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The sun shone down May 22 as Perth and Queen’s took a trip back through time to celebrate the contributions of their shared founding father, William Morris.

The first of two identical plaque unveilings, commemorating Queen’s 175th and Perth’s 200th anniversaries, took place at the corner of Gore and Herriott streets.

The ceremonies began at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, where “William Morris” (aka Glenn Tunnock), welcomed Principal Daniel Woolf, his spouse Julie Gordon-Woolf and other Queen’s representatives.  Queen’s Professor Emerita of History, Marguerite Van Die, presented an illustrated lecture entitled “How the Presbyterians tried to save Canada in the 19th Century.”

Principal Woolf followed with greetings from Queen’s and thanks to the Friends of Queen’s/Perth Anniversaries for their work with Queen’s 175th to mark the occasion. Mr. and “Mrs. Morris” (Linda Cuthbertson) then accompanied the Principal and Ms. Gordon-Woolf in a horse-drawn carriage while the rest of the crowd was piped to the plaque unveiling.

Adding to the festivities was David Vollick, Town Crier of the City and Museums of Burlington, who still had some voice left after just completing the Ontario Provincial Town Crier Championships. Perth Mayor John Fenik also delivered greetings from the Town of Perth and its 200th Anniversary Committee at the dedication site. 

William Morris, who helped to establish the Perth Military Settlement in 1816, was the first chair of Queen’s Board of Trustees and a leading force in the founding of Queen's College in 1840 and securing its royal charter in 1841.

The Queen’s plaque dedication is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2016 outside Morris Hall residence.