Revisit the hallways of the college with the bright red roof
Science Complex Snack Bar (K House)
Say hello to the Science Complex Snack Bar, now known to our off-campus students as K House. Throughout the OC years, this space has been home to a Coffee Shop in the 70s and the Cat’s Ass Pub in the 80s before becoming best known as the Science Complex Snack Bar in the 90s. If you happened to stay in residence during your years at Otonabee College, you might recall living in one of our alphabetical houses, A – H. Given the nickname K, this space provides all off-campus students with a student lounge and study area. Bring your attention to the unique feel of this heritage space, designed and created by architect Ron Thom more than 50 years ago. Thom envisioned a university whose architecture replicated an educational spirit and promoted scholarly application. Committed to straying from a sense of industrialism, Thom unified his buildings to ensure no distinct separation between any of the university spaces existed. This is evidenced by the direct connection of Otonabee College to the Science Complex Building. Did you know that Ron Thom’s inspiration came from the historical architecture in Peterborough? He encouraged non-resident members of the university to utilize the university and create a strong sense of community for all. The purpose of K House is to integrate all community members – whether on or off-campus, even our alums – and create a special communal bond.
Otonabee College Commons
Welcome to the Otonabee College Commons! In the 70s and 80s, you may remember coming here to attend your seminars or lectures. If you joined us in the 90s, you may remember this as the lively home of the Cats Ass Pub. If you can feel a cool breeze coming through this space, make sure to thank Danielle Britton – previous Cat’s Ass manager – for advocating to bring a functioning window into the room! This space is a student lounge/study area and a conference space used by the College Office, Cabinet, and wider community for meetings and events. In the Commons, you may notice a large wall decal of Otonabee’s Crest. It may feel unfamiliar, as the college did not officially reveal the crest until 1998, during Otonabee’s 25th anniversary. Designed by student Kevin Crellin, the Coat of Arms symbolizes the unique identity of our College, while honoring the traditional teachings of the First Nations Peoples with the inclusion of a quartered medicine circle. Looking closely at the Crest’s pictograms, featuring symbols which represent learning, scholarship, the influence of our history on the present and the special role the environment plays in supporting our education, taken together representing the vitality and continuity of our College – a perfect time to remember the times are changing and we change with them.
Otonabee College Cabinet Office
In the Otonabee College Commons, you may notice a small office space hidden towards the back of the room. At first glance, it may appear to be a storage room but do not let that fool you - this is our College Cabinet Office! For 50 years, Otonabee has always had a council of students, staff and faculty gathering to discuss important issues and share their points of view for the direction and future of the college. In that spirit the OC Cabinet is the student government who represents the voice of OC students! In charge of planning annual events and programming and ensuring the continuity of OC traditions, our cabinet is responsible for the Fall College Weekend, Trent Mudder, Wildside Weekend and so much more. The College Cabinet Office is also a great place to go with an interest in being more socially or politically involved in the community.
Otonabee College Office
Welcome to the Otonabee College Office! You may remember visiting this space to access Trent’s Health Services, the Student Union (TCSA) or the Food Services Offices. Now home to the College Administrative Offices, you will find Otonabee’s College Assistant, College Principal, Academic Skills Instructor, Academic Advisor and a team of Student Ambassadors. The College Office handles our collegiate logistics, SWAG sales, event planning, appointment scheduling and much of our student outreach. Our office is open Monday to Friday - 9 am to 4 pm - and please feel free to visit us at any time! Whether you have questions or are looking to reconnect, our door is always open.
Wenjack Theatre
The Chanie Wenjack Theatre is the university’s largest lecture theatre on campus designed with both academic and creative pursuits in mind. Wenjack Theatre is named in honor of Chanie Wenjack, an Ojibway boy who escaped an Ontario residential school in hopes of returning to his family 400-miles away. The naming of this lecture theatre remembers the work of student leaders from the Indigenous Studies department who, during the construction of Otonabee College, lobbied for the College to be named in Chanie’s honour. The students saw this dedication as an opportunity for Trent to strengthen its Indigenous Studies program, and establish itself as a force for change, hope, and a positive educational experience.
Inside Trent’s main lecture hall, you will notice the striking ‘Otonabee River’ tapestry by onetime artist-in-residence Friedel for the senior common room. Outside this room, draw your attention to the ‘Legend of Red Lake’ portrayed by the late Josh Kakegamic. The large collection of Indigenous art found in Otonabee College is evidence of the strong connection between Otonabee College and Indigenous Studies at Trent.
Otonabee College Dining Hall
Out of all our collegiate spaces, Otonabee’s Dining Hall has changed the most over the past 50 years. The dining area that current students enjoy, was once the TUNA – Trent University’s Native Association – lounge. Additionally, our Subway, Pizza Pizza and The Grill replace what used to be a small servery connected to a larger dining hall which has since been broken up into smaller spaces for classrooms and offices. Another structural difference you may notice is the absence of windows and an outdoor patio area, adjacent to the JCR/SCR and towards the Porter’s Office. I invite you to remember the memories spent in the College Dining Hall, regardless of its appearance or location. Do you have a favorite meal? How about a place you liked to sit? Did you ever play in the indoor Volleyball Tournaments? How about having a drink at the Cats Ass after an intermural hockey game?
Otonabee College Patio (Glass Corner)
Outside the large glass windows beside the College Dining Hall, you may notice a beautiful and serene outdoor lounge area – this is Otonabee’s College Patio, also known as the Glass Corner.
Over the years, we know that many of our alums do not seem to remember this space as anything – just a spectacular view of the university. This area is one of the two outdoor gardens and gathering spaces at Otonabee College. Created by the Hamin Foundation in 1984 and dedicated to the Tallboys, a student band, - our OC Patio is a beautiful location used to meet with community members or to enjoy the weather all season long – no matter hot or cold! Notice in the patio’s center, a dark green sculpture titled ‘Parting the River.’ This piece was created and designed by Cecil Richards, in honor of our Otonabee College Council. I invite you to take a walk around the patio garden to identify some of the trees that are planted in honour of our alum.
OC Second Floor – Seminar/Lecture Rooms
Once the OC Dining Hall (which overlooked the OC quad), the PDR, the JCR, the SCR, and the Porter’s Lodge, this space had been entirely redesigned to create a full complement of academic spaces. As you wander these halls, you might see suggestions of what this space used to be including the large columns and curved walls which were a defining feature of the JCR and SCR. Students today attend seminars in room 204 – named in honour of Marney McCulloch – and lectures in the William Fisher Lecture Hall. They access academic support through the the Centre for Academic Testing and Student Accessibility Services. As you wander to toward the mezzanine, you will find the space that the School of Education now calls home.
Mezzanine – Department of Education & Sociology
Welcome to the Mezzanine, home to the Department of Education and Sociology. Located at the College’s main entrance, you may remember visiting this space to access Porter’s Office. Did you know our Annual Chili Cookout for United Way began with Bruce the Porter’s infamous recipe for venison chili? Notice the colorful Indigenous painting above the primary doorway, titled ‘Sharing the Vision’ by Ojibwa Odawa artist Leland Bell and Jeronimo’s ‘Capitalist Nightmare’ installation which reflects the artists concern with social justice in the context of the Spanish Civil War. If you continue down the hall you will find the Administrative Offices for the School of Sociology and the much-loved student mailboxes. What was the most exciting piece of mail you have ever received at Otonabee? Could it have been a letter from home or maybe a mysterious package?
Otonabee College Quad
What is down that staircase by the College’s main entrance, you may ask? Why, that would be the Otonabee College Quad! For 50 years, the Quad has been a wonderful outdoor garden and gathering space. We invite you to have a seat in this beautiful recreational area to study or enjoy a perfect lunch break. Our quad features the Teaching Tipi as well as a number of commemorative trees and benches and is now home to Peter Powning’s 'House of Sticks’ which was created to symbolize Otonabee’s interdependence with the natural world and our delicate role as humans. Though this space has remained the same throughout the past 50 years, one notable difference is the absence of overhead balcony space. Fun fact! Before Otonabee created the link, students had to walk through the cedar trees and through the OC Quad to get to the College building. Was that you?
Senior Common Room
Welcome to Otonabee College’s Senior Common Room! Our original SCR – located near the College Dining Hall – has now been replaced by seminar rooms and the Centre for Academic Testing. As a replacement, Otonabee has set apart the old College Office as a substitute space exclusively for staff and faculty. Our Otonabee personnel use this special-access area as a lounge and conference space to connect with each other or simply enjoy a break. When this space was the thriving hub of collegiate life, past college staff fondly recall the highly competitive bridge tournaments that were known to fill a lunch hour or two. If you have the pleasure to visit our Senior Common Room, take a look at the Wall of past college heads/principals, paying homage to all the great leaders who have uniquely impacted our community for over 50 years.
The Streets/Residence Houses (A-H)
Welcome to the Streets, otherwise known as our Residence Link. For 50 years, this hallway has connected our students to their dormitories and Otonabee’s academic wing. Whether located in our West Block – est. 1973 - or East Block – est. 1974, Otonabee divides their students into smaller communities of alphabetical houses. Don’t worry, we still have all our original letters from A-H! Our unique coding system provides students with a healthy feeling of competition, observed during intermural sports or any House vs. House activities organized by students. Students can choose between a single or double room with a desk, wardrobe/closet, bookshelf and twin bed when living on-campus. We now ask that our mattresses remain in our dorm rooms and not be thrown out the window to create comfortable studying spaces on the lawn – how times have changed! We know many of our alums are still very proud of their letters, which house were you?