Algoma University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Algoma University is a public university in Ontario, Canada, with campuses in Sault Ste. Marie, Brampton, and Timmins. The university offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, and graduate certificates in liberal arts, sciences, business, and professional disciplines. Originally established in 1965 as Algoma University College, it operated as an affiliated college of Laurentian University in Sudbury until 2008, when it became an independent institution under the Algoma University Act. The university places a strong emphasis on community, Indigenous education, and cultural awareness, particularly through its main campus in Sault Ste. Marie, which has a deep historical connection to Canada’s Indigenous peoples.The heart of Algoma University's main campus is Shingwauk Hall, a building with a significant and complex past. The original idea for this institution came from Chief Shingwauk of the Garden River Ojibway, who believed that Indigenous youth needed to learn Western academic knowledge to survive in a changing world. While his vision was centered on creating a "teaching wigwam" for his people, what eventually emerged was part of Canada’s residential school system—a system designed to assimilate Indigenous children into non-Indigenous culture. The first version of the school was built in 1873 at Garden River First Nation but was destroyed by fire just days later. A new building was constructed in Sault Ste. Marie in 1875. Shingwauk Hall, built in 1935, served as a residential school until it closed in 1970 due to its deteriorating condition and shifting public attitudes.Today, Shingwauk Hall is the central building of Algoma University and serves not only as a place of learning but also as a reminder of the university's commitment to reconciliation and acknowledging the history of the land it occupies. The institution actively promotes Indigenous education and cultural understanding as part of its mission.