Capping off a celebratory week of spring convocation ceremonies was a very special moment: the installation of Dr. Vianne Timmons as president and vice-chancellor of Memorial University.
It was a moment two years in the making.
Dr. Timmons arrived at Memorial in the spring of 2020, coinciding with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the lifting of Public Health restrictions, in-person ceremonies could finally be held once more.
The university made the most of it.
On Friday, June 3, during the afternoon and final session of spring convocation, Chancellor Susan Dyer Knight officially installed Dr. Timmons as the first woman president and vice-chancellor of Newfoundland and Labrador’s only university.
Follow along with the special moments throughout the ceremony in the photo essay below.
1/ Fanfare to begin
To begin, trumpeters Alan Klaus, Luis Humberto De La Paz Cruz and Terry Campbell played the piece Fanfare for President Timmons, which was composed especially for the occasion by Robert Humber, from the balcony of the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre.
2/ Provincial representative
Tom Osborne, minister of Education, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, delivered the Instrument of Appointment.
3/ Board representation
Cathy Duke, acting chair of Memorial's Board of Regents, presented Dr. Timmons to the assembled graduates, families and guests.
4/ Installation of the president and vice-chancellor
Chancellor Susan Dyer Knight, Memorial's first woman chancellor, addressed Dr. Timmons to officially install her as Memorial University's first woman president and vice-chancellor.
5/ Significance of the robes
To signify the transition, Dr. Timmons wore her alma mater's University of Calgary academic robes to begin the ceremony and prepared to change to robes worn by the president and vice-chancellor of Memorial University. Dr. Timmons completed her doctoral degree at the University of Calgary.
6/ Official moment
Several Memorial woman deans took part in the changing of Dr. Timmons' robes.
7/ Black and gold
The academic robe worn by Memorial University's presidents is based on the University of Oxford's style: black and gold brocade, which dates to medieval times.
8/ Musical inspiration
Eastern Owl, an Indigenous-led, all nations group of women who blend the styles of First Nations drum music and contemporary folk to create their own innovative sound, performed next. The group is based primarily out of St. John’s; the women of Eastern Owl hail from all across Ktaqamkuk (the island of Newfoundland).
9/ Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
Dr. Andrew Furey brought greetings to the assembled guests.
10/ Addressing students
After acknowledging her most treasured supporters and family, President Timmons spoke to the graduates who were receiving bachelor's and master's degrees in education. She thanked them for taking on "one of the most difficult – and most rewarding – of professions."
11/ Chills and goosebumps
The powerful voices of the Black Heritage Newfoundland Choir made an enormous impression on everyone who witnessed the performance. One person shared on Twitter that they were "absolutely blown away" by the music.
