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If you’ve ever grabbed lunch in the food court, attended a club event in the Gallery, or caught a show at West Gate Social, you’ve been part of a legacy that started more than sixty years ago with one simple idea; students should have a space to call their own.

Back in 1963, nearly 50 years before it became a university, Mount Royal College (MRC) students didn’t have that. At this time, Mount Royal College was located in the downtown core of Calgary.

The Student Council met wherever it could, relying on generosity from the college administration for space, funding, and even permission to operate.

That changed when a young business instructor named Robert Wyckham joined their retreat in Banff; and listened to their frustrations.

“During the retreat, I suggested a way of raising money from the student body on an annual basis which would free the Council to operate in a more independent manner,” Wyckham recounted.

At the time, an idea like this was relatively unheard of, but it paid off.

Within two years, Council members had raised enough to buy a small house just up the street from the downtown campus. They called it Wyckham House, in honour of the instructor who helped them take that first step toward autonomy.

“I didn’t think I deserved such an honour, but I was thrilled to be asked,” Wyckham wrote.

Continued Growth of Wyckham House as Enrollment Rates Sore

Over the next couple of decades, MRC experienced a sharp rise in student enrollment rates.

To accommodate this increase, Mount Royal moved to its current Lincoln Park campus in 1972; students ensured Wyckham House came with it, not just in name, but in spirit.

Dr. Wyckham returned for the sod-turning of the new Wyckham House in 1984 and again for its 10th, 20th and 30th anniversary celebrations. By this time, the Student Council had outgrown a simple house, requiring an entire building for meetings, events and student centres.

The 10th anniversary celebration stands out as a truly special day for Wyckham House.

With former Premier Ralph Klein present, the next stage of development for Wyckham House was announced.

“The building seems always to be a work in progress,” Wyckham wrote regarding the space that keeps evolving with each generation of students.

The Past, Present and Future

Dr. Wyckham went on to earn his Ph.D. from Michigan State University and became a professor of marketing at Simon Fraser University.

His teaching and research have had a profound impact on many students over the years. Yet his early contribution here at Mount Royal remains one of his most enduring legacies: empowering students to manage their own affairs and create their own community.

“Each time I wear the 10^th anniversary commemorative t-shirt, I recall the energy and commitment of the students who manage the affairs of Wyckham House,” Wyckham wrote.

That independent spirit continues to guide the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University (SAMRU) today. As outlined in SAMRU’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, one of the Association’s core goals is to make the Wyckham House Student Centre an indispensable part of campus life; a place where every student feels connected, supported, and empowered.

So next time you walk through Wyckham House, whether it’s for a meal, a club meeting, an event, or just a break between classes, take a moment to think of the student leaders and the professor who started it all.

Their vision lives on in every conversation, every idea, and every friendship formed within these walls.