Bedard Athletic Centre History Wall

By Paul Mosey

On installation day in April, the Bedard hallway was buzzing with activity as our athletic history came to life. It’s pretty clear we like to display our histories on walls. We’ve been doing it for millennia. Think about the simple, prehistoric drawings in Lascaux Cave in France or the elaborate tomb murals in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings. A good story, a blank wall - what more do you need? As part of the Bedard renovation project, an 80-foot expanse of wall became available, and it was the perfect canvas to display in words and pictures the first 100 years of St. Andrew’s athletic history. The finished piece tells our story on three levels. First, and most prominent, is the athletic narrative. Starting in 1899 with football, and then following in 1900 with cricket and hockey, the story of sports at St. Andrew’s picks up momentum through the decades with new teams added and new athletes blossoming along the way. The second layer of SAC history covers the major school events throughout the first 100 years. Campus moves, leadership changes, building additions, and facility re-namings highlight this tier. Thirdly, the history wall looks beyond our gates to the world at large, where major events give our SAC experience a global context. World wars, international incidents, and Canadian milestones are dotted along the century-long timeline. Installation took place over the April break. When the campus fully opens up after the pandemic is finally in the rear-view mirror, make sure to stop by the Bedard hallway. For now, open the centre spread to see a rendering of the four panels.