Bow Valley College

Bow Valley College (BVC) is a publicly funded, board-governed college that serves as a comprehensive community institution under the Post-Secondary Learning Act of Alberta. Airdrie, Banff, Canmore, Cochrane, High River, Okotoks, and Strathmore are the locations of the various campuses. The Alberta Rural Development Network and Colleges and Institutes Canada both recognize the university as a member institution. In 1965, it was established as the Alberta Vocational Center. It has been situated in Calgary since 1972 at 3rd Street and 6th Avenue Southeast, and it is still growing the distance between the city's East Village and the downtown area. In order to better reflect the region it serves (the Bow Valley), the institution changed from a government-administered model to an independent, board-governed public college in 1998. It also changed its name to its current name.

The institution provides year-round adult upskilling programs, English language instruction, and career programs leading to certificates, diplomas, and post-diploma certificates. Additionally, they provide career services and specialized services for immigrants to Canada. Bow Valley College’s acceptance rate stands at 37% with around 17,500 students enrolled at the university. The institution provides academic programs in many different disciplines, such as career training, university transfer courses, adult upgrading, and English language learning. There are seven specialty schools at the college namely The Chiu School of Business, The School of Continuing Learning, The School of Community Studies, The School of Technology, The School of Foundational Learning, The School of Global Access, and The School of Health and Wellness. A scholarship initiative by Bow Valley College known as the Project Hero was confounded by General (Ret'd) Rick Hillier for the families of Canadian Forces servicemen who have died.