In our ongoing things you didn’t know series, we uncover some interesting and unusual details about Vancouver.
Photo: Langara College
This week we’re taking a special look back at Langara College who will celebrate their 49th anniversary with an incredible Community Day celebration on June 15th!
The Community Day celebration will include a free live performance by Canadian rock legends 54-40, in addition to food trucks, kids activities, fine arts workshops, robotics competition, alumni homecomings, and so, SO MUCH more. You can view the full Community Day schedule .
Until then, here are 8 facts from Langara College’s 49 years on 49th Avenue.
Photo: Langara College
The Great Trek
Langara actually had its beginnings as a campus of , and became an independent public college in 1994. On October 13, 1970, a crowd of staff, students, and VIPs made the “great trek” from the King Edward Education Centre to herald the opening of the new VCC Langara campus, including a motorcade of over 150 cars.
Brewing better beer
The College has a project focused on designing bioinformatics and biochemistry tools that support the craft brewing industry in BC. Basically, they’re leading a team of science students to collaborate with local breweries to develop tools for detecting beer spoilage and yeast degradation, and a component of the project also involves analyzing the lineage of wild B.C. hops to support novel product development.
Photo: Langara College
First Nations Honours
In 2016, Langara was given the name by the Musqueam people, which means “house of teachings” in the hÉ™˛ÔĐé±çĐéÉ™minĚ“É™mĚ“ language. Langara was the first public post-secondary institution in B.C. to be honoured with an aboriginal name by a B.C. First Nation. Langara sits on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueum people.
B.C. Sports Hall of Fame
In 1985 Langara Journalism graduate became the first female sports writer at the Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»Sun, where she went on to cover six Olympic games. She was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
Photo: Langara College
Putting in the time for a good cause
Langara’s VOLT volunteer program began as an initiative by two students in 2010. Since then, VOLT volunteers have logged 57,000 hours of volunteer time – which adds up to 27 years worth of community work (measured by weeks using a 9 to 5 schedule).
Paper Dress Couture
Every year students in the College’s Design Formation Diploma program create a fashion exhibition of couture dresses on display at Oakridge Centre – constructed entirely from paper!
Doing it for the Bees
Langara is home to two gardens to promote sustainable food practices in the local community: a community garden (established in 2011) and a fruit garden (established in 2017). The College also has its own that is home to thousands of honey bees.
They’re about to have their largest campus party EVER
From live music and food trucks to a kids' zone and alumni homecomings –  Langara College Community Day presented by RBC Royal Bank offers something for everyone, including two stages, 75+ activities, six homecomings, over a dozen food trucks, and a FREE performance by Canadian Rock icons, 54-40.
Photo: 54-40
Langara College Community Day presented by RBC Royal Bank
When: June 15, 2019 (11:00am - 5:00pm)
Where: Langara College (100 West 49th Avenue)
To learn more, visit
