How Laurier faculty, students and alumni will be celebrating a quarter of a century in Brantford

The 2024-25 academic year marks the Wilfrid Laurier University Brantford campus’s 25th anniversary. The university has multiple events planned to celebrate the achievement. 

In September of 1999, Laurier Brantford opened its doors to 39 students. Twenty-five years later, the university has become home to approximately 3,000 students yearly. The campus was built within Brantford’s downtown core to bring a small community feel to the campus, with majority of its buildings being historical to Brantford.  

Many of the staff at Laurier Brantford have worked at the university since the campus’s early days, such as Andrew Welsh, an associate professor and associate dean of the faculty of human and social sciences. Welsh recently celebrated 18 years with the university and reminisced on the early days at Laurier Brantford.  

“It was very calm in the early years… some students would have me three or four times,” said Welsh. “It was always a commuter school.”   

Laurier Brantford was designed as a way for families to keep their children in the community for further education. Currently, Laurier Brantford holds approximately 450 students from outside of Brantford just between the four residence buildings, showing that Brantford has also welcomed many students who chose to make Brantford home during their studies. 

Some students from Laurier Brantford’s early years have returned to the campus as faculty and credit their connection to the Brantford community.  

“It really does have that hometown feel and that’s what I love about it,” said Andrea Emond, a Laurier Brantford alumni who recently came back to the university as a marketing and communications coordinator. “When I saw the job posting, I knew it was a good fit.” 

While not all are fully publicized, three events are already underway to help the university celebrate 25 years in Brantford. 

A “Forever Golden Mural” will be painted in the Research Academic Centre designed by artist Stephanie Scott. The mural will be printed as a paint by numbers in October, 2024 and there will be opportunities for students to sign up to help paint parts of the mural to leave their mark on Laurier Brantford. The final unveiling will take place in January, 2025. The Student Life Levy has provided significant support for the project. 

Laurier Brantford’s 25th anniversary homecoming will consist of events for students, faculty, alumni and community members to enjoy. Events of homecoming will include the Student vs. Alumni Basketball game at Laurier Brantford’s YMCA, Drag Bingo and more. Updates will be provided as details are finalized and released. 

Finally, 25 Alumni of Impact will be held to honour and share the stories of 25 Laurier Brantford alumni who have made significant impacts from a local level to worldwide.  

This article was originally published in print Volume 24, Issue 1 on Thursday, August 29.