About Us

When Brock opened its doors in 1964, the St. Catharines Teachers' College was just an idea in its initial planning stage. In 1965, however, through a special arrangement between Brock University and the Ontario Ministry of Education, the St. Catharines Teachers’ College was officially formed.

Located in what was affectionately known as “the refrigerator factory” at the base of the Niagara escarpment on Glenridge Avenue, the teachers’ college welcomed its first class in September 1965. The majority of teacher candidates came directly from Grade 13. Upon completion of the program, they received a kindergarten to Grade 10 interim teaching certificate.

From 1965 to 1971, the teachers’ college operated under the control of the Ontario Ministry of Education, which leased the building from Brock. In 1971, it became the College of Education and an integral part of the Brock community.

With the new name also came a new facility located on the escarpment adjacent to the Schmon Tower. In addition to the pre-service program, the college offered practicing teachers additional qualification courses and a program in graduate studies leading to a Master in Education degree. In 1990, the College of Education designation was changed to the Faculty of Education to better reflect its academic relationship with the university.

In 2005, 40 years after its humble beginnings in the “old refrigerator factory” on Glenridge Avenue, the Faculty of Education offers Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate, and Intermediate/Senior teacher preparation programs. It also offers:

• Continuing Teacher Education
• Native Teacher Education
• French Teaching Specialization
• Adult Education
• Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
• Masters Level Programs
• Joint PhD Program

With a enrolment of more than 7,000 full and part-time candidates, a faculty, staff and field associate complement of nearly 150 and a satellite campus in Hamilton, the Faculty of Education looks forward to the next 40 years of service to teacher education in Ontario.