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The origins of Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface (CUSB) date back to 1818, when Bishop Norbert Provencher founded a school to teach Latin to the boys of the Red River Colony. It was run first by the Oblate Fathers, then by the Christian Brothers, and finally by secular clergy, until in 1885 Bishop Alexandre Taché turned it over to the Jesuit Fathers, who continued to operate it until 1967. On November 10, 1969, the Archdiocese assigned the task of providing leadership for the CUSB over to a new board of directors, composed mainly of laypeople representing francophone organizations in Manitoba.
The CUSB, which was incorporated in Manitoba in 1871, shortly after the province itself was created, was the first university-level educational institution in Western Canada. In 1877 it joined with St. John's College and Manitoba College to found the University of Manitoba. Today, the degrees and diplomas offered by the CUSB continue to be conferred by the University of Manitoba.
The CUSB, which is situated on the edge of downtown Winnipeg in the heart of Old Saint-Boniface, occupies a building that once housed the Minor Seminary, and was donated to the corporation by Bishop Arthur Béliveau in 1922. A tragic fire had levelled the college's 1880 building, taking the lives of nine students and one Jesuit Brother. In 1924, with financial assistance from francophone communities in Manitoba and Quebec, a wing consisting of dormitories and recreation and assembly halls was added to the building. Using funds donated by alumni and friends, a gymnasium was built in 1956, and another wing added in 1961. Between 1972 and 1974, the provincial and federal governments funded the construction of a new building to house the teacher training and language programs and new science laboratories. During 1974 and 1975, space was added for Student Services, and a second gymnasium and new library were built. Most recently, the CUSB has constructed the Sportex, a state-of-the-art physical fitness facility.
In addition to the Bachelor of Arts degree (Latin and philosophy), the CUSB offers major and minor degree options in fifteen disciplines, as well as a French honours degree in linguistics or literature. In 1983 the CUSB introduced two translation programs: a B.A. (Hon.) and a Diploma. A Bachelor of Science (Hon.) program has been in place since 1989. Studies in the faculty of education initially lead to a B.A. and teacher's certificate, and since 1982 teachers have been able to do graduate-level studies.
Over the last 15 years, the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface has developed programs in the areas of continuing education and technical and professional training. In 1975, the CUSB adopted the "community college" concept, starting with a bilingual secretarial studies program. Two other components, business administration and child care education, were added later. In 1989, all of programs were centralized under the École technique et professionnelle of the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface. In the summer of 1977, the CUSB joined a national network of intensive French-language training centres. The CUSB has since diversified, developing an impressive calendar of courses designed for specific needs and clienteles: for example, an access to employment program for women, the Métis community and French-speaking immigrants.
A number of organizations have entered into partnerships with the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface. In 1978, the Centre d'études franco-canadiennes to l'Ouest (CEFCO) opened, with the aim of encouraging research and sharing skills in all fields in which Western Canada francophones are active, and in 1989 it published its first journal (Cahiers franco-canadiens de l'Ouest). In 1989, the Institut Joseph-Dubuc opened a legal documentation and translation resource centre. In 1983, the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface received funding for the computer science centre and computer laboratories, to facilitate teaching and administration and improve student services. In 1985, the CUSB opened its own research centre, to provide support for in-house projects submitted by professors, and particularly projects relating to French-language education in minority-language communities. In addition, the CUSB introduced the Centre de rédaction, in 1989, to assist in developing students' French language writing skills.
The Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface also cooperates with other educational institutions. In the spring of 1990, it signed a five-year agreement with Laval University in Quebec City. A similar project was launched in cooperation with Trier, Germany. In September 1991, a second agreement relating to cooperation and student exchanges was signed with the Universté d'Avignon in the Vaucluse, France. The CUSB also works with other Canadian universities to facilitate the sharing of human and educational resources, particularly in respect of French-language post-secondary education in minority-language communities.
The Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface is a member of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), the Association of Community Colleges of Canada (ACCC), the Association canadienne des universités partiellement ou entièrement de langue française (AUPELF), the Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE), the Réseau d'éducation à distance (RESAD) and the Regroupement des universités de la francophonie hors Québec, as well as a variety of other national and international organizations working to promote French-language university education.
