GZOWSKI COLLEGE CAMPAIGN LEGACY:
FRIENDS FOREVER MONTHLY DONATION PROGRAM
A Home for Indigenous Cultures At Trent
Long-term vision and a commitment to Trent are what members of the Friends Forever Monthly Donation Program have in common. These donors have indicated that it is important for them to have a convenient and affordable way to give. This list contains our current members. Frederick Abeysundera Suzanne E. Abray Joanne Adams Simpson Linda A. Alkenbrack Scott M. Anderson Martha Anslow & Glenn Harris Angie Asadoorian & Ian McDonald Jennifer R. Babbs Tyler & Lisa Bailey Al Barber & Jennifer Tiberio David & Tandy Barron Lisa D. Barty Carol M. Bassett Kimberlie Beno Dawn Berry Merriam & John Merriam Stephen Bocking Sherry & Graham Booth Jonathan Bordo & Doreen Small Constantin V. Boundas & Ke-Ryang Choi-Boundas Martin R. Boyne Richard & Susan Bramm Doug B. Brown Beth Brown Marilyn & David Burns Brenda A. Burton Maureen A. Callan Margot E. Cameron John & Nancy Casserly Catherine & Carey Challice Karen J. Chapeskie
Betty Clark Paul T. Cleaver Donna Clifton Christopher S. Coleman Sandra M. Cond Flower Thomas C. Conyers Gordon Copp & Elizabeth Sierakowska Peter A. Cornish Tracey R. Courneyea Don Cumming Rod S. Cumming Libby Dalrymple William P. Davies Lynne Davis Ian H. Dawson Paul J. Delaney Karen Derian Denis Desjardins Fiona A. Docherty Rob Docherty Marianne A. Donovan W. Jim Doran Susan Drain & Patrick Donahoe Barbara Dyce Andrew Eamer & Jordan Heather Bill Eisnaugle Peter G. Elliott Bruce G. Emmerton Leah Eustace David J. Evans Katie A. Feltmate
Wenying Feng Kelly & Dante Ferrari Colin & Christiane Fewster Nancy J. Fraser S. Finn & Gayle Gallagher Joann C. Garbig Ian C. Gauld Heather A. George Robert & Maggie Glossop Craig A. Goselin Diane & David Graham Carol Gregory & James Burrell Catherine A. Gunn Lorena J. Haley-Twiss Kaye & Foster Hanson Robert & Judith Harper Wanda Harssema Heather G. Hedges Sylvia Hennessy Ruth P. Herman Norah M. Hillary Bernard Hodgson Suzanne Hooke & Fred Wood Neil D. Horne Richard T. Hurley Gordon Johnston & Avril Rustage-Johnston Trudy Kirschner John Knight Michael Konopaski Penny A. Kutlik Tracy Ladd
David & Sharon Lasenby Melissa Law & James Nesbitt Sarah E. Leahy Mike Leishman Deborah D. Lietz Cynthia A. Loveman Anthony R. Lovink Jean Luyben Jennifer & Rod MacIsaac Fay & Duncan MacKenzie Bonnie H. MacKinnon Duff D. Mackinnon SusanHA & John Mackle Ian & Elizabeth MacMillan H. Christina MacNaughton Kenneth & Betty Maley Catharine & Rich Marchand Dawn A. McAlpine Carl J. McKeiver Kathleen McKibbon & Neil Shackleton Mikelle E. Meaden Tui Menzies & Des Penalagan David & Krista Miller Jamie Mitchell Orm & Barbara Mitchell Richard Morgan & Carolyn Jonkman A. Colin Morton Jacqueline & Joseph Muldoon Rodney & Anastasia Nadeau James & Lynn Neufeld David R. Newhouse
Kenneth J. Nimigon Erica Nol & Christopher Risley Brent R. Norrey Sybil Nunn Diane & Kevin Parry Brian G. Patrick Stefani N. Pelowich Curtis T. Pineiro Philip A. Playfair Doug Poff Zailig H. Pollock Elizabeth Popham R. Daniel Powell Gail & Jim Pratt Kathleen & Alex Ramsay Sylvie Ratte Malcolm M. Ray Melissa A. Ringler Clive D. Roane David G. Robertson Damian J. Rogers Nigel & Kathryn Roulet David Ruthowsky Gillian Sandeman Pamela T. Scobie Chris Scullion Norman Seli & Anne Dawson Saul J. Sherbanuk Scott & Amanda Sinclair Bruce D. Skeaff Cheryl Smith Jackie Starr
Margaret & Neil Steffler Bruce G. Stephen Debra G. Stephens Michael G. Stewart Doug & Julie Stoakley Tony Storey Ian C. Storey Sharon M. Stover James E. Struthers Sylvia S. Sutherland C. Leonard Taylor Colin & Kerry Taylor Scott & Jennifer Taylor Douglas R. van Hemessen Peter Vanderley Joan Vastokas Julie A. Wallace Peter R. Walling Erin C. Walsh Patrick J. Walshe Ann & Roy Walters Stewart R. Wheeler Mindy G. Willett G. Kirk Williams Susan T. Williams John & Rosemary Wordley Susan Wurtele & Erik Hanson Beth Ann Yarzab & Patrick Brown 11 Anonymous Donors
“Peter Gzowski was a man who gave me enormous pleasure for many years and who really, more than anyone else in the media, gave me a sense of our country. So in many ways, building a college for all people, but particularly emanating from the Aboriginal tradition, was a source of enormous pleasure for me,” says Michael Levine. Michael Levine is a long-time supporter of Trent University and cochair of the successful Peter Gzowski College Campaign, which raised more than one million dollars to help complete this new college, named in honour of one of Canada’s best-loved journalists and broadcasters and a past Trent Chancellor. Under the leadership of Mr. Levine and fellow co-chairs Ana P. Lopes, Jack Rabinovitch, and Bob Rae, Enweying, the building that houses Peter Gzowski College and the First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL), opened in 2005.
Recently, campaign co-chair Michael Levine had the opportunity to reflect on his involvement in this milestone event. Mr. Levine is a partner in the Toronto office of Goodmans Barristers and Solicitors and his practice concentrates on the legal aspects of the entertainment industry, primarily the financing, production and distribution of films, television productions, music, books and multimedia.
Alumnus Philip Playfair Makes Trent Giving a Priority
Philip Playfair is a man with a generous spirit and, until recently, someone with very little time on his hands. For the past two years, this successful Trent alumnus and businessman has put extra hours into his already busy days by chairing Trent University’s Annual Fund Leadership Giving Program. Leadership Giving Program has enjoyed a 300 per cent increase in donations since its establishment in May 2002. During Mr. Playfair’s tenure as chair, the program generated over $460,000 in funds for the University’s Annual
Campaign, and leadership donations received in 2005/06 were up 11 per cent over donations received in the previous year. These results are a testament to Mr. Playfair’s tenacity and ability to influence others. A long-time contributor to Trent, Mr. Playfair believes that “Trent University’s original mission is still valid today and needs continued support.” Leadership donors are those individuals who gave $500 or more annually to the University’s Annual Fund. For the 2006/07 Annual Campaign, a Leadership Donor will be someone who contributes $1,000 or more. These donations are contributions to Trent University’s Annual Fund, which is designed to support the greatest needs of students. Everyone from alumni, friends, students and parents, to faculty, staff and board members donate to the Fund. Reflecting upon his Leadership Giving Program experience, Mr. Playfair says: “Encouraging people to give a bit more is important. There is huge potential for giving and, as a community, we should really try and maximize that potential.” Asked about how he became interested and involved in giving, Mr. Playfair replies, “I believe in leading by example. Since graduation, my donation dollars have historically gone to Trent. The concept of giving was instilled in me at a very young age because my father was an Anglican priest and he gave 10 per cent of his income back to the church. For me, my experiences at Trent were always positive. The education I received influences and affects me to this day. It taught me how to think and really gave me the skills to continue learning. For that, I am eternally grateful and one
Philip Playfair
“Trent does a tremendous job producing thinkers and generalists. And quite frankly, thinkers and generalists are leaders.” 12
of the easiest ways to give back is to give dollars… generously.” Not only does Mr. Playfair believe he benefited professionally from his experience at Trent, but he also met his wife, Jacqueline Code, here. Another Trent alumni success story, Ms. Code, a multiple Symons Medal winner, was recently promoted to partner at Toronto-based legal firm Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP. Together, they reside in Toronto with their two boys, Graeme, four, and Iain, two. With two full-time careers and a young family to care for, theirs is a busy home, but Mr. Playfair still finds time to demonstrate his commitment to Trent. Throughout his time as Leadership Giving Program chair, Mr. Playfair has also been busy traveling the continent and building a business. He was the former Chief Marketing Officer and a former founding partner of Advanced Utility Systems, a software company focused on billing and customer service software for the utility industry in North America and the Caribbean. On June 14, 2006, Advanced Utility Systems was acquired by Napean, Ontario-based Harris Computer Systems. This fruitful transaction has given Mr. Playfair the freedom to take a year off to “enjoy more time with my family and plan for my next business.” Mr. Playfair will continue his involvement with the Leadership Giving Program as a member of the committee in 2006/07.
Mr. Levine’s connection with Trent began through his long-time friend Professor Michael Peterman, Principal of Traill College. “My relationship with Trent grew with Dr. Peterman introducing me to successive presidents, fundraisers and various board members. I just became entranced by an institution that really focused on the undergraduate and I think represents some very, very solid and important values.”
Enweying, which means “The Way We Speak Together” in Anishnaabe, provides a truly unique space to celebrate Indigenous thought, culture and performing arts. Inside, the FPHL is home to the Indigenous Studies department and related offices, a lecture hall, a Gathering Space, a Ceremonial Space, and Nozhem: The First People’s Performance Space, the first of its kind in Canada to be located at a teaching institution.
SUPPORTING A MAKER OF TOP THINKERS: “I believe in what Trent does as a liberal arts institution,” says Trent alumnus Philip Playfair. “Teaching people how to think and giving them the tools to think is a fundamentally important aspect of our society which often gets lost. There is such a focus on specialization that we’re not necessarily producing the best citizens right now. Trent does a tremendous job producing thinkers and generalists. And quite frankly, thinkers and generalists are leaders.”
importantly, it’s becoming a part of Canadian heritage. If you invest in your society, then you feel a greater sense of responsibility for it.”
Mr. Levine’s involvement as campaign co-chair, and his personal support for the Gzowski Campaign, has also enabled him to support Aboriginal programming at Trent, programming he values and believes others benefit from. As one of the first universities in North America to establish a department dedicated to the study of Indigenous peoples, Trent is an institution Mr. Levine is pleased to support. “I felt that by having an Aboriginal college, in which young people of Aboriginal origin could participate within the wider community, would provide them with both a sense of their own culture and their ability to communicate that culture to the wider population,” says Mr. Levine as he reflects on becoming involved in the Gzowski campaign. “By building this college, we have created a place that can be a central home of Aboriginal cultures within the University. It can very much be a meeting place for others to gain that understanding or communication.” According to Mr. Levine, as Canadians we all have a responsibility to be involved in social and philanthropic activities: “I was instructed by my father that I had a responsibility to share with others in the community both my time and my income,” he explains. “Therefore, to me, it’s a natural part of my heritage. But I think more
Michael Levine
In addition to his work with Trent, Mr. Levine is also the founding Director of The Canadian Film Centre and is a former Director of TV Ontario, Access Alberta, the Festival of Festivals, and the Young Naturalist Foundation. He also holds the title of former Chairman of the Festival Trade Forum. Currently, Mr. Levine holds many other positions, including: Chairman of Westwood Creative Artists Ltd.; Chairperson of Bravo!FACT; Executive Producer of the Heritage Project for The Historica Foundation; Co-Chair of Master Planning and a former director of the Royal Ontario Museum; and a Director of the Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall. Mr. Levine believes it’s important that an individual’s path and their contributions in life be guided by their own personal values and interests: “If there was one lesson that I gave to all of my children it was that it is irrelevant what your father or your mother or your grandparents did; what is relevant is that you find your own purpose in life.” Looking back at his own involvement in various initiatives and committees, his position as Gzowski Campaign co-chair at Trent is one of which Mr. Levine is particularly proud. According to Mr. Levine, it was, after all, an opportunity to be part of an initiative where many people will benefit from the generosity of all those who contributed.
New Incentive for Donors
ELIMINATION OF CAPITAL GAINS TAX ON GIFTS OF STOCKS AND SECURITIES Did you know that in its May 2, 2006 budget, the federal government announced that it was eliminating the capital gains tax on gifts of appreciated securities to charities? This new legislative provision makes gifts of appreciated securities an even more attractive option for all donors. If you are considering a donation to Trent University and you own publicly listed
The Leadership Giving Program has enjoyed a 300 per cent increase in donations since its establishment in May 2002
securities – stocks, bonds, mutual fund units or shares – that have appreciated in value, you may want to consider transferring these directly to the University, rather than cashing them in to make a donation. Why? If you cash in these securities, you have to include 50 per cent of the capital gain (how much they’ve increased in value) in your income for the year. If you donate
the securities directly to the University, you do not include any of the capital gain in your income, and you still benefit from the tax receipt for your gift. If you have questions about making a gift of securities, please contact Sherry Booth in the Advancement Office at Trent University, (705) 748-1011 x7593.
Trent by Numbers
$ 30,796 TOTAL RAISED BY PARENTS
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