Coast Mountain College

Last updated
Coast Mountain Community College
Other name
CMTN
Former name
  • Northwest Community College (1975-2018)
  • BC Vocational School Terrace (1968-1975)
Type Post-secondary College
Established1968
Academic affiliations
UArctic, CICan, BCC
Endowment $24,476,000 2021-22 [1]
Chair Adelle Cober
President Laurie Waye
Vice-presidentMichael Doyle, Titi Kunkel
Dean Colin Elliott (Business, Access Education & IT Programs), Kara Loy (Dean of Arts, Science, and Health & Human Services), Tracey Woodburn (Dean of Learning and Teaching), Kelly Swain (Dean of Trades and Workforce Training)
Students403 (2023-24 FTE) [2]
CampusUrban/suburban/rural
Terrace, Hazelton, Prince Rupert; Smithers
Colours    Teal & white
Website coastmountaincollege.ca
CMTN.png

Coast Mountain College (CMTN) is an accredited, publicly funded post-secondary educational institution that serves the communities of British Columbia's [3] northwest region. CMTN offers field schools, college access, trades, university credit, health and human services programs. The college is a member of the University of the Arctic network, [4] and Colleges and Institutes Canada (CiCan). [5]

Contents

History

BCVST.jpg

The British Columbia Vocational School, Terrace began construction in 1965. [6] The school opened in September 1968, with 1968-69 enrolment reaching 295 students. [7] An official opening was held August 11, 1970. [8] Northwest College was established on the site in 1975. [9] The name was soon changed to Northwest Community College (NWCC) and was renamed Coast Mountain College on June 18, 2018. [10] [11] [12]

In 1976 poet George Stanley and author Stan Persky moved to Terrace. Perskey worked as a Sociology professor before moving to Capilano College in 1983. Stanley worked at the college as an instructor in the English department until 1991. Marie Lucie Tarpent was a part time instructor at the college in 1983 studying Tshimsihanic and Nisga'a languages.

The college received a $745,000 budget increase in 2000. [13] It was led by president Stephanie Forsyth during the 2000s. After 10 years, in 2010 Forsyth left for the same role with Red River College. [14] Forsyth left Red River amidst scandal and a senior staff exodus 4 years later. [15] [16] [17]

The college had a full-time equivalent student enrolment of 1,271 students in 2011/12. [18] Significant layoffs occurred in 2012 [19] following deficits of over $1.4 million in 2011 and $2.1 million in 2012. [20] The layoffs were grieved. In 2014 an arbitrator ruled the collective agreement had not been followed in the layoff process, [21] by which time enrolment had dropped by nearly 25% to 970. [22]

A new president joined the college in 2014 bringing a re-branding strategy and increased focus on international students. The college's traditional Thunderbird logo was phased out. [23] [24] By 2019 FTE student enrolment had dropped to 699 students.In February 2020 the college appointed new president Justin Kohlman. [25] By August of the following year Kohlman was out as president, by which time the college's enrolment had dropped to 462. [26] [27]

Totem poles and traditional art which reflect the history of the surrounding territories and peoples are displayed on the college campuses and have been commissioned for groups outside the region, including organizations in the United States and China. [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] In 1996 CMTN established the First Nations Council to facilitate direct contact with Indigenous communities. [33]

The college join Eduroam in 2023. [34] IT Director and CIO Dr. Rimon Gerges said “Security for the Eduroam program is based on most secure encryption and authentication standards today.” [35] From 2023-24 college FTE enrolment dropped to 403, less than a quarter of the BC government target of 1,718 students. [36]

Campus

Coast Mountain College (CMTN) has campuses in five northwest British Columbia communities: Hazelton; Haida Gwaii; Prince Rupert; Smithers; and Terrace. [9] Coast Mountain College (CMTN) serves seven First Nations in Northwest British Columbia: Haida, Tsimshian, Nisga'a, Haisla, Gitxsan, Wet'suwet'en, and Tahltan.

Terrace

The main campus sits on 30 acres approximately 5 kilometers from downtown Terrace. Names and signage at the college are bilingual Sm'algyax and English. Buildings include, academic building Waap Sa'mn (House of Spruce), trades building Waap Amgam (House of Cedar), cafeteria and services building Waap Haawk (House of Birch), administration building Waap Sginiis (House of Jackpine) and the 230,000 square foot student housing building Wii Gyemsiga Siwilaawksat (Where learners are content and comfortable.) [37] [38] [39] [40]

CMTN unveiled an $18.4 million state-of-the-art renovation to their Waap Amgam (House of Cedar) trades building in September 2018. [41] [42]

In September 2019 Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training Melanie Mark, visited the Terrace campus to announce an $18.7 million in provincial funding for the construction of two new 3-storey student residences. [43] [44] [45] On August 31, 2022, a totem pole was raised outside the new Wii Gyemsiga Siwilaawksat building. (Where learners are content and comfortable.) [46]

As of 2021 work continues on major projects at Coast Mountain College campus buildings including the top two floors of the main academic building Waap Sa'mn (House of Spruce), the library and student housing with a combined budget of $35 million. [47]

At the south end of the campus stands Waap Galts’ap, the 6,000 square foot campus Longhouse. The Longhouse, constructed in 2006 [48] is primarily used for student-centered and cultural activities and there are various events hosted there throughout the year.

A satellite campus in the Thornhill suburb of Terrace is located at the Northwest Trades & Employment Training Centre (NTETC). [49]

Prince Rupert

Constructed in 2004 with a $12 million budget, the two building campus of nearly 50,000 square feet is located in downtown Prince Rupert. The campus is home to the world-renowned Applied Coastal Ecology program. The CMTN Prince Rupert campus doubles as a campus for the University of Northern British Columbia. [50] [51] [52] The Prince Rupert campus includes a large library, multiple seminar rooms, trades facilities, a Learning Resource Centre, student lounge, 19 classrooms, two computer labs, two science labs and the innovation lab.

Smithers

The current Smithers campus is located on second Avenue and was completed in 2011 at a cost of $17 million. The two-level Gold LEED facility is just under 20,000 square feet and was built with wood, rock and Indigenous art to represent themes of forestry, resource management and Indigenous culture. [53] [54] The Bulkley Valley Learning Centre operates from the Smithers campus.

Hazelton

The Hazelton campus was constructed in 1998 at a cost of $1.3 million, with grand opening held January 16, 1999. The 9,000 square foot building is located at 4815 Swannell Drive serving local communities including Old Hazelton, New Hazelton, South Hazelton, Two Mile, Gitanmaax, Kispiox, Glen Vowell, Hagwilget, Gitsegukla, Gitanyow, and Kitwanga. [55]

Organization and Administration

The Coast Mountain College Board of Governors [56] and Educational Council [57] determine appropriate organizational performance. The CMTN Foundation [58] grows and stewards resources to support the college. The First Nations Council [59] provides direct consultation with First Nations in the college region.

Aboriginal

Waap Galts'ap - Longhouse Longhouse.png
Waap Galts'ap - Longhouse

Coast Mountain College (CMTN) serves the people of northwest British Columbia, in a region that includes the lands of the Haida, Tsimshian, Nisga'a, Haisla, Gitxsan, Wet'suwet'en, and Tahltan peoples. CMTN through its First Nations Council, has entered into a relationship with the Nisga'a Wilp Wilxo'oskwhl Nisga'a (“Nisga'a House of Learning”) to promote and enable resident of the Nass Valley region to obtain post-secondary education.

In 2020, CMTN added support for Indigenous Students to combat COVID-19. [60] [61] [62] Indigenous students accessing college programs or services are supported by a team of First Nations Access Coordinators. [63] In February 2022, CMTN's Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art alumna, artist Kristen McKay, was the winner of a Pink Shirt Day design contest held by the First Nations Access Coordinators (FNAC), that is now being distributed across all campuses in the region. [64] [65]

Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art

Scholarships and bursaries

The CMTN Foundation supports students through scholarships and bursaries. The Government of Canada sponsors an Aboriginal Bursaries Search Tool that lists over 680 scholarships, bursaries, and other incentives offered by governments, universities, and industry to support Aboriginal post-secondary participation. Coast Mountain College scholarships for Aboriginal, First Nations and Métis students include: Awards for Aboriginal Women. [66] Coast Mountain College supports students and rewards success through their CMTN Awards, Bursaries & Scholarships program. [67]

Notable faculty

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Totem pole</span> Monumental carvings by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest

Totem poles are monumental carvings found in western Canada and the northwestern United States. They are a type of Northwest Coast art, consisting of poles, posts or pillars, carved with symbols or figures. They are usually made from large trees, mostly western red cedar, by First Nations and Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast including northern Northwest Coast Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian communities in Southeast Alaska and British Columbia, Kwakwaka'wakw and Nuu-chah-nulth communities in southern British Columbia, and the Coast Salish communities in Washington and British Columbia.

Highway 16 is a highway in British Columbia, Canada. It is an important section of the Yellowhead Highway, a part of the Trans-Canada Highway that runs across Western Canada. The highway closely follows the path of the northern B.C. alignment of the Canadian National Railway (CN). The number "16" was first given to the highway in 1941, and originally, the route that the highway took was more to the north of today's highway, and it was not as long as it is now. Highway 16 originally ran from New Hazelton east to Aleza Lake. In 1948, Highway 16's western end was moved from New Hazelton to the coastal city of Prince Rupert, and in 1953, the highway was re-aligned to end at Prince George. In 1969, further alignment east into Yellowhead Pass was opened to traffic after being constructed up through 1968 and raised to all-weather standards in 1969. Highway 16's alignment on Haida Gwaii was commissioned in 1983 and is connected to the mainland segment via BC Ferries route #11.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsimshian</span> Indigenous people of the northwest coast of North America

The Tsimshian are an Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Their communities are mostly in coastal British Columbia in Terrace and Prince Rupert, and Metlakatla, Alaska on Annette Island, the only reservation in Alaska.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camosun College</span> Public college in British Columbia, Canada

Camosun College is a public college located in Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The college has two campuses, Lansdowne and Interurban, with a total full-time equivalent enrollment of 4,946 students in 2022/23. Camosun College also provides contract training for local business; research, innovation and prototyping services for industry; and trained co-op students for employers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skeena River</span> River in British Columbia, Canada

The Skeena River is the second-longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada. Since ancient times, the Skeena has been an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan—whose names mean "inside the River of Mist" ,and "people of the River of Mist," respectively. The river and its basin sustain a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and vegetation, and communities native to the area depend on the health of the river. The Tsimshian migrated to the Lower Skeena River, and the Gitxsan occupy territory of the Upper Skeena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nisga'a</span> Indigenous people in British Columbia

The Nisga’a, formerly spelled Nishga or Niska, are an Indigenous people in British Columbia, Canada. They reside in the Nass River valley of northwestern British Columbia. The origin of the term Niska is uncertain. The spelling Nishga is used by the Nishga Tribal Council, and some scholars claim that the term means 'people of the Nass River'. The name is a reduced form of, which is a loan word from Tongass Tlingit, where it means 'people of the Nass River'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capilano University</span> Public university in British Columbia, Canada

Capilano University (CapU) is a teaching-focused public university based in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, located on the slopes of the North Shore Mountains, with programming that also serves the Sea-to-Sky Corridor and the Sunshine Coast. The university is named after Chief Joe Capilano, leader of the Squamish people from 1895 to 1910.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornhill, British Columbia</span> Place in British Columbia, Canada

The community of Thornhill is an unincorporated settlement of 5000+ people on the south and west side of the Skeena River immediately across from the City of Terrace, British Columbia. Terrace is connected to Thornhill by the Old Skeena Bridge and the Dudley Little Bridge, also known as the "New Bridge." Thornhill is the first permanent European settlement on this part of the Skeena River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gitxsan</span> Group of indigenous people in British Columbia, Canada

Gitxsan are an Indigenous people in Canada whose home territory comprises most of the area known as the Skeena Country in English. Gitksan territory encompasses approximately 35,000 km2 (14,000 sq mi) of land, from the basin of the upper Skeena River from about Legate Creek to the Skeena's headwaters and its surrounding tributaries. Part of the Tsimshianic language group, their culture is considered to be part of the civilization of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, although their territory lies in the Interior rather than on the Coast. They were at one time also known as the Interior Tsimshian, a term which also included the Nisga'a, the Gitxsan's neighbours to the north. Their neighbours to the west are the Tsimshian while to the east the Wetʼsuwetʼen, an Athapaskan people, with whom they have a long and deep relationship and shared political and cultural community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gitlaxt'aamiks</span> Village in British Columbia, Canada

Gitlax̱t'aamiks, formerly New Aiyansh, is a Nisga'a village about 100 km (62 mi) north of Terrace, in the heart of the Nass River valley, Canada. It is one of four Nisga'a villages. Though it is located in British Columbia, it is also considered the "capital of the Nisga'a Nation". The Nisg̱a'a Lisims Government building, which opened in 2000, is located here. The area is home to 806 people and the Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park. Gitlax̱t'aamiks is located overlooking a lava flow that erupted in the 18th century. The source for this lava flow was the Tseax Cone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Beynon</span>

William Beynon (1888–1958) was a Canadian hereditary chief of the Tsimshian Nation and an oral historian; he served as ethnographer, translator, and linguistic consultant to many anthropologists who studied his people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dempsey Bob</span> Canadian woodcarver and sculptor

Dempsey Bob, is a Northwest Coast woodcarver and sculptor from British Columbia, Canada, who is of Tahltan and Tlingit First Nations descent. He was born in the Tahltan village of Telegraph Creek on the Stikine River in northwestern B.C., and is of the Wolf clan.

Freda Diesing was a Haida woman of the Sadsugohilanes Clan, one of very few female carvers of Northwest Coast totem poles and a member of the Council of the Haida Nation of British Columbia, Canada. Her Haida name is Skil Kew Wat, meaning "magical little woman."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gitsegukla</span> Community in British Columbia, Canada

Gitsegukla is an unincorporated community in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia, Canada. The place is on the southeast side of the Skeena River adjacent to the Kitseguecla River mouth. On BC Highway 16, the locality is by road about 94 kilometres (58 mi) northwest of Smithers and 113 kilometres (70 mi) northeast of Terrace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of the Rockies</span> Public community college in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

The College of the Rockies is a Canadian public community college, located in the southeast corner of British Columbia, Canada. The main campus is in Cranbrook, with regional campuses in Creston, Fernie, Golden, Invermere, and Kimberley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Tait</span> Canadian artist (1941-2016)

Norman Tait was a Nisga'a First Nations sculptor and totem pole carver from northwestern British Columbia, Canada.

Ron Joseph Telek was a Canadian First Nations sculptor. He is a member of the Laxsgiik of the Nisga'a nation of northwestern British Columbia, and carries the hereditary name of Jagam Txalp meaning Four Canoes Coming into the Village. Telek's primary medium for his sculptures is wood, although he also includes other materials such as bone, moose hair and abalone into his work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art</span> Art school in Terrace, BC, Canada

The Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art focuses on traditional First Nations Pacific Northwest Coast Art and is located on the unceded territory of the Ts'msyen Nation in Terrace, BC; Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nisg̱aʼa Museum</span> Museum in British Columbia, Canada

The Nisg̱aʼa Museum is a museum of the Nisg̱aʼa people, located in Lax̱g̱altsʼap, a village in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. The Nisg̱aʼa name means "the heart of Nisg̱aʼa House crests," a name that celebrates the role of tribal crests in Nisg̱aʼa society. The museum is a project of the Nisg̱aʼa Lisims Government and opened in the spring of 2011. It is a place for display of Nisg̱aʼa artifacts, sharing traditions and ideas, and a centre for research and learning. The museum's collection of Nisg̱aʼa culture is "one of the preeminent collections of Northwest Coast aboriginal art" The museum's website states: "This is our gift to each other, our fellow Canadians and the world."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ni'isjoohl totem pole</span> Nisgaa totem pole

The Ni'isjoohl totem pole is a memorial pole created and owned by the Nisga'a people of British Columbia, Canada. The pole had been held in the National Museum of Scotland and its predecessors for almost a century before being returned to the Nisga'a Nation. It is held by the Nisg̱aʼa Museum in Lax̱g̱alts'ap.

References

  1. "Statement of Financial Information - Schedules required by the Financial Information - Act For the year ended March 31, 2022" (PDF).
  2. "BC PSI Enrolment Data". BC Government. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  3. "Overview". Coastmountaincollege.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  4. "Coast Mountain College". UArctic Education. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  5. "Coast Mountain College". Colleges and Institutes Canada. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  6. "Northwest Community College". Houle Electric. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  7. "Made in BC" (PDF). Douglas College. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  8. "Official Opening of the British Columbia Vocational School, Terrace". ARCA BC. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  9. 1 2 "Plan, Search, Apply. At EducationPlannerBC". Education Planner BC. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  10. "NWCC becomes CMTN". Terrace Standard. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  11. "NWCC now known as Coast Mountain College". CFNR. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  12. "NWCC officially becomes Coast Mountain College". Prince Rupert Northern View. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  13. "NWCC RECEIVES GRANTS TO IMPROVE CAMPUSES". BC Government.
  14. "Red River College names new president". Winnipeg Free Press. 17 June 2010.
  15. "RRC president Stephanie Forsyth leaves amid provincial review". CBC.
  16. "Red River College lost 7 senior officials in 3 years". CBC News.
  17. "Red River College faces $2M shortfall as another manager leaves". CBC News.
  18. "Full-time Equivalent Enrolments at BC Public Post-Secondary Institutions".
  19. "A hearing into NWCC layoff notices finished today". Terrace Standard. 28 March 2012.
  20. "2012 NWCC Audit" (PDF).
  21. "Layoff notices at B.C. College violated contract".
  22. "Data Catalogue".
  23. "NWCC to phase out use of Thunderbird symbol". academica.ca. July 19, 2017. Archived from the original on August 17, 2023.
  24. "'The emotional connection was lost:' Terrace college dropping Thunderbird logo". CBC News. July 30, 2017.
  25. Link, Rod (19 February 2020). "Coast Mountain College appoints a new president". The Northern View.
  26. "Data Catalogue".
  27. Crawford, John (9 August 2021). "Coast Mountain College looking for new president/C.E.O." CFTK TV.
  28. "Carving a totem pole". Interior News. 14 August 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  29. "Tribute pole bound for China unveiled". Indian Country Today. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  30. "Northwest B.C. totem poles bound for the United States". Terrace Standard. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  31. "Northwestern B.C. totem poles bound for Minnesota". Terrace Standard. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  32. "Totem pole to serve as symbol of healing in quake-ravaged Chinese city". The Globe and Mail. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  33. "First Nations Council history". Coast Mountain College. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  34. "Coast Mountain College obtains roaming internet access for students, staff". The Northern View. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  35. "Coast Mountain College obtains roaming internet access for students, staff". Terrace Standard. 2023-12-14. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  36. "Student FTE Targets". BC Government. 2024-07-11. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  37. "Wii Gyemsiga Siwilaawksat Student Residence". Morrison Hershfield. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  38. "Coast Mountain College adds student housing, updated library". BC Government News. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  39. "CMTN opens new Wii Gyemsiga Siwilaawksat student housing building". Academia News. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  40. "Institutional Accountability Report and Plan" (PDF). Government of BC. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  41. "CMTN unveils renovated House of Cedar". Terrace Standard. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  42. "Coast Mountain College - Trades building". Stantec. 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  43. "Coast Mountain College to build new student housing in Terrace with $18.7 million provincial funding". Terrace Standard. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  44. "Coast Mountain College Student Housing Project". Partnerships British Columbia. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  45. "New housing to help students focus on studies, not finances". British Columbia Government News. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  46. Bramadat-Willcock, Michael (2 September 2022). "'Pulling our pride back up': New totem pole raised at Coast Mountain College Terrace campus". Terrace Standard. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  47. "VIDEO: Work continues on major projects at Coast Mountain College". Mackin + Associates. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  48. "Waap Galts'ap Community House". Terrace Standard. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  49. "Northwest Trades & Employment Training Centre". NTETC - Facebook. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  50. "Northwest Community College Prince Rupert BC". EcoSmart Concrete. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  51. "Northwest Campus". UNBC. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  52. "About Our Prince Rupert Campus". Coast Mountain College. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  53. "About Our Smithers Campus". Coast Mountain College. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  54. "Northwest Community College". Unitech Construction Management. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  55. !--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.-- (20 January 1999). "College opens New Hazelton campus". Interior News.
  56. "Board of Governors". Coast Mountain College.
  57. "Edcuational Council". Coast Mountain College.
  58. "CMTN Foundation". coastmountaincollege.ca.
  59. "First Nations Council". Coast Mountain College.
  60. "Coast Mountain College among Northern BC post-secondary institutions to collaborate with Mastercard Foundation". My Bulkley Lakes Now. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  61. "Northern Universities collaborate with Mastercard to enhance Indigenous student experience". Haida Gwaii Observer. 8 May 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  62. "B.C. launches $1.5M emergency fund for Indigenous students". CTV News. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  63. "First Nations Access Coordinators". Coast Mountain College. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  64. "CMTN takes a stand against bullying with a special Pink Shirt designed by graduate". First Nations Drum. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  65. "CMTN takes a stand against bullying with a special Pink Shirt designed by graduate". Education News Canada. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  66. Canada, Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs (25 October 2012). "Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool". Sac-isc.gc.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  67. "CMTN awards, bursaries & scholarships". Coastmountaincollege.ca. Retrieved 5 May 2019.