Sir George Williams University College, named after George Williams, founder of the original YMCA in London, upon which the Montreal YMCA was based. In 1934, Sir George Williams College offered the first undergraduate credit course in adult education in Canada. The Sir George Williams College became Sir George Williams University (SGWU) in 1948, when it received a university charter from the provincial government, though it remained the education arm of the Montreal YMCA. SGWU expanded into its first standalone building, the Norris Building, in 1956. It established a Centre for Human Relations and Community Studies in 1963. SGWU continued to hold classes in the
George Williams (British politician) George Williams (British politician) Lieutenant-Colonel George Williams (1765 – 19 December 1850) was a British army officer and Liberal politician. Although Williams was of Welsh descent, he was born in St Johns, Newfoundland, where his father was lord chief justice of the province. When General John Burgoyne launched the Saratoga Campaign in 1777, Williams joined the army as a twelve-year-old volunteer. He was granted a commission as an ensign in the 62nd Regiment of Foot, replacing an officer mortally wounded at the Battle of Freeman's Farm. He was briefly a prisoner of war before returning with his regiment to England.