Looking Back: Alumna Shares Early Trent Photos

We recently caught up with alumna Leslie Lewis (née Shuter) ’66 on Twitter, and she sent along some wonderful snapshots from her time at Trent.

Ms. Lewis studied English and psychology from 1966 to 1969.

“We were the third matriculating class,” she recalls. “And were taught to consider ourselves pioneers of a sort.” And pioneers they were! Breathing life into new college buildings, those early students were as much a part of the foundational history and tradition of Trent as the faculty and staff of the time.

Ms. Lewis helped introduce a second generation to Trent: her son, Dr. Cory Lewis, taught philosophy at Trent during the 2019-2020 school year. Her daughter, Jocelyn (Josie) Mercier '98, also graduated from Trent.

“When Josie wore my gown to graduate, it was 35 years old or so,” she recalls. Speaking of gowns, Ms. Lewis suggested that Cory ought to have been wearing a gown 'because that's what Trent professors do.'“ He replied that ‘there may have been some changes in the last several decades.’”

That gown that Ms. Lewis wore to classes also made its way into the hands of a third generation. "When my gown was getting into its 40s, it had a new purpose," she recalls. "My grandson wore it as part of a Harry Potter costume."

Trail College Photos:

“It looked like this when I started (from Wallis Hall at Traill College). Gowned students getting on the bus and (yes) a horse drawn sidewalk plow. Most of what we did was in town. Quite glorious.”

Champlain and Lady Eaton College Photos:

“This one was labelled ‘the bus leaving without us.'”

“Lady Eaton College going up in 1968.”

Champlain College.

Bata Library Photos:

“Bata Library under construction spring 1968 and backdrop of graduation spring 1969. Some of us had a job after graduation moving the books from the Rubidge Hall library to the new one. My father must have taken the graduation photo. He had coloured film.”

Do you have any photos from Trent's past? We’d love to share them on our social media. Message donaldgfraser@trentu.ca with your memories.