The Third Academy was founded by Dr. S. Lal Mattu. He is the CEO of Third Academy International Ltd. The Third Academy currently operates campuses at Calgary, Red Deer and Lethbridge.

Dr. S. Lal Mattu is an experienced educator and administrator who has worked in public education for over forty years. He holds a BSc, MEd, PhD (Educational Psychology), Diploma in Early Childhood Education, and is a Chartered Psychologist. His primary responsibilities, while school superintendent/assistant superintendent in various school jurisdictions in Alberta and British Columbia have been threefold: human resources, program development, and special needs.

Dr. S. Lal Mattu´s dream to open a special needs school grew out of having witnessed countless children "fall through the cracks" in the conventional school system. For whatever reason, many students were simply not succeeding. What these students needed was a different kind of school.

On September 1st, 1997, Dr. S. Lal Mattu´s dream was realized when the doors of the first campus were opened in Calgary. Today there are campuses in Calgary, Red Deer and Lethbridge. The Third Academy is a fully-accredited, designated special education private school by Alberta Education.