October 21, 2005 Source: Concordia University:
http://publicaffairs.concordia.ca/mediaroom/pressreleases/2005/10/005160.shtml Installation Traditions and Regalia at Concordia University MONTREAL/October 21, 2005 — Past Installations of the President (also called Rector or Principal at various times in our history) have followed many of the traditions that are common in Canadian and other universities. This installation includes some past traditions and some innovations. The Mace Macefinal.jpg The University Mace traditionally symbolizes the authority of the institution. Concordia began using a mace at Convocation only a few years ago, and it will be used at the Installation of the President for the first time. It will be carried by the Installation Marshall, Dr. Jane Stewart. The Oath of Office OathofOfficefinal.jpg A standard Oath of Office has been instituted for the President. The oath will be affirmed during the ceremony. The President will also sign an official copy of the oath, and the Director of Archives will affix the University Seal to the document. A commemorative copy of the Oath of Office will be presented to the President as a gift from the University. The wording of the Oath of Office is: I solemnly affirm that I will faithfully discharge the duties of President and Vice-Chancellor of Concordia University. I will honour the traditions and spirit of the University and diligently serve its interests to the best of my abilities. J’affirme solennellement que je remplirai fidèlement mes fonctions de recteur et de vice-chancelier de l’Université Concordia. J’honorerai les traditions et l’esprit de l’Université et servirai avec diligence ses intérêts dans la mesure de mes capacités. The Chain of Office Chain of office Final.jpg A Chain of Office is a concrete symbol of the authority and dignity of that office. They are traditional for many formal offices, and are very frequently used in university ceremonies. They can be used either with formal academic robes, or on appropriate occasions they can also substitute for the more formal academic robes. The Chain of Office has recently been generously donated to
Concordia by the family of Judge Alan B. Gold, in his memory. Justice Gold was Concordia Chancellor from February 1987 to September 1992, and he was then named Chancellor Emeritus. The Chain of Office is a silver medallion about three inches in diameter, embossed only with the official Coat of Arms of Concordia University; it hangs on a simple silver chain. Significant dates in the history of the University are engraved on the edge of the medallion as described below. On the right edge of the medallion: 1848: The date of the founding of Collège Ste-Marie/St. Mary’s College, a Jesuit collège classique that offered a classical and commercial program in French and English. Loyola College later grew out of the separate English program that was developed at Ste-Marie. 1896: The year Loyola College began operations as a separate independent institution whose degrees were conferred initially by Université Laval à Montréal, which became Université de Montréal in 1920. On the left edge of the medallion: 1851: The date of the founding of the Montreal YMCA (the first YMCA in North America), which immediately began offering evening educational classes to young men. The
Educational Program later became Sir George Williams College. 1926: The year the YMCA Educational Department became the separate co-educational Sir George Williams College. 1936: Despite the absence of a university charter, this was the year the Sir George Williams full four-year college program issued its first bachelor’s degree. 1948: The date Sir George Williams College received its university charter from the Province of Quebec, authorizing it to confer university degrees (The name was changed to Sir George Williams University only in 1959). This is the University Charter under which Concordia University confers its degrees. At the center edge of the medallion: 1974: The year of the merger of Loyola College and Sir George Williams University that gave birth to Concordia University. The Concordia University Coat of Arms Coatofarmsfinal.jpg The name of the university comes from the motto of the City of Montréal Concordia Salus which means ‘well-being through harmony’. Like so many things at Concordia, the Coat of Arms has its roots in both founding institutions, Sir George Williams (SGW) and Loyola. In December 1937, the SGW Board of Governors approved a coat of arms based upon that of Sir George Williams, the founder of the YMCA. It included a dove, an olive branch, an open book (representing education) on a triangle (symbolic of the YMCA mission of developing body, mind, and spirit), and two roses. The Board also approved a change in the SGW colours from blue and white to gold and maroon. Following a 1962 application, on December 3, 1964 the College of Arms in London, England, ascribed official arms to SGWU and gave it the legal right to use them. Loyola did not have an official grant of arms, but used various versions of the ancestral arms of the Loyola family at the time of St. Ignatius. The arms included a double shield (common with Spanish families) for maternal and paternal strains, the families of Onaz and Loyola, wolves
rampant and a cauldron to designate the plenty of the Loyola family, and seven bars to represent bravery shown by seven brothers at the Battle of Beotibar in 1321. Loyola College’s colours were maroon and white. After the 1974 merger, negotiations began with the College of Arms for new armorial bearings that would reflect both founding institutions and embody the spirit of Concordia. On February 13, 1975, the Board of Governors approved the official Concordia colours white, gold and maroon: a combination of Loyola and SGW colours, and in keeping with the colours of the Coat of Arms. On December 23, 1976, the College of Arms officially granted Concordia’s new armorial bearings. On the ribbon stretched beneath the shield is the device "Concordia," signifying the University’s aspiration as well as its participation in the life of the City of Montréal. University Seal Seal Final.jpg The University Seal is composed of the Concordia University Coat of Arms with a banner indicating Université Concordia University at the base. It is used to authenticate official University documents. Information courtesy of:
Nancy Marrelli
Director of Archives
Concordia University,
October, 2005
Source: Chris Mota,
Senior Public Relations Officer
Concordia University
tel: (514) 848-2424 ext. 4884
cel: (514) 952-5556
fax: (514) 848-3383
e-mail: mota@alcor.concordia.ca
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