Briercrest Bible Institute was founded on October 19, 1935, by Henry Hildebrand and Sinclair Whittaker.[1][2] 11 students were enrolled. A rented house served as dormitory, classroom, and office for the school. Hildebrand was principal and Annie Hillson, Isabel Whittaker, Jean Whittaker, and Margaret Rusk helped with teaching and administration. Donald McMillan joined them in the second term as assistant principal.[3]
By 1946, the school had outgrown its facility, and Whittaker arranged the purchase of RCAF Station Caron (a former British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facility which trained aircrew in World War II) for $50,000. The new facility was dedicated on July 1, 1946, and the task of converting the airbase into dormitories, classrooms, offices, and staff housing began.[citation needed]
College enrolment grew from 285 in 1970 to 775 in 1985[citation needed] and peaked in 2002 with 869 students in the College and 247 in the Seminary,[4] before changing names to Briercrest College in 2003.[5] More recently, enrolment has been in decline. As of 2019, enrolment at Briercrest Christian Academy (formerly Caronport High School) is at 141 students, Briercrest College has 489 students, and Briercrest Seminary with 286 students.[6]
The decline in student enrolment has also caused financial instability with a budget deficit of $2.17 million in 2019,[7][6] $2.26 million in 2018[8][9] and $1.18 million in 2017.[10]
In early 2011 Briercrest and Minot State University announced a partnership allowing students to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from both schools in five years.[citation needed] The program requires students to complete their Bachelor of Arts degree during the first three years at Briercrest college and the final two at Minot State earning the Education degree. Minot State offers five different concentrations for its B.S.E. As such a students completing this program may select earning a Bachelor of Science in:
The majority of Briercrest College students live in residence and participate in a school meal plan in a dining hall operated by Sodexo.[15] Unmarried students aged 22 years and under (as of the first semester of the school year) in their first three years of study are required to live in residence while enrolled.[15]
The college dormitories have a history of being named after people who have had significant impact throughout the history of the schools. Current dormitories at Briercrest include:
Isabel Whittaker (women), known as "Whit"
Sinclair Whittaker (men), known as "Whit"
Hillson Hall (men, high school)
Glen Manor (women, high school)
Bergren Place (women)
Eliason Manor (men) built in 2005
Sundbo Place (married students, women, and men over 21 years of age)
The last of the war-building dormitories, known most recently as Gable Heights, was demolished in summer 2005.
Campus/community radio station CJOS-FM was based at and funded by the college. It was launched in 1995 and ceased broadcasting and relinquished its license in 2006.[17][18]
Facilities
The campus landmark is the 2,000-seat Hildebrand Chapel. Facilities also include a 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) library, nine student dormitories, a 42-room inn, a modern dining hall, a double-court gymnasium, a hockey arena, tennis courts, numerous sports fields, and a recording studio.
During the year of 2020-21, the gas station/coffee shop formerly known as "The Point", was acquired by new ownership and underwent renovations to open as "The Beacon". This newly renovated facility consists of a Husky gas station, Subway, and Coffee Shop while also having space for students and townsfolk to come to view acactv streams of the school's various sports teams or purchase athletics apparel to show support.
As of September 2021, the campus features a brand new Athletics facility. This is the Can West Performance Center that consists of; artificial turf, various workout equipment, a film room, and an athletic therapy room.[citation needed]
Athletics
Briercrest College and Seminary's athletic teams are known as the Clippers. Varsity sports include men's and women's basketball and volleyball, and men's hockey. They compete in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference, part of the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association. Court sports play in the Margaret P. Reimer Memorial Gymnasium and the hockey team plays in Barkman Arena, named in honour of past president and current chancellor John Barkman. The 500-seat NHL-sized rink officially opened on February 7, 2009.[citation needed]
Briercrest teams have medaled in CCAA national championships four times, winning its only gold at the 1977 Men's Basketball Championship, silver at the 1991 Men's Basketball Championship, bronze at the 2012 Men's Volleyball Championship and silver at the 2014 Men's Volleyball Championship.[citation needed] The school has produced one CCAA National Player of the Year (Gradyn Childerhose, men's Basketball, 2012), three CCAA Coach of the Year recipients, (Carl Hinderager, men's Basketball, 1983; Stan Peters, men's Basketball, 1993; and Nigel Mullan, men's volleyball, 2012) and numerous CCAA All-Canadians.[citation needed]
In 2019-20, three Clippers Women's Volleyball players earned ACAC All-Conference awards: Rebecca Garner (Outside Hiitter), Mikayla Benterud (Middle Blocker), and Ashley Erickson (Setter). Erickson was also named Player of the Year for the ACAC South. Women's Volleyball Coach, Nolan Weinmaster won ACAC Coach of the Year for the South Conference. The Women's Basketball team also received an award with Angenay Williams getting a 1st Team All-Conference nod.
In 2021-22, Briercrest sent their Men's Basketball, Men's Hockey, Men's Volleyball, and Women's Volleyball teams to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) playoffs. The Men's Volleyball team medaled with a third place finish, defeating The King's University Eagles in the Bronze medal game in a tight five-set match. In addition to sending four out of five teams to the ACAC playoffs during the 2021-22 winter season, there were also numerous ACAC awards handed out to Clipper athletes. Reece Sorensen made the ACAC Women's Volleyball All-Conference team for the South as an Outside Hitter, and Faith Buhler made it as a Middle Blocker. Briercrest Women's Volleyball Head Coach, Nolan Weinmaster, also brought home some hardware as he was awarded the Coach of the Year for the ACAC South Conference.
Briercrest hosted the 1993 CCAA Women's Basketball Championships on campus and the 2014 CCAA Men's Volleyball Championships at the Yara Centre in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.[citation needed]
Throughout its history, Briercrest has had six presidents: Henry Hildebrand (1935–1977); Henry Budd (1977–1990); John Barkman (1990–1996); Paul Magnus (1996–2004);[19] Dwayne Uglem (2004–2013); and Michael Pawelke (2013–present) — Sinclair Whittaker served as president of the board until 1950.[20]
^Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (May 17, 2006). "ARCHIVED - Revocation of licence". crtc.gc.ca. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
Budd, Henry. Wind in the Wheatfields: A Pictorial History of Briercrest Bible College, 1935-1985. Caronport, SK: Briercrest Bible College, 1985.
Hildebrand, Henry. In His Loving Service. Caronport, SK: Briercrest Bible College, 1985.
Palmer, Bernard and Marjorie Palmer. Beacon on the Prairies: The Men God Uses in the Building of Briercrest Bible Institute. Caronport, SK: Briercrest Bible Institute, 1970.
Palmer, Bernard. Miracle on the Prairies: The Story of Briercrest Bible Institute. Caronport, SK: Briercrest Bible Institute, [1960?].
