Since 1965, Simon Fraser University has been different on purpose. We built a leading research university atop Burnaby Mountain from the ground up and challenged what post-secondary education means.
In our early days, we were known as the "radical campus," a university that wasn't afraid to challenge the status quo. The university has developed a robust and engaged community of students, alumni, faculty, staff, research and community partners, and donors.
60 years later, SFU continues to make a meaningful impact here in British Columbia and beyond.
"A lot may have changed over the past 60 years, but SFU's commitment to research, innovation and creating an inclusive and sustainable future has endured through it all," says SFU President Joy Johnson. "I am so grateful for the students, faculty and staff who shaped SFU into the leading research university we are today, and I cannot wait to see what we accomplish together in the next 60 years."
As we celebrate our anniversary, we are grateful and proud of what we have accomplished to date and look forward to leaning into a future as a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. From clean energy and climate innovation, to securing Canada's digital sovereignty by supporting artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and health care delivery, SFU has so much more to offer.
60th Anniversary alumni celebration
From the debut of the National Flag of Canada to "Wooly Bully" and "Help!" topping the charts, 1965 was a year to remember - especially as SFU opened its doors for the very first time.
SFU Alumni is celebrating with a 60th anniversary event Sept. 24 at SFU's Surrey campus. Festivities include interactive exhibits (including a robot!), a walk through SFU's history - and opportunities to learn about new developments - and a chance to reconnect with the SFU community.
Tickets are available here.
Anniversary merchandise
The commemorate SFU's 60th anniversary, a new line of merchandise is available at the SFU Bookstore Spirit Shop in-store and online.
The line includes a "Since 1965" t-shirt and crew neck sweater, along with a tote bag, stickers, notecard and coffee mug.
Relive the early days in A Magical Time
Coinciding with Simon Fraser University's 60th anniversary, a new book from Harbour Publishing and the SFU Retirees Association charts the early days of the arts at SFU.
A Magical Time: The Eary Days of the Arts at Simon Fraser University features the radical 60s and the rise of arts programming at the university. Early SFU was shaped by a vision of a new kind of university where thought was free-flowing and lines between the disciplines were blurred. This multi-authored book captures the excitement of that first decade of the arts at SFU.
Did you know?
SFU was the first university in Canada to:
- launch an Executive MBA in Aboriginal Business and Leadership Program
- be admitted to the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA)
- establish a master's in Big Data Program
- become a Fair-Trade Gold campus (Fairtrade Canada and the Canadian Fair Trade Network).
- establish an ombudsperson office to resolve student complaints independently and confidentially, which now serves as a model for other universities
- initiate computerized registration (1970)
Notable alumni
Since SFU's first convocation in 1967, our alumni community has grown to over 200,000 graduates from more than 145 countries in the world. Just a few of our notable alumni include:
- Marathon of Hope runner Terry Fox
- Three former B.C. premiers: Gordon Campbell, Glen Clark, Ujjal Dosanjh
- Athletes: Lui Passaglia (football), Daniel Igali (wrestling), Carol Huynh (wrestling), Jay Triano (basketball)
- Margaret Trudeau, Canadian activist and mother of Justin Trudeau, the 23rd prime minister of Canada
- Canadian physician and author Gabor Maté
Notable Honorary Degree recipients
- The Dalai Lama
- Actor Michael J. Fox
- Primatologist Jane Goodall
- Singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan
- Scientist and television host Bill Nye
- Canadian Soccer player Christine Sinclair
- Canadian hockey player Hayley Wickenheiser
