By james art 
Trent University’s senior administration, members of the Board of Trustees, local Durham Region representatives and special guests gathered to celebrate Trent Durham GTA’s 50th anniversary
Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking 50 years of academic excellence as a leading university in Durham Region, dedicated to transformative and personalized educational experiences through innovative and sought-after academic programs, guaranteed professional experience and a focus on community collaboration.
“I feel happy to guide Trent Durham to his second half-century. We will build on the strong foundation of personalized learning and career opportunities for Trent students in collaboration with regional and global partners,” said Dr. Kathy Bruce, Trent University President and Vice Chancellor. “Trent aims to build risk takers, solution finders, critical thinkers, all forms of leadership that fit perfectly with the ethos of leadership and growth we see in the City of Oshawa and Durham Region.”
President Bruce was joined by Trent Board Chair Doug Kirk ’70, Trent Durham Interim Vice President Dr. Scott Henderson, and faculty, staff and students at a special celebration on the Thornton Road campus to mark the anniversary. Durham Regional Chair John Henry and City Councilor Jim Lee were also in attendance, representing Durham Region and the City of Oshawa respectively.
“What really defines Trent Durham is the community we’ve built, a community rooted in the values of collaboration, growth and sustainability. At the core of Trent Durham’s story is a deep commitment to innovation, education and the idea that a university is more than just a place to learn, it’s a center for growth, creativity and connection,” said Vice President Henderson. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together.
In 1974, Trent Durham began offering part-time evening courses from Eastdale Collegiate and Vocational Institute in Oshawa. By the early 1980s, part-time student enrollment reached 550 and in 1993, Trent Durham welcomed the first group of full-time students. Now, 50 years later, Trent Durham has a dedicated campus on Thornton Road, which opened in 2010 and expanded in 2020 to include a new residence and academic building. In 2023, Trent Durham expanded even further into downtown Oshawa with the opening of the Center for Advanced Study, a dedicated home for graduate management and graduate certificate programs. Today, Trent Durham is home to nearly 3,000 students and more than 35 undergraduate, postgraduate and graduate programmes, including unique offerings such as policing and community wellbeing, logistics and supply chain management and children and youth research. An innovative new degree in artificial intelligence, available as an undergraduate or graduate degree. awaiting Ministry approval and accepting applications for fall 2025.
“The expansion of this campus, both in terms of its physical presence and the breadth of opportunities it provides students, has been remarkable,” said Doug Kirk, 70, chairman of Trent’s Board of Governors. “The work we’re doing here at Trent Durham, building new buildings and adding new programs, is really about transforming the student experience. The addition of new residence halls, career-focused academic programs, and enhanced experiential learning opportunities ensure that every student who steps foot on this campus is equipped not only with the knowledge but also with the tools to make a meaningful impact in their communities and the world.”
For more information on Trent University Durham’s 50th anniversary and to view an interactive 50-year timeline, please visit trentu.ca/durham/50.