Lethbridge College is beginning its celebrations for its 60-year anniversary.

For the next 60 weeks, the college will be holding a variety of events. It was the first publicly funded post-secondary institution in

Canada. When the college opened in 1957, they were renting out classrooms in Lethbridge Colligate Institute high school to 38 students.

Two of the programs were Automotive and Office Administration, both of which Lethbridge College still offers.

The college has grown to nearly 4,500 students on campus with the highest enrollment rate in 10 years and with 50 programs to choose from.

“What our number one priority today is our students. Student success is one of our values and one of our strengths, it is the thing we are really proud of,” said President Paula Burns.

Storm Liversuch, Lethbridge College Students’ Association vice president, says when we come together as a community, it’s not for the benefit of the individual, but for the benefit of all. “That investment becomes an investment in the future, a future of students, a future for jobs.”

Liversuch believes this is what Lethbridge College is striving for. He also thinks as we reflect on the past, we can boldly look to the future with hope and ambition.

College student Jarrod Crashley said he picked Lethbridge College because it was one of the schools he could get into. “The college was accepting, family friendly and had the program I was looking for,” said Crashley.

Celebrations for the anniversary will continue into 2017