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University of Victoria

Victoria, BC

University of Victoria


University of Victoria

Latin: Multitudo sapientium sanitas orbis"

Rank: 301 worldwide

The University of Victoria (UVic or Victoria) is a public research university located in the municipalities of Oak Bay and Saanich, British Columbia, Canada. The university traces its roots to Victoria College, the first post-secondary institution established in the province of British Columbia in 1903. The University of Victoria is the oldest post-secondary institution in British Columbia, established in 1903 as an affiliated college of McGill University before gaining full autonomy through a charter on July 1, 1963. Victoria College, which had been established in 1903 as an affiliated college of McGill University, gained autonomy and full degree granting status on March 1, 1963. The non-denominational university had enjoyed 60 years of prior teaching tradition at the university level as Victoria College. In 1920, because of local demands, Victoria College began the second stage of its development, reborn in affiliation with the University of British Columbia. Though still administered by the Victoria School Board, the college was now completely separated from Victoria High School, moving in 1921 into the magnificent Dunsmuir mansion known as Craigdarroch Castle. Over the next two decades, under Principals E.B. Paul and P.H. Elliott, Victoria College built a reputation for thorough and scholarly instruction in first- and second-year arts and science.

The University of Victoria Faculty of Law is consistently ranked as one of the best and most applied to law schools in Canada. It offers a hands-on work experience program for young lawyers and an intensive environmental law program, featuring a course at Hakia Beach, BC in association with the Tula Foundation. UVic Law has been deeply involved with many Aboriginal, ecological, and environmental cases in British Columbia, and continues this tradition today. This university is also the top when it comes to Engineering, Fine Arts and Humanities.

The University of Victoria Libraries system is the second largest in British Columbia, being composed of three 'on-campus' libraries, the William C. Mearns Center for Learning/McPherson Library, the Diana M. Priestly Law Library, and the McLaurin Curriculum Library. The Library System has undergone significant growth in recent years thanks to the University's investment in library purchases and research.

The University of Victoria Students' Society is the second largest student society in British Columbia and represents the UVic undergraduate student body, plans campus wide events and operates the Student Union Building. The student society's leadership is elected annually during campus wide undergraduate student elections. As a multimillion-dollar organization, the UVSS is one of the larger student unions which exist in Canada. The UVSS also negotiates with local government and healthcare providers for Student Transit Passes and health insurance.

This university was also a home for well known alumni in government and public affairs like Adrian Norfolk, Ambassador of Canada to Qatar and Barbara Hall, Mayor of Toronto. In business namely Jeff Mallett, former President of and Chief operating officer of YAHOO, Sheridan Scott, Vice president of Bell Canada and Stewart Butterfield, businessman, co-founder of FLICKR and LUDICORP. And for sports, Kirsten Barnes, winner of two Olympic gold medalist for rowing in Barcelona.

The Victoria Vikes (more commonly known as Vikes Nation) represents the university in a number of competitive sports, including rowing, swimming, rugby, and basketball. The Vikes have especially long ties to competitive rowing having competed for several international titles. The university currently has both men's and women's teams in each of the following sports, Rowing, Sailing, Basketball, Cross country and track, Field hockey , Golf, Rugby, Soccer, and Swimming.