Mark Carney to be Inaugural Speaker at The Coxford Lecture at Victoria College Thanks to a Major Gift

A new lecture series, launching in January 2024, will offer students, faculty, staff and alumni at Victoria University and the broader University of Toronto community unique perspectives from public figures with stature in the fields of law, economics, diplomacy, social justice or advocacy thanks to a gift from Stephen Coxford Vic 7T4. The $350,000 gift from the Victoria College alumnus is a significant contribution towards the University’s campaign, Defy Gravity: The Campaign for Victoria University Coxford serves as a volunteer member of the campaign cabinet.

Victoria University is delighted to announce that the inaugural Coxford Lecture at Victoria College will feature Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England among many other prestigious roles. Carney is the UN Special Envoy for Climate Action and co-chair for the Glasgow Finance Alliance for Net Zero, a practitioner-led coalition working to increase the financial sector’s ambition on climate change and accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy. He is also the chair of Brookfield Asset Management and the head of transition investing at Brookfield Corporation. Carney will speak on the topic of the climate crisis and public policy.

The lecture will take place on January 31 in the Isabel Bader Theatre. The Coxford Lecture at Victoria College will be presented annually and will address one of the great public policy issues of the day. It will be presented as one of the plenary lectures offered as part of the University’s award-winning first-year program, Vic One.

“Stephen Coxford’s gift is both inspiring and deeply meaningful. As an alumnus, he understands so well the student experience at Victoria College and has remained connected to us throughout his distinguished career. His desire to offer the University community access to the most creative and intellectually compelling leaders in their fields will undoubtedly impact how students and the wider U of T community consider their own roles in shaping the world,” says Dr. Rhonda N. McEwen, president and vice-chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.

Coxford offered his congratulations to the faculty, current students and alumni who gathered for Vic One’s 20th anniversary event on April 13, 2023, in the Isabel Bader Theatre. “It is a pleasure to be able to support an annual lecture at Victoria College. It is my hope that the speaker each year inspires members of the University community and contributes to the intellectual and academic mission of the College. I offer my sincere congratulations to all those involved with the Vic One program and to its alumni for sharing their intellectual curiosity and for inspiring us all with their many achievements,” said Coxford.

It is my hope that the speaker each year inspires members of the University community and contributes to the intellectual and academic mission of the College.

The anniversary event featured special guest speakers that included the Honourable Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations and recipient of an honorary doctorate from Victoria University; Professor David Wright, former ambassador to NATO; and a panel led by President Emeritus Paul Gooch. Chancellor Emerita Wendy Cecil C.M., Vic 7T1, honorary chair of the campaign cabinet, announced Coxford’s gift to rousing applause from the audience.