The First Convocation

In honour of all the convocated graduates last week, we offer this story from the very first UW convocation:

“Hidden Alarm Signals Waterloo Convocation
Waterloo, June 19 — The University of Waterloo’s first convocation was a ringing success Saturday as undergraduate engineering students placed alarm clocks under the main platform at the ceremonies.
    One alarm went off during a speech delivered by Dana Porter, Chief Justice of Ontario and newly installed chancellor of the university.
    Officials had searched the building prior to the ceremonies and found one of the clocks under the platform. However, a second was hidden too well.
    Mr. Porter was installed as first chancellor of the University of Waterloo, which received its charter less than a year ago.
    The first graduating class included nine students receiving master degrees. Master of arts in mathematics was granted to Ronald Mullin of Guelph, the first to receive a degree.
    Master of science degrees in applied mathematics were granted Kimmo A. Innanen, Toronto; John Douglas Lawson, Meaford; Peter Roe, Toronto; Kestutis Salkauskas, Toronto; Frank Schaffer, Owen Sound; Thomas W. Troughton, Barrie, and Ian Iwao Yamanaka, Toronto.
    Three honorary degrees were granted. A doctor of laws degree was conferred on Dr. Theodore Allen Heinrich, director of the Royal Ontario Museum. An honorary degree of science was bestowed upon Professor Kenneth B. Jackson, chairman of Applied Physics Department, University of Toronto. Dr. James J. Talman, University of Western Ontario librarian, received a degree of doctor of letters.”

-The Globe And Mail, Monday June 20, 1960