Norman (JD 1972) and Gay Loveland, (BA 1965 Trinity, BEd 1972, MEd 1972) at the Faculty of Law's Goodmans LLP Café with alumna Amanda Carling, centre, Manager of Indigenous Initiatives
“There is a misconception in Canada that all First Nation, Métis and Inuit students get a ‘free-ride.’”
By Lucianna Ciccocioppo / Photo by Nick Wong
University of Toronto alumni Norman and Gay Loveland, of Oakville, Ontario, have donated $1 Million to endow bursaries at the Faculty of Law, specifically for Indigenous students. It’s part of their contribution, says Gay, to help right the wrongs in Canada’s history with its Indigenous Peoples.
“I think it's very important that we support Indigenous people in pursuing fields such as education, engineering, and law, so that they will be at the forefront of tackling issues and working with their leaders in their communities,” adds Gay. “I think this is a very important part of the reconciliation process.”
Norman’s U of T pride has continued well past his Class of 1972 days at the Faculty of Law. The now-retired tax lawyer and former partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP has fond memories of his alma mater – and wants to help other students to experience the same. He and his spouse Gay, a former teacher, are big supporters of promoting post-secondary education, particularly for Indigenous students.
“U of T Law was a great calling card,” says Norman.
“We are deeply grateful for Norman and Gay Loveland’s most generous gift to support our Indigenous law students,” says the law school’s Dean Edward Iacobucci. “Building up our needs-based financial program is the key funding priority for this chapter at the law school, and I am excited at the prospect of supporting Indigenous students attending the Faculty of Law with the help of their gift.”
Amanda Carling, who is Métis, a Faculty of Law alumna, and Manager of Indigenous Initiatives at the Faculty of Law, says there is a misconception in Canada that all First Nation, Métis and Inuit students get a ‘free-ride.’
“That could not be further from the truth. Indigenous students work hard and take on significant debt in order to earn post-secondary degrees,” says Carling. “Gay and Norman’s gift will help alleviate some of that financial burden and, for some students, will help make attending U of T Law a reality. We are grateful to the Lovelands for not only their generous financial contribution but also for their genuine interest in, and dedication to, moving this country forward on the path to reconciliation. They are real allies and this law school is a better place because of them.”
Building up our needs-based financial program is the key funding priority for this chapter at the law school, and I am excited at the prospect of supporting Indigenous students attending the Faculty of Law with the help of their gift. -- Dean Ed Iacobucci
The Lovelands' generosity of spirit and time is extensive beyond U of T: he in the business world, and she in children’s charities, education and in supporting victims of violence. Their career successes have allowed them to pursue their passions.
Looking back, it wasn’t an easy decision for Norman to attend law school as a married, older student, after completing a civil engineering degree at Queen’s. By then, he and Gay had moved to Burlington, Ontario and he needed to commute to U of T. Hearing about the Faculty of Law’s outstanding reputation—and easy access to the campus on the GO train—clinched it for him, and the rest was history.
“I really liked the environment of U of T. I was absolutely amazed how intimate, pleasant and terrific it was—humble, warm and positive.”
So for Norman Loveland, there was no question this outstanding gift would be for U of T.
“I always felt proud of U of T—the university, the law school, the institution, the faculty, the student body. It just seemed to me it was a very worthwhile thing to do, and a very good place to do it. I'm very high on U of T,” he says with a chuckle.
“I have always felt we should do something meaningful at U of T. And the Faculty of Law is making every effort to ensure that anybody who has the capacity and the interest and drive to go to law school will not be precluded for lack of money. Gay and I very much wanted to support this effort,” says Norman.
