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Same location, new address

Algoma University will remain at its current location, but its address will change from 1520 Queen Street East to 1 Shingwauk Drive.

Algoma University will remain at its current location, but its address will change from 1520 Queen Street East to 1 Shingwauk Drive.

The change was announced by Richard Myers, Algoma University president, after a special presentation delivered Saturday by Don Jackson, recently-retired Algoma University law and politics professor.

Algoma is marking the first leg of its 50th anniversary celebrations this weekend, with more celebrations to come during this summer’s convocation and at homecoming in the fall.

Jackson began teaching at Algoma in 1974 and retired January 1, 2015.

Jackson’s presentation at Algoma Saturday was a part of this weekend’s activities, entitled “Algoma’s Move to Shingwauk: The Transformation of a College.”

Jackson gave a glimpse into how a group of local people worked tenaciously to bring university-level education to Sault Ste. Marie 50 years ago.

“I’m really, really pleased about the fact we’ve developed and consolidated our position in the community and here on this site, that we’ve got our partnerships with the former students (of the former Shingwauk Residential School),” Jackson said to SooToday.

With Algoma now a cross-cultural educational institution consisting of approximately 1,500 native and non-native students, and more recently, a host of international students joining domestic students, Jackson said “there were people who went before us, (aboriginal people and the early administration and faculty of the former Algoma College) and those people gave us something to work with, and it’s a trust responsibility.”

“This school was a community first,” Jackson said.

“In my experience, it’s community first, institution later…if it’s not a community in itself, then how can it be of use to building the community and supporting the community it resides in.”

“Everybody’s got to be a part of it, staff, students, faculty, the board, everybody…that’s what our community is, everybody counts and everybody should care,” Jackson said.

Jackson told Saturday’s audience of how the provincial government originally left Sault Ste. Marie out of the equation when it was announced, in 1959, there would be two new universities in Ontario.

A Sault group lobbied the government, and in 1965, the province allowed the Algoma College Association, affiliated with Laurentian University, to teach first year university level courses only (with students having to complete their university education at Laurentian or other universities).

Those courses were taught at Sault College (then known as Cambrian College) beginning in 1967.

Algoma College had approximately 70 students at that time.

Jackson spoke of the determination of several people, notably Lawrence Brown (who served as Algoma University College board chair from 1965 to 1974) and Ian Brown (unrelated to Lawrence Brown), a history professor who served as Algoma University College principal in those early years, to establish and maintain university-level education in Sault Ste. Marie.

A plan was in place for Algoma University College to have its own space at the corner of Fourth Line and Brule Road, but the province would not provide funding to build a facility on that property.

Undaunted, the closing of the Shingwauk Residential School in 1970, Jackson said, came at an opportune time for Algoma University College leadership.

Algoma leased Shingwauk Hall and the surrounding property from the Anglican Church of Canada, which ran the former residential school site.

Algoma eventually took over ownership of the property.

Jackson recalled the days when his office was in one of several portable buildings on the property.

Celia Ross, a French literature professor who went on to become the school’s president and steered it towards becoming an independent university in 2008, also had an office in that portable building.

Jackson said the portable was a cold place to work in the winter months, professors often wearing their winter coats in their offices.

Jackson recalled Terry Ross, a political science professor (unrelated to Celia Ross), dubbed the portable ‘Siberia.’

Jackson said it is fortunate, in a cultural and historical way, Shingwauk Hall still stands on the site of Algoma University, as the building is one of few remaining former residential school sites left in Canada.

Jackson said Shingwauk Hall has been, and will continue to be, a cross- cultural link at Algoma University.  

Jackson said, in retirement, he will continue to give occasional lectures and finish “tons and tons” of research.

Meanwhile, signage clearly marking out 1 Shingwauk Drive as Algoma University’s new address will be in place in the spring, and the change will be finalized on Algoma’s website and letterhead by summer, Myers said.

As reported earlier by SooToday, Algoma University is in the process of naming its roadways, buildings and rooms in honour of those who have played a role in the postsecondary institution’s history as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

PHOTO: Don Jackson, retired Algoma University professor, holds a miniature version of the new road sign for Algoma's main roadway. Darren Taylor/SooToday

 

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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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