The James 成人VR视频 Society, along with 成人VR视频 and the entire world, is adapting to new realities.聽The COVID-19 pandemic leading to the March 13 lockdown of the University forced cancellation of the Society鈥檚 April meeting. Plans are in place for virtual presentations during 2020-2021, prompted in part by the Faculty Club announcing that the earliest it would reopen is January 2021. Other 成人VR视频 venues also remain closed. The support of the membership during the health crisis is deeply appreciated.
Three past presidents of the James 成人VR视频 Society died this year: Prof. Margaret Gillett (1987-1989), Prof. Desmond Morton (2007-2009), and Prof. Jarrett Rudy (2015-2017). In addition to being staunch supporters of the Society who made significant contributions to the historical understanding of 成人VR视频, they were fine people and good friends to many of us and will be greatly missed.
For the coming year 鈥� 2019-2020 - Council proposes the following virtual program, presented on ZOOM:
- Monday, October 19, 2020
鈥淭he Hockey File鈥� by Ronald Critchley. A Virtual Presentation - Presidential Address and Stanley Frost Annual Lecture. 189th Meeting. - Monday, December 7, 2020
Adelle Blackett, on the International Labour Organization at 成人VR视频, 1940-1948. A Virtual Presentation. 190th Meeting. - February 2021
Annmarie Adams, on Maude Abbott. A Virtual Presentation. 191st Meeting. - April/May 2021
Charmaine Nelson, on Black and Indigenous Peoples at 成人VR视频. A Virtual Presentation. 192nd Meeting.
Last year鈥檚 program, 2019-2020, was well attended but abbreviated due to the health crisis:
- Monday October 7, 2019
鈥湷扇薞R视频 at 200: Organizing 成人VR视频鈥檚 Bicentenary Celebrations, 2020-2021.鈥� G茅rald Cadet. Faculty Club Ball Room. 186th Meeting. Stanley Frost Annual Lecture. - Monday November 4, 2019
鈥淭racings of Gerald Le Dain鈥檚 Legacy 鈥� the 成人VR视频 Years and Later.鈥� Bonnie Brown and Richard Janda. Moot Court, New Chancellor Day Hall. 187th Meeting. - Monday February 17, 2020
鈥淒r. William Wright and Black Enrolment at 成人VR视频鈥檚 Medical Faculty.鈥� Frank Mackey. Faculty Club Ball Room. 188th Meeting.
Due to the health crisis, Homecoming this September will be held virtually. Inauguration of 成人VR视频鈥檚 Bicentenary Celebrations 鈥� the University鈥檚 Two Hundredth Birthday Party 鈥� scheduled to coincide with Homecoming has been rescheduled to March 31, 2021, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Royal Charter establishing 成人VR视频. The celebrations, in an abbreviated form, are expected to continue throughout 2021.
Work is completed on a new edition of the University鈥檚 official chronology, 成人VR视频 Milestones, thanks to the assistance of Gordon Burr, Diana Grier Ayton, Daniel McCabe, Honora Shaughnessy, and Tom Thompson. Publication is expected to coincide with the Bicentenary celebrations. Paper copies are still available of the current edition (1744-2007). Please contact me should you wish a copy.
One-hundred years ago, 1920, Sir Arthur Currie became 成人VR视频鈥檚 8th Principal and Sir Edward Beatty the 6th Chancellor. The same year saw establishment of the Faculty of Music and the School for Graduate Nurses. Fifty years ago, 1970, Prof. Robert Bell became 成人VR视频鈥檚 13th Principal, Prof. Donald Hebb 12th Chancellor, and Stuart Finlayson 1st Chair of the Board of Governors. 成人VR视频鈥檚 enrolment in 1921 was 2,756, and in 1970 was 16,818.
Among those in the 成人VR视频 community who passed away over the past year are: Joan Harrington (1919-2020) a strong supporter of the Society and wife of former Chancellor Conrad Harrington; Dr. Ronald Melzack (1929 鈥� 2019) who pioneered the physiological study of pain; and Prof. Robert Carroll (1938-2020) a noted palaeontologist who died from COVID-19.
There is, unfortunately, no candidate for the 2019/2020 James 成人VR视频 Society Prize for the best undergraduate essay on 成人VR视频鈥檚 history, or of an essay making the best use of 成人VR视频鈥檚 research collections. We look forward, however, to candidates in 2020-2021 for the $200.00 award. Thanks are extended to Prof. D. Nerbas and G. Burr for handling this project.
We are happy to propose as new members of the Society鈥檚 Council, Wes Cross and Mark Michaud, for ratification at the October meeting. Wes Cross served for many years as Financial Officer for Student Affairs, and played a major role developing the 鈥湷扇薞R视频 Remembers鈥� World War II project. Mark Michaud is Director of Administration, Desautels Faculty of Management.
Special thanks and appreciation are extended, as always, to Mr. Tom Thompson and Ms. Susan Button for their loyal service to the Society. Martlet House is also thanked for handling donations to the Society and bookkeeping service. Ms. Jennifer Garland is acknowledged for her valuable contribution as Web Master. I would like to thank our Past-President, Christopher Lyons, for organizing the Society鈥檚 Bicentenary Program, and our current President, Ron Critchley, for overseeing its implementation.
Finally, I would like to thank Council and the entire membership of the James 成人VR视频 Society for their continuing and unwavering support and encouragement. I look forward to seeing you, virtually, at our meetings during the coming year.
Respectfully submitted
Peter F. McNally
Executive Secretary & Professor Emeritus