Join us as we celebrate where we’ve come from, what Rotman Commerce is today and where we’re excited to be heading next – together.
Message from our Deans
On the sunny day of June 6, 1924, the first seven graduates of the University of Toronto’s undergraduate business program now known as Rotman Commerce walked across the stage at Convocation Hall and received their diplomas.
While Rotman Commerce has never stopped growing and evolving to keep pace with change, a shared purpose connects that first handful of graduates to the multifaceted Rotman Commerce of today. This was well stated decades ago by Charles Allen Ashley, who led the program from 1934 to 1952: “…to turn out graduates who can expect to apply themselves with success to the task of learning a business quickly, of becoming good citizens, and of living a full life.”
As we celebrate this milestone, we are grateful to our community for making Rotman Commerce what it is today and for helping us shape our tomorrow. We are a community that has grown more diverse and globally connected. One that delivers an innovative and unique academic experience — combining the world-renowned breadth and depth of expertise of both the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Arts & Science and the Rotman School of Management. We have an alumni network that collectively shares insights, provides mentorship and invests in a new generation. And just as importantly, we have a group of leaders, changemakers and innovators who champion Rotman Commerce for leading the way.
Together, we celebrate a century of building the future.
Susan Christoffersen
Dean, Rotman School of Management
Melanie Woodin
Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science
The tenets that bring us together
Within the unique plethora of perspectives that may be found in the past one hundred years, there are four key throughlines that stand out as tying our collective efforts together – our long history of keeping pace with change; the many ways we connect our network to opportunity; our diverse and growing community; and the continued momentum that’s propelling us into the future.
Growing community
Our community is more inclusive than ever, welcoming people of diverse identities and points of view. But all graduates, past and present, have made the same journey from uncertainty to understanding to rewarding collaboration. We share the pride that comes through tackling challenges together and applying what we’ve learned in the world.
Transforming tomorrow
Our centenary is a chance to look back and see where we’ve come from, celebrating the milestones of progress. But it’s equally a celebration of where we are today – and how we’ll continue building and gaining momentum to create an even better tomorrow.
Connecting opportunities
A top-ranked commerce program integrated with a leading business school and the arts and science faculty of a respected global university – at the heart of Canada’s commercial and financial capital – these are the dimensions of opportunity that connect Rotman Commerce to the world and shape the unique quality of education we deliver.
Building for change
Change doesn’t just happen. It’s something you build toward, grounding bold moves in proven approaches and time-tested insights. This is what our graduates have been doing for a century. And it’s how those who follow them will continue building the future.
Our Stories
Explore some of the stories that have made Rotman Commerce what it is today and will shape where we are going tomorrow. Check back often as we share our stories through this year of celebration.
Reflecting on the legacy of Leonard Braithwaite
Leonard Braithwaite, BCom '50, has made significant contributions to Canada, leaving behind a legacy of inspiration for aspiring leaders.
A decades-long investment in student scholarship
Since the early days, the Rotman Commerce community has made accessibility to a world-class education an utmost priority.
Share your memories
An early example of "computer dating"
“My wife, Judy, and I were enrolled in Commerce and Finance, Class of 7T2. One of our courses was computer science. The language we were being taught was Fortran. In those days the computer that everyone used was located in the Engineering Building. The computer took up half the building and was operated by a staff of students. Input was by punch cards. There were several punch card machines in the Engineering Building but demand exceeded availability. So we would punch our cards and run our programmes around 11:00 PM in the evening. Then Judy and I would walk home to Bloor Street. That’s when we became a couple. So I believe we were one of the first examples of computer dating.”
Donald Orr, BCom ’72
I was able to share and assist
“As a 2021 graduate of Rotman Commerce, my journey has been about translating classroom knowledge into tangible actions in finance. This commitment drives my work at RBC Capital Markets and led me to co-found ATG Alternative Investments Inc., manifesting my passion for creating innovative financial opportunities.
A highlight of my university career was serving as a keynote speaker at a University of Toronto Business Association event. I was privileged to share my insights and experiences as an intern at RBC Capital Markets and also the journey of starting ATG. This engagement with the student community, particularly in guiding first-year students, was an enriching experience that underscored the importance of mentorship and leadership in my path.”
Sourabh, BCom ’21
All-nighter at Robarts
“In my first year, a couple of friends and I pulled an all-nighter at Robarts to prepare for a dreaded RSM230 midterm. Complete with pizza and caffeine, we spent the next nine hours revising. Despite the lingering back pain and delirium, we made our way to the exam centre, and this remains one of my favourite memories at Rotman Commerce. We were all in it together.”
Martina Mercado Such, BCom ’23
Happy 100, RC!
Rotman was the place where my professional and personal change started! From hustling through online classes to being back on campus and attending classes with masks on post-Covid, one thing I will always cherish is how perseverant everyone was. Looking back, my favorite memory will be the grind. There is an implicit understanding between RC students that we are in for a rollercoaster, but everyone is keen to be on the ride. Honestly, that’s what I liked.
I have worked on projects and assignments till 2 in the morning and wondered Why me?, but all made sense when I turned my tassel in Con Hall last summer. All of it was possible because of the connection I had with my profs and friends. Let it be the corridor talks, office hours, or 10 min breaks with professors or hitting cafes, or doing activities with friends, everything had its own joy.
Happy 100, RC!
Nitya Gupta, BCom ’21
Friendships and experiences I've gained will last a lifetime
As an international student, I arrived at Rotman Commerce feeling alone and uncertain. But over the course of four years, I made countless friends and memories that will stay with me forever. One particularly valuable experience was my time as a lab assistant at the Finance Lab and the volunteering experience at Rotman International Trading Competition. It was an incredible opportunity to meet students from all over the world who shared my passion for finance. Through the long days and sleepless nights, I worked alongside my fellow volunteers and lab assistants and developed new friendships. Thanks to Rotman Commerce, I was able to explore my interests and passions in a supportive and engaging environment, and I now have the skills and experience to pursue my dream career. Looking back on my time at Rotman, I feel grateful and proud to have been part of such an incredible community, and I know that the friendships and experiences I’ve gained will last a lifetime.
Crystal Lou, BCom ’17
What about you?
All-night study sesh? The game you never thought you’d win? That time when you got your first internship?
Share your memories of Rotman Commerce! Whether you’re an 8T5 or a 2T5, tell us about your favourite experience, class, professor, spot on campus, moment from a student group or any special recollection.
Our History
Explore highlights from our history and learn how Rotman Commerce got its start, evolved to keep pace with society’s changes and transformed into what it is today.
William Ashley (later to become Sir William Ashley) is appointed the University’s first Professor of Political Economy and Constitutional History, a move that indicated the institution’s burgeoning interest in teaching economics and finance.
William Ashley (courtesy University of Birmingham)
James Mavor, William Ashley's successor, introduces the first formal post-secondary recognition of commerce at U of T, creating a two-year diploma course in the subject at the request of the Toronto Board of Trade and the Canadian Manufacturer’s Association.
James Mavor (courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The Bachelor of Commerce degree is established and 25 students enroll. The program falls under both the Faculty of Arts and the Department of Political Economy.
The Varsity article, 1920 (courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The program’s first home is Baldwin House (now known as Cumberland House) on 33 St. George Street. Baldwin House was home to the Political Economy Department and all Commerce classes and Commerce Club activities were held in this building.
The Political Economy faculty in front of Baldwin House, 1933
(courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The Commerce Club is formed as the official representative organization of the new course in Commerce. Over the next five decades, the Commerce Club plays a central role in Commerce student life, but it wasn’t until 1957 that women were admitted as members.
The first Commerce Club, 1920 (courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
On June 6, 1924, the first University of Toronto students to earn Bachelor of Commerce degrees receive their diplomas at Convocation Hall – seven graduates in total (six men and one woman).
1924 class composite (courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
Gilbert Jackson (pictured front row, second from the left) becomes the first Director of the Commerce & Finance course. Jackson later served as the first economist for the Bank of Nova Scotia, before becoming Advisor to the Governors of the Bank of England.
Commerce Club executive members, 1930 (courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The American stock market crash signals the beginning of the Great Depression in Canada. The impacts of the economic slump are felt by educational institutions across the nation, including the Commerce program. The depression also had a significant impact on student life, with many student organizations scaling back on the number and size of campus events.
The Varsity article, 1933 (courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
Ten years after the male-exclusive Commerce Club was introduced, women in the program, wanting to have the same opportunities as their male colleagues, form the Women’s Commerce Club.
Members of the Women's Commerce Club, 1934
(courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The Commerce Club publishes its first issue of the Commerce Journal during the height of the Great Depression.
First edition of the Commerce Journal
(courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The Commerce program outgrows Baldwin House and moves to the Economics Building at 273 Bloor St. West (now the Royal Conservatory of Music).
The Economics Building, 1953
(courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
WWII has a significant impact on the Commerce program, as many faculty, staff and students temporarily leave the University to enlist. Many Commerce program staff and faculty work hard to support Commerce students serving in the army overseas.
In this 1945 letter addressed to a Commerce student serving in the army, Charles Allan Ashley offers to write a letter to their Commanding Officer to ensure that the student can return to their studies in time for the beginning of the semester. (courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The Commerce Club partners with the Law Club to host the first annual Bar and Business Ball at Casa Loma, marking the first dance to be held as a co-operative venture between two different programs at the University of Toronto.
Commerce Club Bar and Business Ball, 1945
(courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The Commerce Club begins organizing an exchange program between the University of Toronto and the University of Michigan.
In 1960, Commerce Club members were flown down to Ann Arbor in a private plane by the heir of Henry Ford.
(courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The program moves from the Economics Building to the newly built Sidney Smith Hall.
Sidney Smith Hall, 1962 (courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The Commerce Students’ Association holds its first FACS Day, an event for students to learn more about career opportunities in accounting, finance and marketing while meeting with representatives from major firms and companies across Canada. The CSA, and later the Rotman Commerce Accounting Society, continued to hold FACS Day through to the mid-2000s.
FACS Day, 1996
ComGroup Consultants is launched at the University of Toronto with the help of Professor George Leonidas, then director of the Commerce program. Though a university-wide organization, the firm also gave Commerce students the opportunity to gain valuable experience while providing consulting services to the small business community. The firm served as a precursor to the present-day consulting group Consult for Impact.
Kevin Casey, a fourth year Commerce student, at work for ComGroup Consultants in 1986 (courtesy University of Toronto Archives)
The program moves from Sidney Smith Hall to the Joseph L. Rotman Centre for Management.
Rotman School of Management (courtesy Rotman School of Management)
Commerce students may now choose to graduate with the Commerce program or with their college. The graduation regalia for Commerce is assigned its own hood colour of orange and white - the colours of both the Faculty of Arts & Science and the Faculty of Management.
Rotman Commerce regalia on display at the 2022 convocation
Queers in Commerce is established as the first equity-related group in the Commerce program. It was rebranded in 2008 as Queers in Rotman Commerce and again in 2011 as the Rotman Commerce Pride Alliance (RCPA).
Members of RCPA at the 2018 Toronto Pride Parade
(courtesy RCPA Facebook page)
The Commerce program secures space for its Career Centre on the lower level of Woodsworth College at 321 Bloor Street. Two years later, the rest of the program’s administration also relocates to the main floor of Woodsworth College residence and completely vacates its space at the Rotman School of Management.
The Commerce program announces its new name – Rotman Commerce – thanks to a $2.5 million gift from Sandra and Joseph L. Rotman.
Joseph Rotman (courtesy Rotman School of Management)
Rotman Commerce works with Woodsworth College to transform the former “drill hall” at 119 St. George St. to a common events and study area known as Kruger Hall.
Rotman Commerce students in Kruger Hall, 2023
Rotman Commerce Women in Business (RCWIB) is founded to assist the professional and personal development of Rotman Commerce students and promote initiatives and opportunities for women in business.
The first RCWIB executive team, 2009 (courtesy RCWIB Facebook page)
The Honourable Michael Wilson (BCom ’59), former Canadian ambassador to the United States and federal Minister of Finance, becomes U of T’s 33rd chancellor.
The Honourable Michael Wilson
(courtesy Univeristy of Toronto Office of the Chancellor)
The Rotman Commerce House System is established to foster a greater sense of community. Students are randomly assigned to one of five houses – Bedford, Devonshire, Galbraith, Harbord or Madison.
Rotman Commerce House Captains, 2023
The inaugural Launch Your Big Idea (LYBI) student pitch competition is held. Supporting budding entrepreneurs in gaining the necessary training and resources to prepare for startup success, the program offers a chance to pitch an idea and win seed funding. Several alumni of the program have gone on to launch successful start-ups.
LYBI, 2023 (courtesy Rotman Commerce Entrepreneurship Organization & Rotman Commerce Sales Group )
The inaugural Black Career Conference (BCC), the first of its kind at U of T, is spearheaded by a group of Rotman Commerce students. The BCC, now organized by Black Rotman Commerce, brings together hundreds of Black students, graduates and entrepreneurs to learn from industry professionals and each other.
Black Career Conference, 2023
Professor Susan Christoffersen is appointed Dean of the Rotman School of Management. Alongside Professor Melanie Woodin, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, this marks the first time in the Rotman Commerce’s history that we are led by two female deans.
Melanie Woodin (left) & Susan Christoffersen (right)
Our Community
Each month, join us as we celebrate some of the many individuals who have shaped Rotman Commerce into what it is today.
Our Community
Click on the images to read this month's reflections from our community.
“Creating lifelong learners, who aren’t afraid to try something out of their element!”
Founder, BABAYEV Quant Startup Company
“Rotman Commerce program is ideal for individuals who want to lead, conquer, and simply break through the industry ceilings with innovation.”
Assistant Professor of Marketing, Teaching Stream
“Rotman Commerce excels at preparing graduates for jobs that continue to evolve and in many cases for jobs that don’t exist today”
President, Rotman Commerce Entrepreneurship Organization
“The RC community has provided many opportunities for me to grow as a leader!”
Daniel Jesurum Cumberbatch, BCom ’24
President, Rotman Commerce Consulting Association
“Rotman Commerce has allowed me to find a great group of people whom I call friends.”
Senior Manager, Deloitte
“Rotman Commerce has provided me with the foundational learning to start my professional career and offered me the opportunities to build long-lasting relationships…”
Articling student, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
“I am grateful for the world-class education that Rotman Commerce provides.”
President, Rotman Commerce Finance Association
“Rotman Commerce has allowed me to truly pursue what I am interested in…”
President, Rotman Commerce Marketing Association
“It is the people of Rotman Commerce who have left the most profound impact on my undergraduate journey.”
Accounting and Reporting Advisory Manager, Deloitte
“The friendships and people I met at Rotman Commerce greatly assisted me not only throughout my time at the University of Toronto, but also at the workplace.”
Founder, Robin Taub Financial Consulting
“Rotman Commerce gave me the educational foundation to…become an author and speaker focusing on financial literacy for the next generation.”
Director of Finance, Process and Controls, Bell Canada
“Rotman Commerce has positioned itself at the forefront of Canadian and global business…”
Our Future
A new home welcomes a new era for Rotman Commerce
As we continue to grow and welcome the best and brightest into our program each year, one critical gap remains: a physical home for our community to call its own.
For the first time in our hundred-year history, we will soon have a dedicated space on the University of Toronto’s St. George campus. This signifies a transformative moment in our growth: the creation of a central meeting place that brings together our diverse community of learners and leaders under one roof that will engender spontaneous discussions, cross-disciplinary interactions and a shared sense of purpose vital to nurturing camaraderie and collaboration.
This new multistorey structure will be situated beside the Goldring Centre on Devonshire near the Rotman School of Management. Classrooms, student activity spaces (including study rooms, social lounges, designated areas for student clubs and spaces for silent reflection), support units such as Academic and Career Services, Student Life and the Centre for Professional Skills, a large event space, a café on the ground floor and more will be housed in this state-of-the-art building.
With an open concept, warm wood tones and natural light throughout, our new space will serve as an inclusive, inspiring and inviting meeting ground that brings our community together for generations to come.
To our students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and friends – we look forward to welcoming you home.
Events
Reunite at Rotman x 100 Years of Rotman Commerce
Thank you to all who joined us for the special Rotman Commerce 100th anniversary lunch at Reunite at Rotman!
Event Date: September 29, 2023
Centenary Reciprocity Ring
This interactive exercise brought together alumni and current students to experience the power of our network and the rewards of paying it forward.
Event Date: March 2, 2024, 9am to 12pm
Rotman Commerce Centenary Soirée
A historic evening celebrating Rotman Commerce's past, present and future.
Event Date: May 28, 2024
Hong Kong Centenary Reception
We are thrilled to be returning to Hong Kong this fall to engage with our vibrant community of alumni and friends. U of T alumni across the Rotman Commerce and Rotman School of Man
Event Date: October 17, 2024
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