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Key people at LaSalle College.
La Salle University provides comprehensive higher education, offering a range of undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs across various disciplines. The institution delivers a liberal arts-based curriculum, preparing students through academic rigor and practical experience. Its educational offerings encompass diverse fields, aiming to develop well-rounded individuals for professional and personal success.
The university was founded as La Salle College on March 20, 1863, by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. This establishment was inspired by the educational philosophy of St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, who pioneered accessible education for the poor. The Brothers created an institution to provide a holistic learning environment rooted in their Catholic traditions and values.
Students seeking a comprehensive educational experience form La Salle's primary customer base. The institution's vision centers on fostering intellectual growth, ethical development, and service to the community, guided by its Lasallian heritage. It continually strives to cultivate a supportive academic environment where students can discover their potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
LaSalle College is a private, subsidized post-secondary institution founded in 1959 in Montreal, Quebec, offering over 60 pre-university, technical, and professional programs across seven specialized schools, including fashion, design, business, gaming, and hospitality.[2][4][6] As North America's largest bilingual college and part of the global LCI Education network spanning 12 institutions on five continents, it emphasizes practical, industry-aligned training taught by active professionals, serving over 20,000 students annually from more than 100 countries with a focus on employability, innovation, and international mobility.[4][6]
The college addresses labor market demands through hands-on programs like fashion design—the first in Canada—and VFX gaming, fostering entrepreneurial skills in a creative ecosystem with modern facilities such as clothing technology labs and techno espaces.[1][2][4] Its growth includes campuses in Montreal and Laval, plus international outposts starting with Casablanca in 1989, positioning it as a leader in bilingual creative and vocational education.[3][4]
LaSalle College began in 1959 when Jean-Paul Morin, a Concordia alumnus and "father of fashion design in Quebec," opened LaSalle Commercial College above a hardware store in Montreal's LaSalle borough to provide direct, expert-led training amid post-WWII Quebec's shift toward modernization and the Quiet Revolution.[1][2][7] Starting with secretarial courses to meet immediate labor needs, Morin innovated early by hosting Montreal's first college open house, printing color ads, and running TV commercials in 1963.[1][2]
Pivotal moments included 1973 recognition as a collegial establishment and launch of Canada's first three-year Fashion Design program (DEC diploma); 1978 designation as Quebec's "Centre spécialisé de la mode"; and 1989's first international campus in Casablanca, evolving into LCI Education.[1][2][3] Ownership transitioned in 1988 to Jacques Marchand and Jacques Lefebvre after Morin's retirement, with expansions like Vancouver in 1998 and partnerships such as the 1995 École supérieure de mode de Montréal with UQAM.[2][3][4]
LaSalle College rides the wave of creative tech convergence, blending traditional fields like fashion with emerging areas such as gaming, animation, VFX, and IT, aligning with global demands for skilled talent in digital content creation and immersive experiences.[2][4] Its timing leverages Quebec's post-Quiet Revolution education reforms and today's booming creative industries—fueled by VR/AR growth, esports, and sustainable design—where market forces like talent shortages favor practical, bilingual programs over theoretical ones.[1][6]
The college influences the ecosystem by producing industry-ready graduates, supporting research via initiatives like the 1989 Fondation de la Mode de Montréal, and promoting global mobility through LCI's network, which decentralizes excellence while building a "creative ecosystem" that bridges North American hubs with international markets.[3][4][6]
LaSalle College is poised to expand its LCI network amid rising demand for hybrid creative-tech skills, potentially deepening AI/VFX integrations and sustainable fashion programs to capture growth in metaverse and green tech sectors.[4][6] Trends like remote learning mobility and industry upskilling will shape its path, evolving its influence from regional pioneer to global talent pipeline. This legacy of practical innovation, started by Morin in a modest storefront, continues to equip creators for tomorrow's creative economy.
Key people at LaSalle College.
