Top photo: Old Aud (circa 1925) | Bottom photo: Old Aud (circa 2010) Brian Hawkes
We honour the Great Trek – past and present! The UBC Opera Ensemble, Historians of UBC and Members of the Veterans Transition Program present an evening of music, stories and film from 1925 to 2025.
On this second night of celebration, we pay tribute to some of the first and most influential students of UBC – these were the 197 WWI soldiers and veterans who enrolled as students at UBC. They formed the Returned Soldier’s Club and together with Alumni, Faculty, Senate, Board of Governors and President Klinck made an appeal to the Dominion Government for financial aid so these returned soldiers could pursue their university studies. In the session 1944/1945, the registration was 3,058, of whom 150 were ex-service personnel. In 1945/1946, registration almost doubled with 2,254 veterans in a total student body of 5,621. Twenty-five years ago, Doctor Marv Westwood created the Veterans Transition Program here at the UBC Faculty of Education and again the number of veterans on our campus today began to increase. This program has transformed the lives of thousands of veterans not only here in BC and Canada but in the United States, England and Germany. We pay tribute to all of these veterans past and present.
They all helped to shape the future of UBC and our society then and now. We honour our Armed Forces who defend and protect us in this troubled world today at home and abroad. We applaud all those involved in the Veterans Transition Program who enable our veterans to return to a meaningful and productive civilian life.
Bundle this event with 100 Years of the Old Auditorium and save! Attend both celebrations on Oct 14 & 15, and receive a total discount of $10. Tickets range from $20–$35 ea.
Subscription and ticket sales
General subscription sales: Tue, August 19 at 11am.
Single ticket sales: Tue, September 2 at 11am.
Subscribers will receive first access to all UBC Opera events including those in collaboration with Opera West. At the time of subscription purchase you will be able to purchase tickets to all events in our 2025/2026 Season.
