Capping off centennial with a moment in time

  • 05 June 2017
On June 5, SAIT buried a time capsule to be opened in 100 years — and later unveiled a centennial art installation.
RCMP Honour Guard escorts the centennial time capsule to the stage as master of ceremonies, Linda Olsen, looks on.

SAIT wrapped up its centennial celebrations on June 5 with an emotional, once-in-a-lifetime event — the burying of the centennial time capsule and the unveiling of a special art installation by SAIT alumnus and metal artist, Michael Perks.

Special guests, SAIT staff, students and alumni, including 102-year-old Clarence Hollingworth — SAIT's oldest known alumnus — filled the sidewalks on the south side of Heritage Hall for the event with Global Calgary news anchor Linda Olsen as master of ceremonies. Olsen, herself, is a graduate of SAIT's Cinema, Television, Stage and Radio (CTSR) program in 1988 and a 2015 SAIT honorary degree holder.

Another one for the books

The centennial time capsule, complete with RCMP Honour Guard escort, was interred in front of Heritage Hall, SAIT's iconic building constructed in 1921.

"SAIT has been through the ebbs and flows of history and here we are today — a century later — from humble beginnings to one of the most vibrant, relevant applied-education institutions in Canada," says Dr. David Ross, SAIT President and CEO. "We are a long-standing foundation of this community. Very few institutions, especially in western Canada, have 100 years under their belt."

SAIT collected memories throughout its centennial year to include in the 2016 time capsule which will be opened on Oct. 16, 2116. It was designed and built by SAIT employees from the School of Manufacturing and Automation, taking more than 60 hours and two cubic metres of 20-gauge stainless steel to create.

Ross continues, "It's exciting to try to envision the next century. I can only imagine what SAIT will be like on our 200th birthday when the time capsule is opened."

Time capsule facts:

  • The contents are protected in a PVC pipe and encase in a stainless steel sleeve
  • The capsule is 67 cm wide by 116 cm tall and weighs approximately 80 kg
  • A cairn with a marble base is set on top of the time capsule
  • Fourteen stainless steel nuts and bolts used
  • 24 sq. feet of 20-gauge stainless steel used on the main body of the sleeve
  • Fourteen-gauge stainless steel used for the lid and bottom
  • The hold for the time capsule is two metres deep reinforced with 3.56 cubic metres of concrete, 152 metres of rebar, and 1.5 cubic metres of gravel

Notable time capsule items:

  • A photo of Dr. David Ross and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in front of Heritage Hall
  • A 3D printed mini Heritage Hall figurine
  • Letters from SAIT executive leaders and board members
  • An empty Tool Shed Brewery SAIT Centennial Ale beer can
  • A Loonie and other Canadian currency
  • Menu from SAIT's The Highwood restaurant
  • Numerous photos of SAIT staff, students and alumni in 2016
  • SAIT Trojans athletic clothing
  • SAITSA (student association) memorabilia
  • Various SAIT student guides and award information books
  • The Weal, SAIT's newspaper
  • and much more

Centennial art installation unveiled

The centennial art installation was also unveiled on June 5 at the FirstEnergy Capital Corp Centennial Circle on the SAIT campus as special guests, SAIT staff, students and alumni looked on.

SAIT alumnus Michael Perks (Millwright '06) created a special and spectacular piece of art nearly five metres wide and five metres tall in celebration of SAIT's 100 years. The piece is an interpretation of the SAIT's catalyst symbol which is forged by five s-shape connectors, representing the people and relationships that define us — students, faculty and staff, alumni, employers and partners, and the diverse communities we serve.

Watch history in the making

Were you at SAIT's time capsule and art unveiling? Check out the highlights from these historic events.