Sudbury (Ontario) - It’s been 50 years (or almost!) since the act to incorporate Laurentian University received Royal assent, creating a bilingual institution of higher learning in Sudbury. To mark this half-century milestone and celebrate the remarkable achievements of northern Ontario’s largest post-secondary institution, Laurentian invites the community to its 50th anniversary kick-off party on Friday, March 26, 2010, 12 p.m., in the Great Hall.
“For the past 50 years, Laurentian University has been a major driving force for Sudbury and northern Ontario,” said Laurie Bissonette, Laurentian University alumna (B.Sc. 1979) and chair of the 50th anniversary organizing committee. “Its many friends, faculty, staff, students and alumni have pushed boundaries and will continue to do so for the next 50 years. We invite all to join us on March 26 to celebrate our university’s past accomplishments and its future ambitions.”
Laurentian University’s 50th anniversary kick-off party will be hosted by special guests Father Bouvier (aka Denys Tremblay), first president of the university, and Mr. Ralf D. Parker (aka Bill Sanders), first chair of the Board of Governors. They will be joined by current president Dominic Giroux, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the community. All are welcome to attend. Cake and lunch will be served.
50,000 reasons to celebrate!
Throughout the year, Laurentian University will invite the community to a series of events. Here’s a glimpse of what is to come. For more details, visit: www.celebrate50.laurentian.ca.
Thursday-Friday, March 25-26
Franco-Ontarian Seminar
West Residence
What role did Laurentian University play in the emergence and development of a Franco-Ontarian culture and identity? This is what researchers and community members will strive to shed light on during this seminar.
Saturday, March 27, starting at 8:30 p.m.
37th Nuit sur l'Étang
Fraser Auditorium
The Nuit sur l’étang comes back to its Laurentian roots for the occasion, with artists Tricia Foster, Les Trois Accords, and CANO. Details at www.lanuit.ca.
Friday-Sunday, July 9-11
Alumni Summer Reunion Weekend
Northern Lights Festival Boréal on campus
Are you a LU grad? Your former classmates might be on campus in July. For more information, visit www.celebrate50.laurentian.ca.
Monday-Friday, August 30-September 3
International conference on Language and Territory
Saturday-Sunday, October 2-3
Northern Aboriginal Festival
Sudbury Arena
Friday, October 22
Alumni Voyageur Hall of Fame
Saturday, October 23
50 Years of Alumni Achievement Awards Gala
In recognition of Laurentian University’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the Laurentian University Alumni Association will be recognizing 50 graduates who are the epitome of Laurentian University’s core values – Excellence, Collaboration, Community, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility, and Quality of Life - and who exemplify these values through their scholarly, creative, professional or humanitarian contributions.
These awards will display the diversity of Laurentian University and showcase its outstanding ambassadors.
Tickets: $175/person
Reservations: (705) 675-4818 or www.celebrate50.laurentian.ca
Fall 2010
Launch of Laurentian University History Book
Date and location to be determined
The Act to incorporate Laurentian University of Sudbury received Royal assent on March 28, 1960, creating a bilingual institution of higher learning in Sudbury. Unique in its bilingual and tri-cultural mandate, Laurentian has graduated more than 41,000 students in 50 years. Among its current 9,000 full-time and part-time students, 17 per cent are studying in French, more than 10 per cent are Aboriginal, and a growing number are international students. Building on its success delivering excellent undergraduate education, Laurentian is a growing graduate and research institution, offering 6 doctoral programs and 20 diploma and master’s programs, along with its 141 undergraduate programs.
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