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.
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 Kawartha Artists Gallery and Studio (KAGS), founded by Dorothy Martin, was a not-for-profit artist collective located in Peterborough, established in June 1990 in the basement of the Peterborough Public Library’s De La Fosse branch. Some of the well-known, founding members include George Elliot, Poul Thrane, Ann Cossar, John Norton, and Neil Broadfoot. For a $25 membership fee, they offered the opportunity for artists to access to exhibition space with a hanging fee and no commission on sales, individual painting space, storage space for materials and unfinished work, and use of worktables, easels, work areas, kitchen and washroom facilities. They showcased demonstrations during exhibitions, held workshops for young children and adults, and hosted various art events and contests. They aimed to bring together local artists, both professional and aspiring, to support the growth of arts and culture in the surrounding area.
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).