College of the Rockies

Founded in 1971 by James Patterson, a local school board member and hard rock miner, College of the Rockies was established to address the critical need for apprenticeship training in British Columbia's East Kootenay region. The government mandated Cranbrook as the location for the main campus. By 1975, enrollment figures were: 351 students in Cranbrook, 64 in Kimberley, 39 in Golden, 52 in Fernie, and 37 in Invermere. The Cranbrook campus officially opened on September 20, 1982.

The Cranbrook campus comprises two sites: the main campus, which hosts trades and student services programs along with most administrative departments, and the Gold Creek campus, which offers the Timber Framing Program and Continuing Education Health and Safety courses. College of the Rockies operates five regional campuses, each providing unique courses and contributing to their local communities. These campuses are located in Fernie, Creston, Kimberley, Invermere, and Golden. The Golden campus, notable for its stunning views, is close to world-class ski resorts such as Sunshine Village, Panorama Mountain Village, Lake Louise, and Revelstoke Mountain Resort.

College of the Rockies offers a variety of online and in-class programs. These include adult basic education, child youth and family studies, health, administrative studies, trades, computer technology, tourism, and fire services. On June 16, 2010, the college introduced a Bachelor of Business Administration in Sustainable Business Practices, marking a significant milestone in its 35-year history by offering a 4-year degree program.