The University Club of Montreal is a private social club in Montreal, Quebec. Established in 1907, it has been a cornerstone of the city’s social and intellectual community for over a century. Initially conceived in December 1906 as a gentlemen's club for university graduates, it was officially incorporated on November 8, 1907.

History

Early years The University Club initially occupied a three-story building on Dorchester Street West, opposite St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church.In 1911, it purchased the residence of Edward Benjamin Ibbotson at 176 Mansfield Street. Seeking a permanent home, the club acquired property directly opposite and commissioned Scottish architect Percy Erskine Nobbs, then Director of the McGill School of Architecture, to design a new clubhouse. Completed in 1913, the building showcased a Neo-Georgian façade with a limestone ground floor and red brick upper stories. The interior featured exquisite spaces, notably the main dining hall, which remains largely unchanged since its inception.

Social evolution Throughout its history, the University Club has evolved to reflect societal changes. In the early 1920s, a women’s annex was added, though women were initially limited to specific areas unless accompanied by a member. Women gained full membership rights in 1988. The club began admitting Jewish members in the 1960s, and in 1973, the requirement for a university degree was removed, broadening its inclusivity.

Relocation and modern developments Facing financial challenges, the club sold its historic Mansfield Street building in 2017. In 2022, it relocated to the Maison James-Reid-Wilson at 1201 Sherbrooke Street West, a heritage property restored by Provencher_Roy. This move marked a new chapter, blending the club’s rich traditions with modern amenities.

Art and cultural contributions The club has an art collection, featuring nearly one hundred works by Canadian artists.

Notable milestones In 2007, the club celebrated its centennial, commemorated by the publication of a detailed history book.

Leadership

President

1907-1918 – Seargent Prentiss Stearns 1918-1920 – Robert Fulford Ruttan 1920-1921 – Frederick Edmund Meredith 1921-1922 – Alexander D. Blackader 1922-1923 – Eugène Lafleur 1923-1924 – William Forrest Angus 1924-1925 – W. C. Chisholm 1925-1926 – Dr Herbert Stanley Birkett 1926-1927 – Allan Angus Magee 1927-1928 – John J. Creelman 1928-1929 – H. M. Little 1929-1931 – Charles W. Colb 1931-1932 – F. M. G. Johnson 1932-1933 – A. T. Bazin 1933-1934 – George Selkirk Currie 1934-1935 – E. M. McDougall 1935-1936 – E. Peter Flintoff 1936-1937 – Conrad Dawson Harrington 1937-1938 – John Morrice Roger Fairbairn 1938-1939 – K. M. Perry 1939-1940 – Edward G. Hanson 1940-1941 – Gregor Barclay 1941-1942 – Edouard de Bellefeuille Panet 1942-1943 – J. C. McDougall 1943-1944 – W. A. Merrill 1944-1945 – T. S. Morrisey 1945-1946 – E. S. McDougall 1946-1947 – J. H. H. Robertson 1947-1948 – Donald A. White 1948-1949 – Orville S. Tyndale 1949-1950 – James Blain Woodyatt 1950-1951 – Reuben Ewart Stavert 1951-1952 – Chilion H. G. Heward 1952-1953 – A. D. Campbell 1953-1954 – Hugh A. Crombie 1954-1955 – B. E. Norrish 1955-1956 – Shirley G. Dixon 1956-1957 – Kenneth A. Creery 1957-1958 – John K. Wilson 1958-1959 – Kenneth B. Roberton 1959-1960 – R. D. Harkness 1960-1961 – Paul P. Hutchison 1961-1962 – G. P. Hedges 1962-1963 – Harrison C. Hayes 1963-1964 – Bartlett McLennan Ogilvie 1964-1965 – A. James de Lalanne 1965-1966 – George M. Hobart 1966-1967 – Anson C. McKim 1967-1968 – U. C. Cushing 1968-1969 – S. Boyd Millen 1969-1970 – W. P. Carr 1970-1971 – William T. G. Hackett 1971-1972 – James E. Pepall 1972-1973 – A. Blaikie Purvis 1973-1974 – M. Laird Watt 1974-1975 – J. E. Morgan 1975-1976 – Reford MacDougall 1976-1977 – Robert C. Paterson 1977-1978 – Peter N. Quinlan 1978-1979 – John Lynch-Staunton 1979-1980 – Donald S. Wells 1980-1981 – Herbert B. McNally 1981-1982 – John J. Peacock 1982-1983 – Philip E. Johnston 1983-1984 – Joseph S. Connolly 1984-1985 – R. Douglas Bourke 1985-1986 – A. D. Lloyd 1986-1987 – Conrad H. Harrington 1987-1988 – Stuart H. Cobbett 1988-1989 – James A. Robb 1989-1990 – Eric L. Clark 1990-1992 – David H. Laidley 1992-1993 – Philip L. Webster 1993-1994 – A. Jean de Grandpré 1994-1995 – K. Warren Simpson 1995-1996 – Philip P. Aspinall 1996-1997 – Claudette Bellemare 1997-1998 – David C. A. Hannaford 1998-1999 – Bruce Kent 1999-2000 – Barrie Drummond Birks 2000-2001 – Harvey M. Romoff 2001-2002 – Patrick J. Kenniff 2002-2003 – E. Lee Hambleton 2003-2004 – Mark J. Oppenheim 2004-2006 – Pierre Matuszewski 2006-2007 – James G. Wright 2007-2008 – John F. Lemieux

References

External links "The University Club of Montreal: 1907-2007," University Club of Montreal, 2007. "The University Club of Montreal: One of the Most Prestigious Private Clubs in Canada Presents Its New Location in an Historical Building," *GlobeNewswire*, September 27, 2022. "Four Former Quebec Premiers Salute the University Club's 110th Anniversary Gala," *The Montrealer*, October 2017. "The University Club of Montreal Giving Up Its Percy Nobbs-Designed Downtown Digs," *Montreal Gazette*, December 25, 2017. "The University Club of Montreal," *Provencher_Roy*.