Fear of Technology a Half Century Ago

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May 27, 1963: No need to fear technology: Premier Manning says in officially opening NAIT
By Edmonton Journal, edmontonjournal.com
May 27, 2012 8:21 AM

EDMONTON - The $16-million Northern ­Alberta Institute of Technology was officially opened by Premier Ernest Manning at a ceremony attended by nearly 500 people.

Mayor Elmer Roper, University of Alberta president Dr. Walter Johns and federal labour minister Allan MacEachen spoke at the ceremonies.

Billed as of the largest school of its kind in Canada, ­NAIT would encompass nearly six hectares under one roof, including 53 shops, 39 labs, 77 classrooms, 109 offices and 155 service areas (including cafeteria, library and gym).

Roper said the building “will serve our city and its people, but it will also service that vast territory of which Edmonton is the centre. It will service not just the present day, but the future needs of this area.”

“This institute fulfils one of the greatest needs in our society,” Manning said while dedicating the building.

“People have always been hesitant to accept change and there have been complaints that technology is taking away jobs,” Manning said. “It is not technology, but the failure of society to keep pace with the training necessary to prepare young people to fulfil useful functions that causes the problems.”

The first class was enrolled in October, a group of 29 communication electrician apprentices. The first graduation ceremony took place in 1965, with a class of 326.