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
Photos by Minh Truong

Having recently celebrated his 40-year alumni reunion, Lionel Collier Vic 8T3 may seem too young to be concerned with his Will. Count on a chartered professional accountant (CPA) to know the importance of planning ahead: this year, Collier updated his Will to include a donation from his estate to Victoria University in the University of Toronto.

To him, there’s nothing morbid about having one’s affairs in order. “Aside from the natural course of life, my parents taught me that it’s always good to be prepared. They wanted to be certain that their children were clear about their wishes,” says Collier.

“You know, I did my first Will...” he pauses to think. “When I was 23, just after I graduated!” Collier laughs. “I think people should have that set up much earlier than they often do. I’ve worked in hospitals, and I know 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.”

Reflecting, Collier also credits his time at school for cultivating his plan-ahead mentality: “U of T taught me discipline, time management and that I could accomplish a whole lot if I put my mind to it. It gave me four years of ‘bootcamp training,’ and I’ve followed that lifestyle ever since,” he says. “I am very thankful to U of T and Vic in particular for providing me with an opportunity to study and launch my career,” says Collier. “I feel that it was a big privilege to go here.”

Why did he choose to direct funds from his estate to Victoria College in particular? “It was that feeling of support or having a base on campus,” says Collier. “I would go over to Pratt library to study in the basement or the large room upstairs. I kept my locker in Old Vic, storing my books during the day. I networked, met a lot of interesting people and made some friends who were living in residence. Everyone I met at Vic was highly intelligent; it was a wonderful community for making friends!”

When he was a teenager growing up in Oshawa, he read about Victoria College in his local newspaper. He knew he wanted to experience life in the big city, and visiting Vic U for the first time he remembers being impressed by the beauty of the architecture. He was accepted by every university he applied to, ultimately choosing Vic in part because of a small entrance bursary—and because he was lucky enough to sit in on a lecture by a renowned English professor. “When I was 18, I went to one of Northrop Frye’s lectures while visiting a friend at Vic, just to get a sense of what was happening. He spoke on King Lear, and it gave me comfort to know that I would be interested in attending classes, that they had a great staff and that I could fit in at Vic.”

And growing up gay in a smaller city, fitting in was a big deal. “There were gay people around, but it was always sort of hush-hush or ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” says Collier. This all changed in 1979 when he joined the student group LGBTOUT, then called Gays at U of T. “We staged various stunts to raise awareness that there were gay people on campus. We also put on some outrageous events, like an annual ball where some of the guys went wearing tuxedos and danced together. It was sensational for us to have the freedom to be open.”

Does Collier want his bequest to go toward anything specific at Vic U? “I just want the money to go into the general fund,” he says. “I worked in fundraising for five years at the Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, and I know how important it is to receive donations that aren’t earmarked for anything!”

Donors who make bequests in their Will have made up nearly half of philanthropic donations to Victoria University over its history. “Donors like Lionel who make unrestricted gifts have a significant impact on the University because the funds can be used for the highest-priority needs,” says Louise Yearwood, executive director of Alumni Affairs & Advancement. “Unrestricted gifts could help students from challenging social/economic backgrounds have the opportunity to study at Vic, or go toward making our beautiful buildings more accessible. Gifts of all sizes make an impact—each one makes a difference, and we are so grateful!”

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Planning Your Legacy

By Sharon Gregory

Whether it is recognizing the impact of your education, expressing gratitude, or paying forward the help you received from a bursary or scholarship, there are many reasons for choosing to remember Victoria University in your estate plan. Charitable bequests and other planned gifts—such as proceeds from a registered retirement plan or a life insurance policy—can help you plan your legacy, while providing financial and other benefits. Planned gifts support academic and co-curricular programs, scholarships and bursaries, the libraries, and the University’s heritage buildings and grounds.

Please contact me, Sharon Gregory, associate director of gift planning, at 416-813-4050 or sharon.gregory@utoronto.ca if you would like information on charitable bequests (including suggested wording for your Will), other forms of planned giving, and steps you can take to plan your legacy. Request a copy of Victoria University’s estate-planning primer and workbook, or ask me about the Victoria University Heritage Society, for those who have made a provision for Vic U in their estate plan.