From left to right: Kelly Burke and Marie-Lison Fougère (Office of Francophone Affairs), Donald Ipperciel (Glendon), Nicole Lemieux (Bureau du Québec in Toronto), speaker Jean-Louis Roy, Marie-Thérèse Chaput and Kenneth McRoberts (Glendon).
In 1996, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson officially inaugurated the opening of Glendon College; at the time, the institution’s mission focused solely on bilingualism and the liberal arts. Half a century later, Glendon has an enrolment of nearly 3,000 students, offers seven of the 10 most in-demand programs in the province, and 14 of the 24 most popular programs. What a long way we have come!
On Thursday, December 3, the Glendon Hall Conference Centre saw the launch of Glendon’s 50th anniversary and the opening of the Québec-Ontario Conference (which got under way the next day), with Glendon Principal Donald Ipperciel and Office of Advancement Director Marie-Thérèse Chaput officiating. This meeting was moderated by former holders of Glendon’s Québec Studies Chair (2001-2006). The program included discussions on the most significant aspects of relations between the two neighbouring provinces, such as francophone immigration and Canadian and international francophonie.
Ms. Chaput first thanked the guests for attending and then mentioned that the Québec-Ontario Conference, entitled “Where Do We Stand Today?”, was the first official activity in the 400th anniversary festivities marking a French presence in Ontario. She then invited Mr. Ipperciel to speak.
“Over a 50-year period, Glendon continued its tradition of offering bilingual education in Toronto. Starting in 1966 and based on the vision of founder Escott Reid, the College grew and grew, and we passed several important milestones. The campus remained firmly anchored in its liberal arts tradition but, at the same time, adapted its offerings to better meet the increasing demand for scientifically trained graduates; since September 2015, a Bachelor of Science degree has been offered. More than ever, Glendon is taking a whole-person educational approach aimed at forming multilingual individuals with comprehensive skills who are able to function in a constantly shrinking world. We have every right to celebrate our institution, which has demonstrated over the years that it is capable of broadening its horizons; indeed, our graduates can be found in every corner of the globe. We will be celebrating these successes with our alumni and with all of you as we mark this 50th anniversary.”
David Trick, Chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee, then invited guests to visit the Glendon web site for information about the festivities planned for the coming months and culminating in the Grand Anniversary Gala in October 2016.
He was followed by Kenneth McRoberts, the former Glendon Principal and now Director of the School of Public and International Affairs, who provided an overview of his career at the College and spoke of the importance of the Québec-Ontario relationship in Glendon’s history, mentioning a number of professors from la Belle Province who have taught here.
The next speaker was Nicole Lemieux, who heads the Bureau du Québec in Toronto. “The rapprochement between Québec and Ontario which we have been observing for a few years is the result of a long tradition that has had both its high and low points, and these, in turn, have served to better redefine this relationship,” explained Ms. Lemieux.
“Since Confederation in 1867, the links between Québec and Ontario have grown steadily stronger, especially in the economic arena. The ties between the Bureau du Québec in Toronto (Québec Intergovernmental Affairs Secretariat, or SAIC) and Glendon College go back more than a quarter of a century.”
“From 2000 to 2003, SAIC funded the creation of a Québec Studies Chair to help make Québec society better known and understood within the Toronto and Canadian academic world and by the interested public.”
“The theme of this year’s conference is particularly relevant in light of the considerable development that has taken place in Canada’s French-speaking communities; this development has produced francophone populations that have less homogeneity, and reflects the new mosaic created by immigration.”
This launch event for Glendon’s 50th anniversary ended with a brief talk by journalist and diplomat Jean-Louis Roy, who was also the opening speaker and first holder of the College’s Québec Studies Chair. He shared his memories of the Chair’s genesis and mentioned his meeting with Bernard Landry, who was the Chairman of Québec’s Treasury Board at the time. Mr. Landry had found the funds needed to establish the Québec Studies Chair. Mr. Roy also gave a preview of what he would be saying at the Québec-Ontario Conference with respect to the Canadian and international francophonie.
By Richard Caumartin, published in Le Métropolitain on December 31, 2015
