Toronto Metropolitan University offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs, and is home to more than 40, 000 students and 2700 staff and faculty.  But how many students attended Ryerson the first year it opened?  What kinds of courses were available for students to take and are any of them still offered today? Let’s take a look back at the first year of the Ryerson Institute of Technology.

1948-1949

When the Institute opened its doors to approximately 200 students in September of 1948, it was one of four technical institutes run by the Department of Education for the Province of Ontario. The other 3 were: The Institute of Textiles (Hamilton); The Institute of Mining (Hailebury); and The Lakehead Technical Institute (Port Arthur).

It offered 4 different options for education: technological courses;  extension courses; courses supervised by Department of Education for other governmental departments; and courses for the University of Toronto.

Technological courses

There were 10 schools that first year that offered 2 year diploma and certificate courses on the level between high school and university. Admission requirements were a minimum of a grade 12 education or an equivalent standing based on age, practical experience, and educational background. Fees were a $5 registration fee, a $25 tuition, a $10 laboratory or shop fee, and a $10 Students’ council fee.  For non-resident British subject students tuition was $200, and for non-resident non-British subject students tuition was $300.

The schools were:

School of Food Technology – commercial cooking and commercial baking

With the exception of the School of Jewellery and Horology, all of these schools evolved into programs offered by Ryerson today.

Extension Courses

Ryerson also offered 2 extension courses at the trade level. They were Men’s tailoring, and Women’s tailoring. The  Admission requirements were a grade 10 or equivalent education and you had to be at least 16 1/2 years old. Course fees were the same as the Technology courses.

The extension department evolved in to the present day G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. The school now offers 88 certificate programs, and accreditation courses for 10 professional institutes and associations.

Department of Education supervised courses

Housed at Ryerson were courses offered by the Department of Labour and the Department of Health, which varied in length from 2 months to 9 months. Admission requirements, course of study, standards of attainment, and final exams were the responsibility of the sponsoring department. The Department of Education supplied the staff and supervised the courses. All the courses were trade courses. They were:

Department of Labour

Apprenticeship courses in building trades, millroom, and motor vehicle repair trade (2-3 months)

Barbering (9 months)

Hairdressing (9 months)

Stationery Engineering (9 months)

Department of Health

Certified Nursing Assistant course (9 months)

Courses for the University of Toronto

Offered by Ryerson, in co-operation with the University of Toronto, were 2 courses for their students.

Occupational Therapy – printing and woodworking

Institutional Management – commercial cooking

To learn more about Ryerson’s beginnings drop by Archives and Special Collections on the 4th floor of the Library in LIB 404

As 2014 winds to a close, we looked into the Archive’s collections to see how the holidays were celebrated in days of Ryerson past.

Here are a selection of Holiday cards mailed out by the School.

A series of Ryersonian Newspaper covers from years past.

 The staff at the Ryerson Archives & Special Collections wish everyone the Happiest of Holiday Seasons and best wishes for the New Year. Hope to see you in 2015.

Did you know that Ryerson used to have a Rural centre and a ski lodge?

The Ryerson Rural Centre or Farm was located in Millbrook, about 19 km south of Peterborough. The 200 acre site was purchased in 1972 and was available for the Ryerson community to use. Activities included orientation, departmental seminars, and retreats. The farm house was equipped for over night rentals and cost an economical $2 per night.  It was sold in 1980.

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The Ryerson Blue Mountain Lodge was located just outside of Collingwood. The 7.5 acre resort, which was purchased in 1975, consisted of a central lodge, 4 chalets and boasted an outdoor heated pool. It was also available for booking by all members of the Ryerson Community and was accessible year round. It was sold in 1983.

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To learn more about the farm and the lodge or to find out things about Ryerson you might not have known stop by Ryerson Archives & Special Collections located on the 4th floor of the Library in LIB404