In Memoriam: Dr. Nona MacDonald Heaslip (1930-2024)
Dear Members of the Trinity College Community:
It is with great sadness that we share news of the passing of Dr. Nona Heaslip, a generous supporter of Trinity College and our students as well as of the University of Toronto. Dr. Heaslip passed away on March 6, 2024.
A philanthropist, passionate supporter of the arts and tireless volunteer, Dr. Heaslip was a champion of Canadian arts, cultural and educational institutions.
In 2005, along with her late husband William, Dr. Heaslip established The William and Nona Heaslip Scholarship at Trinity College. These generous renewable scholarships are designed to enable students who would otherwise need to support themselves to fully engage in their university experience. To date, 38 outstanding Trinity College students have benefited from these important scholarships. Past recipients described the impact of the Heaslip Scholarship in the following terms:
“The scholarship allows me to stay involved with the community and to experience university life to my fullest capacity so I can develop into a well-rounded and healthy individual.”
“With this scholarship I have been able to adjust my priorities and truly become a student. I have the time and energy to invest in my studies. This scholarship has rekindled my passion for academia and given me the hope that I can be successful.”
After establishing the scholarship at Trinity College, Dr. Heaslip went on to replicate the scholarship model at nine other universities across Canada. In 2007, Dr. Heaslip established the William & Nona Heaslip Trinity St. Antony’s Scholarship for Trinity graduates studying International Relations at Oxford University. This generous scholarship has enabled outstanding Trinity students to continue their international relations studies at Oxford. A recent Trinity-St. Antony’s scholar wrote:
“As someone in need of financial aid, the incredible generosity of the Heaslip family allows me to pursue my dream of studying at the University of Oxford… Thanks to the scholarship, I am able to study one of the world’s most pressing issues – environmental change – at one of the top universities in the world.”
At Trinity College, Dr. Heaslip was much more than a donor. She was deeply engaged with the recipients of the scholarships, and loved to host an annual luncheon for past and current scholars. Over the years, she maintained contact with many of the scholars, and frequently hosted dinners at her home. Student success was very important to her, and this was evident in her interactions as she conversed with students, asking thoughtful questions about their programs and aspirations. We saw every year at Trinity the profound impact her generosity had on the lives of so many talented young people, literally making their dreams come true.
The 2019-2020 Heaslip Scholars Reception in the Provost’s Lodge (January 2020). Standing: former and current recipients of The William and Nona Heaslip Scholarship.
In recognition of these contributions, in 2017, Dr. Heaslip received an honorary degree of Doctor of Sacred Letters (honoris causa) from Trinity College (top photo: at the Faculty of Divinity Convocation, May 2017). Dr. Heaslip’s contributions to the wider community were recognized in honorary degrees from the University of PEI (2008) and the University of Toronto (2009). We were also delighted that last year, in recognition of her exceptional contributions to Canada, she became a Member of the Order of Canada.
Dr. Heaslip (centre) with members of the Trinity community at the Chancellor’s Reception in Seeley Hall, October 2023.
The William and Nona Heaslip Foundation also contributed to the Living Trinity Campaign and the construction of the new transformative building – the Lawson Centre for Sustainability. Dr. Heaslip leaves an inspiring legacy that will continue to transform our beautiful campus and the student experience for generations to come.
On behalf of the College, we extend our deepest condolences to her family, the Foundation, her colleagues and friends. She was a lively, engaging presence at Trinity and last fall it was wonderful to see her enjoying the Chancellor’s Reception. She was a great friend of the College and especially of our students and will be sorely missed.
You can read more about Dr. Nona Heaslip’s extraordinary life in the Globe & Mail.
Sincerely,
Mayo Moran
Provost and Vice-Chancellor
Categories: In Memoriam