The Université de Saint-Boniface (USB) is a French-language public university located in the Saint Boniface neighbourhood of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. An affiliated institution of the University of Manitoba, the university offers general and specialized university degree programs as well as technical and professional training. In 2014, 1,368 regular students were enrolled. Its Continuing Education Division, which includes a language school, has also counted over 4,200 enrolments.
History
Université de Saint-Boniface was established by Father Norbert Provencher (1787–1853) in 1818, making it western Canada's oldest post-secondary educational institution. It began as a small school where Latin was taught to the boys of the French-speaking Red River Colony.
In 1855, Collège de Saint-Boniface was constructed on the corner of Taché Avenue and Masson Street; this was overseen by Msgr. Alexandre-Antonin Taché (1823–1894). From 1866 to 1870, under the guidance of Bishop George Dugas, Collège changed its programs to incorporate the instruction of Latin, Greek, and philosophy into a classical curriculum.
Incorporated in 1871, Collège was one of the earliest official institutions of the new province of Manitoba, which had joined the Canadian Confederation the year before. In 1877, together with the Anglican St. John's College and the Presbyterian Manitoba College, it helped establish the University of Manitoba. Collège served both francophone and anglophone Catholic students. Around the same time, Manitoba saw an influx of French-speaking newcomers from Quebec, France, Switzerland and Belgium. In 1880, increased enrolment led to the construction of a larger building on the site of what is now Provencher Park. Annual enrolment was around 300 students at that time.
In 1890, French lost official language status in Manitoba, and in 1916, the Thornton Act prohibited French-language instruction in the province's public schools. As a private institution, Collège remained in operation and encouraged public schools to oppose the government ban. French-language teaching continued in secret.
On November 25, 1922, a fire started in a music room in the basement and the blaze destroyed the building, including all of its records and the 40,000-volume library; claiming ten victims. In response to this, Msgr. Arthur Béliveau, Archbishop of St. Boniface, donated the seminary (Le Petit Séminaire) on Avenue de la Cathédrale, the present location of USB. English-speaking Jesuits also founded their own college (St. Paul's College) in 1925, and USB became a francophone institution. However, Collège offered business courses in English until 1941.
The 1960s were marked by three major changes: the arrival of women in the classroom (1959), the beginnings of continuing education (including French and French as a second language classes, which sparked controversy), and the institution's transition to secular administration (1969).
In 1975, Collège began to offer technical and professional programs, which led to the creation of the École technique et professionnelle (ETP) in 1989. In 1983, high school classes were transferred to Collège Louis-Riel and Collège began to focus solely on post-secondary education.
The institution officially became the Université de Saint-Boniface in September 2011 after the passage of the Université de Saint-Boniface Act.
Despite its new status as a university, USB continues to be affiliated with the University of Manitoba, which it helped establish in 1877. Enshrined in the Université de Saint-Boniface Act, the university remained affiliated with the University of Manitoba, and USB was committed to preserving this 135-year-old relationship. University degrees continue to be conferred by the University of Manitoba. However, graduates of the technical and professional programs of the ETP or École des sciences infirmières et des études de la santé (ESIES) receive their diploma or certificate from Université de Saint-Boniface.
Although a hub of French-language education and of Manitoba's francophone community, USB still accepts students from around the world.
Campus
Located on 200 Avenue de la Cathedrale which is central to the St. Boniface neighbourhood. It is also close to the St. Boniface Hospital, the St. Boniface Cathedral, and the Red River. The Esplanade Riel leads from the Université to Winnipeg's downtown.
The main USB building, build with Tyndall stone, houses two gymnasiums, the Sportex fitness centre, a library, a chapel, the Étienne Gaboury student centre, the campus radio station, an amphitheatre, computer facilities, a performance hall and an art gallery.