PETERBOROUGH -- Trent University will mark its 35th anniversary during the weekend of October 16 and 17, followed by a two-city public launch of its fund-raising campaign on October 18. Trent campaign flags for the Beyond Our Walls $17-million campaign will be flying throughout the city's downtown area starting this weekend with the support of the Downtown Business Improvement Area.

Trent was born after years of planning by public-spirited Peterborough citizens. An Academic Planning Committee and a Campus Planning Committee were formed after T.H.B. Symons was appointed president-designate in 1961, and the University was formally created by the Ontario Legislature in April 1963. Trent opened its doors to its first students in September 1964 and Governor General Georges Vanier officially opened the university on October 17 of that year.

The University opened with two downtown residential colleges and a teaching and administrative complex. The core of what is now the main Symons Campus was donated by GE Canada.

For Trent's official opening ceremonies on Saturday, October 17, 1964, a procession of distinguished visitors robed in Trinity United Church and proceeded three blocks to Rubidge Hall. Streets were closed and nearly 2,000 guests were seated around the intersection of Sherbrooke and Rubidge streets. T.H.B. Symons, President and Vice-Chancellor, stated to those assembled his vision of the new university:

"...The philosophy which inspires Trent is based upon the conviction that education is, inescapably, an individual experience ...and this philosophy is reflected in the teaching methods...which seek to encourage each student to find a close and direct contact with his teachers through the tutorial and seminar approach to instructionŠThis philosophy...is also reflected in the decision that Trent should be a collegiate university..."

To mark the 35th anniversary of this date, Trent plans a number of celebratory events, which include the following:

Saturday, October 16