This day in Montreal: Roddick Gates open
On this day in Montreal – May 28, 1925 – The Roddick Memorial Gates officially opened at McGill University.
The iconic entrance to the university were a gift in honour of Sir Thomas Roddick from his wife Lady Amy Redpath Roddick.
Now, they serve not only as the entryway on Sherbrooke Street but as a point of reference and a place for staff and students to meet up.
Roddick graduated from the faculty of medicine with top honours, where he also served as dean from 1901 to 1908.
He was a medical pioneer for introducing the principle of antiseptic treatment in Montreal hospitals, which helps prevent infections during surgery.
His widow wanted the gates to incorporate a clock tower with chimes because Roddick was so punctual. The clocks were mostly non-functioning until 2010.
