Marianopolis College: A History of Education
The history of Marianopolis parallels and reflects that of the great metropolis Montreal, its mother city. The College's history is one of change, development and growth from its earliest days to the present.
In 1908, Notre Dame Ladies College was established by the Congrégation de Notre Dame. A bilingual college, it was the first institution of higher learning for English Catholic women in Quebec. Three years later the first degree was conferred through an affiliation with Université Laval. In 1922, affiliation was transferred to the newly chartered Université de Montréal. Four years later the College was renamed Marguerite Bourgeoys College.
During World War II, the curriculum of the English sector of the College was reorganized along the lines of English-language universities to include programs in general science and honours chemistry. The English sector of the College was named Marianopolis. Strategic purchases and the construction of classroom space enabled Marianopolis to expand at the same time that the quality of its academic program was gaining an enviable reputation for the College. In the mid-60s, further educational changes in Quebec, particularly the recommendations of the Parent Report, were radically to affect Marianopolis. In line with these sweeping changes affecting all post-secondary education in the province, Marianopolis admitted its freshmen students of 1969 to a CEGEP-equivalent program; it also accepted its first male students. The degree program was phased out with the granting of the last degrees in 1972.
Today, Marianopolis is recognized as one of the top pre-university colleges in Quebec, with a culturally diverse student body of 1,800 students from over 150 public and private high schools across the province and abroad. The College has produced over 20,000 graduates in Science, Art, Music, Commerce and Social Science. Our alumni go on to pursue careers and vocations in every sector and help to enrich our society’s intellectual, cultural and economic life.
