With just one year to go until Queen’s 175th anniversary, David Walker can feel the excitement building.

“I sense the momentum spreading across campus and in the community,” says Dr. Walker, Chair, Queen’s 175th Anniversary Executive Committee. “I am encouraged to see individuals and groups come forward with innovative ideas for marking the 175th anniversary in their respective areas.”

On this day 174 years ago, Queen’s received its Royal Charter after petitioning Queen Victoria in London. The university will celebrate the 175th anniversary of this occasion in 2016-17, with most of the celebrations taking place during the academic year, September to April.

Work continues on a significant anniversary project: highlighting 175 seminal moments from Queen’s history. The curation team has whittled the list down after receiving hundreds of submissions from alumni, staff, students and community members. University Historian Duncan McDowall is currently drafting short descriptions of the moments that will be featured on many different platforms when they are unveiled during the 2016-17 academic year.

“175 moments can’t possibly capture everything that has happened at an institution like Queen’s that’s so rich in history,” says Dr. Walker. “That being said, I think people will enjoy exploring the evolution of Queen’s through these milepost moments,” Dr. Walker says.

I am encouraged to see individuals and groups come forward with innovative ideas for marking the 175th anniversary in their respective areas.
David Walker, Chair, Queen's 175th Anniversary Executive Committee

In other 175th anniversary news, Senate recently voted in closed session on the honorary degree recipients for 2016. Senate agreed to award all honorary degrees in 2016 to Queen’s alumni in celebration of the Queen’s 175th anniversary. The honorees will be announced publicly in the New Year. It is anticipated that those hosting these distinguished alumni recipients might wish to build a special event around the occasion to mark the anniversary year, says Dr. Walker.

Also in 2016, Queen’s and Perth, a small village 85 km north of Kingston, will erect joint plaques honouring William Morris, a founding father of both the university and the town. William Morris played a key role in establishing Queen’s College as chair of the first Board of Trustees and he was an early settler of Perth. The Queen’s plaque will be situated outside of Morris Hall, a student residence on campus.

Visit the Queen’s 175th anniversary website for more information about the celebration and a calendar of events.