Day in the life: Grant Hughes & Peter Klit

In 1973, Peter Klit and Grant Hughes were assigned the same UVic dorm room—David Thompson 209. They quickly bonded, beginning a friendship now in its 40th year. It’s only coincidence they both currently work on campus. (A happy excuse to catch-up more often, they say.)

“I can remember sitting on the bed and thinking ‘I’m going to have to share this space with someone. I wonder what he’s going to be like?’ And at that same moment, Grant and his parents arrived at the door,” says Peter.

“Of course, I saw it from the other side. I tried the key, opened the door and there’s this fairly large guy in the room. Peter was on the bed, darning his jeans,” remembers Grant.

Peter, then 20, and Grant, 19, had both transferred from other schools. The similarities ended there. Peter grew up in small towns all over the province, while Grant was born in Vancouver and grew up in Calgary.

“Opposites in a lot of ways. Coming to the city was quite a change for me,” says Peter, who became known as the music lover in his building. Grant arrived at school with a lone Gordon Lightfoot cassette.

“Every week, to build up my tape collection, I’d go down to the campus shop and buy one blank tape for 99 cents. Then I’d go to Peter’s stereo and tape the records for my collection. The only problem was it wasn’t a very loud tape recorder,” says Grant.

During first year, Peter bought a 1973 Colt, still his favourite car to date. “I remember we used to see how far we could get across town without having to stop at any stop signs or red lights,” says Grant.

The pair quickly picked up a nickname. “They used to call us Mutt and Jeff,” after the early 20th-century comic strip, “because Peter’s big and I’m not very tall,” remembers Grant.

The next year, they requested to remain roommates, moving over to the Arthur Curry residence, where Grant met his wife. “The first couple of weeks of second year, we were doing a folk song sing-along in the lounge and Karen was there. I was leading the singing. Love at first sight.”

Peter was the master of ceremonies at Grant and Karen’s wedding, and also met his wife, Meredith, while at UVic. Both he and Grant have two daughters: Metthea and Janna (Peter) and Vanessa and Jenna (Grant).

Today, Peter’s the Print Services manager, a position he’s held for over 25 years. The beginning of the school year is his favourite time on campus. “I love every September when the students come back. That whole sense of newness—and energy! I remember what it was like to be here at that time. I just love that feeling.”

Grant, director of Community Relations, misses the classroom. “I really liked the studying and the learning. I’m sure I’m still learning all the time, but it doesn’t seem as much when it’s not in a class.”

Grant adhered to a strict study schedule, hitting the books until 11 each night, then like clockwork, would head to the building lounge and eat six slices of toast for a snack. “We also went through a phase where we had a glass of apricot brandy every night,” recalls Peter of their younger habits.

Now they try to meet for regular lunches. “The same guys we were before,” says Peter (well, except they both have less hair).

Grant agrees. “We’re just ordinary guys.” They’re also proof that extraordinary friendships are forged in residence.