Gen Z Leaving Winnipeg

Gen Z is often considered to be people born between 1997 and 2018. Everything they do as of late is drawing attention. It is a generation that is changing alcohol consumption, shopping and education because they don't do what previous generations do. To that end, each generation does their own thing. In some cases, like the Baby Boom generation, the generation is so large that it crashes through each decade like a bulldozer. Sometimes they are so small, like Generation X, they are not mentioned at all.

So if a place like Winnipeg can draw students (along with the province), how do we lose them? Jobs, wages and opportunities are a big factor. Perhaps the biggest. We can't compete with mountains and weather. 

One of the things that attract Gen Z to Manitoba has been post secondary education. From Brandon to Winnipeg and through the province there fairly decent post secondary schools. 

Gen Z in Manitoba is leaving in substantial numbers and questions are being asked as they always are about why people are leaving. The simple truth is that continued job and education opportunities await further afield. It is very competitive in that area and always has been. Alberta today probably has over 200,000 people originally from Manitoba who have re-located there.

CBC Manitoba had a panel January 13 of Gen Z students. Most of them said they are not leaving per se but did explain the rationale for those that do. In terms of higher education, sometimes Masters and Doctoral programs are elsewhere. Research money is elsewhere. To its credit, the University of Manitoba had a successful year this year in recruiting Canadians to the campus and the increase in research money has been among the highest in Canada.

The University of Winnipeg has had a decades long program of building student housing. So has Canadian Mennonite University. The University of Manitoba has lagged while private builders have begun to take on the job. However, affordable housing means units need to be built all the time with no 10 or 20 year gaps as we have seen.

One of the things the CBC panel mentioned over and over was transit. It is easy for those who have cars to dismiss those who take the bus. Young people are too young to drive or too poor to drive. The penalties and costs of campus parking has been a decades long agony for students and faculty. However, the priority on housing has been painfully slow even with so much land available.

So riding buses that require multiple transfers or require long walks or waits is looked on unfavourably. Trips to Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and elsewhere make the difference clearer when young people take trains and subways. If you don't have a car for any number of reasons, you long for good transport and affordable cost. Some would just like bike paths that connect them to parts of the city or walkable trails.

Young people, when not in school, are looking for those first employment opportunities and wage growth that help pay for rent and future home ownership. Manitoba has been known for low pay and the excuse has been lower cost of living. But it also comes with slow advancement. For those who advance in companies such as banks, insurance companies and government the promotion sometimes means a move to places like Toronto, Calgary and Ottawa. This, in and of itself, doesn't always represent a problem. While some who go away never return except as visitors, some return for a variety of reasons.

In the 1980s during the recession, Winnipeg and the province lost massive population as big employers shut down. Many people had no choice to leave as they had no job. And tens of thousands didn't come back. Calgary and Edmonton surpassed us in population. As did Ottawa. And almost Hamilton and Quebec City. The decline has ebbed since but most of Winnipeg's growth has come from immigration and birthrate and not transfers from other provinces.

Gen Z is more mobile and while there are good reasons for them to stay such as family, higher education and family, the lower wages, lack of advancement and general fewer amenities in recreation and transportation to name a few. Various interviews reinforce Gen Z observations.

As mentioned, Winnipeg can't change its climate or geography and create oceans and mountains. However, it can make sure that it corrects its missteps on buses. Buses that drive back busy stops of students, buses that are never on time, buses that don't work with student schedules, bus shelters that are broken, unsafe, bus travel that can result in violence. And as far as fast or convenient, it pales to many other places.

Up until the last few decades there were deeply affordable housing in Winnipeg. Osborne Village was known for where many people started in their first rentals. There were a few areas around town like that. While there are some less costly areas to live, the rent has gone up and the availability gone down. Since 2005, new buildings don't have any rent control for 20 years and there is a $13,500 tax credit per unit. Not surprisingly, there is apartment building going up all over the city. 

However, it takes 20 years of consistent building where you start to see deeply affordable housing at sufficient capacities. Keep in mind though that even when rent was affordable, we lost young people to other provinces because of job opportunities, wages and perceived exciting city life. Still, a commitment to affordable housing often draws back people who live elsewhere for a while and wish to get more bang for the buck. Winnipeg and the province can't take a hiatus from building as they did for nearly 20 years.

In the U.S., Gen Z is re-populating mid size cities like Raleigh and Madison. Perfect climate and geography have been less important that being able to walk places, shop locally and have things to do. In Winnipeg, The Fringe Festival and Nuite Blanche are exactly what that population likes to see. Food truck weekend, bike event and the like are high on their lists.

For work, they want flexible workplaces, clear directives and commitments with opportunities for growth. The generation is prepared to come and stay in places like Winnipeg. This is not a case of big cities and nothing else will do. The generation will respond to an authentic and dedicated appeal to them.

What they won't respond to is a city they can't travel in, afford in housing or prepared to cut them the moment there is a business rationalization to maximize profit at their expense. They are looking at communities and at their present ages, they can't see it in long commutes to suburbs.

There are things that Winnipeg is doing to appeal to Generation Z. Some of them are here already but patience in improving wages, opportunities and transportation might be too slow to keep them here initially.

More Student Housing Outside University of Manitoba

Of the 15 major universities across the country with medical schools, the University of Manitoba has the fewest student housing option of any of those listed. The Fort Garry campus even up to the 1980s was a far into the suburbs as possible and even then it was light on residential units. In the 1980s, the University of Winnipeg closed down all their student housing. Brandon University and Canadian Mennonite University have been better for housing than the two biggest campuses in Manitoba.

Pembina Hall was added to the University of Manitoba to make way for major work to expand academic teaching space into Tache Hall. It was imperative for the university to build housing to unlock donation money that came in. That will has died off waiting for the next capital campaign. It has only been private investors who have filled the void and it has taken a while for these projects to get done.

The Toronto-based Campus Suites began the process eight years ago and acquired land and began to build the first of two 16 storey mixed use towers across from the University of Manitoba. At the southwest corner of Pembina and Bison Drive, the first tower began to take shape around 2017. A spectacular fire just as it reached the top floor delayed the project but eventually the ARC was completed. It made for a fairly bold skyline just at the curve on Pembina Highway was in front of the university.

The purpose-built student residence is the tallest apartment in front of the U of M but was not the only one built over the the previous years. Surrounding and bordering the Real Canadian Superstore are a series of apartments from 4 to 7 storeys. Students have moved into these apartments although they are not designed for them in the way the ARC has been. Part of the student housing is amenities such as furnished apartments as well as price point are a strong draw for U of M students, especially international students.

Over the last several years, the Chinese population along Pembina has grown substantially. The university has been one of the main reasons. With 368 units and 570 beds, the ARC represents a good chunk of new student housing within walking distance of the campus. The 2023 enrollment at U of M was over 30,000 with around 7,000 international students, a 2.9% increase. Were it not for the private apartments, the university would be in no less a jam than some others across the country.

The curved building of the ARC has a Little Pizza Heaven and a dentist office in it. And just open now is Meltwich. The mixed development is being seen in more and more apartments. The first floors of many places are often the least desirable for renters/owners, especially women. It would appear that some shops and restaurants are giving the first floors a chance.

The Arc now has about 70% student residents living there. It was so successful that Align, the second phase 16 storey tower 397 units and 554 beds will be ready just as school starts. A Dairy Queen and a Subaru dealership occupied the spot the two towers are on. A rail track runs behinds the buildings. The two towers share a similar colour scheme and are only slightly set back from the sidewalk. 

The 16 floors of total space are not the only apartments that have gone up in the last little while near the University of Manitoba. As mentioned, there are three building sites called Bison Pointe already completed by the Superstore. A number of condos and apartments have gone up on Chancellor Drive and further down Pembina Highway. The apartments further down are also 15 and 16 storeys.

It is the University of Manitoba that sits on the largest chunk of land. Their present footprint plus the former Southwood golf course represent one of the biggest opportunities of providing housing to the 30,000 students and growing Fort Garry area. It has been a painfully slow process and pretty much all concerned hope the first of a number of projects are announced. The biggest university can score a big advantage over others in Canada if nearby and affordable housing is available for students, faculty and others in the area. 

Protests Mount at Campuses in U.S. While Canadian Universities Largely Quiet

Perhaps it is that the university year is mostly coming to a close in Canada but, by and large, campuses in Canada have mostly been quiet in regards to protests on Gaza and the Israeli response to the terrorist attack back in October. That is not to say there have not been rallies, public awareness campaigns and the like at universities but thus far, in Manitoba, we have not seen police involved in ways we have seen in the U.S. At McGill, protestors set up camp on campus over the weekend but the larger group of supporters went home. A contingent is left and the university has said the tents should be removed but their protests otherwise are permitted so long as they follow campus rules.

In Manitoba, the campuses have been devoid of occupations. Calls for divestitures of school funds from areas protestors have identified as supporting the war hasn't seemed to have cropped up here. The just $60 million investment fund at University of Manitoba is reviewed annually and has a mechanism in place to identify problem areas. So far no one has stepped forward on this issue. In terms of Israel, it is possible there is nothing direct at all.

The various protests in Winnipeg over Israel/Palestine have been usually off campus. Some have resulted in anti-Semitic and violent language. There has been some physical confrontations but so far no police involvement. No one want a repeat of some past protests that have resulted in occupations and vandalism mixed in with violence. This isn't just restricted to the present conflict overseas but over Covid and indigenous protests of that last few years. The Legislature is no longer the easy to access property it once was. Security greets people at the road entrance now and it isn't easy to get inside to talk to your own MLA.

Some protestors about Israel's response to Gaza devolve to Anti-Semitism all too easily. Other question Israel's right to exist. And others say Israel got what it deserved in the attack in October. It is hard to go anywhere with that type of hatred. It offers no solution except extremism.

Canada, like many countries, support a two state solution and the Oslo Agreement came close to that objective when extremists left things where they are now. Hamas, which controls Gaza, has no interest in two states. This wish to eliminate Israel and create a Muslim state covering the entire region. The group is considered a terrorist organization all over the world. However, for some people in Canada they are heroes despite the fact they have no interest in a peaceful solution and attack, rape and kill.

Israel is a democracy and even now the population is split of what to do next. Historically, a prime minister who was in charge following a major security breach lost their jobs. Netanyahu probably doesn't survive an election when it comes. The failure of both military and intelligence to thwart and respond to the October attack is squarely a leadership issue. The lengthy Israeli attempt to end Hamas is probably not going to work, especially if a long term occupation is the end strategy. 

Sadly, the recovery of hostages has been nearly impossible except during ceasefires. Far fewer have been recovered in military operations. The big question is whether Netanyahu will seek to pull back and negotiate if he loses his job in an election. Oddly enough, the protests against Israelis that lean towards violence and anti-Jewish sentiment overall probably helps Netanyahu.

As the school year ends in Manitoba and much of the rest of Canada, we are not going to see a campus occupation. Places like University of Manitoba will be in summer mode with Bombers games on site. There is no hay to be made on a sleepy campus. It remains to be seen in the fall if there is a rise of protests. However, by that time, we might see a cooling of hot war going on and protests will have no fuel to begin anew. Hostages are probably only going to be negotiated for with a ceasefire. As for Hamas, they are no doubt going to have to be removed by the Palestinian people themselves.

New Condos For Shaftesbury Boulevard

9 Detached Condos for Shaftesbury Blvd

The city has sold of surplus land behind Shaftesbury High School and overlooking Shaftesbury's soccer pitch and St. Paul High School's football field. The developer of the land wants to build 9 detached condo bungalows tucked behind a hydro substation and close to Bard Place.

Tiny Patch of Surplus Land

Detached condos looks like actual houses save for the fact that owner only owns their unit inside the four walls and shares ownership of everything else such as road, roofs, snow clearing, etc.

Quite simply, it will look much like Tuxedo does now.

Overlooking fields of Shaftesbury and St. Paul's

Road access would be to Shaftesbury Boulevard. Owners of these condos likely will have a very good view of high school soccer and football games at the two high schools.

New condos tucked in a corner

The housing might be low density but the land is definitely in-fill and serves a purpose for people looking to locate or re-locate in Charleswood, River Heights and Tuxedo and want a bungalow condo. It is a wise use of land by the city and serves the taxpayers well.

CMU, Shaftesbury and St. Paul's fields

There are four school fields behind the various school along Grant. It may come in the next years but I suspect the Canadian Mennonite University might build a fieldhouse where they presently have a soccer field and baseball diamonds. Just a gut feeling I have about the direction they are going in with sports.

The widening of Shaftesbury Boulevard is inevitable at this point. It remains to be seen when that gets done.

Winnipeg at 1,000,000 - With 300,000 More People

In 20 years time, Winnipeg is expected to hit the one million mark in terms of population in the metropolitan area. The CBC is conducting a forum to determine what the city might look like with an additional 300,000 people.

First, let be said that the population growth is a projection and not a fact. However, given historical growth in the city's population, it is a safe bet to say Winnipeg will one day be a million people. It might happen earlier and it might happen later but it is going to happen.

Our population will grow through migration, immigration and birth rate. There are just under 400 cities in the world with over 1 million people. It helps to look at how they developed.

In almost all cases, the cities infrastructure grew higher, denser but also more spread out, especially in North America. It is only natural obstacles that limit the spread. In Toronto's case, Lake Ontario prevents further growth south. In Vancouver's case, it is ocean and mountains.

There are no natural boundaries for Winnipeg. Rivers are easily crossed. We only have man-made obstacle to population growth. The Winnipeg International Airport can be regarded as the only obstacle for population growth in the northwest quadrant of the city. This is unlikely to change.

The massive construction of Centreport Canada in the same area will keep the area industrial and transport related for decades to come.

So in point form, I will indicate what I believe will be what we see in 20 years.

* Immigration will continue to help shape Winnipeg's future. The provincial program will help channel people in at about 10,000 a year. A few world crisis will contribute refugees to Winnipeg. Those events will range from disaster to economics to politics to conflict. The Philippines, China and India will contribute large numbers. However, Winnipeg universities will tap into the UK and start bringing increasing numbers of students in who will eventually stay. Germany and Russia will supply steady numbers. Africa will be source of a steady number. The biggest surprise will be the ever increasing numbers of Hispanic people from Mexico to Central and South America.

* Migration will affect Winnipeg when population grows older. People living in rural areas who have health problems involving heavier use of medical community will look to Winnipeg. Downsizing from larger houses in the countryside requiring care in winter as snowbirds take to southern climates will result in more people buying condos and houses in Winnipeg. Exurbia will be less desireable all around if house size becomes unwieldy of if too far from vital services.

First Nations will see more of their people move to Winnipeg for school, jobs opportunities or to be with other family members.

Rural Manitoba will see larger farms and fewer people needed. Migration to Winnipeg will increase as a result.

* More First Nations urban economic zones will open. They won't look very different from other retail centers or residential. The Kapyong Barracks will not end up in First Nations or Metis hands. They won't be noted for housing a growing aboriginal population.

* Birth rate: The proportion births to First Nation and Metis will continue to be high. However, some of the more religious communities in the city from Africa or Asian will also have higher birth rates. Better government supports in the forms of school daycare, parental leave will result in a mini baby boom all around.

* More First Nations women will get higher education than First Nations men over the next 20 years. The first of the higher educated and higher paid women will start moving to various neighbourhoods away from the North End. Unlike other ethnic groups, they don't congregate in certain wealthier areas but all over.

* Pembina Highway will be the home of the Chinese business and cultural community. Fort Richmond will see a mall converted to the largest Asian food store and several Asian retailers.

* South Pointe will continue to see many East Indian families move into the area. A transformation of some of the retail to serve that market will take place in the Bridgwater commercial area. There will also be a southward migration of East Indian families from north the south of the city but it will be mitigated by immigration from India and surrounding areas.

* The downtown around Central Park becomes the epi-centre for much of the growing African community. The result is more shops and restaurants.

* The Exchange District sees more of a South American flavour take hold at least restaurant-wise.

* The tallest building in the downtown of the city will be around 60 stories and a mixed use residential, office and retail building. It will be accompanied by around four or five similar sized buildings downtown mostly of the same make-up. The skyline will be filled with several 20 floor stucture, mostly housing.

* Density in buildings down Portage Avenue, Main Street, Kenaston, Pembina Highway, Henderson Highway and McPhillips will increase.

* The 500 buses in the Winnipeg Transit fleet in 2013 will re-deployed as more Light Rail Transit is put into place. Eventually, a new tri-government strategy  will connect downtown to the University of Manitoba wilth LRT. Several denser neighbourhoods will result in Fort Rouge Yards and the Parker Lands.

* Other legs of LRT will develop. The most successful being the downtown to Polo Park and Airport, the Main Street LRT and the last to built LRT to St. Boniface.

* The St. James Bridge will be re-done as two spans in one of the most beautiful bridge designs in North America after an open competition world-wide that asks to incorporate gateways to Academy Road, Wellington Crescent and Kenaston. It will serve as a beautification gateway to the airport and Polo Park down Route 90. Included will be pedestrian and bike paths, amazing lighting and gorgeous features.

* More bike paths will be constructed along their own dedicated routes often using old rail tracks. New city rules will push for sidewalks in every new neighbourhood and connectivity to other parts of the city in 20 years.

* More pedestrian and running trails in the city.

* Crime in Winnipeg will decline in some areas with reductions in fetal alcohol. However, some areas will continue to struggle. The Winnipeg Foundation along with a tri-government initiative called the North End X Team (NEXT 2030) will expand community enhancement using police, schools, housing, business development and recreation to break cycles leading to crime and poverty.

* The Public Safety Building will be converted into an urgent care center with 24 pharmacy, X-ray, blood testing, kidney center and new home to the Mount Carmel Clinic who will keep the old location as a satellite for family medicine. A new 1000 car civic parkade will be built as with offices attaches for The Parking Authority and the Police Cadets.

* Winnipeg's airport will continue to rise as a cargo hub but more direct flights will occur to a rise in fuel efficient smaller jet aircraft. Porter Airlines will fly Winnipeggers directly to Toronto Island Airport. Direct flights to cities like Los Angeles will enable more Hollywood filming to take place in Winnipeg.

* Oil fracking in western Manitoba will benefit Winnipeg manufacturing and services who expand to help provide service to a booming North Dakota and Saskatchewan.

* Polo Park will add a third floor to the mall and build a parking deck and a hotel atop on the west side. Sears will have long closed for a Nordstrom. Food court would move to the third floor. Silver City will close as the theatres move into the mall to make way for the new parking deck.

* St. Vital will expand to two floors with parking decks added on all four sides. Sears will have long closed in favour of Sak's Fifth Avenue store, one of seven in Canada.

* Portage Place mall will close in favour of offices, some casual dining restaurants and residential units. The parkade will be sold in exchange for two two towers built on on eat and west pads.

*City Place will see the Shark Club become a full sports casino taking over the entire second floor. The ground floor will be a mix of retail and restuarants.

* The richest neighbourhood in Winnipeg will be Wilkes South from McCreary to the Perimeter Highway. It will feature Winnipeg's first gated community and country club.

* The older but hot neighbourhoods will be Sherbrook and points east, St. James from Polo Park heading west. All the streets between Osborne Village and Corydon, Point Douglas, old Transcona, old Fort Garry, McPhillips, Riverview and Charleswood. Affordability will play a strong role in rejuvenation.

* The poorest neighbourhood will still be north of the CPR tracks.

*Some neighbourhoods close to the river from Main eastward will start a rejuvenation. Waterfront development will push out old industrial concerns. Metal scrapyard, gypsum plants and others will head out to Brookside/Route 90 as a designated choice for re-location. Point Douglas will see condos and apartments go up along the river in old industry areas.

* The goal of a river walk will proceed very slowly northward in the next 20 years and very slowly southward.

* The Manitoba Museum will expand north of Rupert, building a new science museum with underground connection to main building complex.

* The Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and Pantages will share a parkade and development between their two buildings.

* The Winnipeg Jets, Bombers and Goldeyes will be joined by a professional soccer team, lacrosse team and Western Hockey League franchise over the next 20 years.

* Education in Winnipeg will have full time nursery and Kindergarten programs in its three school divisions, two English and one French. It will help spur a bit of a baby boom and parents feel more supported in childhood development.

* The University of Manitoba at 30,000 in 2013 is very likely to be around 5000 students larger in keeping with cities of similar size. In 2033, it will be 35,000 students.

* The University of Winnipeg at 10,000 in 2013 is likely to be around 13,000 in 2033.

* Red River College will around 8000 students in 2013 will explode to 15,000 at any given time and over 50,000 in a year through various programming.

* Universite de Saint-Boniface which has 1300 student now will have 3000 students in 2033 and be the largest French university in the west.

* Canadian Mennonite University at 1800 students now will be the 5000 student in 20 year and the largest Mennonite university in the world. They will buy the Tuxedo Golf Course for further expansion and build a large fieldhouse and sports complex as well as additonal classroom, dorm and a school of music.

* Headingley and Rosser will be absorbed into the city.

I will keep adding to this over the next days.

Canadian Mennonite University Expansion

As mentioned back in July on this blog, Canadian Mennonite University is building a library and overpass to connect the north and south campus. The plans this week went before a city committee for approval.

I originally opined that if an overpass was built that hopefully the public would have some general access to it.

Library and parking and overpass

The 20,000 square foot library connected over Grant Avenue met approval of those who like the idea of a public overpass and wishing better trail connections to Assiniboine Forest.

The only naysayer is the Winnipeg Police Service who as a "johnny come lately" caution about sight lines for their new regional office.

Baseball players look to lose their fields in this development by the looks of the plans but the fields surrounding the campus have been woefully underused for years.

Not included in these plans are lighter shaded future development that look to truly link north and south campus locations of CMU.

It is without a doubt excellent news about this development. I fully expect CMU to continue to attract students in greater numbers and having a top notch library furthers that growth.

This is perhaps one of the better moments where a development gets top marks for enhancing the value of the the neighbourhood and providing solutions to long sought goals such as public access.

Canadian Mennonite University Expansion

The Overpass to the New Library of CMU, North Side of Grant

Another View of Library and Learning Commons

Top Picture Looking to North Campus, Field Where Library Will be Built
Bottom Picture Looking to South Campus Where Residences and Bookstore Are Located

It was just in 2009 that Canadian Mennonite University completed its last major construction project. At that time, the built a new science laboratory on the southern campus. And only two years, a massive residence was built on that site as well to join the other dorms. That new residence called Concord Hall was a 30,000 square foot, 42 unit building for 101 students. 

CMU has always had a strong residential component since taking over the former location of the Canadian Mennonite Brethren College in 2000. The CNBC campus, established in 1956 on Shaftesbury Blvd at Grant Avenue and across from the School for the Deaf  had a number of dorms for students.

The School for the Deaf which now serves as Founders Hall for CMU has served a numbers of roles in its history. The striking building was erected in 1921 and served as the School for the Deaf till World War II (1939-1945) when it became a training center for wireless operators. In 1947, the building was taken over and became the Manitoba Normal School and trained teachers until 1965. It was that year that the School for the Deaf returned and from 1996 remained there.

The building served as the administrative center for the Pan Am Games until 1999 when it was taken over by the three parters who would form the Canadian Mennonite University. A cairn was placed by the campus to commemorate the games and evergreen trees were planted to represent all the countries that participated: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, United States, and Venezuela.

In late 1999, the Pam Am offices wound down and the three parters for CMU took over. Those partners were the aforementioned Canadian Mennonite Brethren College, Mennonite Brethren Bible College/Concord College (1944) and Menno Simons College (1989). The Tuxedo campus was large and I am sure it was a built overwhelming for 1800 students and faculty. The northern and southern campus aspect meant that ill dressed students tramped down a gravel road from Founders Hall in the north to residences and classes in the south and vice versa. During a cold January waiting for a break in traffic without a coat must have seemed like an eternity. 

I am sure top officials as well as student dreamed alike of one day linking the two campuses. 

Well, now that day seems to have arrived. It will take $11 million but the first overpass over Grant Avenue is in the planning stages to link CMU as one. The library being center to it all. It is bold and it is good for the campus, the community and makes sense for traffic and logistics in every sense of the word. 

I know that the premier Greg Selinger is trying to find a reason to fund part of the campus expansion as it is not normal procedure to fund a private college. I have a suggestion if someone in the NDP government is listening. Make the overpass public.

Yes, that's right. Make access to the overpass public with entrances on south and north Grant Avenue and to ensure campus security, place pass card access for students and faculty to the building themselves. This gives students a secondary way down to the street level where many catch buses.

Anyway, just my two cents but for governments who need good reasons to chip in, this is one way to look at it.

I suppose I should mention that CMU is not limited to Tuxedo. In 2011, the college purchased 520 Portage Avenue across from the University of Winnipeg for Menno Simons College. This affirmed the strong and integrated relationship the college has had with the city university from the start.

I see a future for CMU that might be seen in what Concordia College is like in Fargo-Moorhead in Minnesota. While that college is much older, it has a similar religious and ethnic start. It is also strong in music and sport. At 2800 students, it is not much larger than CMU but punches way about its weight classification with a richness in programs and participation by students.

Might we see a CMU in the future with multiples buildings, many more students and faculty, top music, sport, business and education classes? I think the answer to that is yes. And if Tuxedo Golf course ever does go up for sale, it could do worse than have a university take it over.