Qualicum College

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Qualicum College was a private school in Qualicum Beach, Canada. It opened in 1935 and closed in 1970. Its closure came as costs rose, enrollment declined, and the curriculum became less relevant to the real world. The school offered strong British Literature teaching, but other subjects were mostly geared toward government exams. The school also used corporal punishment, which many people felt was outdated.

Sports were popular, especially rugby, and there was a military cadet program that led to war games and camping trips, though some felt it limited intellectual growth. A nightly three-hour study hall emphasized rote learning, though students who used that time to read benefited.

After it closed, the playing fields were turned into a housing development. The main Tudor-style building became the Qualicum College Inn, which later hosted a television film in 1977. Redevelopment plans arose over the years, including a proposed 90-unit condo project in 2007 that was withdrawn. Additions built in the 1970s were demolished in 2008. A history of the school was published in 2010.

By 2011, plans were to convert the property into Qualicum College Heights, a 40-unit condominium complex. In 2021, the town council moved to remove heritage protection to allow a replica to be built, and the site was listed for sale for about $6.6 million.