it. Dunstan ’5 College

coat ofarms

St. Dunstan’s College / University

The small St. Andrew’s College which operated from 1831 to 1844 paved the way for the new and larger St. Dunstan’s College close to Charlottetown.

The location chosen was a mile and a half from Charlottetown on a nicely elevated terrain then called Mount St. Bernard (site oftoday’s UPEI). The building of the new college moved along more slowly than expected because offinancial constraints.

OnJanuary17, 1855

the great day finally arrived and St. Dunstan’s College opened with eighteen students and a faculty oftwo. The four storey structure, today’s main building at UPEI, was considered to be one ofthe most imposing buildings on the Island.

During the year 1880 to 1881 the college was under the direction oftheJesuits with two priests and four scholastics on staff. After that one year, however, thejesuits chose to withdraw their services and the college went back under the management ofthe diocesan clergy.

An interesting turning point occurred in 1882 when St. Dunstan’s became affiliated with Laval University, making it possible for the graduates here to receive bachelors degrees from that renowned Quebec university.

In 1910 the “Red and White” college magazine began publication and continued as long as the institution itself. Dalton Hall was built in 1919 mainly through the financial generosity ofSir Charles Dalton ofTignish. In 1934 the Adult Education program began through radio broadcasts, study clubs, credit unions and short courses ofvarious types for farmers and fishermen. Five years later a new science building added greatly to the campus program.

St. Dunstan ’5 Unii'ei‘sigi Campus 1950

16 O EDUCATIONAL lNSTITUTIONS