Timeline
Trinity College: 1850 to the Present with College Milestones 2014 to 2024
2024: The College reaches an ambitious milestone – over the last decade, more than $100 million has been raised to support the College’ priorities including nearly $40 million for the Lawson Centre for Sustainability. In March, donors and supporters gather to sign the mass timber being installed for this innovative new building (image: Mass Timber Raising Celebration).
The Tugwell-Loveland First Generation Award is established to support students who are the first in their families to pursue post-secondary education. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the College started a new tradition to celebrate graduating students – a reception was held in September to welcome students to their fourth year, which was book-ended in early April with the inaugural Last Lecture featuring three speakers – faculty, alum and graduating student.
The John W. Graham Library & Trinity College Archives release their strategic plan. The College approves the appointment of three Associate Professors, the first continuing Associate Professor appointments in Trinity’s Faculty of Arts in decades. Professor Nick Terpstra is named the College’s 16th Provost & Vice-Chancellor, effective July 1. The College renews its arrangements under the Federation Framework Agreement with the University of Toronto.
2023: Activity increases on the construction site with mass excavation, crane assembly, pouring of concrete structures and the first delivery of mass timber (image: view of the construction site). Brian Lawson is appointed the College’s 13th Chancellor. The College’s student financial aid program reaches $1.46 million for 2022-2023. Also this academic year: to provide meaningful experience-based learning and leadership opportunities, across the College, Trinity employs 137 students (a nearly 600% increase in the number of positions compared to a decade ago). The Faculty of Divinity receives a seven-year re-accreditation by the Association of Theological Schools, and with the Toronto School of Theology, also receives approval from the University of Toronto to offer a hybrid (online/in-person) learning option for the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program. In December, Trinity becomes the first post-secondary institution in North American to secure a labelled Green Loan to finance the construction of the new Lawson Centre for Sustainability.
2022: With the return to many in-person activities on campus, students come out in record numbers to enjoy opportunities to connect and engage in dialogue with peers, faculty, alumni and guest speakers (image: various college celebrations and events). The College’s career advising program is expanded to include exploration and education, followed by a re-imagined alumni mentorship program.
In August, the Trinity community mourns the loss of its long-serving 12th Chancellor, The Hon. William C. Graham. After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the famous Trinity College Friends of the Library Book Sale returns, raising nearly $100,000 to support the many projects and activities of the John W. Graham Library.
In the fall, construction mobilization and geothermal drilling begin on the site for the new Lawson Centre for Sustainability. Setting a new standard for campus sustainability, the Lawson Centre will increase residence, academic and social spaces for the entire community. It will also provide state-of-the-art areas for research and experiential learning including the Community Kitchen and the George and Martha Butterfield Rooftop Farm.
2021: In November, a Ground Blessing Ceremony (image: right) is held on the future site of the new building – the Lawson Centre for Sustainability (rendering: left). The College also receives several leadership gifts to support the new building from members of the Trinity community, including Chancellor Bill Graham.
For the 2021-2022 academic year, core sustainability courses are added to Trinity’s Ethics, Society & Law and International Relations programs to help equip students with tools to address one of the globe’s most pressing challenges. The Faculty of Divinity establishes the Innovative Leaders Initiative – Reimagining Contemporary Ministries – through a nearly $1 million (USD) grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. The College’s Task Force on Anti-Black Racism and Inclusion releases its report.
Two Community Wellness Coordinators join the Wellness Team to further enhance the College’s wellness program, paying specific attention to students in residence who may have been impacted by the isolating effects of the pandemic.
The Trinity College Archives receives a gift-in-kind of more than 4,000 editorial cartoons donated by their creator Brian Gable and The Globe and Mail. This is among the Archives’ recent acquisitions – along with papers by The Hon. William C. Graham (2020), John Kirton (G7/G8 summit records: 2024) and Bertie Ramcharan (worked for the UN for 30 years: 2024) – which build upon the College’s collection strength to complement Trinity’s programs such as International Relations.
2020: In March, the university campus closes to in-person activities due to the global COVID-19 pandemic (image: views of campus when the College re-opens in the fall). The College establishes the BIPOC Student Award (later named the Dr. Alexander Thomas Augusta Award) and the BIPOC Bursary Fund to increase financial aid available to students identifying as Black, Indigenous or Persons of Colour. In October, Trinity announces its inaugural leadership team for the College’s innovative Integrated Sustainability Initiative, which is designed to integrate the principles of sustainability into the daily life at the College – from academic programs and co-curricular programming to the student experience. The Faculty of Divinity creates a second McBride-Haley Lectureship in Church Management. The Living Trinity campaign website launches, and planning phases are underway for the College’s new academic and residence building, the Lawson Centre for Sustainability.
2019: As part of Trinity’s campus revitalization and infrastructure renewal plan, the new Student Services Centre and Welcome Desk open in the front hall of Trinity College in Fall 2019, bringing academic and student life support services together into one space, along with the new Academic Resource Centre. (Image: staff from the Office of the Registrar and Office of the Dean of Students). The College launches the Community Advisor (CA) peer-based program to help promote supportive and inclusive residence communities. To celebrate the Chancellor’s 80th birthday and to honour his generosity of spirit and leadership, Provost Moran announces the new Chancellor William C. Graham Awards; the inaugural recipients receive their awards at the fall meeting of Corporation.
At the Chair’s Reception in October, the College announces three landmark gifts to the Living Trinity Campaign: $10 million gift from Brian and Joannah Lawson to launch the innovative Integrated Sustainability Initiative; and $5 million gifts from each of Nevil Thomas and Jack Whiteside to support the new building.
2018: In September, the inaugural cohort of students are enrolled in the new Butterfield Environment & Sustainability Stream in the Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program (image: field trip to Koffler Scientific Reserve). Supported by Chancellor Bill Graham and in partnership with the Department of History, a new faculty position is created in Contemporary International History, boosting the College’s expertise in international relations. A new Master of Arts in Contemporary International History is also created, in collaboration with the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History. The Faculty of Divinity and the Toronto School of Theology launch a new Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Theological Studies, conjointly with the University of Toronto.
2017: The College has built a future for Trinity’s past – the new Trinity College Archives opens, integrating many environmental sustainability features, including the campus’ first geothermal system (image: main corridor). Work continues to make the College more welcoming and accessible, with the addition of an elevator that serves the front hall, Seeley Hall and the new Archives space, along with a new accessibility lift to the Junior Common Room, and a new student wellness space in St. Hilda’s College. Trinity’s student services are integrated and strengthened under the Student Services umbrella, two new positions are created – Director of Student Services (assumed by the Registrar) and Career & Academic Advisor, and a new endowment fund is created to support international travel and experiential learning opportunities for students.
2016: Trinity College’s Strategic Plan: People, Program, Place is released (image: cover of the plan and People collage). To strengthen student supports, the College launches the Trinity College Mental Health Program and Anne Steacy Counselling Initiative. This first of its kind program is managed by the College’s inaugural Associate Director of Community Wellness. The College’s work to create a more welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment continues with the creation of all gender washrooms as well as a fully accessible washroom. A new professional role is created – Assistant Dean, Student Life – to work specifically with student leaders and groups to further support and enhance student life and the campus experience. The Faculty of Divinity and the Toronto School of Theology launch a Master of Arts (MA) in Theological Studies, conjointly with the University of Toronto. The College also receives a Fair Trade Campus designation for its food services operation.
2015: The College’s first-ever student experience survey yields fascinating insights into today’s students and how the College can make an already excellent Trinity experience even better (image: Trinity Magazine). The inaugural student recipients of Trinity College’s Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships work on research projects in Immunology and in Establishing Right Relations as part of their summer internships abroad. Through a $1 million endowment, the Marilyn and Charles Baillie Award is established to provide financial assistance to students in need. The Friends of the Library celebrated its 40th annual Book Sale.
2014: Professor Mayo Moran appointed Trinity College’s 15th Provost & Vice-Chancellor (image: Provostial Installation). The College expands its science programming with two new streams in the Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program: Anne Steacy Biomedical Health Stream and Anne Steacy Health Science & Society Stream (later named Anne Steacy Medicine & Global Health Stream). The Faculty of Divinity and the Toronto School of Theology launch a new Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Theological Studies, conjointly with the University of Toronto.
2013: The Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History opened. The Centre is a collaborative academic enterprise between Trinity College and the Munk School of Global Affairs.
2005: In September, Trinity introduced a new program for first-year students— Trinity One (later named the Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program) in the International Relations and Ethics streams. The Public Policy stream started in 2012.
2000: The John W. Graham Library opened; previously, the library was located in the basement level of the main building.
1995: Through the generosity of Trinity alumni and friends, the Humphrys Chaplaincy was endowed at the College. This was followed by the Margaret E. Fleck Chair in Anglican Studies, the positions of the Rolph-Bell Archivist and the Nicholls Librarian, and the Raymond Pryke Chair in the Margaret MacMillan Trinity One Program.
1988: Trinity now sponsored three interdisciplinary undergraduate programs on behalf of the Faculty of Arts & Science: International Relations (1976), Immunology (1984) and Ethics, Society & Law (1988).
1979: Named after Trinity’s 9th Provost, the George Ignatieff Theatre opened on November 12.
1974: The Memorandum of Understanding between Trinity College and the University of Toronto was signed; Trinity’s undergraduate program became fully integrated with the University’s Faculty of Arts & Science.
1961: Opening on January 15, the new academic building was named in honour of Gerald Larkin, one of Trinity’s most important benefactors.
1955: Trinity College Chapel opened in October. Until then, Seeley Hall had been the College Chapel.
1943: Together with Emmanuel, Knox and Wycliffe Colleges, the Faculty of Divinity formed the future Toronto School of Theology (established in 1969), which joined the University of Toronto in 1978 to grant degrees conjointly.
1938: The new St. Hilda’s Residence building on Devonshire Place opened; in 2004, all residences at Trinity became coeducational.
1925: The College acquired its present property on Hoskin Avenue in 1913, but construction was not completed until 1925 because of the war. The foundation stone for the new building was laid on June 4, 1923, and the College held its formal opening and dedication ceremony on October 21, 1925.
1904: Trinity federated with the University of Toronto on October 1; this also saw the cessation of the Trinity Medical College and the Faculties of Law, Dentistry and Music.
1888: St. Hilda’s College was created as the women’s college of Trinity; it was incorporated on February 11, 1890.
1884: The College admitted its first female students.
1870: Trinity Medical School opened in 1870 (later the Trinity Medical College).
1867: The Right Rev’d John Strachan died on November 1.
1850-1852: Founded by the Right Rev’d John Strachan, Trinity College purchased its original site on Queen Street West in 1850. Trinity College was incorporated and the cornerstone was laid on April 30, 1851. On January 15, 1852, the College opened. Also in 1852, the Cobourg Diocesan Theological Institute (which had begun teaching in 1842) became the Faculty of Divinity in the new Trinity College.