What Living Trinity means to me
What an exciting time to be at Trinity!
Fall on campus is always a flurry of activity, punctuated by memorable moments—especially Matriculation Convocation, when we welcome our incoming class. The enthusiasm of our newest students is contagious: It inspires me and it reminds me of the responsibility we have to challenge, nurture and support each of these incredible people during their short time with us.
Because I am fortunate to also spend a great deal of time with many of Trinity’s incredible alumni, I know the kind of thought leaders and change-makers the class of 2023 will be. For so many of our graduates, their time at Trinity is not simply a chapter in the rear-view mirror. They maintain lifelong connections with the College— through lasting friendships and ongoing support. Our Inaugural Pearson-Sabia Distinguished Visitor is a lovely example. Dr. Rosemary McCarney ’74, recently honoured at Matriculation and just stepping down as Canada’s Ambassador to the UN, will spend a term here at the College teaching in our programs, mentoring students and writing. This is all thanks to the generosity of Hilary Pearson ’77 and Michael Sabia ’76 who enabled us to create this wonderful new Distinguished Visitor Program to enrich the student experience by bringing in experts from a wide array of fields.
The Friends of the Library Annual Book Sale is another example. It is an organizational wonder, thanks to a tireless team of alumni and volunteers. That first glimpse of thousands of books on opening day—so thoughtfully donated, collected and organized over many months—is always thrilling. And knowing that the money raised is supporting our John W. Graham Library always gives me an excuse to shop a little bit more…
And now there is a whole new level of excitement buzzing on campus as the plans for our new building take shape. On the heels of choosing our architectural team, Mecanoo Architecten from the Netherlands in partnership with Toronto firm RDH Architects Inc. this summer, we shifted into an intense period of needs assessment, campus exploration, and consultation with members of the Trinity community. We are moving toward a building design that will not only meet our ur- gent needs for living and learning spac- es, but will also give us great scope to integrate sustainability innovations and create a more accessible, united campus that nurtures the Trinity community.
The concept of nurturing community is one that is deeply valued by Brian ’82 and Joannah Lawson. They have long been active community members, and believe so strongly in the College’s commitment to sustainability and the vision for our new building that they have given $10 million to help make it a reality. We are honoured by their incredible support, and excited to work with them on our Integrated Sustainability Initiative, which will make sustainability a part of daily life at Trinity, and position our College as a leader in addressing our planet’s greatest challenge. Please read more about the Lawsons on page 12.
We are equally grateful for the significant gifts pledged by alumni Jack Whiteside and Nevil Thomas. Both have long supported our students and continue to share their wisdom with us as we map out the next chapter for Trinity College.You will hear more about them and other supporters in the days ahead.
To me, Living Trinity captures the full range of what it means to be part of this community—the excitement of discovery, the intensity of challenge, the thrill of achievement, the comfort of connection, the satisfaction of contributing and making a real difference. It is about shared values and experiences, the best of which are yet to come.
There is no place I’d rather be.
Until next time,
Mayo Moran
Provost
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