The Department of English has been in operation since the University opened in 1964.
In 2002, The President’s Environmental Advisory Committee (PEAC) was re-classified as the Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) under the facilities and grounds umbrella. The Environmental Advisory Board was comprised of faculty, staff, and students, a college head, a vice-president, and the director of physical resources. In 2002, the members were Stephen Bocking (Chair), Jeremy Brennan, Trudy Kirschner, Rob Loney, Ava Richardson, Naomi Tschirhart, Laura Anderson, Peter Dillon, Elizabeth Eberhardt, Charmaine Eddy, Sarah Harvie, Michelle Lee, and Natalie Stephenson.
The Association of Teaching Staff (ATS) was proposed by Professor T.H.B. Symons in 1964 and an Organizing Committee was struck. R.L. Edwards served as Chairman of the committee from 1964 to 1966. ATS 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). TUFA represents Trent University academic staff and professional librarians.
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).
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).
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.
The Trent University Native Association was established in 1969 and Doug Williams was the first President.
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.
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).
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).
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.
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 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 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 Travel Grants Committee was disbanded in 1992 when, under the collective agreement, TUFA travel grants were incorporated into research grants.
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).
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.
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.
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 Trent Valley Woollen Mill was located in Campbellford, Ontario on the shore of the Trent River at the turn of the 20th century.
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-Fleming Trail Studies Unit (TSU) was started in 1992 to address a lack of research into trails. TSU was a joint initiative between Sir Sanford Fleming College and Trent University. TSU was directed by Professor John Marsh of Trent University and Dr. Al McPherson of Sir Sanford Fleming College. TSU was in operation from 1992-2022 and held 3400 publications regarding national and international trails in their library. TSU also engaged in research projects, conferences, committees, and public education on trails.
The aims of TSU included:
Throughout its tenure, TSU hosted conferences, created local guides on trails, consulted on trail-related projects on a national and international level, led numerous research projects, and supported student research via graduate theses, and undergraduate course work and honours theses.
