Cornwall, ON: A permanent plaque will honour Monsignor Rudolph Villeneuve, or Father Rudy as he was affectionately known.  A dedication ceremony will take place on Tuesday, January 13 at 4 PM at St. Lawrence College’s Cornwall campus to unveil a plaque in the Aultsville Hall foyer honouring the lifelong contributions of Monsignor Rudolph Villeneuve.

The beloved man was a lifelong learner who earned a Master’s degree and two PhD degrees in Social Work and Theology and wrote 20 books. In 1972, Father Villeneuve was the first recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award in Cornwall and in 1996 he was bestowed with the same honour in Lancaster. Father Villeneuve served as a board member and chair with both the SDG Public Board of Education and the St. Lawrence College Board of Governors. He also served on other local boards including the Children’s Aid Society, United Way, Family Counseling Centre, Laurencrest, and the Canadian Red Cross.  In 1977, Monsignor Villeneuve played a key role in helping St. Lawrence College secure provincial funding for the construction of Aultsville Hall, including Aultsville Theatre. He was a community leader who dedicated a lifetime to community building and was particularly devoted to developing local educational pathways so residents could access post-secondary opportunities that would better themselves, their families and their community.

“We are pleased to see that someone who prided himself on helping students achieve post-secondary education and a former Board of Governors Chair will be recognized at St. Lawrence College, for his generous contributions” said Glenn Vollebregt, President and CEO of St. Lawrence College.

The Foundation through proceeds from the Benson Charity Classic Golf Tournament invested in the revitalization of the Cornwall Campus of St. Lawrence College to further reinforce Father Villeneuve’s vision of strengthening the community by making post-secondary education more accessible.