Gamma Lambda chapter of Sigma Chi was founded on January 29, 1927 at McGill University,  an English-language university located in Montreal, Quebec founded in 1821.

The installation committee consisted of Grand Consul Roy T. Osborn, Alex A. Sharp, Secretary of the Executive Committee, and Frank H. Saunders, Grand Praetor of the Second Province. Gamma Lambda became Sigma Chi’s 87^th chapter and Canada’s second chapter.

At the time of its founding there were about 20 fraternities at McGill. Today, although the number of fraternities at McGill has dropped to fewer than 10, and our Active chapter numbers have fluctuated over the decades, there is a vibrant and engaged group of Actives.

Gamma Lambda of Sigma Chi has maintained a presence on the McGill campus in a few locations. The original chapter house was on McTavish Street. Demolished to make room for the McGill Student Union building (completed in 1965), it was relocated to a sumptuous house on Peel Street, complete with dumb waiters and an enormous moose head on the dining room wall. The house had previously belonged to the Morgan family, of the eponymous department store chain absorbed by the Hudson’s Bay Co in 1960. In 1973, Gamma Lambda was again relocated to its present location at 3581 University Avenue, just across the street from the Rutherford Physics building, after the house was purchased from the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Ranked 27^th worldwide by QS Rankings in 2022, McGill offers degrees and diplomas in over 300 fields of study, attracting top students from around the world. Current brothers reflect this diversity, hailing from all four corners of the earth.

The majority of Gamma Lambda Actives are enrolled in the five largest faculties, namely Arts,  Science, Medicine, Education, Engineering and Management. The Gamma Lambda Foundation Inc (GLFI or “House Corp”) is comprised of graduates of these programs, who put their top-tier education and many years of professional experience to good use for the betterment of the Active Chapter.

Regretfully, and over the past few decades, the state of the house has fallen below standards which must be addressed collectively by the Active Chapter and by Gamma Lambda Alumni. Your House Corp, in partnership with the Gamma Lambda Fundraising Committee (GLFC), is working hard to correct this.

Since its founding, over 1000 brothers have passed through Gamma Lambda’s doors, with many notable brothers receiving the Order of Constantine, and Significant Sig awards.

Brothers John Henderson (1984), Norm Halford (1998), and Remigio Mariano (2013) received the Fraternity’s highest award – The Order of Constantine.

Brothers Robert Shaw (1969), Allison Walsh (1973), Keith MacLellan (1979), Thomas Caldwell (2009), John Kellett (2010), William Hutchison (2022), David Claxton (2022) and Eric Boyko (2023) have been named Significant Sigs.

Brother Marc Perrault was awarded the Seven Lights Award in 2022.

And most recently, Brother Jim Sadler was awarded the honour in 2023. See the Jim Sadler Seven Lights button on the Alumni page for photos.