Gate House
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Gate House is an all male house in the Burwash Hall residences at Victoria College in the University of Toronto. Gate House is characterized by a strong sense of identity and pride.
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[edit] History and Tradition
The building first opened to students in 1913 and since then many famous individuals have come through Gate House including Lester B. Pearson. In 1995 the building was completely renovated. For almost 20 years up to 2003 it hosted Novemberfest, the largest annual party at U of T, in Burwash Hall. Every winter Gate used to host an annual toga party that, and according to house legend, Gate held the first ever toga party. Allegedly Donald Sutherland, who lived in neighbouring South House, remembered the Gate House toga parties when working on the film Animal House and as a result the producers of that film decided to include a toga party in it, popularizing the form the world over. Every spring, Gate House used to host the "stirring of the chicken" where the house members cook hundreds of chicken fajitas and feed them to guests. Also, it is rumoured that yearly secret initiation rituals take place in the old bell tower above the gate. Gate House is also, by rumour, the only residence at Victoria whose residents have gained access to the subterranean steam tunnels, which are secret underground passages to between all Vic buildings.
[edit] Layout
The house has three floors.
[edit] First Floor
The first floor only has one double room. This room, which used to be a super single, has a pair of bed-desks and is the smallest double room in the house. However, it is divided into two sections, with one resident getting a separate nook with more privacy than in other rooms. Half the floor is taken up by the apartment of the Residence Life Coordinator. This large apartment has its own entrance underneath the Gate. As well, there is a bathroom on the first floor. Lastly, on the first floor there is a house common room with a kitchen and two couches. Gate House's common room is notable for being the only at Victoria with two TVs; one is dedicated to video games and the other to movies and television. This room is a hotspot amongst all Burwash Hall residents, even those from other houses, for socializing on evenings and weekends.
[edit] Upper Floors
The second floor has three double rooms and seven single rooms. It has three single washrooms and one larger communal one. This floor is also home to the residence don, who gets a much larger room and a private washroom. The floor also has its own kitchen. The third floor is almost identical to the second, except that in place of the don's deluxe single room there are two regular single rooms.
[edit] Presidents
Past Presidents of Gate House Include:
- 2006 David Ruhl
- 2005 Adam Thom
- 2004 Trevor Hill
- 2003 Jonathan "1080" Bedley
- 2002 Matt Stockburn
- 2001 Tafari Mbadiwe
- 2000 Burt James
- 1999 Jon Davies
- 1998 Mike Warner
- 1997 Lance "Beezer" Fukumoto
- 1996 Neil Cheddie
- 1995 None (closed for renovations)
- 1994 David Harkness/Aidan Cunniffe
- 1993 Nick Gieschen
- 1992 Greg Sarney
- 1991 Stephan Mostowy
- 1990 Darrel Cox
- 1989 Bruce "Bastard" Landon
- 1988 Terry Mark
- 1987 Eric "Yogi" Krause
- 1986 Scott Anderson
- 1985 Rob Sephton
