As socio-cultural imperatives change, as political agencies reassess their priorities, and as the demographic pattern of society fluctuates, Canadian community colleges must redefine their roles in the context of their history. Most provincial college systems have enjoyed less than 20 years of evolution. However, it is not simply a lack of maturity they must combat, but a more critical problem associated with the conflicting conceptual roots from which they grew; that is, they embody a North American popularist approach to education within a more conservative and elitist climate reflective of British educational tradition. The colleges were created as a democratizing agent, to provide technological and vocational training to meet the needs of a changing economy, to generate political and social change, and to offer important community resources, particularly in rural areas. To maintain these reformist ideals and commitment to community needs, in light of the social changes brought by the 1970's, community colleges must adopt essential strategies for survival, including: (1) establish their identity, mission, and mandate; (2) respond to national priorities by mounting new programs, meeting the needs of special groups, and developing cooperative ventures with industry; (3) seek a new style for meeting the demands of the workplace and for providing learning opportunities; and (4) document the social and economic benefits that accrue to communities in which the colleges are present. (DAB)