The University Club of Montreal is a private social club in Montreal, Quebec. Established in 1907, it has been a cornerstone of the cityâÂÂs social and intellectual community for over a century. Initially conceived in December 1906 as a gentlemen's club for university graduates, it was officially incorporated on November 8, 1907.
History
Early years
The University Club initially occupied a three-story building on Dorchester Street West, opposite St. PaulâÂÂs Presbyterian Church.In 1911, it purchased the residence of Edward Benjamin Ibbotson at 176 Mansfield Street. Seeking a permanent home, the club acquired property directly opposite and commissioned Scottish architect Percy Erskine Nobbs, then Director of the McGill School of Architecture, to design a new clubhouse. Completed in 1913, the building showcased a Neo-Georgian façade with a limestone ground floor and red brick upper stories. The interior featured exquisite spaces, notably the main dining hall, which remains largely unchanged since its inception.
Social evolution
Throughout its history, the University Club has evolved to reflect societal changes. In the early 1920s, a womenâÂÂs annex was added, though women were initially limited to specific areas unless accompanied by a member. Women gained full membership rights in 1988. The club began admitting Jewish members in the 1960s, and in 1973, the requirement for a university degree was removed, broadening its inclusivity.
Relocation and modern developments
Facing financial challenges, the club sold its historic Mansfield Street building in 2017. In 2022, it relocated to the Maison James-Reid-Wilson at 1201 Sherbrooke Street West, a heritage property restored by Provencher_Roy. This move marked a new chapter, blending the clubâÂÂs rich traditions with modern amenities.
Art and cultural contributions
The club has an art collection, featuring nearly one hundred works by Canadian artists.
Notable milestones
In 2007, the club celebrated its centennial, commemorated by the publication of a detailed history book.
Leadership
President
- 1907-1918 â Seargent Prentiss Stearns
- 1918-1920 â Robert Fulford Ruttan
- 1920-1921 â Frederick Edmund Meredith
- 1921-1922 â Alexander D. Blackader
- 1922-1923 â Eugène Lafleur
- 1923-1924 â William Forrest Angus
- 1924-1925 â W. C. Chisholm
- 1925-1926 â Dr Herbert Stanley Birkett
- 1926-1927 â Allan Angus Magee
- 1927-1928 â John J. Creelman
- 1928-1929 â H. M. Little
- 1929-1931 â Charles W. Colb
- 1931-1932 â F. M. G. Johnson
- 1932-1933 â A. T. Bazin
- 1933-1934 â George Selkirk Currie
- 1934-1935 â E. M. McDougall
- 1935-1936 â E. Peter Flintoff
- 1936-1937 â Conrad Dawson Harrington
- 1937-1938 â John Morrice Roger Fairbairn
- 1938-1939 â K. M. Perry
- 1939-1940 â Edward G. Hanson
- 1940-1941 â Gregor Barclay
- 1941-1942 â Edouard de Bellefeuille Panet
- 1942-1943 â J. C. McDougall
- 1943-1944 â W. A. Merrill
- 1944-1945 â T. S. Morrisey
- 1945-1946 â E. S. McDougall
- 1946-1947 â J. H. H. Robertson
- 1947-1948 â Donald A. White
- 1948-1949 â Orville S. Tyndale
- 1949-1950 â James Blain Woodyatt
- 1950-1951 â Reuben Ewart Stavert
- 1951-1952 â Chilion H. G. Heward
- 1952-1953 â A. D. Campbell
- 1953-1954 â Hugh A. Crombie
- 1954-1955 â B. E. Norrish
- 1955-1956 â Shirley G. Dixon
- 1956-1957 â Kenneth A. Creery
- 1957-1958 â John K. Wilson
- 1958-1959 â Kenneth B. Roberton
- 1959-1960 â R. D. Harkness
- 1960-1961 â Paul P. Hutchison
- 1961-1962 â G. P. Hedges
- 1962-1963 â Harrison C. Hayes
- 1963-1964 â Bartlett McLennan Ogilvie
- 1964-1965 â A. James de Lalanne
- 1965-1966 â George M. Hobart
- 1966-1967 â Anson C. McKim
- 1967-1968 â U. C. Cushing
- 1968-1969 â S. Boyd Millen
- 1969-1970 â W. P. Carr
- 1970-1971 â William T. G. Hackett
- 1971-1972 â James E. Pepall
- 1972-1973 â A. Blaikie Purvis
- 1973-1974 â M. Laird Watt
- 1974-1975 â J. E. Morgan
- 1975-1976 â Reford MacDougall
- 1976-1977 â Robert C. Paterson
- 1977-1978 â Peter N. Quinlan
- 1978-1979 â John Lynch-Staunton
- 1979-1980 â Donald S. Wells
- 1980-1981 â Herbert B. McNally
- 1981-1982 â John J. Peacock
- 1982-1983 â Philip E. Johnston
- 1983-1984 â Joseph S. Connolly
- 1984-1985 â R. Douglas Bourke
- 1985-1986 â A. D. Lloyd
- 1986-1987 â Conrad H. Harrington
- 1987-1988 â Stuart H. Cobbett
- 1988-1989 â James A. Robb
- 1989-1990 â Eric L. Clark
- 1990-1992 â David H. Laidley
- 1992-1993 â Philip L. Webster
- 1993-1994 â A. Jean de Grandpré
- 1994-1995 â K. Warren Simpson
- 1995-1996 â Philip P. Aspinall
- 1996-1997 â Claudette Bellemare
- 1997-1998 â David C. A. Hannaford
- 1998-1999 â Bruce Kent
- 1999-2000 â Barrie Drummond Birks
- 2000-2001 â Harvey M. Romoff
- 2001-2002 â Patrick J. Kenniff
- 2002-2003 â E. Lee Hambleton
- 2003-2004 â Mark J. Oppenheim
- 2004-2006 â Pierre Matuszewski
- 2006-2007 â James G. Wright
- 2007-2008 â John F. Lemieux
References
External links
- "The University Club of Montreal: 1907-2007," University Club of Montreal, 2007. https://ucmontreal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/X-UCM-2007-Book-print.pdf
- "The University Club of Montreal: One of the Most Prestigious Private Clubs in Canada Presents Its New Location in an Historical Building," *GlobeNewswire*, September 27, 2022. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/09/27/2523386/0/en/The-University-Club-of-Montreal-One-of-the-Most-Prestigious-Private-Clubs-in-Canada-Presents-Its-New-Location-in-an-Historical-Building.html
- "Four Former Quebec Premiers Salute the University Club's 110th Anniversary Gala," *The Montrealer*, October 2017. https://themontrealeronline.com/2017/10/four-former-quebec-premiers-salute-the-university-clubs-110th-anniversary-gala/
- "The University Club of Montreal Giving Up Its Percy Nobbs-Designed Downtown Digs," *Montreal Gazette*, December 25, 2017. https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/article207960.html
- "The University Club of Montreal," *Provencher_Roy*. https://provencherroy.ca/en/projects/the-university-club-of-montreal/