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Lest we forget: Plaques to honour heritage

Commemorative plaques are being installed at the Loyola and Sir George Williams campuses to celebrate Concordia's heritage.
October 5, 2010
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Concordia University President and Vice-Chancellor Judith Woodsworth and Robert Barnes, former president of the Association of Alumni of Sir George Williams University, stand at the Hall Building during a plaque unveiling to commemorate the name of the Sir George Williams Campus.
Concordia University President and Vice-Chancellor Judith Woodsworth and Robert Barnes, former president of the Association of Alumni of Sir George Williams University, stand at the Hall Building during the plaque unveiling, Oct. 3.

Commemorative plaques are being installed at the Loyola and Sir George Williams campuses to celebrate Concordia’s heritage.

“Many people are not aware of our rich history,” says Clarence Epstein, Director of Special Projects and Cultural Affairs in the Office of the President. “The idea is to raise awareness at street level of the connections between the people, the buildings and the collective traditions of Loyola College, Sir George Williams University and Concordia.”

As part of the project, two plaques will be prominently featured at the Sir George Williams campus; one on the iconic Henry F. Hall Building and one on the new John Molson School of Business Building to mark Concordia’s longstanding excellence in business education.

Along with alumni, Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor Judith Woodsworth unveiled the silver-coloured plaque outlining the history of the Henry F. Hall Building as part of a Homecoming tour of Quartier Concordia on October 3.

Robert Barnes, BA 68, who campaigned to have the provenance of the Sir George Williams Campus name officially recognized through plaques, was on hand for the unveiling. The former president of the Association of Alumni of Sir George Williams University beamed with pride as the silver-coloured plaque was unveiled.

The project is a collaboration between Epstein and recently-retired Director of Archives Nancy Marrelli, who penned the texts. Archivist Emerita, Marrelli will remain involved in the project.

A third plaque will go up in 2011 on the Kenneth E. Norris Building on Drummond St., which is now the Downtown YMCA. Sir George Williams College, formally established in 1926, grew out of evening educational programs offered by the YMCA as early as the 1850s.

The Norris Building was home to Sir George Williams College when it was built in 1956, and served as a university building until Concordia left the site in 1992.
The third plaque unveiling ceremony will coincide with the 160th anniversary of the establishment of the YMCA in Montreal.

Epstein says careful attention is being paid to time future unveilings with significant milestones in Concordia history, “including Concordia’s 40th anniversary in 2014.” Other plaques will follow on both campuses, watch for announcement of these events on now.concordia.ca.

Related link:
•    Concordia Alumni Relations



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