On Sept. 9, 1965, Simon Fraser University was founded. The university is named after Simon Fraser, loyalist, fur trader and explorer, who in 1808 completed a great journey in the annals of Canadian history by descending the river which today bears his name.

In January 1963, a report recommended the creation of a new university in the Lower Mainland — two months later the establishment of Simon Fraser University received formal assent in the British Columbia Legislature and Dr. Gordon M. Shrum was appointed the first chancellor.

Since then, the university expanded to downtown Vancouver and the Surrey Central district. The Vancouver campus has grown from a modest storefront offering night school classes in the early ‘80s to the largest post-secondary institution downtown.

SFU Vancouver’s nine sites offer degree and continuing studies opportunities for students and include several galleries, innovation centres, a student residence and the internationally renowned Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue.

Today, Simon Fraser, has over 25,000 students at three campuses in Burnaby, Vancouver and Surrey and is among Canadaﾒs top universities in research impact.