Providence celebrates 100 years

Providence University College and Theological Seminary held centennial celebrations and kicked off a new fundraising campaign last weekend to mark 100 years of teaching students.

Among the five events held, the Otterburne campus hosted a community festival with live music and kids events on Sept. 6. Later that day, festivities continued at the newly-opened Southeast Event Centre where American Christian rock artist Zach Williams headlined the centre’s inaugural concert.

Providence also launched a campaign to raise $20 million for improving and updating the campus.

Throughout the 100 years, the school’s president Kenton Anderson said its faced many challenges to keep the college open, but he’s proud of its resilience.

“We’re still standing. We’re doing well and grateful for all the people who have served here over these years and for all the students we’ve been able to impact,” he told The Carillon. “This is week one of century two.”

He said the some of the funds would be used for building a new elevator, updating the chapel and gym areas and paving the parking lots. The campus pastor position would also become permanently endowed at the college, Anderson said.

Providence also hopes the province will include it as a full university in Manitoba under the Advanced Education Administration Act. That action would create more grant opportunities and allow students to transfer from and to other institutions easily, he said.

“We feel in our second century now it’s just time for us to take our rightful seat at the table alongside our peer institutions,” Anderson said.