Donor Profile
Hockey family gives back
O’Hanlan to lead final phase of Goldring campaign By John Lorinc
Not long after Patrick O’Hanlan and his family moved from Dublin to Toronto, the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. It was 1967, and Patrick was six. “My uncles were going crazy,” chuckles the 55-year-old co-founder of Kylemore Communities/ Angus Glen Developments. Enthralled by this fast-paced Canadian game that captivated his relatives, O’Hanlan took up hockey and later soccer, and played both competitively throughout high school and university. After graduating with an urban planning degree from Ryerson, Patrick jumped to the private sector, working for Bramalea and then Camrost-Felcorp before setting up his own development firm, Kylemore Communities. In 1995, O’Hanlan was introduced to U of T alumnus, Gordon Stollery. It was a fateful introduction. The two decided to develop land around a Markham golf course (Angus Glen), and struck up a close friendship – a one which ultimately resulted in O’Hanlan’s recent decision to chair the final phase of the fundraising campaign for the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. O’Hanlan took on the role in January, in honour of Stollery, who passed away three years ago and had been an early supporter of the vision for the new facility. “We are very pleased to announce Patrick O’Hanlon as incoming campaign Chair for the Goldring Centre,” said Robin Campbell, the Faculty's executive director, advancement
PHOTO/ Lindsay Nemeth
and alumni affairs. O’Hanlan replaces Kevin Reed who completed his term in March. “We are grateful to Kevin for his work as Chair,” said Campbell. “The challenge now is to find the remaining $4 million to complete the campaign.” O’Hanlan first got involved with the Faculty during his daughter Kelly’s years playing for the Varsity Blues women’s hockey team. Both Patrick and Kelly were actively involved with fundraising for the team. Kelly played five years with the Blues and, in her father’s view, benefited greatly from the mentorship she received from Canadian women’s hockey star, Vicky Sunohara, head coach of the team. “She really saw Kelly’s potential,” Patrick recalls. Patrick has long believed in the importance of giving back to the community. His firm runs an annual golf tournament, the proceeds of which support a range of GTA charities. Modest about the impact of his fundraising efforts, the sport enthusiast marvels at the experience of how this project has brought him into contact with a wide range of like-minded community leaders and athletes who are connected to the University in various capacities. “There are so many amazing people you come across,” Patrick says. “It’s really a very cool feeling.”
PURSUIT | SUMMER 2015
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