The Peterborough Community Concert Association was formally established in 1942 when the Peterborough Music Club joined Community Concerts of America, Inc. It was formed under the leadership of Dr. J.J. Craig, a well known Peterborough dentist, and a group of business people interested in bringing outstanding musical talent to Peterborough. The objectives of the Association were to "build and maintain through nonprofit plan a permanent concert audience on a strictly membership basis; to cultivate in the citizens of Peterborough and its surrounding area interest in good music; to provide for its members an opportunity to hear good music in the form of concerts and recitals, of which there will be a minimum of three presented annually; and to foster and encourage public appreciation of music and the teaching of music, history of music, and music appreciation in the schools of Peterborough and its surrounding area." Peterborough did have a concert association which existed before 1942, but unfortunately, all written records of this association have been lost. Over the years, the Peterborough Community Concert Association was able to bring many big name artists and groups to Peterborough including Ephriam Zimbalist, the Munich Chamber Orchestra, and Liona Boyd. In 1987, the Peterborough Community Concert Association broke its ties with Community Concerts of America, Inc. due to high commissions and the high American dollar and comparatively low Canadian dollar. The Peterborough Concert Association was the result of this split and it has continued to function effectively, holding five to six concerts a year and maintaining the high artistic standards set in previous years.
The Peterborough Fire brigade was established in 1850 and until 1908, the brigade ran on a totally voluntary basis. The volunteers were paid a fifteen dollar yearly honorarium for their efforts. The first Captain of the brigade was Robert Swayne. The first Chief Engineer was W.S. Conger and the Assistant Engineer was John R. Benson. From 1886 to 1908, the fire department was housed in the town buildings on the southeast corner of the market square and it shared quarters with the police department. On New Year's Day 1908, a new fire station was opened on Aylmer Street. In the same year, it was decided by the City of Peterborough that a permanent fire brigade was necessary. The change from voluntary to permanent brigade took place on June 30, 1908, and was marked by a grand procession of the old fire brigade. The personnel of the permanent brigade consisted of a Chief, Assistant Chief, two drivers, three paid firemen and six call men.
The Peterborough Light and Power Company was a private electrical utility company that operated between 1884 and 1913 in the city of Peterborough. By 1913, it had a total of 2320 hydro poles in operation, and provided electricity for residences, streetlights, industries, and the street railway. It was expropriated by the city of Peterborough in 1913.
The first normal school for the training of elementary school teachers opened in Toronto in 1847. In 1850 a system of township model schools was established. They were specially designated elementary schools where teachers or potential teachers could observe existing practice under supervision. The successful candidates received Third Class Certificates valid for three years. In 1880 there were forty-seven model schools. Candidates were awarded First or Second Class Certificates after attendance at normal school. At times there were two year courses at normal schools. Model schools were abolished in 1924 and with them the Third Class Certificate. In 1936 the Second Class Certificate was discontinued except at the Ottawa Normal School. In 1874 the Ottawa Normal School was established and in 1900 the London Normal School. In 1908 normal schools were opened in Hamilton, Peterborough, and Stratford. Peterborough Normal School was officially opened on September 15, 1908 and operated until the late 1960's. Several hundred teachers were trained there over the years of operation. The first principal was Duncan Walker. In 1973 the Peterborough Teachers' College (formerly the Peterborough Normal School) closed its doors and the staff moved to the Faculty of Education, Queen's University.
Shining Waters Presbyterial UCW (United Church Women) is a Peterborough, Ontario, organization. Prior to 2013, it was known as Peterborough UCW Presbyterial. Shining Waters Presbyterial UCW is part of a larger organization, United Church Women, formally established in 1962 through the amalgamation of two United Church women’s groups, the Woman’s Association and the Woman’s Missionary Society. As stated in Voices of United Church Women, 1962-2002, the UCW’s purpose is “to unite the women of the congregation for the total mission of the church and to provide a medium through which we may express our loyalty and devotion to Jesus Christ in Christian witness, study, fellowship and service.” (p.v)
Peppermint and Abraxas Press are privately owned by Richard Miller and operated out of Toronto. Peppermint Press was established in 1973 as the printer's private publishing company (Taken from: Kotin, David B. "Reader, Lover of Books." Toronto: University of Toronto, 1981.) and Abraxas Press was established in 1978. Private printing presses in Canada are usually Canadian-owned, owner-managed and limited to an annual list of one to ten titles per year, receptive to new writers, rarely profit-making and often subsidized by government grants. These small private presses often make contributions to the advancement of new literary work and to Canadian cultural life. (Taken from: "Literary Presses in Canada, 1975-1985: A Checklist and Bibliography." Halifax: Dalhousie University, 1988.) Some publications printed by Peppermint include "Pocket Pool: Poems and Parables" by David Berry in 1975; "The Lavender Nightingale" by Catherine M. Buckaway in 1978 and "Stories of the Witch Queen" by Gena K. Gorrell in 1985. Abraxas Press has published a number of broadsides and helped to publish "The Lavender Nightingale".
The Progressive Conservative Association of Ontario was developed to provide a support network for Progressive Conservative MP's and candidates in Ontario ridings. Each riding has its own association to address concerns and draft policies that can be presented by MP's in the government.
The Young's Point Cheese Factory was located in Young's Point, Smith Township, Ontario. It was established in the early 1900's and was owned and run by Andrew Wilson. The factory was a family enterprise which included Andrew's brother George, and Andrew's sons, Rex and Len.
Windy Pine Point is a property located on Kushog Lake, near Minden, near Haliburton County, Ontario. The property was owned by Flora Morrison and Dr. Mary L. Northway from 1940 to 1982. As well as the main cottage, there were cabins which were available to friends and acquaintances. The owners planned and led girls' canoe trips from Windy Pine in the 1940's. It was deeded to Trent University.
The Peterborough Young Women's Christian Association was founded 1891 when a young man, who greatly appreciated what the Y.M.C.A. had done for him, felt that a similar organization should be offered to women. With the support of Mr. Colville, secretary of the Y.M.C.A., a meeting was arranged at which sixteen ladies attended (two from each church). These ladies became the charter members of the Peterborough Young Women's Christian Association. The first meeting took place over Long's Confectionery Shop on George Street. Bible studies, educational classes and club group meetings were held there. In 1892 a house on the north side of Brock Street (near George Street) was furnished to serve as a Residence for young girls who had no homes in the town. Before long all the work of the Association was carried out at the Brock Street residence. The Peterborough Y.W.C.A. was actively involved in many of the conferences and new ideas that came into the Association. For instance it was one of the first associations to take up Industrial work and offer meetings, in 1909, for girls employed at the electrical works. In 1901 the Y.W.C.A. needed to move into larger quarters due to the expansion of its members. They were able to secure rooms, with the aid of Hon. Senator Cox, on the west side of George Street and stayed there for two years. In 1904 the Y.W.C.A. decided it needed a Y.W.C.A. building and purchased the lot on the corner of Simcoe and Aylmer Streets. The Hon. Senator Cox provided rooms in the Bank of Commerce Building and the rooms on George Street and the house on Brock Street were given up. Mrs. Cox laid the cornerstone September 7, 1904 and the new building was opened in 1905. In 1912 rooms at 133 Rubidge street were formally opened. In 1916 a swimming pool was built and by May 30, 1918 was able to be used. In 1919 the Y.W.C.A. rented a cottage on Stoney Lake as a summer camp. The aim of the Y.W.C.A. was to provide religious education as well as special clubs, classes and parties to encourage the development of the all-round girl who would be the woman of the future. The Y.W.C.A. was considered a fellowship. In 1929 the Y.W.C.A. purchased nine acres of land near the centre of Stoney Lake as a campground, called Camp Inglestane and charged $7.00 a week per girl. The camp was sold at the end of the 1940's. The Y.W.C.A. continued to act as an employment bureau and forming clubs in the industrial sector. In June, 1939 the Peterborough Y.W.C.A. became more newly equipped with a more modern gymnasium and a new pool was opened. A nursery school opened in 1960. The Y.W.C.A. continued to grow and develop with each new year and national and international changes. In 1967 the Y.W.C.A. purchased the Knights of Columbus building as a Centennial project. This building was adjacent to the original Y building and was called Stevenson Hall in memory of James E. Stevenson, the original owner of the property. (Taken from: "The Peterborough Y.W.C.A. 1891 to 1981." Box 3, folder 2, Trent University Archives.) In the original Y.W.C.A. building programs such as Crossroads, which was a program for battered women and a series of shelters, and "Y's Buys" were run. The original building which was on the corner of Simcoe and Aylmer, and had been sold a number of years ago, burnt down on February 15, 1996. (See "Arthur" Volume 30, Issue 19, February 27, 1996, p 8.)
It was in 1957, through public discussion, that the people of Peterborough decided they wanted to establish a post-secondary educational institution in their city. The Mayor Colonel John Dewart set up a Committee on Higher Education which brought together many facets of the community to study such a possibility. The committee members represented business and industry, religion, education, and women's interests. On September 21, 1960, the committee became the Board of Directors of Trent College Limited. It was incorporated for the purposes of preliminary planning under the Companies Act. The elected body was comprised of C.K. Fraser as chairman; Dr. Donaldson Whyte, first vice-chairman; Rev. John Coughlan, second vice-chairman; Fred Chapman, treasurer; and Norman Crook, secretary. In May 1962, on the recommendation of the Provincial Government's Advisory Committee on University Affairs, the Government of Ontario announced its support for the founding of Trent University. An Act to incorporate Trent University was passed by the Legislature. The Act established a Board of Governors and the Senate of the University and conferred upon Trent the full and traditional powers and responsibilities of a University. The initial six members of the Board of Governors were C.K. Fraser, Dr. Donaldson Whyte, Rev. John Coughlan, Norman Crook, T.H.B. Symons, and Walter G. Ward. The number of board members was increased to 18 in 1963. The role of the Board of Governors was, and still is, to appoint and remove the President and Vice-Chancellor of the University; to appoint, promote, and remove deans, senior administrative officers and teaching staff, with the approval of the President and Vice-Chancellor; to fix the number, duties and salaries of the officers, clerks, employees, agents, and servants of the University; to appoint the executive committee as needed and to confer upon them the powers of the Board; and to make by-laws and regulations for the conduct of its affairs.
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.
The Department of Biology has been in operation since the University opened in 1964. Programs of study lead to single and joint-major, three-year and four-year science degrees. Many students do joint majors in Anthropology, Chemistry, Environmental and Resource Science, Geography or Psychology. Faculty members of the Department also supervise graduate students in the Watershed Ecosystems Graduate Program within which one may study toward an M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree.
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
The Peterborough Examiner was established 1856 by Augustus Sawers as Peterborough's reform paper, taking over from the Despatch. Robert Graham and James Renfrew bought the paper in 1859 and in 1864 James Stratton bought it. From 1877 to 1914 James Stratton's son ran the paper. The Peterborough Examiner is still running in 2022.
Academic Skills Centre Director
1995-1999 Karen Taylor
1999-2000 Peter Lapp (acting)
2000-2002 Karen Taylor
2002-2008 Martin Boyne
Academic Skills and Career Centres Director
2008-2011 Kristi Kerford
2011-2012 Angie Silverberg (Acting)
2012- 2015 Kristi Kerford
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 Travel Grants Committee was disbanded in 1992 when, under the collective agreement, TUFA travel grants were incorporated into research grants.
The Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Teacher Education program is co-sponsored by Trent University and the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University. In 1974, Trent and Queen’s agreed to undertake a joint program in Teacher Training Education combined with an undergraduate Arts and Science education. The program is designed for students wishing to teach at either the elementary or secondary school level.
The office of Associate Dean of Arts and Science at Trent University has had a convoluted history. The first incumbent was W. Eldon, followed by Julian Blackburn, Prudence Craib, Peter Adams, and Colin Taylor. The position has held responsibilities related to graduate studies and research since 1984.
The Department of Communications is responsible for the production of the University calendar (formerly a responsibility of the Registrar’s office), and, among other responsibilities, for communicating to the public news releases and statements issued by Trent University.
The Committee on Colleges serves as one of the central means of coordinating the activities and policies of the colleges and the University. It serves a dual purpose, reporting to Senate on academic matters, and to the President, in an advisory capacity regarding buildings and finance. It is composed of heads of colleges and representatives from dining services, student health services and athletic services committees. The Committee is also concerned with off-campus housing, the supervisory system, selection of college heads, telephone directories, dining hall services, pub policies, college admissions, etc.
The Church of England (Anglican Church) established the Diocese of Moosonee on December 15, 1872. Right Reverend John Horden was appointed the first Bishop of the diocese on the same date. Albany Parish is located north of Moose Factory on James Bay. Reverend Thomas Vincent, ordained in 1860, was sent to Albany, from Moose Factory, shortly after his ordination, and he was the first Anglican priest to settle in the area. In 1883, he was made Archdeacon of Moosonee in recognition of his faithfulness and experience. Archdeacon Vincent retired in 1899 and died in 1907.