On Eve of Former Prime Minister's 80th Birthday, York University Announces $75,000 Endowment for Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellowship for Graduate Research

TORONTO, October 15, 1999 -- One year ago this month, pundits, philosophers and scholars from across the country and beyond gathered at York University to debate the legacy and leadership of former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Now, on the eve of Trudeau's 80th birthday which he celebrates Monday, Oct. 18, York University is pleased to announce the $75,000 endowment of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellowship, which will provide $3,750 each year to a meritorious graduate student doing research in the humanities or social sciences.

The endowment was established from the proceeds of the sales of 100 special edition, leather-bound, numbered copies of The Essential Trudeau (McClelland & Stewart, 1998, ed. Ron Graham), signed by Mr. Trudeau and launched last October at the York University conference, "The Trudeau Era: Culture, Media, Politics." Historians, collectors and admirers of Mr. Trudeau purchased the beautiful $1,000 boxed book, which offers a selection of excerpts from Trudeau's writings, speeches, and interviews -- many appearing for the first time in book form and featuring introductory notes to each chapter and occasional commentary by Trudeau.

"It seems appropriate that each year York University will be able to offer research assistance to a star Humanities or Social Sciences graduate student -- in the name of a leading intellectual of this half-century," said Vice-President (University Advancement) Gary J. Smith.

Avie J. Bennett, York University Chancellor and Chairman of McClelland & Stewart Inc., said Mr. Trudeau expressed his pleasure that the award bearing his name would assist graduate students in the pursuit of understanding and uncovering issues in humanities and social sciences. "McClelland & Stewart was proud to play a part in honoring this great Canadian," said Mr. Bennett.

The fellowship is intended to facilitate research essential to the completion of graduate work by supporting expenses such as travel and other related research expenses at archives, libraries and repositories in Canada and abroad.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Sine MacKinnon
Senior Advisor/Director, Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22087
email: sinem@yorku.ca
YU/102/99