Living & Design
You spoke at the WorldPride media launch last month and got choked up. What is your personal connection to Pride? When I started at TD Bank 12 years ago, I was one of those classic in-the-closet Bay Street guys. To see how far TD and the community has come, I’m struck by my personal journey, but also the organization I work for’s, and the city’s over the past 10 years. Corporate sponsorship divides some people. Some LGBT communities think corporate logos have no place at Pride. What’s your take on that? I think we’ve been very sensitive to the fact that Pride is a festival to celebrate but it’s also the result of a protest movement. There are still lots of issues (which is why we’re also sponsoring the WorldPride human rights conference). I think those who are critical of corporate sponsorship have a right to insist that corporations aren’t just there to chase the pink dollar over Pride weekend. We have
→ condo and/or art gallery Mullin wanted a place that had plenty of space to house his art collected from all over the world, including Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
a demonstrated track record of our policies. Corporations need to pass the test and I certainly think we pass the test. If the community is really going to become accepted it needs to be part of the Bay Street mentality just as much as the Church Street mentality. You used to live near Church Street. Now you live here in a sprawling penthouse pad on Wellington Street. How did you wind up here? I used to live near The Village on Earl Street and I was either going to renovate or move with the intention of never moving again. I’ve lived here for two years now and I bought it off plan. I wanted outdoor space [the terrace is 800 square feet], which is hard to find. I didn’t want all glass walls because I collect art and I wanted a place to hang things. I also wanted to be within walking distance of work. Toronto traffic has reached a point where I feel like I’m living in Bangkok. Your space has everything from tribal sculptures to modern art. How would you describe your aesthetic? It’s eclectic. I lived in Asia for eight years. I’ve also lived in Africa and the Middle East. I used to be in foreign affairs before joining the banking world. The temple on my terrace is from Ubud, Bali. People think it’s really exotic, but it’s basically your Canadian Tire temple because every house in Bali has one. I got the Ming cabinets in Hong Kong and I think they fit comfortably with the modern furniture. I’m pretty simple. I’m not a Victorian. What is your message, on behalf of TD Bank, to everyone attending WorldPride? Let’s celebrate what we’ve accomplished in Toronto. Let’s also remember there’s still lots of places with lots of issues, whether we’re talking about Russia, Uganda or the Caribbean. We take a lot for granted and we have work to do across our own country too. But let’s also have a big party.
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