U of G Alumni Reunion Weekend 2024
On June 22nd 2024, groups of College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) alumni gathered for the Alumni Reunion Weekend at U of G, bringing together graduates to reconnect, reminisce and strengthen bonds. As part of the celebrations, CEPS hosted two events: the Department of Chemistry’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations and the Class of Engineering 1979 class reunion.
The Chemistry Department commemorated its 150th anniversary, celebrating a legacy of chemical education, innovation and discovery, dating back to 1874 during the early days of Ontario Agricultural College.
The Department hosted an Open House on the Saturday of the weekend, with a liquid nitrogen ice cream booth, LEGO experiments, lab tours, a relics museum, and more. A luncheon for retired staff and faculty was very successful, bringing together people who hadn’t seen each other in a decade or more. Dr. Rob Reed, Lab Coordinator and Instructor, presented a “Why do we like Chemistry?” showcase of chemical demonstrations exploring the global and Guelph-specific history of chemistry. Across two shows over 100 guests attended. All these activities were facilitated by an enthusiastic group of undergraduate and graduate students.
“Anniversaries are important because a department is its people, and if you fail to keep a community, you don’t have a department,” said Kathryn Preuss, chemistry chair. “These events allow us to remember the legacy of those who came before and to look towards the future.”
CHEM 150 closed off with a celebration dinner, bringing together graduates spanning decades to reminisce on the achievements of the department. Among the alumni attendees was a cohort representing the graduating classes of 1975, 1976, and 1977, reuniting for the first time in 24 years. In reflecting on their memories of their time at Guelph and the faculty that supported them throughout their journey, the alumni expressed their desire to continue their tradition of coming together, already planning ahead for Chemistry’s 175th anniversary.
“Looking towards the future, we want to bring back more social events,” said Kate Stuttaford, co-lead for CHEM 150. “It is important to engage with alumni, retirees and keep in touch. Ideally, we’d even like to do events every year to continue to build and strengthen that sense of connection.”
The Class of ENG’79 brought together a small but mighty contingent of alumni celebrating their 45th anniversary. Their celebrations included the President’s Milestone Lunch and the OAC150 Celebration and Dinner at the Guelph Gryphons Athletic Centre. The Class of ENG’79 will return to campus in the fall for a larger 45th celebration with their classmates.
CEPS alumni interested in organizing a reunion for Alumni Weekend 2025 can contact Chandler Gray: chgray@uoguelph.ca