Translation Alumni Night
In 1966, 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! To highlight the College’s successes with flair and panache, the small team from Glendon’s Office of Advancement, Alumni and External Relations, made up of Marie-Thérèse Chaput, Noël Chan and Delphine Honoré, prepared and organized a number of activities over the 12-month period from December 2015 to November 2, 2016.
Principal Donald Ipperciel and Office of Advancement Director Marie-Thérèse Chaput launched Glendon’s 50th Anniversary at Glendon Manor on December 3, 2015.
Quebec – Ontario Conference & Glendon’s 50th Anniversary Opening Reception
“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. 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 are celebrating these successes with our alumni and with all of you as we mark this 50th anniversary,” said Mr. Ipperciel in his opening comments.
Participants in this first official activity, which launched the festivities, included: David Trick, Chair of the 50th Anniversary Committee; Kenneth McRoberts, Director of the School of Public and International Affairs and former Glendon Principal; Nicole Lemieux, who heads the Bureau du Québec in Toronto; and Jean-Louis Roy, the first holder of the College’s Québec Studies Chair. Mr. Roy shared his memories of the Chair’s genesis and his meeting with Bernard Landry, who was the Chair of Québec’s Treasury Board at the time. Mr. Landry had found the funds needed to establish the Québec Studies Chair.
The next day, December 4, the Québec-Ontario Conference gave participating panelists an occasion to address the challenges and opportunities that have arisen after four centuries of Francophone immigration in the Province.
Glendon Alumni Breakfast
In January, the annual Jean-Gabriel Castel Lecture on cultural genocide was delivered by Dr. Payam Akhavan, an Associate Professor at McGill University’s Faculty of Law.
Then, on March 23, alumni gathered at Lunik, Glendon’s former pub, to indulge in a memory-sharing breakfast. Towards the end of the day, they attended an alumni reception at the School of Translation. Celebrations and reunions were also held in Ottawa and Montreal in May.
Walk in the Valley
Thanks to the “Walk in the Valley” in June and September, hikers and lovers of history and architecture were able to visit Glendon’s trails with Nancy Dangler, a former Professor of Botany at the University of Toronto.
September 30, 2016 brought the opening event of Glendon’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, which included a reception, reunions of friends of Glendon and some alumni, and served as a prelude to the 50th Anniversary Gala held on October 1 at Glendon Hall.
By Richard Caumartin, published in Le Métropolitain, on October 19, 2016
