Established in 1843, Bishop’s University is older than Canada itself. To this day, it remains a small, mainly undergraduate university with a close-knit student community. Most classes have fewer than 30 students, and it is not uncommon to see faculty and students sharing a drink at the local pub. “Bishop’s is not the place where you can disappear into the background,” says principal Michael Goldbloom. “Bishop’s has a very clear identity and mission, which is to focus on undergraduates.” In a suburb of Sherbrooke, Que., the university sits at the confluence of the St. Francis and Massawippi rivers. Cheekily known as “Oxford on the Massawippi,” Bishop’s campus has several Victorian-era red-brick buildings surrounded by groves of pine trees, sequestered from the rumbling road into town.
The region, flanked by heavily wooded mountains, features boundless outdoor activities. The campus is home to the oldest nine-hole golf course in Canada. Founded when many of the area’s residents were anglophones, Bishop’s offers an English-language, liberal education in the bilingual Eastern Townships. About 25 percent of students are native French speakers—while all classes are taught in English, students can write exams and assignments in French.
Bishop’s Rugby Program
Bishop’s University has a rich tradition with rugby, after being established in 1976 starting with a men’s team and adding a women’s side soon after. The teams are built on perseverance, teamwork, and toughness with them having a closely-knit family atmosphere driving them to success. Both sides now play in the RSEQ conference with their 15’s season in the fall and an indoor 7’s circuit in the winter. During the spring both teams will also embark on a tour down to the states to compete in various tournaments. The program features one full time and several part-time coaches with amazing sports facilities and support staff to help players achieve their potential.
The men’s team has been consistently one of the best sides on campus and has seen 6 conference championships and numerous tournament victories in its history. They are a perennial finalist in the RSEQ over recent years with a number of conference all-stars to go alongside. Now currently headed by Charles Goode and his coaching staff, the Gaiters men’s rugby team are looking to add to their trophy cabinet in the future continuing to build on the strong foundations of the program.
The women’s program has seen spells of success, earning all-star and all-Canadian honors, and are now lead by Tom Whyld, in his first year. He and his staff are looking to develop and build a strong, dominant team for the years to come with results already being seen in his inaugural season.
Both sides have year-round training, either on the field or in the gym, complemented with a specific strength and conditioning program as well as athletic therapy to make sure players are developing, recovering and peaking at the right times.
Bishop’s University
All prices shown are Canadian dollars.Tuition & Fees (Quebec Residents):$2,455Tuition & Fees (Other Canadian + French Citizens:$7,632Tuition & Fees (International Students):$22,500 + $1,475 Compulsory FeeRoom and Board:Approx. $9,400Undergraduate Enrollment:2,668Student to Faculty Ratio:19:1Acceptance Rate:73%Admissions Deadline:March 1Test Scores Due:March 15Avg High School GPA:3.2SAT Requirements:Test OptionalACT Requirements:Test OptionalMinimum Entering Grades:Arts: 80%; R-Score 24 Science: 80%; R-Score 24 Commerce: 82%; R-Score 25
Rugby InformationMen’s Rugby Website:https://gaiters.ca/index.aspx?path=mrugbyMen’s Contact:Charles Goode – cgoode@ubishops.caWomen’s Rugby Website:https://gaiters.ca/index.aspx?path=wrugbyWomen’s Head Coach:Tom Whyld – twhyld@ubishops.caBishop’s Athletics Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/bishops.gaiters.1/?ref=br_rsBishop’s Athletics Twitter:https://twitter.com/bishopsgaiters
Information edited from Bishop’s University website and Macleans.
Information provided by Dan Seneker, Director Enrolment Management Bishop’s University October 17, 2018