In 1994, Trent entered into several agreements with Sir Sandford Fleming College for the provision of joint degree and non-degree programs. The Trent-Fleming joint programs extend educational opportunities by combining theory and practice in a number of professional and career fields.
The Trent Valley Woollen Mill was located in Campbellford, Ontario on the shore of the Trent River at the turn of the 20th century.
The Trent Valley Navigation Company, Bobcaygeon, Ontario, was incorporated in 1883. Mossom Martin (Mossie) Boyd was the president of the company and he and his brother William owned nearly all of the stock. The company consisted of a fleet of a half dozen steamboats which operated along the waterways surrounding Bobcaygeon, carrying passengers and freight from Lindsay to Coboconk, Sturgeon Point, Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon. At Lindsay there was a connection with the Grand Trunk Railway. In the most productive years (after the turn of the century) revenue was almost evenly divided between passenger and freight transportation. The Company closed in 1915, precipitated by the death of Mossom Boyd the previous year.
The Women’s Studies Program at Trent University was established in 1987. The first Chair was Prof. Christl Verduyn. As an interdisciplinary program, Women's Studies draws on the insights and methodologies from a wide variety of disciplines such as history, literature, psychology, sociology, politics and anthropology.
This position was renamed from the previous Vice-President (Academic) at the same time as the title "Provost" was detached from the Vice-President (Academic) and attached to the position of "Dean and Provost". Several additional changes to this title have taken place over the years.
From 1966 to 1973, John Leishman was Controller and, from 1971, also Vice-President (Finance). The office was split in 1973 and there was a Vice-President (Finance) and a Controller (Peter Lewis). John Earnshaw became Vice-President (Administration and Finance) in 1981 as John Leishman moved to the position of Executive Vice-President (External Relations and Financial Affairs). John Earnshaw held the office until August 1991. Nancy Sullivan became Vice-President (Finance and Administration), 1991-1994. For further information about the office and its leadership over the years, see A.O.C. Cole, Trent: The Making of a University, pp. 126-129; D'Arcy Jenish, Trent University: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, 2014; and the annual course calendars (available in the Archives Reading Room).
The Travel Grants Committee was disbanded in 1992 when, under the collective agreement, TUFA travel grants were incorporated into research grants.
The Presidential Review Committee was created in the spring of 1983 at the instigation of President Donald Theall. It was formed with four board members, two faculty and two students giving it a structure of eight people. The committee was formed to assess a renewal of contract with the President. (Taken from: Cole, A.O.C. "Trent : The Making of a University 1957-1987." Trent University, 1992.)
The office of President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University has been filled by the following incumbents: Thomas H.B. Symons, 1963-1972; Richard Sadleir (Acting), 1968, 1971; Thomas Nind, 1972-1980; Marion Fry (Acting), 1977; Donald Theall, 1980-1987; Roy Edwards (Acting), 1984; John Stubbs, 1987-1993; David Morrison (Acting), 1993; Leonard Conolly, 1994-1997; David Smith (Interim), 1997-1998; Bonnie Patterson 1998-2009; Steven Franklin 2009-2014; Leo Groarke 2014-current.
Peter Robinson College was opened in 1964 as an all-male college. It was named after Peter Robinson, the government representative responsible for organizing the first substantial immigration to the Peterborough area. College Masters were Richard Sadleir, Ian Chapman, Ian McLachlan, Andrew Wernick, John Milloy, Theresa Topic, Jan Fialkowski (acting), George Nader, and Peter Lapp (acting). The College was closed in the early 2000s
Peter Gzowski College, named after Canadian broadcaster/journalist and former Trent Chancellor Peter Gzowski, opened to students in 2004 on the Symons Campus. Gzowski College, is housed in Enweyaang, a building located on the East side of the Otonabee River.
Julian Blackburn College was established in 1975 to facilitate part-time studies at Trent University. It was officially opened on October 24, 1975 in a ceremony held in the Wenjack Theatre. JBC was named in honour of the late Professor Julian Blackburn who provided counsel and advice in the planning of Trent University, and in its formative years contributed greatly to the development of a program of part-time studies.
Director of Part-time Studies: 1967-1968 Walter Pitman (acting). 1968-1974 Hal Hooke, Principal of Julian Blackburn College: 1976-1977 Hal Hooke, 1977-1978 Erica Pipher, acting), 1978-1981 Erica Pipher, 2009-current Robin Lathangue.
Vice-Principal and Director of Off Campus Courses: 1976 Erica Pipher
Vice-Dean Arts and Science and Principal of Julian Blackburn College : 1981-1985 Lionel Rubinoff
Associate Dean and Director of Julian Blackburn Centre for Continuing Education: 1985-1986 Michael Treadwell (acting), 1986-1988 Michael Treadwell, 1988-1990 George Nader.
Associate Dean of Arts and Science and Principal of Julian Blackburn College: 1990-1994 George Nader, 1994-1996 John Syrett, 1996-1998 Jackie Tinson (acting), 1998-1999 Murray Genoe (acting), 1999-2002 Beth Popham.
Associate Dean of Arts and Science (Continuing Education and Part-Time Studies) / Principal, Julian Blackburn College : 2002-2009 Murray Genoe; 2009-2011 Robin Lathangue, and others.
For further information about part-time studies, its governing bodies, its relationship to Trent's Durham GTA campus, and its administration, see A.O.C. Cole, Trent: The Making of a University, pp. 126-129; D'Arcy Jenish, Trent University: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, 2014; RG2; and the course calendars (available in the Archives Reading Room).
Otonabee College was officially opened on the west bank of the Symons Campus, Trent University, in 1973. Masters have been Robert Carter, Gary Aitken, Elwood Jones, Finn Gallagher, Gordon Johnston, Robert Annett, Ivana Elbl, and others. For further information about the College and its administration, see A.O.C. Cole, Trent: The Making of a University, pp. 126-129; D'Arcy Jenish, Trent University: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, 2014; and the annual course calendars (available in the Archives Reading Room).
The Chair in Northern Studies, established in 1986, is supported by a $250,000 endowment from the Secretary of State’s Centre of Specialization Fund and an equal amount raised through the Fund for Excellence, and is associated with Trent’s Frost Centre for Canadian Heritage and Development Studies. The first occupant of the Chair was Hon. Thomas R. Berger.
As originally structured, the Names Committee was a joint committee of Senate by virtue of being a sub-committee of Site Development Committee and also having representatives from the Board of Governors.
Lady Eaton College was opened in 1969 on the Symons Campus of Trent University. Principals have been Marjory Seeley Rogers, Douglas McCalla, Dale Standen, David Page, John Stanford, Paul Zeleza, Rosa Garrido, Kenneth Field, Arnt Kruger, etc. For further information about the College and its administration, see A.O.C. Cole, Trent: The Making of a University, pp. 126-129; D'Arcy Jenish, Trent University: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, 2014; and the annual course calendars (available in the Archives Reading Room).
Trent University was the first post-secondary Canadian institution to establish a well-defined Department of Native Studies. The Department was established in 1972, although an earlier effort, the “Indian and Eskimo Studies Program,” had been underway since 1969.
The Frost Centre for Canadian Heritage and Development Studies was established to promote interdisciplinary research on many aspects of Canadian society. The first class of graduate students was enrolled in 1985 in the interdisciplinary MA program. The program was first introduced under the name Canadian Heritage and Connectional Studies. The first Chair was Prof. Sandy Lockhart of the Sociology Department. The next Chair was Robert Page (1985-1986), then Bruce Hodgins, John Marsh, and, in 1996, John Wadland, in 2000 Joan Sangster, in 2006 Jim Struthers, in 2009 Julia Harrison, etc. The department has undergone name changes. For further information about the department and its administration, see A.O.C. Cole, Trent: The Making of a University, pp. 126-129; D'Arcy Jenish, Trent University: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, 2014; and the annual course calendars (available in the Archives Reading Room).
The Association of the Teaching Staff was created in 1967 and existed until the union was formed in 1981. The purpose of the Association was to promote scholarship, the welfare of the University and of its academic staff, and in affiliation with the Canadian Association of University Teachers and with the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, to contribute to the advancement of the standards of the Canadian University community. (taken from the Constitution, RG 15 Box 1 Folder 1). In 1981, certification was granted, and in 1983 the ATS became the Trent University Faculty Association (TUFA).
The Department of English has been in operation since the University opened in 1964.
The Department of Sociology has been in operation since the University opened in 1964. In September 1998, the departmental website explained that building on a common core of required courses in theory and method, the sociology program at Trent offers two main concentrations: 1) social structures and social policies, in areas such as social inequality, families, health, and criminal justice, and 2) social interaction and culture, in areas such as religion, media studies, and ethnic and sexual identities.
Past Chairs of Sociology:
Bernard R. Blishen 1966-1968
J.C. McDonald 1968-1969
Rod F. White 1969-1974
John Hillman 1974-1977
A.D. Lewis 1977-1980
Andrew L Wernick 1980-1982
Pradeep Bandyopadhyay 1982-1985
Alena Heitlinger 1985-1988
John Hillman (Acting) 1988-1989
Roy T. Bowles 1989-1995
Alena Heitlinger 1995-1998
James Conley 1998-2004
Stephen Katz 2004-2007
Barbara L. Marshall 2007-2010
Susan Apostle-Clark 2010-2013
Deborah White 2013-2016
Gillian Balfour 2016-2018
Momin Rahman 2018-2022
Peri Balantyne 2022-
The Department of Political Studies has been in operation since the University opened in 1964.
