Convocation Hall and its many uses — Issue 6

Convocation Hall (A. Gordon Cooper Library) is a beautiful venue with a colourful history.

Convocation Hall was originally part of King’s College, and it was built in 1863. It was used for convocation ceremonies, as well as a museum and library for King’s. The two busts that once stood in Con Hall are now in the University of King’s College library. Our school chaplain, Madre Greer, also discovered that it was used for some chapel services before Hensley Memorial Chapel was built in 1877. In the 20th century, it was used for cadet shooting practice, storage, and as a gym. It was almost torn down due to the expense of upkeep.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the school held multiple events to raise money, but it almost wasn’t enough. Finally, in the 1990s, there was a successful application to make the building a Nova Scotia heritage property. A significant amount of money was then raised to renovate the interior and create the library. In the 1990s, it housed Windsor’s first computer lab and served as the internet hub for the whole town. At that time, there was no school theatre on campus, and the stage was used for theatre productions. Formerly a gym for King’s College School, it is named Convocation Hall because convocations were once held there.

Today, Con Hall is home to the school library, ELL lessons, SAT testing, musical concerts, and celebrations.

On Saturday evening, our Windsor neighbour and renowned guitarist, Don Ross, gave a fabulous concert. Don is an extraordinary fingerstyle guitarist and composer who has produced multiple albums over the past four decades. He tours internationally, teaches, and plays several types of guitars, including the baritone guitar and the harp guitar. His repertoire, influenced by blues, jazz, folk, and classical music, has created a style he calls “heavy wood,” which features intense fingerpicking and intricate melodies that captivate any listener. He has such command of rhythm and tone that audiences are carried away by his storytelling, harmonics, unique scales, and the gorgeous effects created by his talent, skill, and passion.

Pictured is Don playing the harp guitar, which has the regular six strings plus six additional strings tuned as a bass guitar. We are so fortunate to have this talent in Windsor, and even more fortunate to hear him play. Con Hall has many tales to tell.