Алгома их сургууль

Algoma University, commonly shortened to Algoma U, is a Canadian public university in the province of Ontario, with campuses in Brampton, Sault Ste. Marie, and Timmins. Algoma U offers bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and graduate certificate programs in liberal arts, sciences and professional disciplines.

Algoma University specializes in liberal arts, sciences, management and professional degree programs.

From its founding in 1965 until June 18, 2008, Algoma U was an affiliated college of Laurentian University in Sudbury and was officially known as Algoma University College. The enabling legislation is the Algoma University Act, 2008.

History

Shingwauk Hall: From "Teaching Wigwam" to residential school

The original vision for Shingwauk Hall in the early 19th century came from Chief Shingwauk, the chief of the Garden River Ojibway people, as he felt "that the future Ojibway needed to learn the white man's academic method of education in order to survive in what was becoming a 'predominately non-native world with non-native values'".

While Chief Shingwauk's vision of a teaching wigwam for his people would not come to fruition in his lifetime, a residential school would eventually receive funding in 1872 from the combined efforts of Chiefs Augustin Shingwauk and Buhkwujjenene Shingwauk (Chief Shingwauk's sons) and the Anglican Missionary, Rev. Edward Francis Wilson. The initial building was constructed in Garden River First Nation in 1873 and housed 16 students. It burnt down 6 days later. A new building was erected in Sault Ste. Marie in 1875.

Shingwauk Hall would become part of the broader residential school system across Canada designed to assimilate Canada's Indigenous peoples, straying far from Chief Shingwauk's vision for a teaching wigwam. Students in the residential school system endured poor living conditions, physical and emotional abuse and segregation from their own family members.

Shingwauk Hall, presently the main building of Algoma University's Sault Ste. Marie campus, was erected in 1935 after it was deemed the Shingwauk Home original building had deteriorated beyond repair. Shingwauk Hall ceased operation as a residential school in 1970.

Algoma University College to Algoma University

The desire to establish an undergraduate liberal arts college in Sault Ste. Marie originated as a broad citizens' movement in the 1950s. In October 1964, the Algoma College Association was incorporated by letters patent of the province of Ontario. One year later, on Dec. 17 1965, Algoma University College was established as a non-sectarian institution affiliated with Laurentian University after the Affiliation Agreement was signed. In September 1967, Algoma University College began offering courses to its first 77 students at what is today Sault College, formally then known as Cambrian College, under the leadership of Principal Reverend Charles A. Krug (1966–68). The majority of students studying at Algoma University College were mature or "extension" students looking to enhance their post-secondary education by taking first-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) courses.

Part-time enrolment expanded to over 1,000 students by 1969–1970. The year 1971 marked a significant turning point in Algoma University College's history in respect to both program and facilities. In May, in recognition of the rapid maturation of the post-secondary institution, the Department of University Affairs approved Algoma University College's request to offer second-and third-year level courses, thereby giving the institution the ability to offer full-time, three-year programming in Bachelor of Arts degrees. In addition, in September 1971, the Algoma University College was relocated to a new site, acquiring by lease Shingwauk Hall and the former Shingwauk Indian Residential School site. In 1975, with the assistance of a grant from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the college purchased Shingwauk Hall and 37 acres (15 ha) of land surrounding the buildings. Algoma University College would later purchase Shingwauk Hall.

Programs

Algoma University offers bachelor's degrees and master's degrees in disciplines such as biology, business, economics, computer science, community development, English, geography, history, psychology, social work, sociology, political science, music and fine arts.

It also offers undergraduate-certificate and graduate-certificate programs in disciplines such as Construction Project Management, IT Project Management, Information Technology, Human Resources Management, Business, and in unique streams such as E-Sports Management and Aviation Management.

Partnerships

Learners Early Access Program (LEAP)

In 2023, Algoma University created formal partnerships with the Peel District School Board (PDSB) and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) to offer the Learners Early Access Program (LEAP). LEAP invites Grade 11 and 12 students from the Peel region to spend a semester on the Algoma University campus in Brampton in an on-campus state-of-the-art classroom, providing them with the opportunity to take two university courses (six credits) while they complete their high school requirements. LEAP focuses on students who belong to groups traditionally under-represented on university campuses, including Black and Indigenous students.

UArctic

Algoma University is an active member of the University of the Arctic. UArctic is an international cooperative network based in the Circumpolar Arctic region, consisting of more than 200 universities, colleges, and other organizations with an interest in promoting education and research in the Arctic region.

Algoma University participates in UArctic's mobility program north2north. The aim of that program is to enable students of member institutions to study in different parts of the North.

Other partnerships

The Algoma Conservatory of Music, which offers music lessons to about 1,000 students in the community, has a working relationship with Algoma.

Concurrently with Algoma's charter as an independent university, Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig, an Anishinaabe cultural and linguistic federated school opened in the fall of 2008.

The university has diploma-to-degree agreements with Cambrian College, Confederation College, George Brown College, Humber College, Mohawk College, Northern College, Sheridan College, Sault College and Seneca College, as well as a number of student exchange programs, such as the agreement with the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, and study-abroad or travel programs.

Libraries and archives

The Arthur A. Wishart Library at Algoma University is a member of the Ontario Council of University Libraries and is a contributor to Open Content Alliance.

There are two distinct archival repositories at Algoma University: the Engracia de Jesus Matias Archives and Special Collections and the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. The Engracia de Jesus Matias Archives and Special Collections is the official repository for records of Algoma University, the Anglican Diocese of Algoma and the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario. The Engracia de Jesus Matias Archives and Special Collections strengths are in Northern Ontario business history, Algoma University institutional history, industrial history of the Great Lakes region and the history of the Algoma region more broadly. The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (SRSC) is a community based archive jointly managed with the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association dedicated to documenting the legacy of residential schools in Canada. The SRSC holds one of the largest residential school archival collections in North America.

Campuses

Brampton campus

In Brampton, the university offers an urban option for Algoma University students.

In Brampton, Algoma University occupies more than seven buildings, most surrounding historic Garden Square, including 8 Queen St. E, 24 Queen St. E and 28 Main St.

Shingwauk Hall and adjacent wings (East, West and North-West)

Shingwauk Hall is currently used to house various classrooms, as well as administrative and faculty offices. It is connected on the first, second and third levels by links to the newer East, West and North-West wings that house further classrooms, research space and offices.

In 2025 the East Wing of the university was decommissioned and demolished in preparation for the construction of the new Makwa Waakaa'igan building.

Convergence Centre

In 2009 Algoma received more than $16 million to build a biosciences and technology convergence centre. Ground was broken for the new building in September 2009. Along with state-of-the-art classroom and laboratory space for students and professors, the building is home to various research institutes, including the Health Informatics Research Institute, the Invasive Species Research Institute, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre and Algoma Games for Health. The building opened its doors to students in September 2011 and was officially named the Convergence Centre in a ceremony including David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, in August 2012.

Makwa Waakaa'igan

An earth turning ceremony for this new space occurred in June 2025. Once completed, Makwa Waakaa'igan will be a centre of cultural excellence focused on honouring Indigenous knowledges and experiences. The facility will include space for the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association, culturally-appropriate learning spaces and cultural areas. It is currently anticipated to open in early 2027.

George Leach Centre

The George Leach Centre (GLC), the home of the Algoma Thunderbirds, is located on the university's campus. Built in 1992, and named after Algoma University's first Athletics Director, the GLC provides Algoma University students and community members with access to fitness equipment. The GLC also hosts regional, provincial, and national level competitions.

In March 2015, the GLC opened a new 10,000-square-foot expansion, in addition to its 39,000-square foot pre-existing structure. This new weight room fitness space features new strength and cardio equipment. These large spaces overlook the campus.

The gymnasium, or field house, features three regulation court surfaces, which accommodate a wide range of athletic activities such as badminton, basketball, volleyball, and tennis. The gym area is surrounded by a 1/9th mile indoor walking and jogging track. The GLC also has a sauna, change rooms with lockers, varsity change rooms, and private change rooms for refereeing officials.

Student life

The Algoma University Thunderbirds participate in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and U Sports conferences in the sports of basketball, soccer, cross-country running, curling, wrestling, and Nordic skiing. Prior to making the move to the OUA and CIS in 2013, the Algoma Thunderbirds competed in the Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) in the sports of basketball, curling, and indoor soccer.

The students are represented by the Algoma University Students' Union (AUSU). AUSU is local 82 of the Canadian Federation of Students. Anishinaabe students of Algoma University have an active Shingwauk Anishinaabe Students' Association (SASA) and are represented on the Algoma University Student Union executive, the Anishinaabe Peoples Council (an advisory committee of the Board of Governors) and the Cross Cultural Committee.

Student Publications

The university's student newspaper operated by AUSU is The Sentient. As of Summer 2026 the newspaper was not operational. The Engracia de Jesus Matias Archives and Special Collections holds a back issues of the newspaper.

Algoma has also published an annual juried literary journal, Algoma Ink.

In 2024, Algoma began publishing The Algomian an online literary journal which provides a publishing platform to the Algoma community. The journal is focused on a range of creative writing practices.

Эх сурвалж: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)