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Alumni come home to mark 40 years

As Concordia celebrates its fourth decade, alumni and friends returned to the university for Homecoming weekend.
September 26, 2014
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By Louise Morgan


As Concordia marks its 40th anniversary, alumni and friends returned to the university for Homecoming weekend. President Alan Shepard opened the festivities with a look back on Concordia and its founding institutions Loyola College and Sir George Williams University, which joined together in 1974.

Homecoming highlights included the sold-out President’s Homecoming Dinner at the Ritz-Carleton Montréal. CTV Montreal News co-anchor Mutsumi Takahashi, BA 79, MBA 95, LLD 13, entertained guests as emcee. Live music performed by alumni included an on-stage appearance by eminent Montreal trumpeter Charles Ellison, associate professor in Concordia’s Department of Music.

Homecoming Football Game and Alumni Zone

The Stingers beat the Université de Sherbrooke’s Vert et Or 29-22 at the Homecoming football game, continuing their winning streak. New this year was the exclusive Alumni Zone, where Concordia President Shepard and Stingers’ head coach Mickey Donovan greeted visitors to a pre-game party, emceed by Shaun McMahon of 92.5 The Beat.

Visitors snapped fun pictures at the TD Insurance Meloche Monnex Green Screen photo booth, where 1970s-era accessories were on hand for throwback snaps marking Concordia’s 1974 founding.

Shuffle and Concordia Golf Classic

Many arrived at Loyola Campus for the game by way of the Shuffle, the 6.5-kilometre walkathon from Sir George Williams Campus to Loyola Campus.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the annual fundraiser attracted 600 Concordia community members and raised $65,000 for financial aid and scholarships to help Concordia students.

Another of the university’s signature fundraising events, the Concordia Golf Classic, raised $285,000 toward student bursaries. For the first time, the event was held during Homecoming.

Historic Grey Nuns Residence and Reading Room tours

Popular tours of Concordia’s newest property, the historic Grey Nuns Residence and Reading Room, informed visitors of all ages of the rich history of the former motherhouse.

Tours included a visit to the crypt, one of only a handful in Montreal, and the just-opened spectacular, classically styled reading room in the former chapel.

Reunions and faculty-based events

Faculty-based reunions brought alumni back to reconnect with their former classmates and professors.

The dean of the John Molson School of Business, Steve Harvey, inspired graduates with his talk at the faculty’s networking cocktail.

Homecoming 2014
Alumni are all smiles at the Homecoming Football Game. | Photo: Joe Dresdner

At the District 3 Grinder, two teams of student entrepreneurs pitched to a panel of judges in the style of reality TV-show Dragon’s Den. Moderated by Xavier-Henri Hervé, founder and director of Concordia’s District 3 Innovation Centre, the panel included alumni from diverse backgrounds.

A panel presentation aimed at Fine Arts graduates paid tribute to alumna and professor Marion Wagschal’s body of work and upcoming exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

During the Engineering and Computer Science alumni reunion, President Shepard and Amir Asif, the faculty’s dean, were on hand to recognize a generous donation by two graduates — Susan Raymer, BA 71, and Ben Wygodny, BA 69 — towards the Centre for Engineering in Society.

Special events were held for graduates of the Department of Economics, which held its first-ever reunion, and the Science College, which celebrated a 35th anniversary with guest speaker Rubin Gruber.

Honouring former Stingers

The Department of Recreation and Athletics honoured former Concordia athletes during the Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet.

Newly inducted are Dave Draper (Builder), Men’s Hockey 1982-83 (team), Men’s Wrestling 1985-86 (team) as well as individual athletes Colin Anderson, BA 84; Serge Marcil, BA 86; Bill Peel, BA 69; Michael Walker, BComm 83; Natascha Wesch, BSc 94.



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