A family tradition

A family tradition

June 10, 2016

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When Anna Porte (Artsci'16) arrived at Queen's, it marked the seventh generation of her family to attend the university. Front, from left: Ms. Porte; Principal Daniel Woolf; and Anne Boyle. Back, from left: Peter McConnell; Andrea Wells; Sean Boyle; Bill Wells; Chancellor Jim Leech; and Rector Cameron Yung. (University Communications)   

Convocation at Queen鈥檚 University is full of traditions.

There are the special ceremonies, the bagpipes, the singing of God Save the Queen.

It is also a time of traditions for many families. A new generation enters Grant Hall a graduand and exits a graduate.

On June 2, when Anna Porte (Artsci鈥16) stepped onto the stage she became the seventh generation of her family to receive a degree from Queen鈥檚.

Understandably, it was an important moment for the family. As Anne Boyle (Arts鈥55), Anna鈥檚 grandmother and the de facto clan records keeper, explains, the Queen鈥檚 tradition started with her grandfather, James McGee Young, who graduated from the School of Medicine in 1902. Dr. Young also starred on the playing field, captaining the Queen鈥檚 football team as a halfback.

This led to a curious bit of family history.

鈥淭here was this cute story in his obituary about the fact that he had to play for Queen鈥檚 against McGill and his brother was captain of the McGill team,鈥 Ms. Boyle says, adding that Dr. Young remained close to the university after graduating and served on the board of trustees for Queen鈥檚 Theological College.

Dr. Young鈥檚 sons would also graduate from Queen鈥檚 medicine and his daughter attended the university for two years before moving to Montreal to study nursing.

As the years went on, more and more family members 鈥 Youngs, Robertsons, Boyles and a Porte 鈥 would come to Queen鈥檚. It鈥檚 not so much that anyone was pushed to attend, Ms. Boyle says. Education was key for the family and Queen鈥檚 was always at the forefront of the conversation.

That鈥檚 a conversation that continues today.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a wonderful story of believing in an institution and believing in it enough that you send your loved ones, one after the next,鈥 says Andrea Wells, Anna鈥檚 mother. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lovely history and legacy for the family and Queen鈥檚.鈥

When it came time for Anna to decide which university she would attend, she wasn鈥檛 pushed to go to Queen鈥檚. But, of course, there was a bit of guidance.

鈥淎nna knew about the (family) history when she was thinking of where to go,鈥 recalls Ms. Boyle. 鈥淪o I gave her my Queen鈥檚 ring. I thought that would encourage her.鈥

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