Concordia High School to move Edmonton campus, expand programs

EDMONTON — One of the city’s oldest private Christian high schools plans to expand its university-preparatory programs and attract more international students thanks to some massive changes.

Concordia High School (CHS), which is associated with Lutheran Church–Canada, announced plans January 7 to move to a 10.4-hectare southwest Edmonton campus, currently occupied by Taylor College and Seminary, from its current home at Concordia University College of Alberta (CUCA) on Ada Blvd.

The Taylor College and Seminary campus in southwest Edmonton

The move is expected to take place this summer.

The high school also announced a new relationship with the Eminata Group, a post-secondary network of colleges that employs 1,200 instructors, support staff and administrators in 33 campuses in four Canadian provinces.

“This association with Eminata provides Concordia High School with expertise in ESL education, distance and global interactive learning, and specialized test preparation,” said David Eifert, principal of Concordia High School.

“Concordia High School will therefore be able to provide a broader perspective and a wider range of opportunities to our students. At this new location, Concordia High School will be able to maintain its solid tradition, but also continue to expand:  it will offer a well-designed and well-delivered four-year university preparatory program; it will continue to be located on a college campus; and it will be able to accommodate a larger number of both day and residence students.  While our capacity to welcome international and non-Edmonton students will be increased, our academic approach will remained solidly grounded in a faith-based environment.”

The new campus, located at 11525-23 Ave., will also offer students a cafeteria, a dormitory and library resources. It is also located three blocks away from the southernmost stop on Edmonton’s LRT system, is a five-minute drive from the city’s new ring road, Anthony Henday Drive, and a 15-minute drive from Edmonton International Airport.

The nearby community is seeing an expanding school-age population.

“From personal knowledge and from that of many individuals that I meet who have had children at Concordia High School, Concordia is praised as having provided the best educational opportunity possible,” said Dr. Gerald Krispin, president of CUCA, whose two sons are alumni of CHS.

“Parents and graduates all value highly what Concordia High School contributes to the education and personal formation of their children. I know that this tradition of excellence will continue as Concordia High School embarks on this new venture.”

Concordia opened its doors as a junior college in Edmonton’s Temperance Hotel in 1921. Within a decade, it began to offer Alberta provincial high school curriculum.

In 2001, the high school program of CUCA became CHS and began operating with its own mandate and governance.

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