Class of 1842 welcomes Roger Warren ’51

“Pickering College gave me a good education, taught me how to live with others and got me involved in athletics and other activities.”

A conversation with Roger Warren is peppered with the words he has used to guide his life. Community. Giving. Generosity. Everyone who has the good fortune to come in contact with Warren has the pleasure of a conversation full of interesting stories and the impression that Warren has truly left the world a better place in every aspect of his life. He is fittingly being awarded the “Class of 1842” by Pickering College.

Warren has spent his life giving back— the list of organizations he has helped is long. University of Prince Edward Island, University of Guelph, McGill University and Pickering College have all benefited from his philanthropic support. The Canadian Council of Education awarded Warren with the 2021 Friend of Education Award for his lifetime of support to students, programs and institutions. He has been the recipient of multiple honourary degrees. Along with his late wife Mary, Warren set up the Rathlyn Foundation to direct their giving. Their donations have supported numerous causes including medical education and research, veterinary education, Indigenous students and persons with disabilities.

Warren has often been described as a “true philanthropist”—his support has incuded his time and talent. Warren has played a pivotal role at Pickering College over the years. He was an active student and maintained that connection as an alumnus. He was the first board member on the scene in 1981 when Rogers House suffered a devastating fire. His actions as Secretary-Treasurer helped spearhead a quick recovery, the interim “Trailer City” and prompt rebuilding of Rogers House.

Today, Warren sits on the Corporation and is an active member of the Finance Committee. He enjoys speaking directly with students, and talks honestly about his challenges. One of the highlights of his regular visits to McGill is meeting with business students in the entrepreneurship classes and also students with learning disabilities. He shares the challenges he has faced with honesty, talking not just about dyslexia, but how his competitiveness and discipline were key to his success. He also credits his international experience in New York and London in the early part of his career as being critical to learning his trade.

In speaking of his career of 60 years in investment banking, Warren humbly recounts his professional achievements, “I was lucky my career was successful, I was financially awarded accordingly and it has allowed me to be generous giving back.”

A very humble man, Roger Warren has made financial gifts quietly. “I don’t have my name in neon lights. The scholarships we started at Guelph are all the names of our dogs.”

Crediting the influence of his mother, Warren points to philanthropy being a very natural responsibility. “We were brought up that we were supposed to be successful. And if you were successful you were to give back to the community. That has been my philosophy.” Although his family members were not practicing Quakers, many of those values were ones he was brought up with and affirmed through his education. “Pickering College gave me a good education, taught me how to live with others and got me involved in athletics and other activities.”

We look forward to welcoming Roger Warren ’51 back to campus as soon as COVID-19 protocols allow and awarding him with Pickering College’s highest honour, the Class of 1842.

THE HISTORY OF THE ROGERS FAMILY AT PICKERING COLLEGE

Roger Warren’s family has a long affiliation with Pickering College. His mother was a member of the Rogers Family.

In 1892, Samuel Rogers gave a leadership gift that helped to begin the process of rebuilding Pickering College in Newmarket after a fire tore through the school in Pickering, Ontario. Samuel’s son, Albert S. Rogers donated the farmland on which PC is built. Albert’s sister, Ella Rogers Firth was named the first Principal for the Girl’s School at PC. Albert’s son Edward S. Rogers, joined PC as a student in 1915 and in 1920 he established a telegraph station in a vacant wing of Pickering College. He chose the space not only for the elevation on the Hilltop but because it was the place his ancestors settled when first coming to Canada in 1801.

Allan Rogers, a cousin of Roger Warren, was a Chair of the PC Board. Roger Warren has served in numerous volunteer roles at PC. He was President of the National Fundraising campaign for Pickering College in the early 1980’s; was Secretary-Treasurer of the Board of Directors at a pivotal time in PC history during the 1981 fire and subsequent rebuilding. He is currently a member of the Corporation and the Finance Committee.

CLASS OF 1842

The Class of 1842 is a group of individuals who are honoured, recognized and appreciated by Pickering College for their service beyond Pickering, achievement in various fields of endeavour and/or their contribution to education. This is the highest honour that the school awards to alumni, former faculty and staff who distinguish themselves.

The award also recognizes those whose accomplishments provide inspiration and reflect the values of Pickering College. There was no leaving class in 1842, since the school was established in the fall of that year.

We look forward to celebrating Roger Warren ’51 and Ron Veale ’63 joining the Class of 1842 as soon as we are able to gather again in person.