Canada Post will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the University of British Columbia with the release of a commemorative stamp to be released March 7, 2008. The stamp features the stunning Walter C. Koerner Library on the Main Mall.

The idea of establishing a provincial university in B.C. first came in 1877 from John Jessop, superintendent of education. He was concerned that local students would be forced to travel to other provinces and countries to get a university education. But other considerations occupied the attention of those responsible for building a new province and the matter of a provincial university lay dormant until the 1890s.

At that time, Vancouver High Schools were allowed to affiliate themselves with established Canadian Universities and thus become "Colleges" of those Universities.

Under these enactments Vancouver High School affiliated with McGill University in 1899 and offered first year Arts courses under the name Vancouver College. Although the success of the program prompted an expansion in course offerings to include second year Arts courses in 1902, students were still required to travel to McGill University to complete their degrees.

The establishment of McGill University College of B.C. did little to discourage the efforts of those wanting to build a Provincial University. In 1908, their efforts resulted in the passage of "An Act to Establish and Incorporate a University for the Province of British Columbia".

In 1915, the university opened in temporary quarters at the Fairview site of Vancouver General Hospital. Conditions were not good. Classes for 1,176 students spilled over into tents, church basements and nearby homes.

In the summer of 1922, students circulated a petition to convince the government to resume construction on the university. They took them home for the summer to round up signatures from all over the province.

Students gathered 56,000 signatures, an impressive total considering only 500,000 people were living in the province.

On Oct. 28, 1922, a parade of trucks, floats and almost 1,200 students walked through downtown Vancouver to the cheers of onlookers. After a streetcar ride from Davie and Granville to 10th and Sasamat, the marchers continued on foot to the UBC site.

The half-constructed Science building, now the Chemistry building, provided a dramatic photo-op, as students perched themselves on its steel girders, waving banners and chanting slogans.

President-elect of the Alma Mater Society at the time, Ab Richards dedicated the cairn as "a milestone in the history of the university and a landmark for the future. It also marks one of the greatest efforts ever put forward by an undergraduate student body in support of its university."

Richards and a student committee presented the petition at the legislature in Victoria and met with Premier John Oliver. The government responded to the widespread public support by agreeing to a loan of $1.5 million to resume construction of the campus.

The first classes were held on the Point Grey UBC campus three years later on Sept. 22, 1925.

There are 26 eateries including 4 Starbucks. The Museum of Anthropology, Chan Centre for the Arts, Nitobe Memorial Garden and UBC Botanical Garden and store are all reasons for non-students to also visit the campus.

Major renovations are underway on many of the buildings and plans are underway to build extensive market housing and a community centre south of 16th Ave.

Beside the main rink, the original Father Bauer Memorial rink has been renovated and a new practice rink has been built and turned over to UBC for the upcoming summer hockey school.

The legacy will give the UBC Thunderbirds one of the best winter sports complexes in the country. It will also be used for other public events and concerts and will be a valued addition to the Vancouver scene.

Newsletter about the UBC Botanical Garden.

Happy Birthday UBC!

Newsletter #147: Things to do in the Neighbourhood - UBC Botanical Garden

Newsletter #148: Things to do in the Neighbourhood - UBC Farm in danger

Newsletter #151: Things to do in the Neighbourhood - Museum of Anthropology Grounds

Newsletter #153: UBC Walking Tour

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Newsletter #134
The Royal Canadian Mint's newest commemorative circulation coin celebrates the 400th anniversary of Quebec City.

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