On reading Jim Van Allen's post today remembering Chanie Wenjack, the 12 year old who ran away from a residential school in Kenora and sadly died Oct 23, 1966 on his 600km trek to make it home...the name Wenjack seemed familiar...Peterborough is my home town and I feel very remiss not knowing until today about Chanie Wenjack and that the Trent University theatre was named as a memorial to him. https://www.trentu.ca/news/story/15811?&newsId=15811
"In 1973, when construction began on Otonabee College at Trent, a group of student leaders from the now Indigenous Studies department lobbied for the college to be named in Chanie’s honour. The students saw this dedication as an opportunity for Trent to strengthen its Indigenous Studies program, and establish itself as a force for change, hope, and a positive educational experience. The campaign spearheaded by student leaders led to the memorialization of Charlie through the naming of Trent’s largest lecture hall as the Chanie Wenjack Theatre."
"In 1973, when construction began on Otonabee College at Trent, a group of student leaders from the now Indigenous Studies department lobbied for the college to be named in Chanie’s honour. The students saw this dedication as an opportunity for Trent to strengthen its Indigenous Studies program, and establish itself as a force for change, hope, and a positive educational experience. The campaign spearheaded by student leaders led to the memorialization of Charlie through the naming of Trent’s largest lecture hall as the Chanie Wenjack Theatre."