At the dawn of a new century

January 5, 2007

Photo by Silas Polkinghorne

“Next to the Legislature of the province itself, this seat of higher learning is the most important institution that Saskatchewan will ever possess – and I am by no means sure that a state University which fulfills its function is second in importance to the Legislature of that state.”

Hon. Walter Scott, premier of Saskatchewan, speaking at the
official opening of the College Building May 1, 1913

When the Act creating the University of Saskatchewan was given royal assent April 3, 1907, the province was only two years old, the Town of Saskatoon had a population of about 4,500 people, and the vision of creating a university on the banks of a prairie river was a strong one. But it is hard to image those visionaries – Sir Frederick Haultain, Hon. Walter Scott, Dr. Walter Murray – could have foreseen that one day, overlooking the city’s river valley, would be one of Canada’s leading post-secondary institutions.

It has now been 100 years since the first steps were taken to turn the idea of a prairie university into reality. In 2007, the University of Saskatchewan will mark its 100th anniversary with events and initiatives designed to celebrate the institution’s many and varied successes. It will be a time to mark the present, recognizing the work and effort it took by generations of students, staff, faculty and administrators to reach this point in our history.

This year of celebration will also be a time to peer into the future, at how the original vision of the University of Saskatchewan will continue to unfold in our second century.

“As with most anniversaries, whether personal or institutional, these are opportunities to reflect upon our origins, our current circumstances, our dreams and ambitions, and our responsibilities to many communities,” said Peter MacKinnon, president of the U of S. “It is also a chance to renew our commitment to our path forward.” For the University, that means the development of three distinguishing features of the institution – international standards, academic pre-eminence, and a sense of place.

“It is vital that we remember on occasions like this that the mission of a university is a shared mission,” MacKinnon said. “Faculty, staff, students, governing bodies, graduates, friends – all of these share the mission, and its success depend on all of them.”

Centennial Launch
The first event on the 2007 centennial calendar is a campus community launch Jan. 12 that, according to the chair of the Centennial Organizing Committee, will allow students, staff and faculty the chance to “share the excitement of this milestone year.”

Ghislaine McLeod said the event’s short program will include a message from MacKinnon, performances by the University of Saskatchewan Amati Quartet in Residence and the Greystone Singers, giveaways and the sale of centennial merchandise.

“Our hope is that we can fill Convocation Hall on Jan. 12 to show our pride in this University and its achievements,” said McLeod. The launch event begins at 11:30 a.m.

She encouraged employees to regularly check the centennial website - www.usask.ca/100 - for event information and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

The end of the University’s first century will be officially marked April 3, 2007 as part of a week of centennial activities. One highlight of the celebration will be the release of the U of S centennial stamp by Canada Post. The stamp will include the University logo and an image of the College Building, but the final artwork is being kept under wraps until the release date. An Official First Day Cover, an envelope with a cancelled stamp and information about why the institution is being honoured, will accompany the stamp’s release.

The centennial committee is also planning to pay tribute to University employees with a special event June 13, said McLeod. “This will be similar to the annual employee picnic – we’ve even selected an alternate date in case of rain – but bigger and better, with special recognition for our employees in this very special year.”

Celebrating Alumni
For alumni, two events in 2007 will give them a chance to return to their alma mater for special celebrations. Melana Soroka, director of alumni relations in University Advancement, said this year’s annual reunion program June 21-23 honours graduates from 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967 as well as all years from 1928-1946.

In the fall, the University will throw open its doors to all graduates from all years and all colleges for Homecoming Sept. 14-16. Soroka said this event is patterned after American-style festivities that typically take place around a football game. In true homecoming fashion, the U of S Huskies will take on the Simon Fraser Clan Sept. 15 at Griffiths Stadium.

“There has already been a lot of interest expressed by alumni,” said Soroka, who added the tentative list of Homecoming activities includes campus tours, a banquet and dance, a casual pancake breakfast, a come-and-go pub, a golf tournament as well as activities organized by individual colleges.

Throughout the year, many University activities will link into the centennial, said McLeod. Some of those links will be as simple as adding the centennial tagline – “100 Years – Engage, Enlighten, Explore” – to printed materials. There will also be other celebrations on campus tied to the institutional centenary, like the College of Education’s 80th anniversary in 2007. One activity – the annual Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences – is significant enough to be a featured event on the centennial calendar.

The U of S will host the 2007 gathering of the Canadian Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences, an association of some 70 learned societies. Over 5,000 delegates are expected to attend Congress 2007 May 26-June 3 to present research and debate some of the important social and cultural questions of the day. The University hosted Congress in both 1959 and 1979.

“This is largest academic conference in Canada,” said McLeod. “It gives us the opportunity to showcase our University and our city within the social science and humanities communities, and to raise the profile of the U of S across the country.”

Teams of horses break ground for construction of the College Building in 1910. U of S Archives Photo A-12