Biography - UBC Campus - Circa 1929                                                                       < Back to Gallery 

The first day of classes in University of British Columbia history was Sept.30, 1915.  There were 379 students in 3 faculties; Arts & Science, Applied Science and Agriculture. The buildings used to house the students and faculty were dubbed the ‘Fairview Shacks’, they were a ramshackle collection of wooden buildings at West 10th and Laurel St. in Vancouver’s Fairview neighbourhood.  Seven years later (in 1922) plans were made for U.B.C to move to its present location.  Students at U.B.C, frustrated over delays by the provincial government concerning the move to their new (and uncompleted) campus in Point Grey, gathered together in protest.  Nearly 1200 students took part in the ‘Great   Trek’ (led by the band of Irish Fusiliers) which started downtown, venturing through the city and along the dirt trail that went through the forest to the unfinished site on campus. The government responded with a $1.5 million loan to resume construction.  The students did not move in until 1925.