History of the CCC

The Cambridge Canadian Club was created in the 1930s by Lt. Col. John Grace, Ph.D. Grace spent his childhood years in New Westminster, BC, and went on to study for an undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia in 1924. He was heavily involved in the student community as Student Council President and was an avid member of the debate society. Grace met Muriel Montgomery, a music student at the nearby Columbian College; they were married in 1929. After graduating they moved together to Cambridge, where Grace completed a doctorate at Gonville and Caius and a degree in education from the Sorbonne University in Paris. In 1933 Grace was appointed Director of French Studies at Magdalene College, Cambridge. He leased a house on Herschel Road that was built for the physicist John Bascombe Locke in 1880, but is more well-known as the home of George Mallory, who had disappeared ten years earlier during his famous attempt to be the first to summit Everest. It was during his time at Herschel House that Grace came up with an idea for a Cambridge Canadian Club. The house, with its walled garden, squash court, and orchard, may have served as a venue for early club events. Grace was the coordinator of the exchange courses between Cambridge and UBC at the time, and started the club as a way for the exchange students to get together as a group, both in Cambridge and in Canada. Grace served as Director for Education in the Canadian Army during the Second World War. He was a part of many post-war committees to promote international understanding, including the International Atlantic Committee, under NATO, and the United Services Committee. Grace died unexpectedly in 1948. The Canadian Club organized a memorial service in Sidney Sussex College Chapel in recognition of his contributions to fostering an international academic community.

The club has been a presence in Cambridge ever since. Leadership of the club passed into student hands, and events were organised based on student initiative. In 2003, the club was resurrected by Liniobe from several years of dormancy. The past committees have been:

2003-2004
President: Niobe Thompson, Senior Treasurer: Dr. Janet Soskice Executive: Linda Chang, Laura Corbett, Stephanie Langton, Chantal Aubin, Lars Peterson, Hank Liao, Jeff Einboden

2004-2005
President: Wayne Pommen, Senior Treasurer: Dr. Janet Soskice Executive: Stephanie Langton, Chantal Aubin, Lars Peterson, Chris Wakelam, Lisa Goh, Michelle To, Hank Liao

2005-2006
President: Hank Liao, Senior Treasurer: Dr. Bill Harris Treasurer: Stephanie Langton Executive: Charles Noir, Lisa Goh, Wayne Pommen, Ariane de Hoog, Lars Peterson, Mary Pines

2006-2007
President: Mary Pines, Senior Treasurer: Dr. Bill Harris Treasurer: Stephanie Langton

2007-2008
President: Stacy Hickson, Senior Treasurer: Dr. Bill Harris

2008-2009
President: Tina Adcock, Senior Treasurer: Prof. Bill Harris Executive: Serita Rana, Lindsay Scorgie, Andrew Tanentzap

2009-2010
President: Andrew Tanentzap, Senior Treasurer: Prof. Bill Harris Executive: Kristine Liao, Serita Rana, Lindsay Scorgie

2010-2011
President: Lindsay Scorgie, Senior Treasurer: Prof. Bill Harris Executive: Kristine Liao, Mikaela Ediger, Donal Lafferty, Claudiane Ouellet-Plamondon

2011-2012
President: Lindsay Galbraith, Senior Treasurer: Prof. Bill Harris Executive: Annilijn Conklin, Justin Fantauzzo, Mikaela Ediger, Andrew Deonarine

The CCC Crest

The CCC crest is a pastiche of Canadian symbols in the context of Cambridge, England. The crest is split into three parts. On the top panel a beaver sits under a green tree. Beneath is the English lion passing upon a red field. Below, a golden sprig of three maple leaves on a white background represents Canadians of all origins. On top of the crest is a crowned gold lion standing on a twisted wreath of red and white silk and holding a hockey stick in its right paw (similar to the crest on the Canadian Coat of Arms). The supporters of the crest are a moose to left and a deer to the right. Behind the crest is a pair of crossed canoe paddles. At the bottom of the crest is a banner displaying the letters C C C, the Canadian Club of Cambridge. The base of the crest is made up of a floral emblem of green maple leaves alongside white on red English roses. The crest was designed by Hank Liao in 2004.