Highlights of our History

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March, 1956	The first official request for a post secondary institution in the Peace River country was initiated.
April, 1958	The Public Junior Colleges Act was passed by the Alberta government.
March, 1965	Organizational meeting of the Provisional Junior College Board.
May, 1965	Government of Alberta enacted order-in-council No. 809 incorporating Grande Prairie Junior College.
August, 1965	Henry Anderson appointed for one year as Dean of Grande Prairie Junior College.
May, 1966	First complete staff hired.
September, 1966	69 full-time students registered for inaugural year of GPJC.
November 23, 1966	Official inaugural ceremonies, Grande Prairie Junior College.
June, 1968	Board established a building committee to design a broad plan for college campus.
May, 1969	Douglas J. Cardinal, architect, was hired to prepare a master plan of campus development for board approval. See also: Douglas Cardinal Biography
August, 1970	College renamed Grande Prairie Regional College.
May 10, 1971	Sod turned for new college.
January, 1973	Construction began on Cardinal building.
September, 1974	Classes began in new facility.
June, 1976	GPRC Theatre opened.
August, 1981	Dorothy Rowles appointed new president of GPRC.
September, 1983	New college residence, Anderson Hall, ready for student occupancy.
July, 1985	Field, Field, and Field architects hired to design college expansion.
June, 1990	Degree-granting status actively sought by GPRC.
August, 1991	William McCracken appointed president of GPRC.
November, 1991	Official opening of Phase II, GPRC.
August, 1995	Gordon Gilgan appointed president of GPRC.
September, 1995	GPRC offers its first degree, Bachelor of Applied Forest Resource Management
July, 1997	Tom Thompson appointed president of GPRC.
September, 2000	First on-campus Friendship Centre opened at GPRC.
July, 2001	Al Bromling appointed president of GPRC.
September, 2001	Student Village residence officially opens first pod.
July, 2002	James Henderson appointed president of GPRC.
February, 2004	College theatre renamed in honour of Douglas J. Cardinal
May, 2007	Don Gnatiuk appointed President and CEO
September, 2008	GPRC designated a Comprehensive Community College
July, 2009	Merger unites Fairview College Campus with GPRC