Sketch of proposed Cumberland Avenue student residences created by D.H. Stock Partnership Architects.

Bio/Historical Note: McEown Park, the University of Saskatchewan student high-rise complex located on former experimental plots just south of the main campus, was opened on 2 October 1970. It is situated at Cumberland Avenue South and 14th Street East. Designed by the D. H. Stock Partnership and built for a little over $5.5 million, the project doubled the on campus student accommodation to 1,200. Named to honour University administrator A.C. (Colb) McEown, it consisted of three buildings: Souris Hall, a nine-storey town house for married students with children; Assiniboine Hall, an eleven-storey apartment house for married students without children and single students sharing accommodation; and Seager Wheeler Hall, a fourteen-storey residential house for single students living in small groups. Like the other campus residences, Souris and Assiniboine Halls were named after rivers. Seager Wheeler Hall was named in honour of one of Saskatchewan’s pioneer wheat breeders. Wollaston Hall was added to the complex in 1976.

View of the McEown Park complex.

Bio/Historical Note: The McEown Park residence complex, located at Cumberland Avenue and 14th Street East, was opened on 2 October 1970. Three high-rise buildings were initially built: 14-storey Seager Wheeler Hall housed single students living in small groups; 11-storey Assiniboine Hall housed married students without children and single students with shared accommodation; and 9-storey Souris Hall housed married students with children. A fourth tower, Wollaston Hall, was added in 1976.

Progress shot of a new residence in McEown Park.

Bio/Historical Note: The McEown Park residence complex, located at Cumberland Avenue and 14th Street East, was opened on 2 October 1970. Three high-rise buildings were initially built: 14-storey Seager Wheeler Hall housed single students living in small groups; 11-storey Assiniboine Hall housed married students without children and single students with shared accommodation; and 9-storey Souris Hall housed married students with children. A fourth tower, Wollaston Hall, was added in 1976.

Construction of the McEown Park complex.

Bio/Historical Note: The McEown Park residence complex, located at Cumberland Avenue and 14th Street East, was opened on 2 October 1970. Three high-rise buildings were initially built: 14-storey Seager Wheeler Hall housed single students living in small groups; 11-storey Assiniboine Hall housed married students without children and single students with shared accommodation; and 9-storey Souris Hall housed married students with children. A fourth tower, Wollaston Hall, was added in 1976.

Dr. Spinks, University President, speaking at official opening of McEown Park.

Bio/Historical Note: The McEown Park residence complex, located at Cumberland Avenue and 14th Street East, was opened on 2 October 1970. Three high-rise buildings were initially built: 14-storey Seager Wheeler Hall housed single students living in small groups; 11-storey Assiniboine Hall housed married students without children and single students with shared accommodation; and 9-storey Souris Hall housed married students with children. A fourth tower, Wollaston Hall, was added in 1976.

Chief Justice E.M. (Ted) Culliton, University Chancellor, unveils a plaque dedicating the residence to the memory of A.C. McEown.

Bio/Historical Note: Alpheus Colborne (Colb) McEown was a graduate of Saskatoon Collegiate Institute. He excelled in football and basketball at the University of Saskatchewan, serving as captain of the football team in his senior year. He was trainer of the University of Saskatchewan hockey team in 1921-1922, champions of the Saskatoon-Prince Albert Hockey League that year. He coached the men's varsity basketball team from 1932 to 1948, leading the Huskies to the Rigby Cup championship in the WCIAU for eight straight years, starting in 1934-35.Colb was also coach of the Huskies football team in 1939, 1940, 1943, 1944 and 1945. In addition to his contributions to athletics, Colb served on the University senate, on the board of governors and was president of the alumni association. McEown became Assistant to the President in 1949. As the President's senior administrative officer, McEown was responsible for the general administration and finances of the University including academic and fiscal planning, budgeting, and buildings and grounds. In 1961, McEown became the University's first V.P. (Academic). This change reflected an administrative change rather than a functional one. He had functioned as the President's senior administrative officer and defacto Vice-President since 1949 when he was appointed Assistant to the President. McEown's primary duties were the general administration and finances of the University and included academic and fiscal planning, budgeting, and buildings and grounds. He also acted as secretary of the Board of Governors. In 1968, McEown was appointed Vice-President (University) as part of the re-organization that resulted from the amendments of the University Act. Shortly after his appointment, McEown announced his resignation but died in September 1968.

W. J. White, Dean of Agriculture, unveils the plaque of Seager Wheeler Hall during the official opening of McEown Park.

Bio/Historical Note: Seager Wheeler (1868-1961) was a Canadian agronomist. Wheeler produced viable economic wheat and fruit strains for a short prairie growing season with harsh winters. Known as the "Wheat King of the prairies" or "The Wheat Wizard of Rosthern,” he owned and operated the Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm near Rosthern, Saskatchewan. The site is honoured as the location where hardy wheat and fruit strains were developed which were well suited to the prairie climate and growing season. He was designated as a person of national historic significance in 1988 by the Canadian federal government and inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame. He died in Victoria and is interred with his family in the Bergthal cemetery, near Rosthern, where he homesteaded. He co-authored a book with Herbert Joseph Moorhouse called “Seager Wheeler’s Profitable Grain Growing”. His life story by Jim Shilliday was published in 2007 by the Canadian Plains Research Center.