Imagine Montreal in 1959 a city on the cusp of change. That was the year LaSalle College was born. It started as LaSalle Commercial College. Jean-Paul Morin founded it. He envisioned a school meeting labor market needs.
LaSalle College began in a rented space. It was above a hardware store. The college quickly outgrew that space. From the start LaSalle College embraced multilingualism.
LaSalle College stands as the largest bilingual college in North America today. It sits in downtown Montreal and Laval. LaSalle College has seven specialized schools. These include Fashion and Art Design. There is also Business Management and Information Technology. Hospitality Tourism and Education Social Sciences are also included.
In 1963 Jean-Paul Morin broke ground. LaSalle College was the first to hold an open house. It was also the first to print a color ad. The college even used television advertising early on.
Fast forward to 1973. LaSalle College gained recognition. The Ministre de l’Éducation du Québec recognized it. LaSalle College became a collegial establishment. Then in 1978 came more recognition. The Ministre de l’Éducation du Québec named LaSalle College the Centre spécialisé de la mode. This cemented its role in fashion education.
Did you know that LaSalle College was the first fashion school in Canada? The three-year Fashion Design program launched. Graduates received a Diploma of Collegial Studies.
LaSalle College expanded internationally in 1989. The first LaSalle College International opened in Casablanca Morocco. This marked the beginning of LCI Education.
In 1995 LaSalle College partnered with Université de Québec à Montréal UQAM. They created the École supérieure de mode de Montréal ÉSMM. Now students could earn a bachelor’s degree in fashion design.
LaSalle College embraced technology in 2000. It opened an e-learning school. Online learning solutions became available.
LaSalle College integrated Inter-Dec College’s programs in 2019. This broadened its program offerings. Interior design digital arts and video games joined the LaSalle family.
LaSalle College is more than just classrooms. There is a library. It offers study spaces and IT support. A store sells supplies. Students can get everything from pens to computers. Hungry? The campus has coffee shops and lunch options. There is even a restaurant. It is called La Classe. LaSalle College even has a daycare center. It is called LaSalle des petits Daycare.
LaSalle College joined the United Nations Academic Impact UNAI in 2024. This provides students with international partnerships. It enriches their academic journey.
LaSalle College continues to evolve. It adapts to the needs of students. It embraces innovation. It is preparing students to be global citizens.