FLASHBACK: November highlights in the history of the University of Regina

By Dale Johnson Posted: November 11, 2017 2:00 p.m.

After plans were announced for the new library in November 1964, it officially opened in 1967. Regina Campus Principal William Riddell (l-r) with librarian John Archer and architect Minoru Yamasaki were on hand for the event.
After plans were announced for the new library in November 1964, it officially opened in 1967. Regina Campus Principal William Riddell (l-r) with librarian John Archer and architect Minoru Yamasaki were on hand for the event. Photo courtesy of U of R Archives.

Among the historical highlights at the University of Regina and its forerunners during the month of November:

1954: A Leader-Post headline says “Regina College needing space” and the article explains the most pressing needs are for more space for the conservatory of music and the hospital laboratory technicians’ course. Dean Dr. W.A. Riddell says, “The expected general increase in enrolment beginning in three or four years will lead to such demands upon our laboratories that they will have to be extended.”
 
1959: Details of the expansion of Regina College are outlined by University of Saskatchewan president Dr. John W. T Spinks. “The first step of this expansion would be to offer a second year arts course in Regina for 1961-1962,” Spinks says in a speech to the Regina branch of the University Alumni Association at the Hotel Saskatchewan.  He further shared that during the next few years there would be construction of a laboratory, library, physical education building, and additions to Darke Hall and the College Building.  

1964: Plans are unveiled for a new library, which will cost $4,300,000 and be the dominant building on Regina Campus. The Leader-Post reports that initially “the building will hold about 200,000 books and just over one-half of the space will be used for library purposes. The rest will contain classrooms, offices and a provincial government public documents centre. As enrolment increases the library will expand into the rest of the building.”

1965: Plans are announced for a semester system at Regina Campus, meaning that education students can start classes in January. The Leader-Post reports that the semester system, “is planned on a trial basis as an approach to an extended academic year and to explore the possibility of variable admission dates for university courses.”

1967: Regina Campus has to turn away about 40 students who applied for admission in January. Total enrolment is up to 3,480, which already exceeds the 3,400 limit set by the administration to take into account the number of faculty members and classroom space.

1975: The Board of Governors of the University of Regina recommends a 10 per cent increase in tuition fees, rejecting an earlier proposal for a 15 per cent increase. For the 1975-76 year, the University has a budget of about $19 million, a 21 per cent increase over the previous year.