T-Room
Encyclopedia
The T-Room is located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia on Barrington Street between Spring Garden Road and Morris Street. It was opened in 1937 by Fredrick T. Sexton on the campus of the Nova Scotia Technical College, which is today the Sexton Campus of Dalhousie University
. Dr. Sexton served as the first principal, and later president, of NSTC from 1907 to 1947.
nights as they were then known, were a local favorite and still take place at the venue every Friday night to this day.
Circa 1980, NSTC became the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS). The provincial government forced TUNS to amalgamate
with Dalhousie University
in April 1997. For several years the former TUNS faculties formed a college called Dalhousie University Polytechnic (nicknamed DalTech) but in 2001 the college structure was dissolved and the faculties simply became part of Dalhousie University.
Today, the TUNS campus is known as the Sexton Campus of Dalhousie University. It includes the T-Room, the Faculty of Engineering
and the Faculty of Architecture
and Planning
. The TUNS School of Computer Science was merged with Dalhousie's after the 1997 amalgamation to become the Faculty of Computer Science
. Computer Science moved into a new building on the Studley Campus in 1999.
, a common name in ancient Rome. Other sources sight the T as standing for Truth or Trivia, to name a few, but the origins remain unconfirmed. Or maybe just T for "tech."
. Following this, The Coast published a second article mentioning the "renowned T-Room trivia" as well as its "die-hard fans", the T-Room Nation. The outcry also resulted in a brand new category for "Best Trivia Night" being added to the publication's annual "Best of Halifax Reader's Poll." This category has been won by the T-Room each year since its creation.
and harness the popularity of the Jägerbomb
, the bar's liquor manager introduced the Rev-Bomb. This drink combines Rev
and Jägermeister
and quickly gained popularity. The drink soon earned the nickname the "Halifax Explosion
" for its explosive rise in popularity and devastating taste.
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. Dr. Sexton served as the first principal, and later president, of NSTC from 1907 to 1947.
History
From its inception the T-Room was a popular hang out for Engineering students, as well as those attending neighbouring Dalhousie University. Trivia nights, or Pub QuizPub quiz
A pub quiz is a quiz held in a public house. These events are also called Quiz Nights or Trivia Nights and may be held in other settings. Pub quizzes are still extremely popular and may attract people to a pub who are not found there on other days. The pub quiz is a modern example of a pub game...
nights as they were then known, were a local favorite and still take place at the venue every Friday night to this day.
Circa 1980, NSTC became the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS). The provincial government forced TUNS to amalgamate
Consolidation (business)
Consolidation or amalgamation is the act of merging many things into one. In business, it often refers to the mergers and acquisitions of many smaller companies into much larger ones. In the context of financial accounting, consolidation refers to the aggregation of financial statements of a group...
with Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in April 1997. For several years the former TUNS faculties formed a college called Dalhousie University Polytechnic (nicknamed DalTech) but in 2001 the college structure was dissolved and the faculties simply became part of Dalhousie University.
Today, the TUNS campus is known as the Sexton Campus of Dalhousie University. It includes the T-Room, the Faculty of Engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and the Faculty of Architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and Planning
Planning
Planning in organizations and public policy is both the organizational process of creating and maintaining a plan; and the psychological process of thinking about the activities required to create a desired goal on some scale. As such, it is a fundamental property of intelligent behavior...
. The TUNS School of Computer Science was merged with Dalhousie's after the 1997 amalgamation to become the Faculty of Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
. Computer Science moved into a new building on the Studley Campus in 1999.
The name
It is commonly believed that the bar is named for its shape, but this is unlikely as it is actually closer in shape to a letter "L". It is more likely that the T-Room is named for Frederick T. Sexton himself, whose middle name was TiberiusTiberius (praenomen)
Tiberius is a Latin praenomen, or personal name, which was used throughout Roman history. Although not especially common, it was used by both patrician and plebeian families. The feminine form is Tiberia. The name is usually abbreviated Ti., but occasionally Tib.For most of Roman history, Tiberius...
, a common name in ancient Rome. Other sources sight the T as standing for Truth or Trivia, to name a few, but the origins remain unconfirmed. Or maybe just T for "tech."
Trivia and the T-Room Nation
Trivia at the T-Room originated every Friday starting in 2002. A student from PEI, where pub quizzes are very popular, spoke with the T-Room management and they agreed to start trivia to aid in Friday night sales. In 2004, due to the graduation of long-time trivia host Brent Desroches, trivia was handed off to a 3rd year student who had expressed interest. Brennan McVeigh hosted trivia during his time on campus. Because of the alternating schedule of co-op students a new host was required every four months. McVeigh would always return to host during his academic terms. In 2009, fans of trivia caused a public outcry when the weekly event was left off of a "Top Quiz and Trivia Nights" list published by local newspaper The CoastThe Coast
The Coast is a free weekly newspaper in Halifax Regional Municipality, Canada. The paper distributes 24,000 copies per week throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality. The paper is owned by Coast Publishing Limited....
. Following this, The Coast published a second article mentioning the "renowned T-Room trivia" as well as its "die-hard fans", the T-Room Nation. The outcry also resulted in a brand new category for "Best Trivia Night" being added to the publication's annual "Best of Halifax Reader's Poll." This category has been won by the T-Room each year since its creation.
The Rev-Bomb
In September 2009, in an effort to deplete their stock of RevRev (drink)
Rev is a 7% ABV vodka-based cola beverage , infused with guarana. Rev is manufactured by FBM Distilleries in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and distributed exclusively within the country under license from Bacardi. It is currently available in blue only. Purple, red, and green have been discontinued...
and harness the popularity of the Jägerbomb
Jägerbomb
The Jägerbomb is a bomb shot cocktail that is mixed by dropping a shot of Jägermeister into a glass of Red Bull or other energy drinks.In German-speaking countries, it is called a "Turbojäger" or a "Flying Hirsch" — where "Flying" is derived from the slogan "Red Bull gives you wings" and "Hirsch"...
, the bar's liquor manager introduced the Rev-Bomb. This drink combines Rev
Rev (drink)
Rev is a 7% ABV vodka-based cola beverage , infused with guarana. Rev is manufactured by FBM Distilleries in Brampton, Ontario, Canada and distributed exclusively within the country under license from Bacardi. It is currently available in blue only. Purple, red, and green have been discontinued...
and Jägermeister
Jägermeister
Jägermeister is a German 70-proof digestif made with 56 different herbs and spices. It is the flagship product of Mast-Jägermeister SE, headquartered in Wolfenbüttel, south of Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany.- History :...
and quickly gained popularity. The drink soon earned the nickname the "Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
" for its explosive rise in popularity and devastating taste.