New branding

After 31 years, Dawson unveiled a new, refreshed and rejuvenated brand identity for application throughout the College in electronic and print formats for everything from signage, merchandising, official documents, letterhead, among many other uses.

Living Campus named #1

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recognized Dawson College as the top performer in the category of associate colleges around the world and called the Monarch Butterfly Nursery project an institutional highlight.

15th anniversary of tragedy solemnly observed

Although pandemic protocols limited opportunities for large gatherings, the community was nonetheless invited to participate in quiet reflection individually or in small groups outdoors in the Peace Garden.

New Environmental and Sustainability Certificate

Students in any program can develop the knowledge and skills for addressing environmental and societal challenges.

Dawson re-opens

Dawson College reopens to in-person teaching and learning activities for all students and teachers, and for staff providing services for the first time in 17 months since the pandemic was declared.

Supporting healthy cities

Dawson named as one of 10 institutions selected to participate in projects as part of a $4.95 million grant from the Canadian government.

Robert Cassidy is named Academic Dean

A new Academic Dean is named who is set to begin a five-year term in August, succeeding Diane Gauvin who took office as Director General in January.

Dawson is sustainable gold!

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) names Dawson College as a Gold-level leader in sustainability, the first CEGEP in Quebec and the sixth college in Canada to achieve this high level of leadership in sustainability.

Speaking up for a Dawson education

Students laud their college experience as representatives of various cultures, languages and ethnicities in answer to questions raised about the high demand for English-language college education.

Diane Gauvin is named Dawson’s new Director General

She takes office on January 1, 2021 for a five-year term, replacing Richard Filion who would retire in December. She is only the College’s second woman at the helm, preceded by Sarah Paltiel (1981-1984).

Virtual Open House

Dawson holds its first-ever Virtual Open House with the presentation of 46 new videos to tell visitors about the programs and services the College offers prospective students.

COVID-19 postpones Convocation

The ceremony normally celebrated in June at Place des Arts was instead held as an intimate and socially distanced Awards Ceremony on August 12 for some 35 graduate award recipients, representing the Class of 2020’s 2,600 graduates who persevered through a pandemic.

Dawson fast tracks nursing education among graduating students in the Nursing program to help area hospitals in the fight against COVID-19.

AI community of practice

Dawson College institutes a multidisciplinary team of faculty members to develop pedagogical material on AI-related themes and to present new AI developments to the larger Dawson community.

Global pandemic shuts Dawson

As a worldwide pandemic is declared, Dawson announces the closure of the College and all academic activities “for two weeks”; although classes resumed online two weeks later, the College building was closed for 17 months to all but essential services.

Dawson celebrates 50 years of Women’s/Gender Studies.

Faculty Hub launches

The Office of Academic Development (OAD) launches the Faculty Hub, an online professional development and support space for Dawson faculty, a one-stop shop for help with course design, student engagement, assessment, tools, technology, and more.

Dawson College students, teachers and staff take part in environmental workshops before joining activist Greta Thunberg at the Sept. 27 Global Climate Strike march in Montreal.

Dawson celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first day of classes in 1969!

Cégep Vert gives Dawson special recognition for its pledge to be Carbon Neutral as well as a mention d’excellence.

Raising awareness for the North

Dawson student Hannah Tooktoo from Kuujjuaq ended her cross-country bike journey near the College after starting out from Victoria, BC in June. Raising awareness about the high suicide rate in Nunavik landed her Personality of the Year recognition by La Presse.

Dawson makes significant investment in a comprehensive Artificial Intelligence initiative, the largest investment in an AI project by a Quebec CEGEP.

Dawson declares itself “Carbon Neutral Forever” through its ambitious program to offset the College’s carbon emissions.

Sustainable Dawson deposits the College’s first five-year sustainability plan.

4 new inductees in CCAE Hall of Fame from Dawson community

Four members of the Dawson community are named to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame: retired Athletics Director John Davidson in the category of Builder, Dawson graduates Varouj Gurunlian and Julieth Lewis in the category of Athlete, and one of the winningest basketball coaches in CCAA history, Olga Hrycak.

Learning spaces benefit from major new technology installations

Dawson students benefit from two new additions in technological advances, one in the form of a motion-capture studio and the other in the installation of 56 feet or just over 17 metres of digital workspace in an active learning classroom. This unique configuration is the largest and the first of its kind in the world.

Entire Dawson campus goes smoke-free

Dawson adopts a smoke-free policy for the entire campus, including all College grounds extending to the sidewalks that bound the property on de Maisonneuve and Sherbrooke, Atwater and Wood.

The Peace Centre bestows certificates on the first 25 graduates in the Peace Studies Certificate.

Dawson College hosts the Harvard World Model UN in Montreal.

Dawson College adopts its third Strategic Plan to cover the five-year period to 2021.

For the first time in 30 years, a newly worded Mission Statement is adopted.

Three Sisters Garden is place of gathering

After just one growing season, the Three Sisters Garden becomes place for indigenous students to gather, to participate in nature and to harvest traditional foods, providing a bridge between indigenous and non-indigenous students.

10th anniversary of tragedy brings community together

The tenth anniversary commemorations of the tragedy at Dawson brings together the community of students, teachers and staff, as well as the greater Montreal community in the presence of special guests including the De Sousa Family, survivors and their families, the police service, hospital personnel, emergency services and representation by all levels of government.

First Peoples’ Initiative committed to Indigenous learners

Dawson establishes the First Peoples’ Initiative to support Indigenous students and to integrate Indigenous issues across the curriculum and cultural life of the College. The initiative leads to the creation of the First Peoples’ Centre to provide First Nations, Inuit and Métis students with academic and para-academic services and the development of the one-year Journeys bridging program to help Indigenous students prepare for college studies.

Dawson Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship launches pilot project in Old Montreal

Graduating students have access to workshops to help them start their own companies in the creative and cultural industries.

First Dawson students head off to Mexico to participate in sustainability internships.

Two Dawson graduates awarded Fulbright Scholarships

Stephanie Broos and Hayley Laxer named the Canadian recipients of Killam Fellowships for 2014-2015 (also known as Fulbright Scholarships).

Director General Richard Filion receives a third mandate for a period of five years.

Peace Centre Dedicated

Dawson inaugurates the Centre for Peace Education through which the Peace Studies Certificate will be offered for the first time

Diane Gauvin becomes Academic Dean

Quebec colleges to receive $5 million to improve services for students with special needs

First EWeek Event

Led by the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education, Dawson holds its first edition of EWeek, a huge success

Conference: The Role of Education in Peace and Nonviolence

Dawson hosts an international conference on the role of education in peace and nonviolence, in partnership with Association of Canadian Community Colleges as part of commemorative events

Inauguration of Ecological Peace Garden as living memorial

The 5th anniversary of the tragedy at Dawson is marked by the inauguration of the Ecological Peace Garden in the presence of the community, hospital and police service partners, and families most affected by the tragic events

Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education

The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education is established to provide resources and pedagogical tools to support entrepreneurial education for students and graduates

College Education for First Nations

The KIUNA Centre for College Studies is inaugurated in partnership with Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the Council for First Nations Education to offer college education in the social sciences to First Nations students

First CCTT awarded

A College Centre for Technology Transfer in Innovative Social Practices (CCTT-PSN) is awarded to Dawson in partnership with Cégep du Vieux-Montréal to further develop expertise in research and services for the integration of persons with disabilities into study and work environments

Strategic Plan 2010-2015 is adopted

The Graduate Profile defined

At the heart of the Strategic Plan lies the Graduate Profile, an approach that aims to teach students inside and outside the classroom to graduate as informed, responsible, and fully engaged individuals

Huge demand for college education

Application demand at on-island colleges reaches peak; Dawson accepts 300 more students over the threshold for the largest enrollment in its history

SPACE: Cross-disciplinary project

S.P.A.C.E. (Science Participating with Arts in Culture and Education) is launched, an innovative project that encourages students to contribute their talents and skills to exploring common ground across the disciplines

Dawson celebrates 40 years!

In the celebration of 40 years since receiving its letters patent, Dawson recognizes the pioneers of the CEGEP system, including a good many who continue to serve as teachers, professionals, support staff and managers

Sustainable Dawson is born

A bold initiative to set objectives and implement measures to reduce the impact of the College on its environment is launched

New Theatre and expanded Atrium

After many years at the Dome theatre on Notre-Dame, and to create more space for students in the Upper Atrium, new construction is completed and celebrated with an official opening ceremony

Confucius Institute in Quebec

Dawson inaugurates the Confucius Institute in Quebec with partner Beijing Normal University

Marking first anniversary of tragedy

Commemorations of first anniversary of tragic events include a tree-planting on the site of the future Peace Garden, and a commitment to the ideals of peace and nonviolence

Robert Kavanagh is appointed Academic Dean

Tragedy at Dawson

An heavily armed assailant lays siege to the building entrance on De Maisonneuve, and in the Upper Atrium, killing first semester student Anastasia De Sousa, 18, and injuring 16 others

Dawson responds to need for more student space and facilities

Construction of new Theatre and expansion of Upper Atrium begins

Neville Gurudata steps down as Academic Dean after 14 years

Professional development for faculty

To enhance opportunities for faculty to participate in professsional development activities, Dawson creates he Office of Instructional Development

New Office of Program Services

The Office of Program Services is created, regrouping program evaluation, program revision and program development; International Development is also added to the portfolio

Richard Filion named Director General

Dawson’s first strategic plan is adopted, covering the period 2004-2009

Second generation Student Success Action Plan

Included in the Strategic Plan is Dawson’s revised Student Success Action Plan with the aim to raise graduation rates, improve pass and retention rates, job and university placement rates, and support to new students

Patrick Woodsworth steps down as Director General after 13 years

New art gallery to showcase work of students, graduates, faculty and guest artists

The Warren G. Flowers Art Gallery is inaugurated, named for a longstanding Chair of the Board of Governors and longtime supporter of Dawson's visual and applied arts programs

Selby campus sold, ending the chapter on Dawson’s multi-campus history

Office of Institutional Research established

Dawson creates unit to coordinate the collection and dissemination of statistical information for both internal and external reporting purposes with the ability to conduct targeted research

The first Student Success Action Plan is adopted by the Board of Governors

F & H wings opens on Atwater Campus

Completion of F and H wings to house Business Technologies, Social Service and Community Recreation Leadership Training; Selby campus is closed

Neville Gurudata is appointed Academic Dean

Patrick Woodsworth is appointed Director General

The G wing opens on Atwater Campus

The first phase of construction to expand the building at Sherbrooke and Atwater is completed and now houses the visual arts programs

New Dawson campus opens on Sherbrooke Street West at Atwater

Gerrard Kelly is appointed as Director General

Career Council created

Career Council is established to share and strategize on issues pertaining to career/technical programs

Patrick Woodsworth is named Academic Dean

A revised Mission Statement is adopted by the Board

Robert Lavery named Director General

Liberal Arts program approved by Senate

Dawson closer to long-held dream of a single campus

The agreement to acquire the property on Sherbrooke and Atwater that belongs to the Sisters of the Congrégation-de-Notre-Dame is signed

Sarah Paltiel appointed Director General

Julia Newell appointed Academic Dean

Dawson adopts first Mission Statement

Ross Paul is named Academic Dean

Dawson Institute of Photography opens, offering courses at 4333 Ste-Catherine campus

Grant Brown appointed Academic Dean

Lease for 485 McGill Street signed to serve as Victoria campus

Robert A. (Squee) Gordon is named Director General

Visual arts programs move into newly leased De Lorimier campus

First production at Dome Theatre

First meeting of Senate

New School established, taking up residence at McGregor building

Richelieu and Lafontaine added to Dawson’s campuses

Dome Theatre becomes new home of drama classes

Showmart at Berri turned into Dawson’s gym facilities

4333 Ste. Catherine leased to house Continuing Education

Robert A. (Squee) Gordon is appointed Academic Dean

Academic Council (today’s Senate) meets for the first time

The second incoming class more than doubles in size to 3,513 with 285 full-time teachers

Dawson adds Viger Campus

Dawson signs lease on its second campus on Viger Street, formerly an Hautes Études Commerciales property

Dawson welcomes its first incoming class of 1,655 students with 111 full-time faculty

Dawson gains membership in the Fédération des cégeps

Dawson gets its first campus, on Selby Street in lower Westmount, formerly the Charles E. Frosst building

Louis Sontra is appointed the first Academic Dean of Dawson College

Charles G. Southmayd is named Chair of the Board of Governors

Paul Gallagher is appointed the first Director General of Dawson College

Frank McLaughlin serves as Chair of the Board of Governors during preparatory phase

Letters patent granted to create Dawson College

Quebec government passes legislation to create the CEGEP system