July 9, 2008 - The sound of tape guns and paper shredders fill the air as I am personally reminded of my time spent here, at the Ambrose downtown campus. Prospective tenants poke their heads in my office like kids angling for the best bedroom in the new house. Little do they know my great view may not make up for the overheating problem in the winter. Oh, but with time, they too will know the secrets this building holds.

My journey at our downtown campus started in July of 1995 when Canadian Nazarene College made the move from its campus in Winnipeg's Fort Garry to Calgary.  At this time the fifth floor was renovated to house the library, classrooms, faculty offices and a student lounge. Our administrative offices shared the sixth floor with the Reform Party of Canada.  I remember a few occasions where I rode the elevator with Preston Manning. It was the beginning of what would soon become the journey to Ambrose.

When Canadian Bible College/Canadian Theological Seminary made its decision in 2002 to move from Regina to Calgary, they met with the other Christian post-secondaries in southern Alberta. Many meetings were held in the city. I remember sitting and listening, wondering what would come of the CBC/CTS dream.

As the meetings went on it was obvious Nazarene University College had a similar vision and the two Colleges decided to share the same facilities. During the summer of 2003 the campus was expanded to include more of the 6^th floor and all of the 7^th and 8^th in preparation for the arrival of CBC/CTS.  I recall that fall as traumatic. Students, faculty and staff processed the new relationship between the schools and began to arrange what the following years would look like. 

The move of CBC/CTS was the first of several milestones to come over the following five years. Shortly after the schools began sharing these downtown facilities the purchase of the Mahood land in the SW of Calgary took place. With the purchase has come the excitement of getting development permits from the city, hiring general contractors that could create our vision on time and on budget, starting construction, and now, finally, and now, finally, anticipating the move.

While the permits were being acquired, a transformation happened in the body of the school as well. The two schools merged, and become one accrediting body, under the name Ambrose. These past years have been full of prayer, leadership and vision.

In the midst of it all we shaped the minds and hearts of hundreds of students.  For them this campus wasn't transition, it was a place of relationships, ideas, questions and calling.  It was their college: it was their university: it was their seminary.  They discovered something lasting and eternal in a place of transition. 

In the midst of the boxes, I honour their experience and memory of this place.  The four floors at our downtown campus will be remembered always.  Until the new campus, have a great summer.

Kim Follis

Editor