Focus on CUC History:
The Amalgamation of Canadian Junior College and Battleford Academy in 1931

In the fall of 1931 Canadian Junior College adopted a sister academy in Saskatchewan. It is amazing that this happened because CJC had been literally destroyed by fire on May 28, 1930.  

Why didn’t the Western Canadian Union board propose to amalgamate the two schools at Battleford, SK instead of Lacombe?  Battleford Academy had its struggles with small enrollment and a small constituency for financial support but it did have buildings. 

Battleford Academy's main building.  (This photo was taken several years after the school closed.)

However, out of the smoking ruins of CJC’s three main buildings, two majestic concrete buildings were erected within five to six months during the depression when money was scarce and materials limited.

Canadian Junior College's new Administration Building (centre) and West Hall in 1931.           

Denominational recommendations provided that a constituency should have 12,000 members before opening a junior college. The Western Canadian Union took a bold step in faith to operate a junior college at Lacombe with a membership of only 4,500 in the Union. A message to the Western Canadian membership stated: “This concentration of effort and interest at Lacombe is bound to result in increased efficiency spiritually and scholastically. So let us rally around the school at Lacombe.” Wouldn’t these board members be proud to know that sixty-six years later the school on the hill became the university college for Canada?
            

Battleford Academy's Class of 1920 included: Samuel Crooks,
Lena Farnsworth, Hulda Hoehn, Mary Swanson,
Maurice Roberts, Cecil Mayor, Leonard Light,
Edward Hoehn, and Ludlow Davy.

After 15 years of operation, Battleford Academy closed its doors after the graduation ceremonies in 1931 and its 142 graduates and several hundred students then claimed CJC/CUC as their Alma Mater.

The first 50-year reunion of Battleford Academy and Canadian Junior College students was held in 1978 with 15 in attendance.

The first 50-year reunion of Battleford Academy and Canadian Junior College students was held in 1978 with 15 in attendance.  They are: Albert Tetz 1924, Blanche Palmer Tetz attended 1919, John Berfus attended 1916, Esther Roth Befus 1928, William G. McCready, 1915 and 1921, Helen Knutson Rippington 1927, Eunice Keller Hnatyshyn 1924, John Hnatyshyn 1925, Hazel Simmonds Newcom 1928, Mr. Newcom, Anna Leiske Wetzel 1927, Bernice Deer Shearer 1924, Frank W. Shearer 1928, Myrtle Miller Pierce 1924, Warren Pierce 1927.

President's Note:  This glimpse of CUC's history is the first of what will be a monthly feature prepared by Edith Fitch, who does brilliant work in our Archives Office.  If you have questions related to CUC's history, you can reach our volunteers in Archives by e-mailing archives@cauc.ca