Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology was established in 1967 and was named after the First Nations people who lived in the area. Algonquin was formed from the merger of the Eastern Ontario Institute of Technology, established 1957, and the Ontario Vocational Centre, established 1965. The College celebrates 51 years as a leader in post-secondary education and has undergone significant growth since its establishment and continues to grow today. All three Algonquin College Campuses have recently completed major expansion projects. The Perth and Pembroke Campuses have built all-new facilities, and the Ottawa Campus now features a new and innovative DARE District and Library.Algonquin College offers more than 357 Ontario College Programs leading to 122 College Certificates, 41 Ontario College Certificates, 93 Ontario College Diplomas, 33 Ontario College Advanced Diplomas, 52 Ontario College Graduate Certificates, 10 Bachelor’s Degrees and 6 Collaborative Degrees.Campus Recreational Sports are organized for students within a fair-play environment. The Athletic Department offers a wide variety of leagues, tournaments and off-campus activities throughout the academic year, at both the Woodroffe and Pembroke campuses. The Fitness Zone is a state-of-the-art fitness centre, located on the Woodroffe Campus, dedicated to enhancing students quality of life through physical fitness. Certified Personal Trainers are available to help students reach their fitness goals, and push them to the next level. Algonquin College is located in the Nation’s Capital and the Ottawa Valley. Ottawa’s population is 994,000 and offers many of the perks of a smaller town. It is only minutes away from hundreds of kilometers of bike and recreational pathways, parks and natural areas. Ottawa is home to the Rideau Canal, a ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site,’ for winter skating and summer boating and recreation.Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley is located in Pembroke, on the banks of the Ottawa River. Pembroke is a gateway to Algonquin Provincial Park and is surrounded by hundreds of kilometers of natural areas, forests and waterways. It is home to world-class whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, boating, camping and hiking. Known as the Heart of the Ottawa Valley, Pembroke is home to Canada’s largest outdoor art gallery and is officially registered as Hockeytown Canada. Prime shopping, museums and festivals round out some of Pembroke’s great amenities.Algonquin College Heritage Institute’s campus is located just one hour from Ottawa in the historic Town of Perth. Perth is only minutes away from provincial and municipal parks and the Tay River for summer and winter activities. It has plenty of festivals to choose from all year round, is full of cultural and historical amenities through its architecture, boutique shopping and museums and has been dubbed the prettiest town in Ontario.