Assumption at the Core
Congratulating the University of Windsor at 50!
Fr. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B.,
President and Vice Chancellor, Assumption University
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W
hen the University of Windsor’s
President and Vice Chancellor,
Dr. Alan Wildeman unveiled the new
anniversary logo, he pointed out that the
logo’s shield represents a stylized version of
UWindsor’s coat of arms from 1963, which
uses symbols originally taken from its
predecessor Assumption College, founded
in 1857. Dr. Wildeman explained that
the fleur-de-lis is symbolic of the French-
Canadian heritage of Windsor-Essex as well
as the Basilian order. The lily is a heraldry
icon representing religious tradition,
and the maple leaf embodies Canadian
pride. The five areas of blue created in the
negative space around the “W” represent
each of the University’s founding colleges;
Assumption, Essex, Iona, Canterbury
and Holy Redeemer. I have never seen a
logo so reflective and evocative as this one
is. Nor have I seen one that summarizes
beautifully the roots of this great university.
The Catholic Church founded the first
universities in the West and possesses
a venerable and dynamic tradition of
scholarship. Catholic universities from
their earliest moments have taught both
important non-Catholic thinkers and
representatives from its own tradition
of learning, now nearly 2,000 years old.
Assumption University is the oldest
Catholic university in English Canada. It is
at the origin, the core and the heart of the
University of Windsor. We cannot forget
the rich history of Assumption University.
In 1784 the Jesuits expanded the mission
they had founded in Detroit in 1728 to
include the south shore of the Detroit
River. The Hurons gave the Jesuits the
land for the new mission at La Pointe de
Montreal, near the present Ambassador
Bridge that hovers over us. In 1767 the
mission, which served both the French
settlers and the native people, was granted
a new status, and the first parish in Canada
west of Montreal, Assumption Parish, was
erected. Nineteen years later in 1786 two
schools, one for girls and one for boys,
were begun at Assumption Parish.
Later that year, the Jesuits left Assumption
and relinquished control of the College
to the diocese. Father Joseph Malbos
C.S.B., the first Basilian president of the
new College, succeeded the Jesuits but
stayed for only one year. The year of Father
Malbos’s presidency was most significant
for the College since he had the foresight
to have the College incorporated by an
Act of the Parliament of Upper Canada,
which received Royal Assent, August 16,
1858. The Act of Incorporation provided an
anchor of stability for the fledgling College
as Benedictines, Jesuits and diocesan clergy,
successively, assumed direction of the
College over the next twelve years.
In 1868, Bishop John Walsh D.D., second
bishop of the diocese of London, Ontario
invited the Basilian Fathers to assume
control of Assumption College. In 1870,
Father Dennis O’Connor C.S.B., who later
became Bishop of London and Archbishop
of Toronto, became president. With Father
O’Connor were six other Basilian priests
and four scholastics (seminarians).
The new Basilian community immediately
began planning for a larger and more
permanent structure for the College.
Construction of the main building that
stands today was begun in 1883, with the
Chapel wing completed in 1908.
On July 1, 1953 through an Act of the
Ontario Legislature, Assumption College
received its own university powers and
ended the affiliation with the University
of Western Ontario which began in 1919.
The following year Assumption College
was admitted to full membership in
the National Conference of Canadian
Universities and Colleges; the University
Matriculation Board of Ontario; and the
Association of Universities of the British
Commonwealth.
In 1956 the College changed its name to
Assumption University of Windsor by an
Act of the Ontario Legislature. The new
University accepted the non-denominational
Essex College, incorporated in 1954, as an
affiliated college.
In the 1960’s, the increasing demands for
higher education necessitated a further
restructuring of the University. An Act
of the Legislature of the Province of
Ontario incorporated the University of
Windsor on December 19, 1962. The new
non-denominational University included
Assumption University as a federated
member holding in abeyance its degree
granting powers save for the Faculty of
Theology. The facilities and teaching
faculty of Assumption University were
integrated into the University of Windsor.
The development of a non-denominational
provincial university out of an historic
Roman Catholic university was
unprecedented. Today Assumption
University remains the only university
federated with the University of Windsor.
Canterbury College and Iona College
continue in their affiliated status. One
could say that Assumption University has
experienced many assumptions over its long
history… having been “assumed” into new
realities that its founders never imagined.
Today many ask: what is Assumption
University? In 2007, Assumption
University celebrated its sesquicentennial.
While celebrating its past achievements the
University looks forward to building upon
the rich theological, cultural and inter-
disciplinary endeavours that constitute
its distinguished history. The service to
Church and society, locally, nationally
and internationally that characterizes
Assumption University will continue in
new and creative ventures responding to
current needs and forging new frontiers
in education. Our relationship with the
university community and with Catholic
School Boards is key to our future.
Our efforts at Assumption University today
are inspired by the vision of Blessed John
Henry Cardinal Newman who dreamed of
establishing a Catholic university in which
theology, the arts and sciences would all be
taught in dialogue with one another. This
is the true meaning of “universitas” – a
meeting place, a crossroads, an important
bridge to the world around us. The core
values of the founders of the Basilian
Fathers are goodness, discipline and
knowledge. These three values recall for
us the importance of the education of the
whole person in the Catholic and Basilian
approach and remind us not to rely solely
on our own efforts, but humbly to ask God,
the source of all good gifts, to teach us and
guide us.
Ad multos annos, University of Windsor!
Never forget your roots! They remain
strong and continue to produce much fruit
for Canada and far beyond!
Rev. Thomas Rosica, CSB,
President and Vice Chancellor
Assumption University
