Laurentian University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Laurentian University, officially known as Laurentian University of Sudbury, is a bilingual public university located in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. It was incorporated on March 28, 1960, and offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The university is notable for being the largest bilingual provider of distance education in Canada. Originally federated with Thorneloe University, Huntington University, and the University of Sudbury, Laurentian ended these long-standing partnerships during insolvency proceedings in 2021, ending relationships that had lasted for over six decades and resulting in legal disputes. The main campus of the university is located on the south side of Ramsey Lake in the Bell Grove neighborhood, just south of downtown Sudbury. It is bordered by the Idylwylde Golf Course to the west and the Lake Laurentian Conservation Area to the south. The conservation area includes a network of trails used for outdoor activities such as running, mountain biking, and Nordic skiing. Laurentian supports a diverse student population with three distinct student unions: the Association des étudiantes et étudiants francophones (AEF) for francophone undergraduates, the Students' General Association (SGA) for anglophone undergraduates, and the Graduate Students' Association (GSA) for graduate students. The university’s origins are closely tied to the Roman Catholic tradition, beginning with the founding of the Collège du Sacré-Coeur by the Jesuits in 1913. Degree-granting activities started in 1957 under the University of Sudbury. In 1960, Laurentian was established as a bilingual and non-denominational institution representing Roman Catholic, United, and Anglican interests. Classes were initially held in various locations throughout the city until the current campus opened in 1964. The federation included institutions like Huntington College, Thorneloe College, and the University of Sudbury, with additional past affiliations including Collège universitaire de Hearst, Nipissing University College, and Algoma University College.