Trinity College, Toronto

43°39′56″N 79°23′45″W

For other institutions named Trinity College, see Trinity College.

University of Trinity College

Coat of Arms
Latin: Collegium Sacrosanctæ Trinitatis apud Torontonenses
Motto	Μετ Αγωνα Στεφανος Met’Agona Stephanos (Greek "After the Conquest, the Crown")
Type	Federated college at the University of Toronto
Established	1851
Endowment	CAD $64.7 million (2006)
Chancellor	Vacant
Provost	Margaret MacMillan
Students	1,840
Undergraduates	1,700
Location	Toronto , Ontario , Canada
Campus	Urban
Website	trinity.utoronto.ca

The University of Trinity College, referred to locally as Trinity College or colloquially as Trin, is one of the federated colleges making up the modern University of Toronto (U of T). It also houses an Anglican divinity school and is part of the Toronto School of Theology (TST), an ecumenical federation of seven theological schools affiliated with the University of Toronto. Students enrolled in the Trinity Faculty of Divinity can take courses from any of the member schools.

Trinity is one of the smallest of the University of Toronto's seven colleges, with approximately 1840 students. Throughout Trinity's history, it has managed to maintain high entrance averages for incoming students, with a majority of entering students fielding an Ontario secondary school academic average of 90 per cent or greater. It is also well known for striving to continue an Oxbridge-type atmosphere including mandating the wearing of gowns at dinner and, until 2005, preserving sex segregation in the residences, and is in fact a Canadian Dominion cousin to the Trinity namesake at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in Great Britain. The college maintains a thoroughly Anglican flavour in both academic and daily life, even though many of the students that attend the College are not Anglican themselves.

Trinity's Faculty of Divinity is one of six Anglican seminaries in Canada, and is considered liberal and Anglo-Catholic in its theology. Trinity is also home to the Munk Centre for International Studies, Canada's premier International Relations school.

History

Founding

In 1827, Bishop John Strachan, an Anglican deacon who arrived in Canada in 1799, received a Royal Charter from King George IV to build King's College at York (now Toronto). At the time the British Empire was being reformed along financial and religious lines, and one of the goals of the "new system" was to form churches (by way of land grants) and schools in all of the colonies. However, York was so small at the time that there were no funds available for actually building the college, and the first classes were not held until 1843.

Trinity College circa 1852, colloquially known as Old Trin

The college was born into a turbulent period in colonial history. In 1848, the first local elections were held, and the land grants to the churches reverted to "crown" ownership. This left King's College in a somewhat odd position, and Strachan's support for the school vanished. In 1849, the school was secularized, and became the University of Toronto on January 1 1850.

This action incensed Strachan, who immediately set about creating a private school based on strong Anglican lines. In 1850, the Cameron property on Queen Street, at the western end of Toronto, was purchased for £2,000, and the school was built on this site, on the west side of Garrison Creek (now buried). On 2 August 1851, the legislature of the Province of Canada passed an act incorporating Trinity College. This was supplanted by a Royal Charter for the University of Trinity College, granted by Queen Victoria in 1852. The construction work was completed quickly, and students arrived in January, 1852, including some from the Diocesan Theological Institute in Cobourg, Ontario, which the Faculty of Divinity at Trinity College replaced. In 1884 the college admitted its first woman student; in 1888, St. Hilda's College was created for the women students of Trinity. Trinity College was a highly regarded school throughout the nineteenth century, and was (perhaps surprisingly) fairly progressive.

Federation with the University of Toronto

Trinity College main building

With Strachan now long dead, efforts began in the 1890s to unite Trinity with the University of Toronto. Most of the degrees granted were turned over to the University of Toronto, with the exception of the degree in Divinity. In 1904 the college was federated with the university, and efforts began to move to a location on the main Queen's Park campus. Land was purchased in 1913, but due to World War I construction was not begun until 1923. Bishop James Fielding Sweeny laid the cornerstone. The new building was opened in 1925, at which point the land and original building were sold to the city, then later torn down in 1950. Only the old gates of the college still stand, at the southern entrance to Trinity Bellwoods Park on Queen Street West. The former women's residence building for St. Hilda's students is now a home for senior citizens and overlooks the northern end of the park from the west side.

In the latter part of the twentieth century, the institutions and traditions long present in the college began to face staunch criticism. By October of 1992, Episkopon, present within the college since 1858, was officially dissociated from Trinity. Traditions long considered to be central to the atmosphere of the college began to seem antiquated to certain members. Thus, in 2004 the college board of trustees voted narrowly in favour of ending Trinity's long practice of same-sex residency. Beginning in 2005, large portions of Trinity's residences became home to people of both sexes. In March 2007, the Trinity College Meeting (the highest student-run governing authority at the college) voted narrowly to end the practice of gender segregated voting, thus making all students eligible to vote for all elected positions, including those which are gender specific, such as the male and female Heads of College.

Buildings and environs

Chapel

Trinity College Chapel is the gift of the late Gerald Larkin (1885-1961), who headed the Salada Tea Company from 1922 to 1957. He contracted the renowned English architect, Sir Gilbert Scott, who designed the great Gothic cathedral of Liverpool and, famously, the red Post Office telephone kiosks seen throughout England.

Built in the modified perpendicular Gothic style, the main chapel extends 100 feet to the reredos and is 47 feet high at the vault bosses. Using only stone, brick and cement, the architects employed Italian stonemasons using ancient building methods; the only steel in the construction is in the hidden girders supporting the slate roof. The exterior walls are of sandstone.

The opening of the chapel in 1955 was televised live on CBC television.

Strachan Hall

Students departing from the annual Christmas dinner in Strachan Hall

Strachan Hall, colloquially referred to as Strachan, forms the bulk of the western wing of the main Trinity building, and serves as the central dining hall for students residing in that building, as well as the venue of all regular formal High Table dinners. The hall was erected in 1941, immediately prior to war-time restrictions on building materials. The construction, like that of the chapel, was financed by Gerald Larkin.

Adorning the walls of the hall are portraits of important figures in the history of the college. The largest potraits, of Bishop Strachan and Provost Whitaker, Trinity's first provost, hang from the north wall.

The Grace

Before formal Hall each evening (Monday through Thursday), one of the Student Heads or another upper year (in order of precedence determined by seniority) is responsible for saying the Latin grace:

Quae hodie sumpturi sumus, benedicat Deus, per Jesum Christum Dominum Nostrum. Amen.

May God bless what we are about to receive this day, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Hilda’s College

The University of Trinity College admitted its first women students in 1884. In 1888, it was decided that a distinct college was required for the women of Trinity. St. Hilda's College was initially opened in a building at 48 Euclid Avenue, Toronto, with two resident students. The college was moved to a building on Shaw Street in 1889, then to a set of two larger houses on the same street in 1892, and in 1903 to a larger, purpose-built building on the main Trinity College grounds. In 1925, when Trinity College moved from its original location on Queen Street to the main University of Toronto campus, St. Hilda's College was moved to 99 St. George Street. The final move took place in 1938, when the current St. Hilda's building on Devonshire Place was opened. In 2005, the administration of Trinity College elected to end the practice of same-sex residency; as a result, St. Hilda's College now houses both men and women.

Academics

Profile

Munk Centre for International Studies (north wing)

Trinity's student body consists of approximately 1700 undergraduate students, with a first-year enrollment limited to 400 Arts & Science students, and 140 Divinity students. Students are admitted to Trinity in line with the common framework (with the exception of the Faculty of Divinity) the University of Toronto Colleges adhere to, which lays down the principles and procedures for admission to the University of Toronto, which they all observe. Trinity maintains a tradition of academic success, with thirty-five of its graduates having been awarded Rhodes Scholarships. In recent years, over one half of entering undergraduate students have fielded an Ontario academic average of 90 per cent or greater.

The college has two active academic faculties, that of Arts and that of Divinity. Trinity maintains its university status by maintaining a doctoral program in the latter faculty.

Undergraduate

The Faculty of Arts offers undergraduate major programs in Immunology, International Relations (IR), and Ethics, Society, and Law to students at U of T. Associated with the latter two is an academic program called Trinity One. Admission to the Trinity One program is separate from that of the college itself, with enrollment limited to 25 students per stream. At least one prominent professor teaches in each stream; for example, Margaret MacMillan in International Relations and Mark Kingwell in Ethics, Society, and Law.

The International Relations program benefits from the presence of the Munk Centre for International Studies (seen above), which is the centre of much post-graduate research, with a specialization in issues pertaining to the G8. Janice Stein, a prominent Canadian academic, is the current Director of the centre.

Divinity

Beginning in 1837, representatives of the United Church of England and Ireland in Upper Canada met with the Society for the Propagation for the Gospel to solicit support for fellowships to enable the education of local clergy. With a guarantee of support, in 1841 Bishop John Strachan requested his Chaplains, Reverend Henry James Grasett and Reverend Henry Scadding of St. James' Cathedral and Reverend Alexander Neil Bethune, then Rector of Cobourg, to prepare a plan for a systematic course in Theology for those to be admitted to Holy Orders. The three chaplains recommended that all candidates, including those being prepered by the Reverend Featherstone Lake Osler in Tecumseth, should be sent to Cobourg to be instructed by Bethune.

On January 10, 1842 the first lecture was given at the Diocesan Theological Institution at Cobourg, with two students being present. Eight students were enrolled by the start of the next term and thirteen by midsummer. By January 1852, when the work was transferred to Toronto to become the Faculty of Divinity in the new Trinity College, forty-six of the Cobourg Institution's students had been admitted to Holy Orders. The Debating Society, the precursor of the Trinity College Literary Institute, and other student traditions were founded in Cobourg and brought to Toronto by the continuing students.

Today, the Faculty of Divinity is a graduate faculty and a member of the Toronto School of Theology. At the basic degree level, it offers several Master of Divinity programs - a basic program, a "collaborative learning" model with self-directed study components, and an honours programme, which includes a thesis. For students not seeking Holy Orders, a Master of Theological Studies is offered. At the advanced degree level, students may pursue the Master of Arts in Theology, the Master of Theology, the Doctor of Theology and the Doctor of Ministry. A PhD in Theology can be earned through the University of St. Michael's College. Applicants to the ThM must hold an MDiv. Students can also enroll jointly in the MDiv and MA.

Student Life

Literary Institute

Attendance at a regular debate of the Trinity College Literary Institute

The Trinity College Literary Institute (TCLI or, more commonly, "the Lit") is the oldest student debating society in North America, predating Trinity itself, and plays a central role in undergraduate student life at the College. The Institute moved to Trinity from the Diocesan Theological Institute, another school founded by John Strachan.

The Lit holds weekly debates in the Junior Common Room (JCR) that satirize the Parliamentary system, while also actively maintaining a committee for formal debate.

Anyone attending a Lit expecting to hear a formal debate relevant to current events would be disappointed; most Lit debates are on humorous topics and involve many references to popular culture. Many debates are themed to holidays or Trinity social events (ie, "The Thanksgiving Debate" or "The Saints Debate," in reference to an annual formal dance at Trinity) The Lit does on occasion hold "serious" debates, which are, as their name implies, themed towards socially relevant topics of a more solemn nature.

Trinity College students participate in the University of Toronto Hart House Debates Club, and throughout its history have fielded some of the top-ranked teams in the Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate.

Student Publications

Trinity maintains a rich tradition of student-produced publications. The Sal Terrae (Latin: Salt of the Earth), also known as the Salterrae, is the official newspaper of Trinity College. The present incarnation paper is currently in its eighteenth volume; however some sources indicate that the paper may date back to the founding of the college itself.. The college also publishes an undergraduate yearbook, known as Stephanos (Greek: Στεφανος, meaning 'crown'), as well as a bi-annual journal, the Trinity University Review (established in 1880 as Rouge et Noir), featuring a collection of student short stories, photographs, and poetry..

Trinity College Dramatic Society

A Trinity College Dramatic Club was first formed in 1892 at the University of Trinity College, apparently under the auspices of Lally McCarthy who graduated that year. The Dramatic Club produced plays in Toronto and toured Guelph, Woodstock, Brantford, and Hamilton in 1894, which caused the club to bankrupt itself later that year. The club re-emerged as the Dramatic Society, producing “Two Modern English Plays” in 1919, but its “Annual Productions” did not begin until 1921. It was in that year that the Dramatic Society was first able to use Hart House as a performance venue.

Since 1927, the Dramatic Society has usually produced at least one full-length production a year. In some years an additional two or three short plays have also been produced. The main role of the Dramatic Society has been to support and run productions at the college; it has also been responsible for Trinity’s involvement in the University of Toronto's annual Hart House Drama Festival.

Currently, the primary venue for the Trinity College Dramatic Society’s productions is the George Ignatieff Theatre in the Trinity College campus. TCDS plays have also been staged in Seeley Hall, Cartwright Hall in St. Hilda’s, and the Trinity quadrangle.

Episkopon

Main article: Episkopon

Episkopon (Greek: Επισκοπων, meaning 'overseer') is a highly controversial yet somewhat satirical secret society that was founded at Trinity College in 1858. In 1992, Episkopon dissociated itself from the college following allegations of racism and homophobia. Despite official policies prohibiting Episkopon from engaging in any activities on college property, the society continues to play a significant role in undergraduate life at Trinity.

Alumni

Main article: List of University of Trinity College people

The atmosphere of rich traditions and close knit community of Trinity College has traditionally shaped its students to become extremely successful in Canadian society. Trinity has graduated numerous notable academics including Michael Ignatieff and current Trinity provost Margaret MacMillan, numerous politicians including the aforementioned Michael Ignatieff, his father George Ignatieff, former leader of the opposition and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Bill Graham, former leader of the New Democratic Party Ed Broadbent, and former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson as well as numerous notable diplomats including former Trinity Chancellor and Canadian Ambassador to the United States Michael Wilson. To the field of business, Trinity has contributed Ted Rogers, president and CEO of Rogers Communications. To the arts, Trinity has contributed poets Archibald Lampman and Dorothy Livesay. Numerous high ranking officials in the Anglican Church are also former Trinity students, including Andrew Hutchison the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.

References

• Hill, Declan. "The Tempest at Trinity". Ideas, 1993. Toronto: CBC Radio
• Melville, Henry. (1852). The Rise and Progress of Trinity College, Toronto; with a Sketch of the Life of the Lord Bishop of Toronto as Connected with Church Education in Canada. Toronto: Henry Roswell.
• Westfall, William (2002). The Founding Moment: Church, Society, and the Construction of Trinity College. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-2447-9. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)

External links

• Trinlife
• The Salterrae