The expansion features a 2,000 square foot atrium designed to give students, faculty and staff new space to gather

St. Thomas More expansion readies for grand opening

On April 11, 2014 St. Thomas More College will host the grand opening of its new expansion. The project began in 2012 with the launch of the Creating More Campaign, which has raised $4 million of its $6 million goal.

By Kelsey Topola

The campaign was created with two main purposes in mind. The first was to make the idea of the expansion a reality and the second was to create an endowed chair in Catholic Studies. These priorities were chosen to address the capacity challenges faced by the college so it can continue to provide students with a superior liberal arts education. STM President Terrence Downey notes, “This campaign will not only enable us to create the space needed to teach more STM classes within the walls of our building, but also deliver the learning environment and personal interaction our students and alumni expect from St. Thomas More College.”

The new expansion adds 20,000 square feet of space to the building and includes 325 new student seats in classrooms; 1,000 square feet of dedicated student study space and group breakout rooms; four new social science research labs and increased social and meeting space for students, faculty and staff in the 2,000 square foot natural light atrium.

This new space to be enjoyed by students, faculty and staff would not have been possible without the generous contributions of donors. "When the campaign was announced for the new addition it was something that we felt we needed to support," said Caroline Gorsalitz. "My parents attended STM in the 50s and met there. Their memories of the community of spirit at STM were poignant." Sentiment for STM run deep for Caroline who says, "I still remember with appreciation all my STM professors. All my siblings have attended STM, and after that our two oldest children. For us, St. Thomas More College has always been more than an academic institution. It has served as our campus home, a family worshipping community, and many good friendships were formed here. My husband Don worked at the college, my father served on the Board of Governors, and now my sister, Marie, is joining the Board. My brother David provides legal counsel to STM. Many of the Basilian Fathers and lay faculty continue to be good family friends."

Caroline and Don Gorsalitz chose to name the Stack Family room in the College's new addition as a way to recognize their family's great appreciation of the college. "We also encourage others who have been shaped by STM, whose families have benefited, to support the college both by talent and treasure."

The Creating More Campaign has also received a $1 million gift from long-time STM supporters Leslie and Irene Dubé.  Their gift will support the endowed chair in Catholic Studies. STM will dedicate the chair in their name as the Leslie and Irene Dubé Chair for Catholic Studies at St. Thomas More College.

The grand opening of the STM Expansion will take place on Friday April 11, 2014 in the St. Thomas More College Atrium. The program begins at 10 am with a tour and refreshments to follow. For more information please contact Jacquie Berg at (306)966-8907 or jberg@stmcollege.ca. All are welcome to attend.