General Information

St. Andrew’s College in Winnipeg, affiliated with the University of Manitoba, is a Ukrainian Canadian academic institution sponsored by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. It welcomes all qualified students who are attracted to the setting of a small college with special emphasis on the Ukrainian Canadian heritage and the Orthodox Christian faith. The College’s academic pursuits entail two areas of study. First, the Faculty of Theology exercises a unique responsibility for the academic preparation of candidates for the priesthood and lay leadership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and other countries and churches. Second, the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies offers programs with a major or minor at the undergraduate level in Ukrainian Canadian Heritage Studies. St. Andrew’s College also offers residence accommodation for approximately forty students, male and female, enrolled in its programs as well as those of the University of Manitoba.

Historical Background

St. Andrew’s College in Winnipeg traces its beginnings to the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Seminary which was established in Winnipeg in 1932. Previously, pastoral courses in Theology had been conducted in Saskatoon and Regina since 1918.

The concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on June 25, 1943. Subsequently, St. Andrew’s College was incorporated under its charter in September 1946 on the premises of the former St. John’s College (Anglican) on Church Avenue in Winnipeg. The programs included: a degree program in the Faculty of Theology, a regular Department of Education High School program (until the end of the 1952-53 acedemic year), and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses (introduced in 1947 and continued until 1980’s).

After the discontinuation of the High School program, Church leaders expressed the need to move the institution to the University of Manitoba campus. In 1960, negotiations were initiated with the University of Manitoba, culminating on June 14, 1962 when St. Andrew’s College became an associated college of the university. Construction of a new building on the campus began in December 1962 and was completed in the spring of 1964.

At the official opening celebration on July 4, 1964, the Very Reverend Dr. S.W. Sawchuk, founder of the College, and then Principal of the institution, emphasizing the importance of the event, stated that St. Andrew’s College was:

"a fitting monument to the Ukrainian Canadian pioneers without whose vision, fortitude and faith in the future of Canada we would not have had the kind of life which we now enjoy. The project is also a challenge to the present generation to continue building and enriching their own lives and the life of the country on the foundation laid by their fathers."

For the next eight years, St. Andrew’s College offered studies in the Faculty of Theology, operated a residence on the campus, conducted an extracurricular Ukrainian cultural program and resumed the Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses (1964-82).

In the fall of 1972, St. Andrew’s College introduced into its program of studies two courses in Humanities through the Arts Faculty of the University of Manitoba. Within five years, the number of courses grew to seventeen, all concentrated in the various fields of Ukrainian Studies, with special emphasis on Ukrainian Canadian Studies. Parallel to this development, St. Andrew’s College held discussions with the University of Manitoba with the object of attaining affiliated status in accordance with its acceptance on campus. This process culminated on January 28, 1981 with granting of a special affiliated status to St. Andrew’s College by the University of Manitoba. As a result of the affiliation agreement, the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies was established, encompassing the courses in Ukrainian Studies which the College had until then been offering through its own resources.

The Centre provides undergraduate courses and interdisciplinary programs of study in areas relating to Ukraine and to the life of Ukrainians in Canada. The Centre also encourages and promotes research and scholarship in all areas relating to Ukrainian Canadian Heritage Studies.

St. Andrew’s College continues to offer programs of study in the Faculty of Theology which, along with the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies, constitute the heart of the institution’s endeavors. The College continues to operate a residence and the Ukrainian Cultural Summer School Program.

General Information | Historical Background | Library | Chapel  

Library

The College Library has over 40,000 volumes in its collection. Through the acquisition of the late Metropolitan Ilarion (Dr. Ivan Ohienko) library in 1971, the collection is unique in the field of Ukrainian Studies. It is also well provided in the area of Eastern Christianity.

The library offers exceptional resources to both Theology and Arts students. Students at St. Andrew’s also have access to the libraries of the University of Manitoba.

Chapel

The daily, weekly, and yearly cycle of Liturgical Services constitutes the very centre of life of the Faculty of Theology students. All students take an active part in reading, singing, and serving according to their assignments.

The College Chapel is also the liturgical centre for the Orthodox students on Campus. Guests are always cordially welcomed. The Chapel is always open for both personal prayer and individual meditation.