Trent Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Premier Robarts’ Announcement of University’s Approval
A significant milestone on the pathway to Trent University’s anniversary celebrations
May 31, 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of Premier of Ontario John Robarts’ public announcement on this date in 1962, that the province approved plans to open a new university in Ontario to be known as Trent University.
Mr. Robarts, also the minister of education at the time, announced that Trent University would become the 14th university in Ontario and would provide a broad range of degree courses in the arts and sciences.
According to a Globe & Mail article sourced through the Trent University Archives, Premier Robarts approved capital expenditures in the amount of $2 million for the 1964/65 year.
A letter from Professor Tom Symons, founding president of Trent University, to the chairman of the Trent University Executive Committee, draws attention to the importance of the reaction of the Peterborough community and beyond to the Premier’s announcement. The letter also notes newspapers articles including a front-page article in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Telegram and others.
To see the letter, and a collection of these articles pulled from the Trent University Archives please visit trentu.ca/fifty.
This milestone is part of a series of milestones being acknowledged leading up to 2014, when Trent University will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding. The theme of the 50th Anniversary of Trent University will be focussed on the quality of the student experience at Trent, with activities that refer to the past and future experience of Trent students, by highlighting interdisciplinary and experiential learning at Trent, the Trent College life and experience, and student initiatives that embrace the unique and powerful individual Trent student experience.
Trent University welcomes all members of the community to participate in the planning process leading up to 50th anniversary celebrations. Stories, memories and photographs about how Trent has had an impact on many lives are welcome and encouraged. Many community events being planned include a gala, alumni-chapter gatherings, reunions and signature milestone celebrations.
If you are interested in volunteering to assist with any of these events or if you have an idea or story you would like to share, please email us at 50th@trentu.ca.
Visit the website www.trentu.ca/fifty