Graduands stand in the Bowl in foreground; guests stand in background in front of the College Building.

Art Department faculty, Seated: Bill Epp, Hans S. Dommasch, Donald K. McNamee and Wynona Mulcaster. Standing: Mina M. Forsyth, Jim Thornsbury, Ron Shuebrook, Douglas Bentham, and Otto Rogers.

View of Saskatoon buildings, looking from Nutana across the river, north of 19th Street (Victoria) Bridge. Crescent Arena in foreground.

Bio/Historical Note: Crescent Arena, also known as the Saskatoon Arena and Crescent Rink, was built in the 1910s and was the home of the Saskatoon Sheiks of the Western Canadian Hockey League and the Saskatoon Wesleys of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The arena was demolished in 1932 so the Broadway Bridge could be built. It was eventually replaced by a newer Saskatoon Arena in 1937.

Dr. Blaine A. Holmlund, acting University President, speaking from podium during Convocation held at Centennial Auditorium.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Blaine Adrian Holmlund was born at his family’s home (Section 11, Township 27, Range 7, west of the 3rd meridian), roughly 9 miles west of Strongfield, Saskatchewan, on 27 July 1930. His career began at age 12, as a hired farm labourer. He worked variously at the general store and as a mechanic at the local garage prior to joining the CPR as a relief station agent and telegraph operator (December 1948-May 1955). One of his supervisors at the CPR strongly urged Blaine to consider University – not an option considered before by Blaine or one expected by his family. Dr. Holmlund entered engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and put himself through, earning his BE in 1955 and his MSc in 1961. Following graduation in 1955, Blaine worked as a development engineer for Shell; for Atomic Energy of Canada at Chalk River, Ontario; and as a communications engineer for Sask Power. He was briefly also a lecturer in electrical engineering at the University; and in 1958 returned, joining the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan where he remained for the rest of his career. From 1958-1992 Dr. Holmlund served the University in a variety of capacities: as a professor of electrical engineering; of biomedical engineering; of computational science; of finance and quantitative methods. He established, and served as first director of: the Biomedical Engineering Program; the Computational Science Department; the Hospital Systems Study Group; and the University Studies Group. Dr. Holmlund was named VP (Special Projects) in 1980 and VP (Planning and Development) in 1985. Blaine served as Acting University President in 1989. He served on the Board of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College from 1982-1993, and from November 1990-June 1991 was on secondment from the University to serve as Acting President of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (now First Nations University of Canada). Dr. Holmlund was awarded an honorary doctorate by the U of S in 1998. Following his retirement he volunteered for Saskatoon Habitat for Humanity, helping to initiate partnerships with employment programs and to establish the Re-Store. Blaine Holmlund died 17 June 2006 in Saskatoon.

Scene from the play.

Two male students in costume sit on a checkered stage; play unidentified.

Two students, one female and one male, dressed in costume; play unidentified.

A male student dressed as a sailor with two female students in costume. One female student is seated in front of an old sewing machine.

Six students in costume.

Members of 3rd year Medicine class, to graduate in 1957. Back row: Douglas Lloyd Anderson, Saskatoon; Ernest Henry Baergen, Vauxhall, Alberta; Mark Errol Boyd, Blaine Lake; Robert Charles Cooper, Prince Albert; Homer Edward Friesen, Rosthern; Jerry Sidney Grobman, North Battleford; Wilfred Walter Hathway, Saskatoon; Arthur William Hindmarsh, Saskatoon; Michael Anton Jacobi, Saskatoon. Third row: Edward Herman James, Eston; Gerald John Joseph Junk, Annaheim; Norwood Wilson Kavanagh, Saskatoon; William Arnold Stuart Klass, North Battleford; Michael Boris Krochak, Wroxton; Ronald David Ledray, Winter; Lowell Mervin Loewen, Herschel; David John Martin, Cut Knife; Stanley Joseph Mazurkie, Mortlach. Second row: Walter Lancelot Munholland, Strasbourg; Z.F. Muskovitch, Saskatoon; Eric Jacob Paetkau, Picture Butte, Alberta; Pearl Renpenning, Granby, Quebec;; R.L. Pendleton, Swift Current; H.J. Renpenning, McMahon; Donald Joseph Schmidt, Richmound; Peter Siemens, Saskatoon. Front row: Maxwell Roderick Smart, Drinkwater; John Clarence Specken, Saskatoon; Theresa Marie Laurendeau, Saskatoon; L.W. Perry, Regina; Edith Pauline Rogoman, Saskatoon; John Luther Spencer, Prince Albert; Robert Ross Wheaton, Saskatoon.

Bio/Historical Note: A medical college was part of President Walter Murray’s design for the new University of Saskatchewan, and was consistent with his view that the university should serve the needs of the province. In 1926 a School of Medical Sciences was established, which provided the first two years of medical training. Between 1928 and 1954, 605 students completed the course and then went elsewhere in Canada for the clinical years. In 1944, a survey of the health needs of the province (Sigerist Report) recommended that the School be expanded to a “complete Grade A Medical School” and that a University Hospital of 500 beds be constructed for scientific teaching, clinical instruction, and research. A medical building was completed in 1950, a four-year degree-granting College was inaugurated in 1953, and University Hospital opened in 1955. The College admits sixty medical students per year, supervises the training of 200 residents, and provides basic science training to 330 students in Arts/Science. The aim of the program is to produce a “basic” or undifferentiated doctor capable, with further training, of becoming a family practitioner, specialist or research scientist. Between 1953 and 2003, the College of Medicine has graduated 2,134 MDs, of whom 30.5% were women.

Head and shoulders image of Dr. Blaine Holmlund, lecturer, Department of Electrical Engineering.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Blaine Adrian Holmlund was born at his family’s home (Section 11, Township 27, Range 7, west of the 3rd meridian), roughly 9 miles west of Strongfield, Saskatchewan, on 27 July 1930. His career began at age 12, as a hired farm labourer. He worked variously at the general store and as a mechanic at the local garage prior to joining the CPR as a relief station agent and telegraph operator (December 1948-May 1955). One of his supervisors at the CPR strongly urged Blaine to consider University – not an option considered before by Blaine or one expected by his family. Dr. Holmlund entered engineering at the University of Saskatchewan and put himself through, earning his BE in 1955 and his MSc in 1961. Following graduation in 1955, Blaine worked as a development engineer for Shell; for Atomic Energy of Canada at Chalk River, Ontario; and as a communications engineer for Sask Power. He was briefly also a lecturer in electrical engineering at the University; and in 1958 returned, joining the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan where he remained for the rest of his career. From 1958-1992 Dr. Holmlund served the University in a variety of capacities: as a professor of electrical engineering; of biomedical engineering; of computational science; of finance and quantitative methods. He established, and served as first director of: the Biomedical Engineering Program; the Computational Science Department; the Hospital Systems Study Group; and the University Studies Group. Dr. Holmlund was named VP (Special Projects) in 1980 and VP (Planning and Development) in 1985. Blaine served as Acting University President in 1989. He served on the Board of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College from 1982-1993, and from November 1990-June 1991 was on secondment from the University to serve as Acting President of the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (now First Nations University of Canada). Dr. Holmlund was awarded an honorary doctorate by the U of S in 1998. Following his retirement he volunteered for Saskatoon Habitat for Humanity, helping to initiate partnerships with employment programs and to establish the Re-Store. Blaine Holmlund died 17 June 2006 in Saskatoon.

Mr. D. Bond and Biil Slights, professor of English, stand in the Bowl with their books.

Four female students practicing with rapiers in indoor fencing class.