As we formally welcomed our incoming students at Matriculation Convocation a few short weeks ago, I found myself once again filled with excitement about what lies ahead for these exceptional young people. They are at the beginning of their Trinity journey—a journey that truly lasts a lifetime.
The strength of the Trinity bond is so evident in our alumni and friends, who are such an incredibly generous and loyal group. Our donor report details some of the impacts of that generosity—more than $8 million dollars raised and 878 students supported through awards and bursaries last year alone! We are so grateful to Trinity’s donors, who are making it possible for us to continue to improve and expand the programs and services we offer our students, while maintaining and enhancing the physical spaces we live and learn in and attracting the most talented minds from around the world.
We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to our amazing volunteers. Fresh in my mind is the 43rd annual Friends of the Library Book Sale, which was once again a great success. Besides raising significant funds every year to support the John W. Graham Library, this sale is a massive organizational feat. Dozens of volunteers—many of the original crew from 1975 still among them—work on each year’s sale. By the time you and I are perusing the books—in 70 categories!—in Strachan Hall each October, they’ve spent nearly 10 months picking up donations and storing, categorizing, moving, organizing, and shelving thousands of titles. The book sale is an event that has more than earned its legendary status, and the people who make it happen each year are unsung heroes.
To everyone who gives to Trinity College—through donations, through volunteerism, through your active participation on our boards and committees, thank you. We couldn’t do this without you.
I am grateful that our alumni continue to care so passionately about their College. It was heartening to speak with so many of you at our two fall alumni forums, and to hear your thoughts about our campus revitalization strategy. We are continuing to shape the details of our plan and will keep you informed of our progress. If you were unable to attend one of the forums and would like to share your thoughts, please write to futurecampus@trinity.utoronto.ca.
Like many of you, I am inspired by Trinity’s architecture, and I enjoyed learning more about our charming corbels and carvings in this issue’s feature “The Beauty Above Us”. I’m also thrilled to see the improvements happening down the hall from my office as our new Student Services Centre takes shape. One of the exciting things about renovation is the opportunity to restore original features, like the fireplace discovered behind a wall, or the original ceiling buried under three others. This integrated centre will not only make it easier for our students to access the supports they need to succeed, it will also do so in a light-filled space that is designed to highlight the beauty of the College’s historic architecture.
Those students, by the way, are choosing Trinity in record numbers: Thousands of people applied for just over 400 spots this year. And we had a 45 per cent increase in the number of students reapplying to live on campus. Those numbers help to confirm that we’re on the right track when it comes to what we offer—and that we need to do more to continually enhance our vibrant student community. Thank you again for the part you are playing in helping to make that happen.
Until next time,
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