fashion programs in studios and learning spaces designed for students to form their skills.
The School’s Legacy
What else is important to Olds College as an institution, and what is it known for? Well, Research and Innovation are paramount to the school, with Olds being one of Canada’s Top 50 Research Colleges. The focuses here are the innovation in agriculture through applied research: aided by their Smart Farm, Centre for Innovation, and Technology Access Centre for Livestock Production. Throughout the years, the college has been part of many joint projects of working with industry to evolve existing agricultural practices! Also, School Pride is huge at Olds College! Supporting the Olds College Broncos athletics teams is super important to everybody and is another vital part of the school’s community and student life. Be it with basketball, soccer, hockey, or any other sport, attendance to these fun social events is encouraged, so be ready to grab your favorite college merch and go support the teams!
We hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about the history, campuses and buildings, and essential components of Olds College! It’s definitely easier to make post-secondary decisions when you have more information about not only programs and courses, but also what the school values, and how it was formed!
More information about Olds College over here.
