A WALKING TOUR OF BRANDON About Brandon University

Brandon University (BU) is proudly by the adjoined Clark Hall in 1906, and prominently situated along and a nearby Science Building in central 18th Street in Brandon, 1922. Brandon College weathered . BU is a co-educational, economic downturns and two world non-denominational, government- wars to thrive and prosper. supported institution and the third- largest university in the Province Although Brandon . It is a member of received its charter on June 5, 1967, Canada. on the occasion of the visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra Although Brandon College was and the Honourable Angus Ogilvie, founded in 1899, the history of the charter was dated July 1, 1967, to higher education in the Brandon mark Canada’s Centennial. Brandon area can be traced back years earlier. University shares this anniversary In 1871, the signing of Treaty 2 with a number of other Canadian permitted the settling of lands that universities. were traditionally home to the Dakota, Anishanabek, Oji-Cree, From 1899 until today, the number Cree, and Métis peoples. Baptist and variety of campus building missionaries, among the early facilities increased in response to settlers, made education a priority new academic programs, expanding and in 1880, established Prairie enrolments, and a widening range College at Rapid City, about 40 km of campus activities and services. north of Brandon — the first post- Many new buildings were added secondary educational institution to the campus landscape, and a on the Canadian Prairies west of the number of the institution’s physical original 1870 Manitoba border. structures underwent renovation, reconstruction, expansion, and In 1884, the McKee Academy repurposing. Remarkably, in its succeeded Prairie College, and it over-120 years, only one structure – moved to Brandon in 1890. Brandon the temporary WWII-era H-Huts – College absorbed McKee Academy no longer appears on campus. in 1899 and began instruction that year. The original Brandon College The current BU campus comprises building was built on Brandon’s building complexes or centres and 18th Street in 1900–01, followed individual, single-purpose buildings. 1 — Original Building & Clark Hall Complex

The original Brandon College In the late 1990s, the Original building, designed by Winnipeg Building and Clark Hall complex architect Hugh McCowan, was was completely renovated and officially opened on October 1, 1901. reconstructed. Although the interior The façade of the building is built was gutted and rebuilt, the heritage from locally produced brick and brick exterior was preserved. An Manitoba limestone and features expanded fourth floor was added, elegant arches and a Romanesque additional space was created in the appeal. A chapel was a central basement, and a new expansion interior feature. This building was added to the west, designed initially housed the College’s to complement and enhance theology, commercial, and high the existing historical design of school departments. Original Building and Clark Hall. The expansion includes a skywalk Clark Hall, designed by William connecting to the George T. Alexander Elliot and officially Richardson Centre. opened on October 27, 1906, is connected to and shares a similar Today, the fully restored original design with the original Brandon Brandon College and Clark Hall College building. It was named after buildings are used as the main home Dr. Charles W. Clark who funded for the Faculty of Arts. They include $30,000 of the total $40,000 cost of classrooms; study spaces; and offices construction. Clark Hall, originally for faculty, senior administrators, used as a women’s residence, and finance and registration included a gymnasium, a music personnel. studio, reception offices, and a dining hall.

Coat of Arms

The BU Coat of Arms dates open books represent to 1948 and represents learning and the arts; and the three-fold nature of the phoenix represents humanity: spiritual, mental, immortality. The motto, and physical – crowned with taken from Ephesians IV:15, the blessing of everlasting is Aletheuontes de en Agape, life. The wheat sheaf represents which translates as “Speaking the humanity’s material blessings; the truth in love.” 2 — Knowles-Douglas Student Union Centre

This Centre is named after Tommy plans included the potential for Douglas and , who additions that were never completed. were both Brandon University Alumni. Douglas served as Premier Upon completion of the new John of Saskatchewan and was voted R. Brodie (Science) Building in “Greatest Canadian” in 2004 for his the 1972, the Science Department role as the “Father of ”. vacated the Knowles-Douglas Knowles, a federal political colleague Building and was replaced by the of Douglas’s, is credited with the Drama Department and various introduction of the Canada Pension student functions. In 1985, the Plan. He was Chancellor of Brandon Knowles-Douglas Building was University from 1970–90. expanded to connect with McMaster Hall. The Centre is currently home The Knowles-Douglas Centre to the Brandon University Students’ incorporates the initial beige brick Union; the BU bookstore; student Science Building, constructed in groups like The Quill; and the central 1922. Thanks to the foresight of its Mingling Area, with coffee shop and architect, the initial Science Building services.

3 — McMaster Hall

McMaster Hall, one of the tallest study rooms, and laundry facilities. buildings in Brandon, opened in Atop McMaster Hall is the BU 1971 as an all-gender residence. Observatory, featuring a 16-inch telescope, one of the largest in the Originally known as the “Towers”, Prairies. it was quickly renamed “McMaster” to honour Brandon College’s In 1972, McMaster Hall was association with McMaster connected to the newly constructed University in Hamilton, Ontario. John R. Brodie Science Centre, The McMaster Hall residence creating a sprawling complex that allows for up to 270 occupants includes two other residences and and boasts game rooms, television the cafeteria, Harvest Hall. lounges, multi-purpose rooms, 4 — J.R. Brodie Science Building

The new John R. Brodie Science university; it currently generates Centre officially opened May 8, about $37,000 a year. 1972. It was custom designed to be a science centre, replacing the aging The Brodie Science Centre is science facilities in the old 1922 currently home to traditional and Science Building and its adjacent, modern-day sciences such as biology, hand-me-down, WWII-era military chemistry, physics, geography, H-Huts. It was designed by Green, psychology, and mathematics. Blankstein and Russell Associates Although each floor of the Centre is in Winnipeg and constructed by devoted to a different discipline, the CANA Construction. floor plans are similar, with offices facing south and classrooms and John R. Brodie was the founder of labs facing north and west. Most the Great West Coal Company and floors also feature scientific displays donated $250,000 to BU, $200,000 in the main west hallway. The BU of which was spent on the Science Greenhouse is situated atop the Centre. In his will, Brodie designated building. a $500,000 endowment to the

5 — Flora Cowan Hall

Flora Cowan Hall was built in 1963 Brandon City Council as the second as a women’s residence, to replace woman elected. Cowan was also a the former residence in Clark member of the Imperial Order of Hall. In addition to dorm rooms, the Daughters of the Empire and the three-floor residence has two an active member in the Brandon fireplace lounges, a kitchenette, and church community. a laundry room. Flora Cowan Hall is connected The residence is named after Flora directly to the other two residences Cowan, who became Dean of and the cafeteria. Its external Women at Brandon College in 1953 structure is notable for the soaring and served in that position for 14 and dramatically floodlit concrete years. She served for 16 years on entryway along Louise Avenue. 6 — Darrach Hall

Darrach Hall was constructed in the decorated nurse in World War I. In early 1960s as a men’s residence, 1967 she became the first winner of shortly before the construction of the Brandon College Alumni award the nearby women’s residence, Flora and received a centennial medal. Cowan Hall. It was named after Brandon University awarded her Sarah Darrach, Dean of Women an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from 1936 until 1953, and her in 1971. Robert Darrach was a husband, Robert Darrach. member of the first Brandon College Board of Directors and served for Sarah Darrach was a Brandon more than 30 years, including in the College graduate in 1911 and a role of Board Chair.

7 — Harvest Hall

The current cafeteria building Union Centre. In addition to officially opened in 1962. It housed its main-floor cafeteria, it has a Food Services, which had been secondary food service space in the moved from the basement of Clark basement – The Down Under – and Hall. It was purpose-built to house classroom and study space. the new dining hall, which can seat up to 400 people. In 2016, the The low-slung design of the cafeteria cafeteria was renamed Harvest Hall, building, with exposed concrete the winning entry in a naming pillars and overhangs, features rare contest. elements of colour on the exterior and large plate-glass panels – an Harvest Hall is closely connected excellent example of Modernist to all three residences, the Brodie architecture that is rare in Brandon. Science Centre, and the Student 8 — Healthy Living Centre

The Healthy Living Centre is located an indoor walking/jogging track, on the site of the former outdoor a public fitness facility, and many Kinsmen Memorial Stadium, which more amenities. first opened after World War II. Upon completion of the Healthy In 1965, a freestanding BU Living Centre, the old gym was gymnasium building was constructed renamed the next to the Kinsmen Stadium. In Gymnasium, after the noted alumnus 2007, plans were made to upgrade of Brandon College and former and greatly expand the university’s Chancellor of Brandon University. gym and related services capacity, and the resultant expanded facility The Healthy Living Centre is opened in the fall of 2012 as the home to the BU Bobcats athletics Healthy Living Centre. This Centre teams, and is a much-used venue incorporates the original 1965 gym, for large BU ceremonies, including two new, full-sized gymnasiums, Orientation and Convocation.

9 — Jeff Umphrey Centre

The only BU building located on The building also housed a bank Victoria Avenue, the Jeff Umphrey branch. Centre, was named after Edwin Jefferson Umphrey, who was known In 2006, the building underwent a for working with people with significant renovation to become disabilities. a fine arts building. It is currently home to the BU’s Art Centre and The Centre was built in 1971 as a includes studios, an art gallery, and joint project of Brandon University faculty offices. The art gallery is and the Canadian Association for named after Glen P. Sutherland, the Mentally Retarded (currently a Brandon College alumnus who the Canadian Association for enlisted in the Canadian Army in Community Living). This 1942. Sutherland’s name was added collaboration was designed to to the art gallery’s name pursuant study the problems and needs of to a donation from his son, Grant individuals and their families living Sutherland, also a BU alumnus. with mental or physical disabilities. 10 — Physical Plant and Steam Plant

The first dedicated Steam Plant to The institution’s Physical Plant heat campus opened in early 1962. services comprise maintenance, This coal-fired plant was located janitorial, trades, grounds keeping, north of campus, near the railway and security services. In 2010, these tracks. BU alumnus John Kasiurak, services were relocated from World Chief Engineer of Brandon College War II- era H-Huts near the centre for 43 years, led its official opening. of campus to a new Physical Plant This plant provided space and water building, located adjacent the new heating to campus until 1990, then Steam Plant. The H-huts were then was decommissioned and used for demolished. storage and as a lab for processing archaeological bone specimens. It Nighttime lights on the physical was sold in 1998. plant can be turned off from the BU Observatory atop McMaster In 1990, a new natural-gas-fired Hall to prevent artificial lighting Steam Plant was built on campus form interfering with celestial near Louise Ave and 20th Street. observations that require dimness.

11 — Queen Elizabeth II Music Building

BU’s first dedicated music building Department qualified, as one of the was built in 1963. By 1985, the Music top music programs in the country. Department had become too large for this initial facility, and music The QEII Music Building was programming moved to a new home subsequently expanded to three on the first floor of the new Queen floors and included office, classroom, Elizabeth II Music Building. and studio space; a music library; and finely tuned performance spaces, The main floor of the new Queen most notably the Lorne Watson Elizabeth II Music Building opened in Recital Hall. 1985. The building was named after Queen Elizabeth II, who participated Lorne Watson, who first became in the naming ceremony in October Director of Music at Brandon College 1984. In order to be named after the in 1948, also served as Director of the monarch, the building had to house School of Music at BU, Supervisor programming that had a nationally of the BU Conservatory, and Artistic significant reputation, and Brandon Director of the Eckhardt-Gramatté University’s highly acclaimed Music Festival. 12 — A.E. McKenzie Building

The AE McKenzie Building was College at the tail end of the Great completed in 1961, as was the Depression — the equivalent of adjoining JRC Evans Theatre. The about $9 million in 2019 dollars. His McKenzie Building’s first use was gift saved the college from financial as a library. Today, the main floor ruin. Later, he deeded millions of the McKenzie Building houses more in company shares to the student services and related offices, provincial government, under the and the second floor is home to the condition that profits would go to SJ McKee Archives and to a portion his endowment fund at the college. of the library, with study spaces. An overhead walkway now connects The McKenzie Building is named the McKenzie Building and the after Albert Edward McKenzie, entire George T. Richardson Centre who founded the McKenzie Seed to the university’s Original Building Company in Brandon. McKenzie and Clark Hall complex. donated $500,000 to Brandon

13 — John E. Robbins Library & Richardson Centre

The newest part of the John E. library is located in the George T. Robbins Library opened in 1993, Richardson Centre. The Richardson with an eye-catching semicircle Centre was named in 1995 in of mirrored glass that maintains a recognition of the contributions of feeling of spaciousness both inside George T. Richardson during his and out. The round arc of the new 28 years as President and CEO of building intentionally evokes that of James Richardson & Sons Limited, the adjacent JRC Evans Theatre. and in appreciation for the generous donations made to BU to renew and The library is named after the last expand its library and to complete president of Brandon College, Dr. funding of an enhanced Business John E. Robbins, who was the Administration program. driving force behind the institution becoming a university in 1967. Anthropology labs and arts studios, including ceramics kilns, are located Along with the Evans Theatre and in the basement of the Richardson the Indigenous People’s Centre, the Centre. 14 — Kavanagh Courtyard

The Kavanagh Courtyard is located and a longstanding member of the between the Original Building and Brandon University Foundation. Clark Hall complex and the George T. Richardson Centre. The Kavanagh Courtyard is one of the central outdoor spaces at In 2006, this courtyard was named in Brandon University. It was identified honour of Kevin and Els Kavanagh, as the “heart of the campus” during as a celebration of their vision community consultations for BU’s for Brandon University and their 2017 Campus Master Plan. commitment to advancing post- secondary education. A number of sculptures are housed in the Kavanaugh Courtyard, including Dr. Kevin Kavanagh, former ‘Explorer’, which was displayed at President of The Great West Expo ’67 in Montreal before being Life Assurance Company, was donated to Brandon University by the Chancellor of Brandon Sam Bronfman. University from 1996 to 2002,

15 — Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium

The Western Manitoba Centennial scheduled start-up in 1968. Auditorium (WMCA) opened in late 1969, just in time for the 1970 The Auditorium’s stark limestone Manitoba Centennial celebrations. structure features a projecting centre tower that allows curtains to retract The history of this project featured vertically off the stage. Since its more than 15 years of planning and opening, the interior of WMCA has debate; it became a civic election been almost completely preserved, issue in 1967. The initial goal and it stands today as an outstanding was to complete the Auditorium example of the style and design of for Canada’s 1967 Centennial. the period. Concerns about rising costs delayed construction, and the project was For many years, BU Convocation nearly cancelled just before its was held at the WMCA. 16 — Brown Health Studies Complex

The Dr. James and Mrs. Lucille music programming until 1985, Brown Health Studies Complex is before it was renovated to serve as named in honour of the couple’s home for Student Services. significant gift to BU. Dr. James Brown is a BU alumnus, medical In response to growing programming doctor, and honorary degree and enrolments in Health Studies, recipient. a new section was added to the building in 2003. The expansion — Like many of the university’s a round projection that recalls the J. building complexes, the evolution E. Robbins Library —features long of this Health Studies Complex windows designed to look similar to featured the use of existing and those of the Brodie Science Centre. repurposed campus buildings and This expansion provided more significant new construction. The classroom space, laboratories, and first home for the School (now offices, along with the He Oyate Faculty) of Health Studies was the Tawapi Ceremony Room, which original Music Building, which had was designed for teaching and been built in 1963, and had housed Indigenous ceremonial uses.

17 — Education Building

Teacher training had been ongoing theatre with a stage that can be used for many years at Brandon College for drama classes. It also houses before the BU Education Building three science laboratories and a officially opened in September model kindergarten. 1967 – just in time for the first year of classes at the newly chartered The design of the building across a Brandon University. hill means that people who enter the Education Building from the north The Education Building was will enter on a lower floor than fully funded by the Manitoba those who enter from the south. Government and was originally designed to accommodate 300 A skywalk now connects the Health students. It features the 160-seat Studies Complex to the Education Rowe Theatre and another small Building. Walking Tour 1. Brandon College 7. Harvest Hall Original Building 8. Healthy Living Centre & Clark Hall 9 9. Jeff Umphrey Centre 2. Knowles-Douglas Students’ Union Centre 10. Physical Plant 3. McMaster Hall 11. Queen Elizabeth II Music Building 4. John R. Brodie Science Centre 12. A.E. McKenzie Building 13. John E. Robbins & VICTORIA AVENUE 5. Flora Cowan Hall George T. Richardson 6. Darrach Hall Centre 14. Kavanaugh Courtyard 8 15. Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium 16. Health Studies Complex 17. Education Building LOUISE AVENUE 6 10 5

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Student powered N 16 Information in this booklet is based on research conducted in 2017–18 by Brandon University students of public history and PRINCESS AVENUE revised in 2019.