Cannon circa 1999

[Cross-posted from The Cannon Newspaper's January feature to reach a wider audience]

The year is 1929. It is a calm and quiet evening on the picturesque University of Toronto campus. Students could be seen relaxing at the then 10-year-old Hart House, the central community hub built for students of all faculties and colleges alike.

Suddenly, a loud thundering boom rocked the foundations of the building. Was it a bomb? Are we under attack? Is the war returning? These thoughts raced through the minds of surrounding students, caught unaware by the apparent explosion, as they searched simultaneously for cover and the source of the outburst.

Outside, a flurry of cheers and applause erupted amidst a plume of smoke near the front doors of the building. The Engineers had pulled it off. The commemorative cannons in front of Hart House, long left disused and neglected, had been loaded and fired. The campus was rocked by the sounds of a mighty boom never before heard, and the gauntlet was thrown. A new era had arrived, heralded by the mighty boom and celebratory cheers of the Engineers.

It has been 80 years since this first 'kaboom' were heard on campus. Since this infamous night, numerous cannons have been forged, fired, captured, liberated, and retired by our predecessors. The rich history and prestige of the Mighty Skule(TM) Cannon is unmatched by any other mascot in the country. As we celebrate eight decades of earth shattering kabooms, we look back at the Cannon's proud history, including its darkest days of brawls and thefts.

By the early 1930s, a small portable 'cannon' had been constructed using metal pipes and tubing. This was brought to numerous events and fired to the amusement of all involved. Eventually, it was decided that a heftier, sturdier, and more permanent cannon was required as our official mascot. In 1936, the official Cannon Mark I was constructed by an engineering machinist, using axle stock for the barrel and cast iron for the base. Alas, the Engineers had a cannon worthy of its prestige. The Mark I would continue to be in use until 1949 - which would come to be marked as the darkest year in history for the Cannon and the Engineers.

On a cold February afternoon in 1949, a massive brawl erupted during the annual Chariot Race. The brawl included members from various faculties and colleges, and resulted in the theft of the Cannon by UofT's Medical School students. The Meds were praised on the front page of The Varsity, and gloated about their success. When attempts at recapture failed, more desperate measures were taken. The Meds Society Vice President Bob Hetherington was kidnapped and held hostage during negotiations for the Cannon's return. The Cannon was finally returned on February 7, but was marred by an inscription that read: "Captured by MEDS 5T2, 3 Feb 1949".

The worst, however, was not yet over for the original beloved Cannon. In October of 1949, University College students deceived the Cannon into a fake photoshoot for The Varsity, and made off with the Cannon in a waiting car. A crafty plan was hatched out by Chief Attiliator A.J. Paul La Prairie (incidentally also the founder of the Lady Godiva Memorial Bnad). Engineers disguised as construction workers managed to remove the wooden U.C. gargoyle from the newel post by the main stairway of the U.C. building. La Prairie was summoned to meet Dean Young and President Sidney Smith, and it was agreed that the gargoyle was to be returned in exchange for the Cannon.

As the Cannon was returned by U.C., the Engineers shrewdly returned a big bag of sawdust. While U.C. was still recovering from this shock, the real gargoyle was covertly re-installed at their building.

This series of events took its toll on the Cannon Mark I. Finally, on Christmas Day, 1949, W.H. Kubbinga (a civil engineering machinist) presented the Engineering Society with the Cannon Mark II, which was larger and sturdier than its earlier counterpart. The Mark II was inaugurated at the Chariot Races the following January. In 1952, the retired Cannon Mark I was offered as a trophy for the charity Red Cross Blood Drive. The Engineers, however, lost the Blood Drive and reluctantly presented the Cannon-trophy to Forestry for winning. The trophy was later won back by the larger Engineering faculty when the rules were changed to favour total amount donated rather than percentage donated.

Seven extant versions of the Cannon

Since these early years, the Cannon has gone through numerous transformations. Seven more Cannons would be forged. Some were retired and presented to honourable members of the Faculty, and others were kept alive as a tribute to the past. Yet another was immortalized by its placement in the cornerstone of the Galbraith Building as construction on it began. Each Cannon has been a uniquely designed piece of engineering, built to incorporate our rich history, and to withstand the great explosive forces it faces each time it is showcased.

More thefts in subsequent years were attempted - some successful, and more were foiled. Nevertheless, the Cannon has never left the hands of University of Toronto students, current or former - a feat yet unmatched by other Engineering mascots - and all the more impressive given the Cannon's illustrious and lengthy history.

The Mighty Skule(TM) Cannon has clearly been an integral part of Skule(TM) life since its first appearance, and continues to appear at dozens of events each year, including football games, Homecoming, Pride Parade, weddings, and Convocation. Today, the Cannon is closely guarded by a dedicated Chief Attiliator, whose identity remains secret to all but a handful of trusted guards, the Bnad Leedur, and the President of Skule(TM) until the unveiling at Grad Ball of each year.

The Cannon is a source of pride for all Skule(TM) students. Its history permeates through our every move, and its security dependent on our trust. Its signature Earth Shattering Kaboom has rang through the hallowed and historical halls of nearly every building at the University. Yes, it is a mascot that we can truly be proud of - but it is also an integral part of our identity.

Cannon Fun Facts:

Cannon firing in the Atrium

• At least 8 cannons have been forged since the appearance of Mark I
• Cannon Mark II is embedded in the cornerstone of Galbraith Building
• Black hardhats were introduced in mourning after the Cannon was vandalized by an ex-CA in 1976
• The Chief Attiliator wears a belt made of steel chain - which was once part of the chain protecting Waterloo's Tool; A large circular ring is attached to the chain - this was cut from the Queen's Grease Pole when it, too, was liberated in 2000.
• The Cannon has shattered numerous windows in Hart House, as well as set off fire alarms in many historical buildings across Toronto.

Timeline of the Cannon from 1929