5 things you didn’t know about UMontreal
The University of Montreal Tower can be seen all around campus.
The McMaster Marauders will take on the UMontreal Carabins Saturday in the Vanier Cup national championship football game. While Marauders fans might be familiar with football rivals like Western or Queen’s, they’re probably not so familiar with the Carabins.
Below are five things you probably didn’t know about UMontreal:
1. A storied history and a papal decree
The University was founded in 1878 as a new Montreal branch of Universite Laval in Quebec City. A decree by then Pope Benedict XV in 1919 granted it the right to adopt a new name: Université de Montreal.
2. Pierre Trudeau, Michaëlle Jean and Maurice Duplessis
Many former students have gained local and national prominence for serving in government including former Governor General Michaëlle Jean and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Ten Premiers of Quebec have also graduated from the university, including Maurice Duplessis and Robert Bourassa.
3. In the shadows of Mont-Royal
The university’s main campus is located on the northern slope of Mont-Royal in the Outremont and Côte-des-Neiges boroughs. Its landmark Pavilion Roger-Gaudry, designed by noted architect Ernest Cormier, and named for former rector Roger Gaudry, can be seen from around the campus and is known for its imposing tower.
4. A dozen years of football
This iteration of the football team – the “Carabins” – has only been around since 2002. The team was dormant for 36 years prior to being resurrected twelve years ago. This is the first time the team has won the Dunsmore Cup (RSEQ champs) and the Uteck Bowl.
5. Calling the cavalry
The team’s nickname comes from the Montreal-area unit named after the carabin cavalry, “Les Carabiniers Mont Royal”. A Carabinier was originally a cavalry soldier armed with a carbine (a short version of a musket). The word is derived from the identical French word carabinier.
