University chooses names to honour contributors
The University of Victoria's Board of Governors has taken steps to recognize the contributions of several organizations and individuals to the university. At its meeting yesterday, the Board re-named UVic's health services building to the Jack Petersen Health Centre and university house one to Alumni House. In addition, rooms within the new Centre for Innovative Teaching will bear either the names of the major donors to the centre or alternative names the donors have chosen.
"The names we have approved are a gesture of thanks from the university community to those whose contributions have helped make UVic one of Canada's leading universities and whose support will ensure that we maintain that position," said Brian Lamb, chair of the board.
Dr. Jack Petersen is medical director of university health services. He is scheduled to retire July 1 after 40 years of service to the university community. Petersen, who started at Victoria College in 1959, is the only medical director UVic has ever had. Under his direction, health services has grown from a single part-time physician to one of the busiest medical clinics in the province, offering a wide variety of medical and health services. The Jack Petersen Health Centre honours his service to thousands of students.
Alumni House recognizes the past, present and future contributions and support of the Alumni Association. Financial contributions to the university from the association total well in excess of $500,000. In the current year, the association, in addition to its many alumni programs, is providing $83,000 in student scholarships and grants. As the home of the university's division of external relations, which includes the alumni affairs office, Alumni House will continue to provide a welcoming base for UVic's 40,000 alumni.
The new Centre for Innovative Teaching, which promotes the use of the latest educational technology and innovative approaches in course design and delivery, was one of the university's priorities in its five year capital fundraising campaign. The names of the rooms in the centre will be (names of the contributing organization which chose the name in parentheses, where applicable): Nancy Martin Donegani Seminar Room; Gordon MacFarlane Lecture Theatre (BC Tel); Ron Gamey Hall (Canadian Pacific); Fletcher Challenge Canada Ltd. Seminar Room; Bill Brown, Purdy Crawford Seminar/Reception Room (BC Sugar/Rogers Sugar, Imasco Ltd.); and the Charles E. Merrill Teaching Development Room (Merrill Lynch Canada). Major donors to the centre, including the Province of BC, Royal Bank of Canada, Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, Hudson's Bay Company, John Labatt Foundation, Nesbitt Burns, National Trust and Wood Gundy Inc. and those above will be recognized through a donor recognition wall inside the centre.
The room names were determined in consultation with the donors after a recommendation to name the rooms after the contributing organizations, in accordance with the university's naming policy, was questioned by student board members at the board's September meeting. While they supported the recognition wall, the students expressed concern about rooms being named after corporations rather than individuals. The board then asked UVic President Dr. David Strong to approach the donors to ascertain their wishes.
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