500 convocations: Then and now

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[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/1898classpicture.jpg.jpg” caption=”A close-up of a photo of McMaster’s graduating theology class in 1898 – one of the earliest class photos in existence. Friday’s health sciences convocation will mark the 500th such celebration at McMaster in its 125-year history. “]Friday's health sciences convocation marks the 500th graduation ceremony in
McMaster's 125-year history.

From its roots at Toronto's Walmer Road Baptist Church through its time at Convocation
Hall and its current incarnation at Hamilton Place, McMaster's convocation ceremony is
steeped in tradition and a rite of passage for all graduating students.

In celebration of a milestone event during a milestone year, the Daily News compares
McMaster's first convocation to its 500th convocation.

First Convocation

When: 1894

Where: The Walmer Road Baptist Church in the Toronto neighbourhood known
as The Annex

Who: 16 students, including Howard Whidden, who later served as McMaster's
Chancellor from 1923 to 1941

The world around them: Canada's fourth Prime Minister, John Thompson, dies
in office and is succeeded by Mackenzie Bowell…popular songs include The Owls
Serenade, You've Been a Good Old Wagon But You've Done Broke Down, and Oh! That
Gorgonzola Cheese…Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book is published…the Montreal
Hockey Club defeats Ottawa and wins the first Stanley Cup challenge

500th Convocation

When: 2012

Where: Hamilton Place, downtown Hamilton

Who: 397 students in multiple Faculty of Health Sciences programs, including
nearly 200 soon-to-be medical doctors, 22 midwives and the first graduate of the
Faculty's combined MD/PhD program. Approximately 5,000 students will graduate from
McMaster this year.

The world around them: Canada's last penny is minted…top songs on the
Billboard music charts include Somebody That I Used To Know, We Are Young and
Payphone…Box office hit The Avengers earns more than $1B worldwide…the modern
Stanley Cup is not awarded until June