Collège Universitaire de Saint-Boniface

Founded in 1818, the University of St. Boniface is the French university in Western Canada that offers university and college quality training, customized to meet the needs of its students and develops the leaders of society. The University of Saint-Boniface is recognized as a university of choice for those who wish to pursue studies in French, as well as its integrated approach that prepares students for higher education and the labor market. 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, USB offers general and specialized university degree programs as well as technical and professional training. In 2014, enrolment counted 1,368 regular students  and over 4,200 enrolments in its Continuing Education Division, which includes a language school.

The University of St. Boniface, the first educational institution in Western Canada, traces its origins to the arrival of Fr. Norbert Provencher in Manitoba in 1818. It began as a modest residence where Latin is taught to boys in the French colony of Red River. A tradition of excellence in education is taking root. The establishment, then named College of St. Boniface is developing and is located in 1855 at the corner of Avenue Taché and rue Masson. He welcomes student Louis Riel, who will become the founder of the province of Manitoba. Between 1866 and 1870, under the direction of Father Dugas, the College consolidated the foundations of its classical teaching, offering Latin, Greek and philosophy.

Manitoba joined Canadian Confederation in 1870. Incorporated in 1871, the College became one of the first formal institutions of the new province. In 1877 he helped found the University of Manitoba. Manitoba is experiencing significant francophone immigration from Quebec, but also from France, Switzerland and Belgium. In 1880, the increase in inscriptions led to the construction of a larger building at the present location of Provencher Park. The College then welcomes three hundred students a year. In 1916, the Manitoba government banned the teaching of French in public schools. A private institution, the College continues its activities and even invites public schools to brave the ban. The teaching of French continues without the knowledge of the authorities.

In 1922, a major fire destroyed the College, including all its registers and the 20,000 volumes of its library. The Petit Séminaire, located at 200 Cathedral Avenue, is then offered by the Archbishop of Saint-Boniface, Bishop Arthur Béliveau, to become the University we know today. The sixties are marked by three important changes: the arrival of women in the classrooms (1959), the beginnings of continuing education (including oral French courses, which are still very successful today) and the secularization of the institution (1969). In 1975, the University of St. Boniface began offering technical and vocational training, a sector that will become very important. In 1983, the university chose to focus on post-secondary education, and high school education was transferred to Collège Louis-Riel. Since its foundation, the University of St. Boniface is a pivot, protector and promoter of the French-speaking culture. Today, it welcomes students from all over the world and its reputation for excellence goes far beyond Canada.