History

A History of Quality Education Since 1866

Willis College occupies a distinct position within the Canadian educational landscape. Since its inception in 1866, the institution has maintained a steadfast reputation as a premier provider of adult education, dedicated to community service and excellence in skills-based training.

Founding and Early Innovation

Under the initial leadership of Stephen T. Willis, the College specialized in business and secretarial sciences. At a time when manual typewriters were the height of office technology, the institution equipped students from Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec with essential professional competencies, including shorthand, dictation, and business management.

Mr. Willis—a highly credentialed educator with extensive management experience in both Canada and the United States—was internationally regarded as a leading authority on shorthand. His contribution to the field culminated in the 1938 publication of the Willis Shorthand method, a proprietary system developed specifically to streamline the complexities of the era’s leading shorthand techniques.

A Century of Leadership

The College’s history is marked by a succession of distinguished leaders and public servants:

• The Honourable George Dunbar: Former Provincial Secretary for Ontario, who assumed leadership following the passing of S.T. Willis.

• Mrs. Marguerite Service: A Willis alumna and co-founder of the Ontario Association of Career Colleges, who served as Principal from 1975 to 1980.

• The Language School Era: In the late 1970s and 80s, the College pivoted to support the Canadian Federal Government’s bilingualism mandates, establishing the Willis College Language School to provide high-level ESL and FSL training.

Modern Transformation

In 1989, ownership transitioned to  Ms. Rima Aristocrat, who led the modernization of the College’s curriculum while upholding its founding tradition of vocational excellence.

This trajectory of growth continued into 2020, when Summit2 entered into a strategic partnership with the institution. Today, under the leadership of President and CEO Henry Devlin, Willis College remains committed to a student-centered learning model, bridging its rich historical roots with the demands of the modern workforce.