Celebrating 50 Years: Bermuda Shorts Day at the University of Calgary

Popular fashion in the 1960s included bell bottoms, turtlenecks, tie-dyed T-shirts, and mini-skirts, but few people would have predicted that a popular 1960s fashion trend at the University of Calgary would include Bermuda shorts. The archivists dug into the vault for the backstory on Bermuda Shorts Day, a student-led celebration of the end of the school year. This year's edition takes place Wednesday.

The message scrawled on the blackboard read: “Tomorrow is Bermuda Shorts Day. Everyone wear Bermuda shorts."  

Alan Arthur, the freshman student credited with starting the University of Calgary's year-end tradition in 1960, was apparently trying to reduce the stigma of men wearing shorts in public, show off his own flowered attire, and find a suitable way to celebrate the end of classes. The idea was a light-hearted way to alleviate the pressure of the academic year before heading into exams. The early days saw students take part in playing marbles between classes, challenging the president to a pie-throwing contest or relaxing on the lawn wearing their finery.

Arthur graduated to become a distinguished history professor at Brock University and Bermuda Shorts Day (BSD) graduated to become the well-known custom it has become on campus. 

Over the years, it has included barbecues, pancake breakfasts, beach volleyball and tug-of-wars, obstacle course challenges, opportunities to volunteer in the community, and live entertainment and concerts. Although sometimes the weather does not co-operate and instead sends snow or rain, BSD is still a time to celebrate the last day of classes and also the friendships and camaraderie that made a demanding semester that much easier.

Take a look back with us at the early years of BSD.

This slideshow includes just a few of the many archival photos that Archives staff have produced to build the 50th Anniversary digital collection.