Oh, what a night! Catharine Parr Traill College dazzled as it welcomed students, staff, faculty, and community members to Trent University’s original downtown college for one of the oldest and most revered collegiate traditions – a spring college dinner, on May 5, 2018 in celebration of exciting new milestones.

Capturing the essence of spring, the evening marked new life and fresh starts at Trent’s downtown college with the naming of Traill’s inaugural honorary fellows: Peterborough mayor, His Worship Daryl Bennett; Peterborough member of Provincial Parliament, minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Trent alumnus, the Honourable Jeff Leal ‘74; and Peterborough Kawartha member of Parliament, minister of the Status of Women, and Trent University alumna, the Honourable Maryam Monsef ‘03.

“I cannot think of three more community-minded individuals to welcome as our first honorary fellows than his Worship Mayor Bennett, the Honourable Jeff Leal and the Honourable Maryam Monsef,” said Dr. Michael Eamon, principal of Traill College. “All have been closely associated with the University and with Traill College. They are not only elected representatives, but also ambassadors of the value of higher education upon society and the important activities that take place at Traill College.”

Continuing the festivities, the college paid homage to its roots by honoring its first principal and Fry Lodge namesake, Dr. Marion Fry, with the unveiling of the Marion Fry Scholarship. This new renewable scholarship was established with donations from family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Fry and aims to support undergraduate students in second year and above with high academic achievement in their studies in the Humanities, with preference given to students affiliated with Traill College.

The evening was further example of Trent’s commitment to the renaissance of Traill College following the Traill College review which took place during the 2015-2016 academic year. This renaissance will see a revitalization of Traill College for today’s students and reach out to the greater Peterborough community through Continuing Education classes and cultural program.

“Trent University was created as a result of a generous Peterborough community,” remarked Dr. Eamon. “Fifty years later, a core part of the Traill renaissance is to make the community feel at home and to encourage their participation in the dynamic life at Trent’s downtown college.”