Half a century at the top of the game

Meanwhile, faculty, alumni and students have been reviewing a half a century of successes both big and small since kicking off celebrations at Homecoming 2015 in September.

From award-winning faculty to internationally famous alumni, there is much to celebrate as the department turns 50.

Here’s a snapshot of some of the department’s distinct features.

The first of its kind in Canada

When it was founded as Communication Arts at Loyola in 1965, the department was the first of its kind in Canada. Communication Studies has remained housed on the Loyola Campus. Along with being widely recognized across Canada as one of the best, the communication studies department is in the top 150 worldwide according to QS World University Rankings.

The department offers a combination of creative production courses and theoretical courses that continue to set it apart from others in Canada, says department coordinator Sheelah O’Neill, BA 74.

“We’re still quite unique in that we have a broad range of production and theory,” says O’Neill. She points out that the department offers undergraduate and graduate programs.

Former professor’s daughter carries the torch

Not only is Monika Gagnon, BA 82, a graduate of Concordia’s Department of Communication Studies, but she is now a professor in the department, just like her father before her.

The late Charles Gagnon was a multidisciplinary artist who designed, among other works, the Christian Pavilion’s interior for Montreal’s Expo 67. While devising it, he met the department’s late founder, Professor Emeritus Fr. John (Jack) E. O’Brien, and the Jesuit priest invited him into Communication Arts.

“My father joined in the fall of ’67, set up the filmmaking program and taught the first film production courses that were offered in the department,” says Gagnon. She adds that Charles Gagnon remained at Loyola until1974.

Now, Monika Gagnon is the chair of the committee that has been planning the year-long anniversary celebrations. Reaching this milestone, she says, “Feels like an amazing moment, actually.”

Famous alumni make waves worldwide

“We have so many illustrious alumni. We feel really lucky that we can draw on so much expertise,” Gagnon says.

The long list of accomplished Communication Studies alumni includes film producer Don Carmody, BA 72. Coincidentally, he was convinced to pursue film studies by Charles Gagnon.

Carmody has since been involved with the production of more than 100 feature films, including Chicago (2002), Good Will Hunting (1997) and The Boondock Saints (1999).

The many noteworthy graduates include film producer Kevin Tierney, GrDip 78 (Bon Cop Bad Cop), reporter for CTV Montreal News Caroline Van Vlaardingen, BA 84, film producer Pierre Even, GrDip 90 (Brooklyn), TV writer Barry Julien, BA 94 (Late Show with Stephen Colbert), TV producer and host Anne-Marie Withenshaw, BA 02 (C’est Juste de la TV), and screenwriter and producer Elan Mastai, MA 05 (The F Word).

Wrapping up 50th celebrations

50 Years. 5000 Grads. 1 Big Celebration. will be held April 29-30. A number of events are planned.

There will be a film screening on April 29 of A Journey to Ithaca, written and directed by Communication Studies graduate Nicola Zavaglia, BA 78. The film looks back at the early days of the department, with key players like O’Brien.

On April 30, there will be an open house, giving guests the opportunity to explore the modern Communication Studies and Journalism Building.

Next, a panel of all-star communication studies alumni will convene in the Richard J. Renaud Science Complex for a discussion called #Keywords: Communications in the Next 50 Years, to speculate on the future in communications.

Celebrations will conclude when graduates come together with faculty and staff to eat and dance in the Loyola Jesuit Hall and Conference Centre. There will be live DJs, cocktails, food and plenty of memories shared.

“We’re just going to have a good time with people connecting again,” says O’Neill. “That’s what it’s all about. Just cumulating a year of celebrations and bringing people back into the fold.”

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