Over 200 Trent alumni, students, staff and faculty gathered in the Lady Eaton College (LEC) dining hall on Friday, September 27 to for the inaugural Founders’ Dinner, a celebration that coincides with LEC’s 45^th anniversary and helped kick off the Cabinet’s Fall College Weekend.

The evening featured speeches, toasts, student music, trivia and a slide presentation showing highlights of the college through the years.  Trent’s current president Dr. Steven Franklin, as well as founding president Professor Tom Symons, were in attendance and gave speeches on the history and legacy of the college.  Former LEC principals Dale Standen and Arndt Kruger also participated, along with current students, fellows, staff and alumni. 

Nancy Eaton, the granddaughter of Flora McCrea Eaton, was also present for the dinner.  At the end of the dinner, everyone stood for a series of energetic toasts concluding with the traditional “Toast to the Toad” - homage to the tradition that early dons in residence referred to Lady Eaton College as “Toad Hall” and the toad has become the college mascot.

LEC cabinet prime minister Kimberlee Ladouceur read remarks prepared by Lady Eaton’s great-grandson who could not make the event.  John David Eaton apologized for his absence and praised the students and fellows of the college, past and present, concluding: “Granny would have been proud!”  After reading Eaton’s words, Ms. Ladouceur talked about the current cabinet and its continuing role to improve the student experience at LEC.

LEC principal Michael Eamon used the event to announce a new partnership with the innovative, artist-run gallery Artspace in downtown Peterborough.  Artspace is entering into its 40^th year and has been a key cultural institution for the city. This partnership builds upon the successful Black Honey initiative from last year.  Now a larger part of downtown can be considered college space, open for student activities, education and recreation.  Also in celebration of its 45^th anniversary, LEC will open a student-oriented art gallery and a music lending library.  Dr. Eamon emphasized how colleges need to inclusive, not exclusive, communities.  To this end, both the gallery and library, while situated at LEC, will be open for all Trent students.  

With the success of the inaugural Founders’ Dinner, LEC hopes to make the dinner an annual fall event, celebrating the students, professors and staff that shaped, and continue to shape, the college as a dynamic, caring community at Trent.