Collège La Cité facts for kids
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Other name
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Collège La Cité |
|---|---|
| Type | Public college of applied arts and technology |
| Established | 1989 |
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Academic affiliations
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ACCC, AUCC, CBIE |
| President | Lynn Casimiro |
| Students | 5,000 (2025: 3,524 FTEs) |
| Location |
,
Canada
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| Campus | Central |
| Language | French |
| Colours | Green & black |
| Nickname | Les Coyotes |
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Sporting affiliations
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CCAA |
| Mascot | Coyote |
La Cité, also known as Collège La Cité, is a public college in Ontario, Canada. It teaches in French. It started in 1989 in Ottawa. It is the biggest French-speaking college in Ontario. About 5,000 students attend, learning in over 90 different programs. Students come from Ontario, other parts of Canada, and even other countries.
In 2011, La Cité was ranked number one among all 24 colleges in Ontario. This was for things like how happy students were, how many graduates found jobs, and how good the learning and services were. This information came from a yearly survey by the government. The college also ranked second for the quality of its buildings and spaces.
In 2012 and 2013, La Cité was named one of the top 25 employers in the Ottawa area. It was also listed among the 200 most recommended employers in Canada.
Contents
History of La Cité College
How La Cité Was Created
The government of Ontario started a network of colleges in 1967. Some of these colleges, like Algonquin College in Ottawa, offered programs in French. As early as the 1970s, people started talking about creating a new college just for French speakers in Ontario.
In 1987, a group was asked to study if certain colleges should offer more services in French. This group decided that creating a new French-language college was the best idea. The Minister in charge of colleges and French affairs agreed.
In August 1988, the government decided to create a French-language college. This college would focus only on teaching in French. In 1989, the Canadian and Ontario governments agreed to share the costs of building this new college. It was officially named "Collège d’arts appliqués et de technologie La Cité".
Opening and Growth
La Cité first opened its doors in September 1990. About 2,300 students attended classes in temporary buildings in Ottawa. In 1993, the college bought land where the old Carson School of Languages used to be. This land was next to Aviation Parkway.
Construction started that same year. The main campus of La Cité was ready for students by the 1995–1996 school year. The campus covers about 24 hectares (60 acres) of land. It included eight buildings designed by several architects. The design aimed to show the importance of French-Ontarian identity in the community.
Over the years, more and more students joined La Cité. The college also started offering a wider variety of programs. In 2013, the college updated its look with a new logo and a new, shorter name: La Cité.
College Presidents
The first president of La Cité was Andrée Lortie. She led the college until she retired in March 2010. After her, Lise Bourgeois became the new president. She used to be in charge of the largest French Catholic school board outside of Quebec.
La Cité Campuses
The main campus of La Cité is in Ottawa. It has ten buildings spread across 60 acres of land. All these buildings are connected by walkways in the sky or by tunnels underground.
In September 2010, a new campus opened in Orléans. Orléans is a suburb east of Ottawa. This campus is home to the Centre des métiers Minto. This center specializes in training for construction jobs.
In September 2011, the 911 Institute opened on the main campus. This center trains people for emergency services. La Cité also has a smaller campus in Hawkesbury. This town is about 100 kilometers from Ottawa. The college now offers some programs in Toronto as well.
Programs Offered at La Cité
La Cité offers more than 90 different training programs. Many of these programs teach terms in both French and English. The college also has apprenticeship programs in French. These programs are for jobs in construction, vehicle repair, service, and industrial fields.
La Cité offers college training in many areas, including:
- Administration
- Applied sciences
- Apprenticeship programs
- Arts and design
- Communications
- Computers
- Construction and mechanics
- Electronics
- Aesthetics and hairdressing
- Forest environment
- Health sciences
- Hospitality
- Housing and interior design
- Legal services
- Media
- Preparatory programs
- Security
- Social sciences
- Tourism and leisure
La Cité also offers one university degree program:
- Baccalauréat en technologie appliquée (Biotechnologie)
Student Residence
The student residence at La Cité opened in 2002. It is a four-story building located near the main campus. It has 124 units and can house 251 students.
College Logos
La Cité has used three different logos since it started:
- The first logo, used from 1990 to 2002, featured the letter "C" made from 18 smaller angle brackets. The words "La Cité collégiale" were written below it in a light green color.
- The second logo, used from 2003 to October 2013, had the college name in black, all lowercase letters, with "cité" in bold. A blue, C-shaped swirl went around the logo.
- The third logo, used from November 2013 to today, is black with all capital letters. The name is shortened to "La Cité" in bold. To the right is a green circle, which stands for the college's round building.
Partnerships
La Cité has agreements with universities across Canada. These agreements allow students who graduate from La Cité to continue their studies at a university. They can study subjects like administration, mechanical engineering, computer science, and journalism.
La Cité also works with elearnnetwork.ca to help promote online courses. The college has partnerships with schools in other countries too. This helps them share knowledge and training programs.
Scholarships
The Foundation of La Cité gives out hundreds of scholarships to students. This includes 250 awards for new students joining the college.
Sports at La Cité
La Cité's sports teams are called the Coyotes. The student association manages these teams. They compete against other colleges in sports like men's and women's soccer, men's and women's volleyball, and men's basketball. The college is part of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) and the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA).
College Media
La Cité has a campus and internet radio station called Lab Radio. This is part of its media course. It broadcasts on 91.9 FM.
See also
- Higher education in Ontario
- List of colleges in Ontario
- List of universities in Ontario
