Born 1918 in Wooler, Ontario and later in life divided his time between Roblin Lake (Ameliasburgh), Ontario and Sidney, British Columbia. Purdy was a poet, T.V and radio playwright, editor, travel writer and book reviewer. Is considered to be one of Canada’s greatest poets – called by the League of Canadian Poets “The Voice of the Land.” He is often referred to as a “people’s poet” and was immensely popular by fellow writers and the public alike. This popularity was in part due to his working class background and accessible subject matter. Purdy won a number of awards, including two Governor General’s Awards (for The Cariboo Horses in 1965 and The Collected Poems of Al Purdy, 1956-1986 in 1986). Al Purdy died in Sidney, B.C., on April 21, 2000.

In 1908 A.F. "Gus" Kenderdine, his wife Jane (née Ormerod) and their children emigrated from England to Saskatchewan, where they homesteaded near Lashburn. Gus Kenderdine became the first 'artist-in-residence' at a Canadian university when president Walter Murray hired him in 1920; Kenderdine later became a lecturer in art at the University, and was largely responsible for the formation of the University's 'Art Camp' at Emma Lake (now known as "Kenderdine Campus"). The Kenderdines had four children: Richard, Adelaide, May, and a third daughter, Rose, who died during the influenza epidemic of 1918. Richard eventually took over the family farm near Lashburn. Adelaide (BA '23) married John Kenderdine, a distant relative, and they lived for many years in Japan both before and following World War II. Florence May Kenderdine married Oswald Beamish; they, too, lived near Lashburn. Between 1985-1986 May Beamish donated approximately 130 of her father's paintings and sketches to the University of Saskatchewan, and provided over $1 million to help fund the new College of Agriculture building on the condition that it include an art gallery.

Joanne Abrahamson was born in Saskatoon on 24 January 1963. She worked for most of her career at SaskTel; after nearly twenty years there she left to pursue a career in Library Studies. Her father was a police photographer, and the family had a darkroom in their home; but she is largely self-taught, and has taken no formal photographic training.

Born in Toronto on March 28, 1906, Murray Adaskin began his violin training at the age of ten. Additional training was received in New York and Paris including periods of composition study with John Weinzweig, Charles Jones and Darius Milhaud. A violinist with Toronto Symphony for ten years, Adaskin also served as director of music for the CPR hotels. As Head of the Music Department at the University of Saskatchewan from 1952 until 1966, and then Composer-In-Residence from 1966 until 1973, Murray, along with his first wife soprano Frances James Adaskin, initiated and supported much of the rich musical life which remains as a cultural focus in Saskatoon today. Among his many honours were Saskatoon's citizen of the year for 1970, a 1980 appointment to the Order of Canada and a D.Mus from the University of Saskatchewan in 1984. Murray Adaskin retired to Victoria in 1973. He was later married to Dorothea Larken (Adaskin). He composed his final work in 2000 and died in 2002 at the age of 96.

Born in Tilsit, Germany in 1926, Hans Siegfried Dommasch came to Canada in 1954 and became a Canadian citizen in 1961. He served as Medical Illustrator, Lecturer and Assistant Professor of Surgery and Head of Photographic Services in the College of Medicine from 1955 until 1975. Dommasch established the first photography program at the University's Department of Art and Art History in 1975. He was appointed Head of that department in 1984 and was promoted to full Professor in 1987. After serving for nine consecutive years, Dommasch stepped down as department head in 1993, retired the following year, and was named Professor Emeritus. Dommasch has won numerous photographic and film awards and has exhibited, published, and lectured extensively both nationally and internationally. He has studied the Canadian Arctic and the prairie landscape in great detail. His book, "Prairie Giants", depicting grain elevators of the prairie landscape, was published in 1986. The lecture entitled "Canada North of Sixty" has been presented in Germany, Scotland, England, the Czech Republic, the United States, and Canada. The photographic exhibition of the same name has been displayed in Canada and the Czech Republic. The touring exhibition "Posters Against War and Violence", organized by Dommasch and containing the posters by Wolfgang Janisch and Gustavo Espinosa, has been seen in Canada and Europe. Dommasch died in Saskatoon on November 20, 2017.

The Alpha Omega Society was created in 1930. Its objective was to "foster such social and intellectual activities as will bring the students of Ukrainian descent into a closer bond and a clearer understanding withe the rest of the University."

Designed by Brown and Vallance and built roughly in the shape of a capital “F,” with a dining hall and kitchen, was intended to “hold comfortably about one hundred and fifty.” In his first report, Murray noted that one wing of the building, with room for 30 people, “will be shut off from the main building and devoted to the use of the women students until their numbers force the building of a separate residence.” The dining room remained a common facility even following the construction of a second residence, Qu’Appelle Hall, and together with facilities in the Memorial Union Building, remained the main dining area for students until the construction of Marquis Hall in 1964.

The University of Saskatchewan's Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies joined in 1965 with university scientists and researchers to form the Space Engineering Division (later known as SED Systems Incorporated). SED supplies both systems and services to the satellite industry. SED is located in the Innovation Place Research Park on the U of S campus.

The son of Mr. And Mrs. Lewis Muir Barber, Lloyd Ingram Barber was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on March 8, 1932. He grew up in Regina Beach and attended high school at Luther College in Regina. In 1950 he moved to Saskatoon to study at the University of Saskatchewan, earning a B.A. in Economics in 1953 and a Bachelor of Commerce in Administration the following year. He received a Masters Degree in Business Administration (marketing) from the University of California in 1955 and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1964. Dr. Barber joined the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan as an instructor in 1955, and rose to become Dean of Commerce in 1966. From 1968 to 1974 he served as vice-president of the University, moving to Regina to become President of the newly autonomous University of Regina in 1976, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 1990. Outside the academic sphere, Lloyd Barber is noted for his appointment by the Privy Council of Canada as Canada's Indian Claims Commissioner. He held this appointment from 1969 until 1977. He also helped to establish the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College where he remains as their Chief Negotiator. He has held numerous appointments to boards and directorships of such organizations as the Bank of Nova Scotia, Husky Oil of Canada, and Canadian Pacific. Lloyd Barber is a companion of the Order of Canada and has received the Aboriginal Order of Canada. His other awards include the Centennial medal, the Vanier medal, honorary professor at Shandong University in China, and honorary degrees from the University of Alberta (1983) and Concordia University (1984). Dr. Barber and his wife, Muriel Pauline Barber, reside in Regina Beach, Saskatchewan. They have a family of six children: Muir, Brian, Kathleen, David, Susan and Patricia.

Jean Gordon Bayer joined the staff of the university in 1909 as President Walter Murray's secretary. Bayer previously had been his secretary at Dalhousie University. She arrived in Saskatoon in time to witness the registration of the first students. She was the President’s secretary, university librarian, and unofficial adviser to students. Bayer helped choose the university colours and motto, and was one of the founders of the Pente Kai Deka Society. In 1915, due to staff shortages caused by the Great War, Bayer was appointed Instructor in English. She proved so effective she was encouraged to continue, and took a year of study at Bedford College, London, prior to being formally appointed to the faculty. Like Murray, “she possessed a wide vision of the function of a university and, like him, she…dedicated herself to Saskatchewan.” “A most kindly guide” to her students, “many caught their first glimpse of what a literary ‘salon’ of the great days might have been in the genial atmosphere of tea and literature in her book-lined suite. She was a most loyal and cooperative colleague….She made it seem an easy thing to be happy and brave.” When Bayer returned from London in 1921 she was named Assistant Professor of English, a rank rarely held by women in that period. Bayer retained the post until her death in 1945. A scholarship in her name is available to a student who has completed at least two years of university studies

Lorne Caswell Paul was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, on 27 October 1904, and received both his B.Sc. in Biology (1930) and his MSc. (1932) from the University of Saskatchewan. He earned a Ph.D. from Iowa State University in 1940. He joined the faculty at the U of S in 1944 as Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor, and was promoted in turn to Associate Professor (1957) and Full Professor (1968). He held positions in various organizations, including that of Saskatchewan Director for the Agriculture Institute of Canada, and Director of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. Dr. Paul retired from the University in 1972.

Originally known as the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization, VIDO was established at the University of Saskatchewan in 1975. VIDO is a research organization of the University of Saskatchewan that operates with financial support from the Government of Canada, the government of Saskatchewan, livestock industry councils and agencies, foundations and human and animal health companies. VIDO worked to find cures for common infectious diseases in cattle, swine and poultry. VIDO scientists carved out an international reputation for their pioneering work in the 1980's on vaccines aimed at combating shipping fever and a disease which produces pneumonia and arthritis in cattle. In addition to the 2,500,000 sq ft facility on campus, VIDO-InterVac also operates a 160-acre research station. The laboratory took on its current name, International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), in March 2003. In October 2003 a large expansion was completed. In March 2004, VIDO received funding for the construction one of the world's largest and most advanced biosafety level 3 facilities, the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), for research into emerging and reemerging human and animal diseases. In 2020, VIDO-InterVac began developing a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was established with a grant provided by the Devonian Group of Charitable Foundations of Calgary, and with supplementary funding from the provincial governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan, the University, and subsequently a great many livestock and poultry organizations. VIDO represented a new and unique model for funding practical goal-oriented research, and established an international reputation by developing several new vaccines to prevent neonatal diarrhea, or scours, in newborn calves (Vicogen, Ecostar, Ecostar 2RC); Haemophilus somnus infection of cattle (Somnu-Star and Somu-Star Ph); shipping fever pneumonia in cattle (Pneumo-Star); pneumonia in pigs (Pleuro-Star); and adenovirus infection in turkeys (Hevlan-TC). It also developed new management and disease prevention programs for cattle and swine. In 2003, VIDO changed its name and opened an expansion to its building that now provides 80,000 square feet of ultramodern laboratory space for a staff of 145 researchers. It uses the most modern research tools of genomics and bioinformatics to develop new vaccines and vaccine delivery technology.

Stephen Acres

Morris Anderson, a native of Saskatoon, was the leading scorer on the Huskie basketball team in the 1950-51, 1951-52 and 1952-53 seasons. He was captain of the team his last two years. Throughout Western Canada he was acknowledged as Saskatchewan's premier player. Anderson earned a B.Ed. in 1953, and a BA in 1956. Upon graduation Anderson returned to his high school, Bedford Road Collegiate, to teach and coach. Beginning in 1955, he taught at Luther College in Regina and twice led the Lions to the provincial high school title. Luther also won the U of S tournament twice. As a player, he paced the Regina Crescents to numerous provincial senior men's championships.

"The building is the first one, and for many years will occupy the place of honor, and even in later years, when the principal buildings have been built, its position is such that it deserves thorough study to develop the architectural possibilities." - David Brown to Walter Murray, 5 November 1909.

Designated as a provincial heritage property in 1982 and as a National Historic Site in 2001, the University's first building has long served as the architectural, intellectual and emotional cornerstone of the campus.

Designed by Brown and Vallance, the College Building was originally intended ultimately to house the College of Agriculture; but from the start, served numerous purposes. As early as April 1910, the floor plan included space for milk testing, butter making, cheese making, grain work; a gymnasium; several classrooms; offices for the Registrar, Dean of Agriculture, Director of Extension, and President; the original "faculty club"; laboratories; the library; and quarters for the janitor. After a sod-turning ceremony on 4 May 1910, the cornerstone was laid by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier on 29 July 1910. It was constructed between 1910-12 by Smith Bros. and Wilson general contractors. Completed in 1912, the building was officially opened by Walter Scott, Premier of Saskatchewan on 1 May 1913.

The College Building serves as a memorial to much of the University's history: numerous plaques to individuals and organizations can be found in its interior, including memorial ribbons honouring members of the university community who served in the First World War. In 1997, the University created "Nobel Plaza" in front of the College Building, honouring two Nobel Laureates associated with the University: Gerhard Herzberg and Henry Taube.

As the University grew, the College Building gradually became the administrative centre for the University. By the 1950s, most of the original teaching facilities were taken over by new or expanded offices including those of the registrar, controller, alumni and news services, and presidential staff. The building became known as the Administration Building at this point, and later the "old Administration Building" to distinguish it from the new wing.

This expansion continued through the 1960s and 1970s, particularly with the appointment of a university secretary and vice-presidents. While Convocation Hall became too small for regular Convocation ceremonies by 1930, it maintained its original, broader function as a venue for concerts, meetings, lectures, and other events.

Parts of the building were declared to be unsafe in 1979, which led to the construction of the new wing of the Administration Building, opened in 1987. Most of the original building was closed, but Convocation Hall remained in use until 1997.

The building was reopened and officially rededicated as the College Building in September 2005 after a major rehabilitation project. The rehabilitation was reported to be "one of the largest heritage conservation projects in Canada - second only to the work being done on Parliament Hill." In addition to senior administrative offices and Convocation Hall, the College Building became home to the Museum of Antiquities and new gallery space for the University Art Collection.

"One of the chief prices which Canada paid in the last war for her lack of preparation was the tragic waste of thousands of her best young men killed while fighting in the ranks because they had not been previously trained for a more useful career as officers. It is to prevent such a waste in any possible future war that every Canadian University is now giving facilities to its students to qualify as officers during their undergraduate course. Our own contingent of the C.O.T.C. came to life in January of this year and is already recruited up to a strength of 170." (The Spectrum, 1921) The Canadian Officers' Training Corps was a unit in the Active Militia of Canada. The Corps prepared university students for the examinations for a Lieutenant's or Captain's Commission and the universities granted course credit for COTC work. Senior commissions were held by faculty while all junior commissioned and non-commissioned ranks were open to undergraduates. Interest in the Corps declined in the 1950s and came to an end in 1964.