Where There’s a Will, There’s a Say Vic alum Lionel Collier tells us why it’s important to make your wishes clear By Joe Howell
VIC REPORT AUTUMN 2023
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Photos: Minh Truong
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aving recently celebrated his 40-year alumni accepted by every university he applied to, ultimately reunion, Lionel Collier Vic 8T3 may seem too choosing Vic in part because of a small entrance young to be concerned with his Will. Count on bursary—and because he was lucky enough to sit in on a a chartered professional accountant (CPA) to know the lecture by a renowned English professor. “When I was 18, importance of planning ahead: this year, Collier updated I went to one of Northrop Frye’s lectures while visiting a his Will to include a donation from his estate to Victoria friend at Vic, just to get a sense of what was happening. University in the University of Toronto. He spoke on King Lear, and it gave me comfort to know To him, there’s nothing morbid about having one’s that I would be interested in attending classes, that they affairs in order. “Aside from the natural course of had a great staff and that I could fit in at Vic.” life, my parents taught me that it’s always good to be And growing up gay in a smaller city, fitting in prepared. They wanted to be certain that their children was a big deal. “There were gay people around, but it were clear about their wishes,” says Collier. was always sort of hush-hush or ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” “You know, I did my first Will...” he pauses to think. says Collier. This all changed in 1979 when he joined “When I was 23, just after I graduated!” Collier laughs. the student group LGBTOUT, then called Gays at “I think people should have that set up much earlier U of T. “We staged various stunts to raise awareness than they often do. I’ve worked in hospitals, and I know that there were gay people on campus. We also put on that death is just a normal part of life—it’s part of our cycle. So we have to deal with it and plan accordingly.” “ I’ve worked in hospitals, and I know death Reflecting, Collier also credits his time at school for is just a normal part of life. So we have to cultivating his plan-ahead mentality: “U of T taught deal with it and plan accordingly.” me discipline, time management and that I could accomplish a whole lot if I put my mind to it. It gave some outrageous events, like an annual ball where some me four years of ‘bootcamp training,’ and I’ve followed of the guys went wearing tuxedos and danced together. that lifestyle ever since,” he says. “I am very thankful to It was sensational for us to have the freedom to be open.” U of T and Vic in particular for providing me with an Does Collier want his bequest to go toward anything opportunity to study and launch my career,” says Collier. specific at Vic U? “I just want the money to go into the “I feel that it was a big privilege to go here.” general fund,” he says. “I worked in fundraising for five Why did he choose to direct funds from his estate years at the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, to Victoria College in particular? “It was that feeling and I know how important it is to receive donations that of support or having a base on campus,” says Collier. aren’t earmarked for anything!” “I would go over to Pratt library to study in the basement Donors who make bequests in their Will have made or the large room upstairs. I kept my locker in Old Vic, up nearly half of philanthropic donations to Victoria storing my books during the day. I networked, met a University over its history. “Donors like Lionel who lot of interesting people and made some friends who make unrestricted gifts have a significant impact on the were living in residence. Everyone I met at Vic was University because the funds can be used for the highesthighly intelligent; it was a wonderful community for priority needs,” says Louise Yearwood, executive director making friends!” of Alumni Affairs & Advancement. “Unrestricted gifts When he was a teenager growing up in Oshawa, he could help students from challenging social/economic read about Victoria College in his local newspaper. He backgrounds have the opportunity to study at Vic, or go knew he wanted to experience life in the big city, and toward making our beautiful buildings more accessible. visiting Vic U for the first time he remembers being Gifts of all sizes make an impact—each one makes a impressed by the beauty of the architecture. He was difference, and we are so grateful!”
