History

Providence began in Winnipeg in 1925 as Winnipeg Bible Training School, the vision of Rev. H.L. Turner. The name was soon changed to Winnipeg Bible Institute. Over the next 45 years it remained a small but academically vibrant school. It received a provincial charter to grant theological degrees in 1949 and was renamed Winnipeg Bible Institute and College of Theology. In 1963 the college moved to a full degree-granting program and was again re-named, this time to Winnipeg Bible College, a name it retained until 1991.

In 1970, Winnipeg Bible College faced a financial and enrolment crisis. The building it was occupying in Winnipeg was slated for destruction and the school needed a new home. That new home turned out to be St. Joseph's College, a Roman Catholic high school in Otterburne which had been closed a few years previously. The college moved there in the fall of 1970 with 70 students enrolled for classes. Within a few years the school had grown to 300 full-time students.

In 1972 a longtime dream became reality with the formation of a graduate division called Providence Theological Seminary. Since that time, the seminary has become one of Canada's most respected interdenominational seminaries, with full membership in the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

As early as 1931, President Rev. Forsberg, stated that “academic excellence and spiritual vitality should go hand in hand.” He envisioned strengthening the school through the addition of liberal arts and his vision continues. In the 1960s, Rev. Elmer Towns pushed Providence to “greater academic excellence while still maintaining a high level of Spirituality.” More liberal arts courses were added throughout our history and in 1991, a transferability arrangement was achieved with the University of Manitoba. At present, by far the majority of our College courses are transferable to public university programs across Canada and beyond.

In 1992, in an effort to more accurately represent both its theological roots and its broad academic program, the school's name was changed to Providence College and Theological Seminary. The name is steeped in tradition -- one of its buildings was named Providence House -- and it also speaks of God's provision for the school over its 80 years of providing the best in Christian education.