50 Years: Forever Forward.
‘Here’s to 50 years of excellence and to many more collective milestones’
Concordia President and Vice-Chancellor Graham Carr
Our university is about to celebrate a milestone — 50 years of next-gen education.
Our community grew from the strong roots of our two founding institutions — Loyola College and Sir George Williams University — which merged to become Concordia on August 24, 1974.
Our institution’s name was derived from the City of Montreal’s motto, Concordia Salus, or well-being through harmony. This ethos remains a guiding principle on our campuses, in our classrooms, studios and labs, and on our fields of play.
Through five transformative decades, Concordia has evolved from a teaching institution into a comprehensive research university with $84 million in annual sponsored research revenues and 118 research chairs.
Our two campuses have doubled in size, and our student population has grown from 19,000 in 1974 to 50,000 today.
Our local, national and international reputation has thrived. And Concordia’s standing in every measurable index has flourished.
This progress is the result of the steadfast dedication of Concordia’s students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors as well as the contributions of volunteers, including our Board of Governors.
Our 260,000 alumni serve as our greatest ambassadors. This global network has earned Pulitzer Prizes, Pasteur Institute Fellowships, Academy Awards, Tony Awards, Emmys, Grammys, Governor General’s Awards, Rhodes Scholarships and Olympic medals, and has been inducted into the Orders of Montreal, Quebec and Canada.
As you read the following pages, I hope you take pride in how recent — and not so recent — graduates are building our legacy.
The spring 2024 edition of Concordia University Magazine is a testament to our community’s resilience, innovation and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place. Look to upcoming issues to learn more about our history, and how we plan to chart a better future.
Thank you for being part of Concordia. Here’s to 50 years of excellence and to many more collective milestones.
Graham Carr
President and Vice-Chancellor