Massey College Doors Open Toronto 2024

To hear the audio version, scroll to the player below this transcript and press play. Welcome to Ondatje Hall, Named in honour of Christopher Ondatje- brother of famous author Michael Ondatje (The English Patient). This is where the fellows of Massey College meet in community three times a day. Dinners are formal and all must wear academic gown in order to be served the three courses.  Once a mont...

To hear the audio version, scroll to the player below this transcript and press play. Welcome to Massey College’s Chapel Royal, Gi-Chi-Twaa Gimaa Nini Mississauga Anishinaabek AName Amik – The King’s Anishinaabek Sacred Place. The history of the chapel dates from the founding of Massey College. Vincent Massey, Canada’s first Canadian-born Governor General and one of the founders of the Colle...

To hear the audio version, scroll to the player below this transcript and press play. Welcome to the Upper Library.  This multi-purpose space is used for various events within the College.  The configuration of furniture changes constantly depending on the event — book club, Massey Dialogues, lunches, lectures or receptions. Originally constructed as a reading room, this space was home to si...

To hear the audio version, scroll to the player below this transcript and press play. Welcome to the Round Room.  Do you have any idea how it got its name? Ok, that was an easy one. How about this one…What is the purpose of this room?  No, it is not a council chamber, although the Massey Board of Governors and the Massey Foundation meet here regularly. The Round Room at Massey College is a Ph. D....

To hear the audio version, scroll to the player below this transcript and press play. The Quadrangle or “Quad” at Massey college was modeled after Oxford in England.  It remains a quiet, protected space from the hustle and bustle of the main University of Toronto Campus.  The South façade of the Quad contains the public or common areas of the College while the other 3 sides are flanked with 5 Hous...

To hear the audio version, scroll to the player below this transcript and press play. Welcome to the Junior Common Room.  This is a multi-purpose space. Fellows and members of the Massey community use it as a quiet meeting and lounge space. Often the furniture gets re-arranged for public events and cocktail receptions. The furnishings feature a mix of Arts and Crafts, and Mid-Century Modern design...

To hear the audio version, scroll to the player below this transcript and press play. The Bibliography Room houses two substantial collections: the rare book collection and the printing collection. The Bibliography Room, colloquially known as the Bib Room, was founded with the College in 1963, with the intention of creating a dedicated space for preserving and furthering the study of the history o...

To hear the audio version, scroll to the player below this transcript and press play. Massey College opened its doors to students in 1963, and is the brainchild of Vincent Massey the first Canadian-born Governor General of Canada.  As Massey was leaving office, he envisioned a place of fellowship at the University of Toronto.  Once the site on which Massey College sits was settled on as the best l...