From 1960 until today – Huntington has enjoyed a proud history.

 

Huntington University is an independent university located in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.  

 

Since 1960, Huntington University has espoused the importance of its core values - academic excellence, civic leadership and community service beyond the walls of the university.  

 

Surrounded by lakes and the unique rugged landscape of Ontario's north, campus life here is unlike 

any other in Canada.  Sitting atop a hill, the Huntington University building overlooks much of 

Sudbury's campus community.  

 

The Huntington University residence provides co-ed accommodation for 130+ students.  

 

Our Vision

 

Huntington University is a unique learning community with a distinctive culture of positive relationships and interaction between faculty, support staff, and students.

 

Huntington University empowers each person in a way that builds life-long commitment to continuous personal, interpersonal, professional and spiritual development for all members of the community.

 

Our History

 

Huntington University opened in 1960 and was one of the first post-secondary establishments in Northern Ontario.

 

Throughout its 60 year legacy, Huntington University has proudly partnered with many organizations, both national and international, creating affiliations and affinities, including a long-standing and respected partnership with the United Church of Canada.

 

Enjoy a timeline of our proud history showcasing our founding moment up to our most recent event.

December 4, 2020 

Huntington University celebrates the official launch of the Peruvian Canadian Institute.

 

November 23, 2020 
As Huntington University continues to celebrate its 60th anniversary year, the Board of Regents announces Mrs. Bela Ravi, a distinguished, dedicated and award-winning member of the Greater Sudbury community, as new Chancellor. 

 

Mrs. Bela Ravi is officially installed as Chancellor of Huntington University, during a private ceremony, held on November 23, 2020 at Huntington University.  

 

March 28, 2020 
Huntington University begins celebrating it's 60th anniversary year

 

March 11, 2020 
The World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a global pandemic.  

 

A case of COVID-19 on the Sudbury campus results in the immediate suspension of in-person learning, with all classes being moved to online delivery until further notice. 

 

2017

 A busy year for the Canadian Finnish Institute, as 2017 marked a historic intersection of our two nations. With the advent of Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation and 100 years of Finnish Independence, 2017 celebrated milestone anniversaries for both countries as well as 70 years of diplomatic relations.

 

Huntington University’s Canadian Finnish Institute hosted numerous events and activities throughout the anniversary year, including the official Canadian launch of Canada-Finland: Celebrating 2017, a commemorative book project initiated by the Embassy of Canada in recognition of both countries. Huntington University and the CFI were major sponsors of the national initiative and were proud to welcome His Excellency Vesa Lehtonen, Ambassador of Finland to Canada, and his wife Pirjetta Manninen, as well Mrs. Andrée Noëlle Cooligan Ambassador of Canada to Finland, to Greater Sudbury for the event. 

 

The CFI Commemorative Academic Award was also established, as a salute to the rich Finnish history in our region. The awards, presented one-time only in 2017, served to commemorate the dual anniversaries of Canada and Finland.  Finnish Canadian post-secondary students, Lili Ahopelto of Sudbury, Ontario, and Laina Southgate of Port Hardy, British Columbia, were selected as the recipients.

 

The year also came with international recognition. In a private investiture ceremony, Dr. Kevin McCormick was recognized for his outstanding leadership of the CFI and presented with the Knight First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, by His Excellency Vesa Lehtonen, Ambassador of Finland to Canada.  It is one of the highest honours the Government of Finland can bestow. 

 

April 13, 2017
Huntington University installs Patricia Mills as Chancellor. In accepting the ceremonial role, Mills becomes the first woman in the university’s 56-year history to guide the institution.

 

March 24, 2016
Huntington University is pleased to announce the installment of a Journalist in Residence. The inaugural honour is bestowed upon Mark Gentili, Managing Editor of Northern Life.

 

October 8, 2015
Huntington University launches the Canadian Finnish Institute, a new organization aimed at highlighting the contributions of the Finnish people to Canada. His Excellency Charles Murto, Ambassador of Finland to Canada, attended the launch and is named a member of the inaugural class of the Canadian Finnish Institute’s Fellowship Program.

 

September 24, 2015
Huntington University appoints Dr. Edward J. Conroy as Chancellor Emeritus.

 

May 15, 2014
Huntington University’s chapel is renamed the “Rev. Dr. Murray Arnill Memorial Chapel” following the chaplain’s passing in April.

 

October 17, 2013
On Thursday, October 17, 2013, Huntington University presents, to the public, its very own ceremonial mace. The mace, by its very nature, symbolically and physically, is a ceremonial symbol that is unique and specific to that of Huntington University itself. Huntington University is one of a number of post-secondary educational institutions located in the City of Greater Sudbury, the central place of Northeastern Ontario. The mace’s design and material reflect the Sudbury area of Northern Ontario.

 

March 2011
Official opening of The Lougheed Teaching and Learning Centre, a research and resource centre named in honour of Greater Sudbury’s Marguerite and Gerry Lougheed Sr.

 

May 2010
Huntington University celebrates its 50th Anniversary and hosts a Convocation ceremony where Gerry Lougheed Jr. is honoured with a Doctorate of Sacred Letters degree.

 

2008
Huntington University announces the launch of The Lougheed Teaching and Learning Centre of Excellence in honour of the Lougheed legacy in the Greater Sudbury community.

 

2007
Dr. Edward J. Conroy is installed as Chancellor at the University’s Fall Convocation, succeeding Rev. Dr. Murray Arnill, who became the University Chaplain.

 

2006
Rev. Douglas Joblin retires and is succeeded as President by Dr. Kevin McCormick, who is installed at the University’s Fall Convocation.

 

2005
Huntington and Laurentian sign an articulation agreement that allows George Brown College students to complete undergraduate degrees at Laurentian in Gerontology. A second agreement signed between Huntington and Laurentian allowing graduates of Georgian College’s Dental Hygiene Program to seek admission to the B.A. (General) in Gerontology.

 

2005
In 2005, an agreement is signed with Laurentian University that transfers the music program to Laurentian.

 

2004
Huntington and Laurentian sign two articulation agreements that allow Cambrian College students to complete undergraduate degrees at Laurentian in Gerontology and Communication Studies.

 

2003
The Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling, Huntington’s first graduate program, is approved by the Huntington University Senate.

 

2003
Rev. Douglas Joblin is appointed by the Board of Regents as President of Huntington University.

 

2002
The four-year Bachelor of Arts in Gerontology is approved at Laurentian.

 

2002
Rev. Douglas Joblin is appointed Acting President.

 

2001
The three-year BA in Gerontology is offered in distance education. It is the first (and is still the only) distance education program in Gerontology in Canada.

 

2001
The four-year Bachelor of Arts program in Communication Studies is inaugurated.

 

1985

The Huntington Centre for Spirituality and Health opens. It is later renamed the Centre for Holistic Health.

 

1980

The Huntington Conservatory of Music is established to offer private teaching for students in the Sudbury region. (It closes in 2003 after 23 years.)

 

1979
The four-year Bachelor of Arts program in Music is inaugurated.

 

1977
The Pastoral Institute of Northern Ontario is inaugurated.

 

1968
The University’s Buchanan Chapel is dedicated.

 

1963
The first class of graduates is in 1963.

 

1961
The first Huntington Trek is held in the fall of 1961. This annual event for residence students in October becomes an annual tradition.

 

1961
In 1961, the University celebrates its first two graduates: Mary Conroy and Charles Johnson. The first gowning ceremony is also held.

Silas Huntington

Our namesake, Silas Huntington (1829—1905), was an itinerant Methodist minister who established more than 100 churches throughout Northeastern Ontario. He explored this region by canoe and train, and was active in community development throughout the north.