Looking south at Saskatchewan Hall, Qu'Appelle Hall, Dean of Agriculture's residence, and College Building.

Winter scene looking south at buildings (l to r): Saskatchewan Hall, Qu'Appelle Hall, Dean of Agriculture's residence and College Building.

View of campus from the experimental plots while looking north. Buildings include Saskatchewan Hall, Qu'Appelle Hall, Dean of Agriculture's Residence and College Building.

Looking south at campus buildings (l to r): College Building, Saskatchewan Hall, Qu'Appelle Hall, Dean of Agriculture's Residence,

John G. Diefenbaker, University Chancellor, making presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree to Dr. Herman H. Ferns at spring Convocation held at Centennial Auditorium.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Herman Harvey Ferns had a long and distinguished record at the University of Saskatchewan, both as a student and as a member of the faculty. He received the Governor-General's Gold Medal as the most distinguished graduate in 1927. Ferns received a PhD from the University of Toronto in 1933. His first appointment to the University of Saskatchewan faculty was as an instructor in mathematics in 1928. He was promoted to Professor in 1941 and was Head of the Mathematics Department from 1946 until his retirement in 1962. He was Director of the Summer School from 1949-1959. He served as adviser to veterans of World War II and was active in the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps for many years. Ferns played an important role in persuading leading artists to contribute their talents to the development of a program of summer art classes at Emma Lake, which in turn was a major factor in the establishment of a strong community of artists in Saskatchewan. Ferns was president of the Faculty Club and was active in numerous community organizations such as the Canadian Institute of International Affairs. Dr. Ferns received an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from the U of S in May 1976. Dr. Ferns died in Saskatoon in December 1976.

Looking south at Saskatchewan Hall, Qu'Appelle Hall, Dean of Agriculture's residence and College Building.

Head and shoulders of Peter MacKinnon, Dean of Law from 1988-1998.

Bio/Historical Note: R. Peter MacKinnon, OC QC, born in 1947 in Prince Edward Island, received a BA from Dalhousie University, an LL.B from Queen's University and a LL.M from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Ontario Bar and Saskatchewan Bar. He was created a Queen's Counsel in 1990. In 1975, he joined the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan as an Assistant Professor of Law. He became an Associate Professor in 1978 and a Professor in 1983. He served as chair of the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association from 1983-84.From 1979-1981, he was the Assistant Dean of Law and was the Dean of Law from 1988-1998. In 1999, he was appointed the eighth President of the University of Saskatchewan. On March 9, MacKinnon announced that he would be stepping down as President of the University of Saskatchewan, effective June 30, 2012. From 2003-2005 he was the chairman of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the organization representing Canada's universities. In 2006, it was reported that he was one of three "short list" candidates to be recommended to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada replacing the retired justice John C. Major. In 2011, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to education and for his commitment to innovation and research excellence". In 2012, the Board of Governors of the University of Saskatchewan renamed the College Building the Peter MacKinnon Building. On 15 January 2019, MacKinnon started serving as interim president of Dalhousie University upon the resignation of Richard Florizone and served until the announcement of the next president, Deep Saini.

Peter MacKinnon, University President, seated at his office desk.

Bio/Historical Note: R. Peter MacKinnon, OC QC, born in 1947 in Prince Edward Island, received a BA from Dalhousie University, an LL.B from Queen's University and a LL.M from the University of Saskatchewan. He is a member of the Ontario Bar and Saskatchewan Bar. He was created a Queen's Counsel in 1990. In 1975 he joined the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan as an Assistant Professor of Law. He became an Associate Professor in 1978 and a Professor in 1983. He served as chair of the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association from 1983-1984. From 1979-1981 he was the Assistant Dean of Law and was Dean of Law from 1988-1998. In 1999, he was appointed the eighth President of the University of Saskatchewan. MacKinnon stepped down as president on 30 June 2012. From 2003-2005 he was the chairman of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, the organization representing Canada's universities. In 2006 it was reported that he was one of three "short list" candidates to be recommended to be appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada replacing the retired justice John C. Major. In 2011 MacKinnon was made an Officer of the Order of Canada "for his contributions to education and for his commitment to innovation and research excellence". In 2012 the University Board of Governors renamed the College Building the Peter MacKinnon Building. In January 2019 MacKinnon began serving as interim president of Dalhousie University upon the resignation of Richard Florizone and served until the investiture of the next president, Deep Saini.

Elevated view of Donna Cram, manager, standing in the dining room of the Faculty Club.

Bio/Historical Note: The Dean of Agriculture’s residence was among the first buildings on campus. Designed by Brown & Vallance of Montreal, the original plan called for a wood-clad structure but this was abandoned when the Board of Governors decided in May 1911 to use local greystone. Unlike several of the larger buildings, the Dean’s residence was built by university employees with the assistance of day labourers. Construction took less than a year and costs ran to nearly $25,000. Sometimes known as the “Grey Gables,” the building’s first resident was W.J. Rutherford, first Dean of Agriculture. The location of the house, on the campus close to the University Farm, reflected the unique relationship of the Agricultural College with the University. In addition to a family residence, the adjourning grounds were used on occasion as the site for outdoor receptions and social gatherings. Talk of starting a Faculty Club at the University of Saskatchewan started in 1921, but a club was not established until 1927. The centre for the club was a reading room in the College (Administration) Building; and the club's major purpose became sponsoring a series of lectures by faculty members. Slowly, over the years, the club was also opened to other than faculty members: in 1937, government researchers were allowed to join; as were senior administrative personnel in 1959; and by 1962, a degree was no longer a requirement of membership.
A controversial issue of the 1940s was to admit women members of faculty to the club. At a 19 November 1943 meeting, J.R. Fraser moved, seconded by J.B. Harrington, that women members of staff be admitted to the Faculty Club.” There was an amendment, moved by J.F. Leddy, seconded by A.P. Arnason “That the name of the club be changed to the Men’s Faculty Club.” The amendment carried. So the club was called the Men’s Faculty Club for four years, until 21 March 1947 when on a motion of Ansten Anstenson, seconded by J.B. Harrington “that the name of the club be changed to the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Club and that women members of the faculty be admitted.” Carried. The last Dean to live in the house was V.E. Graham who moved out in 1961 so the building could be converted into a Faculty Club, which opened in 1962. The building underwent two more renovations in 1966 and 1975. The latter was the most extensive, at a cost of $607,961, and established the footprint of the building as it exists today. At 3:00 pm on 19 September 1972, a fire that had been smoldering in the roof insulation for hours became apparent inside the club. The building was evacuated and an alarm called into the City of Saskatoon Fire Department. Six units were eventually dispatched to battle the “stubborn” fire before a crowd of several hundred onlookers. No one was injured and the building was saved from catastrophic damage. By 1974, most administrative officers were permitted to join. The Faculty Club is now known as the University Club (2021).