History in the Making
Celebrate our 50th Anniversary and join us in making history!
A Message from President Keshen
As an historian, I find the passage of time both fascinating and enlightening. And in particular, as the eighth President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Regina, I find the inspiring five-decade history of the transformation from the University of Saskatchewan – Regina Campus into today’s vibrant independent, degree-granting institution to be something well worth celebrating as we look forward to the U of R’s next 50 years.
Honouring History
The U of R has close to 17,000 students and dynamic, accessible, and welcoming campuses on Treaties 4 and 6 – the territories of the nêhiyawak, Anihšināpēk, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda peoples, and the homeland of the Métis/Michif nation. But it started with far more modest beginnings. Back in 1911, Regina College was founded by the Saskatchewan Methodist Church, and was home to 27 students on the first day of classes. It then became the University of Saskatchewan – Regina Campus in 1961, and 50 years ago, on July 1, 1974, the University of Regina.
Be sure to share your U of R memories with us, because you are such an important part of our history and our future as we look to go far, together!
Fifty years after becoming and autonomous institution, the U of R has earned a national and international reputation for graduating career-ready critical thinkers and changemakers grounded in experiential learning and supported by a caring group of faculty, staff, and alumni. In fact, from the U of R’s Fall 1974 graduating class of 570 students, our family of alumni has grown to more than 88,000 members making a positive difference here in Saskatchewan and around the world.
Celebrate with us and share your U of R memories
As July 1, 2024 fast approaches and our 50th Anniversary festivities begin, we want to invite you – alumni, faculty, staff, retirees, current students, partners, and community members – to join us as we commemorate our proud past, celebrate our present, and prepare together for the future of our University.
We have something planned for everyone, including special events that will showcase the U of R’s place in our community and around the world as a leader in teaching and learning, research, student supports, and community engagement. The party really kicks off this fall! You can look forward to Welcome Week and the U-Prairie Challenge kick-off game in early September, and our much anticipated Alumni Week in October – all of which will be followed by a variety of other events throughout the year.
In the meantime, please come back often to the U of R 50th Anniversary webpage for event updates, 50th Anniversary feature stories, a Timeline of Milestones from 1974 to today, photos, and contests. And be sure to share your U of R memories with us, because you are such an important part of our history and our future as we look to go far, together!
Dr. Jeff Keshen
President and Vice-Chancellor