To the snappy sounds of a small brass band the new Salvation Army College for Officer Training (CFOT) opened on May 1 in Winnipeg. Located on two floors of a renovated century-old building in the heart of downtown, the new facility replaces two older schools located in Toronto and St. John's, Newfoundland.

The leader of the Army in Canada and Bermuda, Commissioner M. Christine MacMillan, officially opened the school, which covers two floors. During the ceremony Tim Sale, the Manitoba minister of health, represented the province and Mike Pagtakhan, deputy mayor, spoke on behalf of the city.

CFOT is a Salvation Army seminary where individuals study to be clergy. The facility was moved to Winnipeg last year in order to be close to the Army's existing university, William and Catherine Booth College, located a block away from the new centre. Students from both schools share professors and have access to the new John Fairbank Memorial Library, located on the third floor. The library was also officially opened on April 28. The first session of CFOT students number 23, although only 21 are currently studying in the centre. They started their two-year term in September 2005, while renovations were still underway at the new school.

The space includes classrooms, a kitchen, offices, lounges and a comfortable chapel filled with natural light. Architect Brian Tokar, who handled the CFOT renovation, says the intent of the design was to create a "bright and airy space." Turning that statement into an analogy, Commissioner MacMillan said that "God wants The Salvation Army, through Jesus Christ, to build a window to the world" through the training and deployment of the new clergy studying at 290 Vaughan Street.

About 150 visitors joined CFOT staff and students for the opening event, which featured a ribbon cutting and the sealing - for 75 years - of a time capsule and tours.

The CFOT building is located on a busy road full of buses and pulsing with the riotous sounds of the city. During the worship service those noises rattled around the chapel. "God is calling The Salvation Army to be trained for the world," said MacMillan. "And what better place is there to teach leaders for the church of the street?"

by Bramwell Ryan

Update: View photo gallery here