Annual Report 2011-2012

An exciting year of presentations on the history, and history in the making, of McGill University is planned for 2012/2013. The proposed talks for the coming year are:

  • Monday October 1, 2012
    Normand Rinfret on the McGill University Health Centre. 158th Meeting
     
  • Monday November 26, 2012
    Yvan Lamonde on the Evolution of McGill’s French Dept. - Le Département de langue et littérature françaises. 159th Meeting.
     
  • Monday February 18
    Susan Button on Eminent Women Benefactors of McGill, Presidential Address. Celebration of Dr. Stanley Frost’s 100th Birthday. 160th Meeting.
     
  • Spring Meeting – to be announced
    161st Meeting.

 

Last year, the Society was honored by these excellent and well attended presentations:

  • Monday, October 3, 2011. Dr. Greg Reid. “From Bloomers to Body Mass Index: One-Hundred Years of Physical Education at McGill,” 154th Meeting (Ball Room Faculty Club) – co-sponsored by the McGill Associates
  • Monday, November 28, 2011. Dr. William Feindel, Prof. Peter F. McNally, Glenn Brown, Prof. Toby, Gelfand, Pamela Miller, & Christopher Lyons. “Book Launching, Sir William Osler: the Man and His Books” 155th Meeting (Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital 3801 University St. - Helen Penfield Atrium & De Grandpré Auditorium) – co-sponsored by The Osler Library of the History of Medicine
  • Monday, February 27, 2012. Peter F. McNally and Christopher Lyons. “Builders, Benefactors, & Scholars: McGill, 190 Years Young” 156th Meeting (Redpath Museum, Auditorium) – co-sponsored by The McGill Campus Community Committee
  • Monday, April 30, 2012. Prof. David Covo. “McGill College: the Street not the University!” 157th Meeting (Macdonald-Harrington Building, Auditorium – Room G-10)

 

A highlight of the coming year will be the 100th birthday, Sunday February 17, of the Society’s Founder and Honorary President, Dr. Stanley Frost. Members will have an opportunity to celebrate this happy occasion the next day during the reception preceding the Presidential address of Susan Button. To honour this important milestone in the life of a great McGill figure – Professor, Dean of two Faculties, Vice-principal, and University Historian – the Executive Committee at its June Meeting voted unanimously to launch a fund raising campaign to endow the Stanley Frost Annual Lecture of the James McGill Society. Generous support from you, other members of the Society, along with friends and admirers of Dr. Frost will guarantee the success of this campaign.

 

McGill University’s recently completed 190th anniversary celebrations saw significant participation by the James McGill Society. For the McGill Reporter’s Special Issue Celebrating McGill’s 190th Anniversary, October 14, 2011, I wrote three articles and assisted in its editing. Gordon Burr (past president) and I worked with the staff in mapping out the issue. Gordon Burr and Rob Michel (past president) served as outside reviewers. Christopher Lyons and I accepted an invitation from Meira Terk and the McGill Campus Community Committee to speak at a November 23, 2011 LunchnLearn session on “Builders, Benefactors, & Scholars: McGill, 190 Years Young.” On February 27, the presentation was repeated before the James McGill Society, co-sponsored by the MCCC, which webcast the talk. Working with Ms. Terk and the Reporter’s staff was pleasant and professional.

 

Acknowledgement is also made of the October 3rd presentation by Dr. Greg Reid being co-sponsored by the McGill Associates, and the November 28th launching of Sir William Osler: the Man and His Books, being co-sponsored by the Osler Library of the History of Medicine.

 

The Society notes the passing of several long-time members and friends of the Society:

January 8, 2012, Mary Shapiro-Kantor, in her one hundred and fourth year, cherished mother and mother-in-law of Bernard and Lois Shapiro; March 9, 2012, Allan Raymond, B.Com’53, long-time member of the Society; June 17, 2012, John Armour, Vice-principal Administration and Finance, during the 1980s and 90s; August 4, 2012, Bronwyn Chester who wrote and lectured on McGill’s trees; August 13, 2012, Kathleen Laing who supported the recent biographical project on her late father, J. W. McConnell; and August, 2012, Laurent Picard, formerly Dean of the Faculty of Management. Our sympathies are extended to their family and friends.

 

During this Olympic Year, mention should be made of George Hodgson BA’16 who one-hundred years ago at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics won two Gold Medals. Also in 1912, the School of Physical Education was established, as was the McGill Contingent of the Canadian Officers’ Training Corp - the first such university-based training program in North America. Fifty years ago, 1962, F. Cyril James retired as Principal to be succeeded by H. Rocke Robertson as 12th Principal and first McGill graduate to hold the office.

 

My personal thanks and appreciation are expressed as always to Dr. Stanley Frost, Susan Button, and other members of the Executive Committee, and to the entire membership of the James McGill Society for continuing support and enthusiasm.

 

I look forward to seeing you at our meetings.

 

Respectfully submitted

Peter F. McNally
Executive Secretary

 

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