Members of the Trinity community receive 2023 U of T Arbor Awards

We are proud to honour and celebrate the tremendous generosity and contributions of our exceptional and longstanding volunteers. Congratulations to members of the Trinity College community on their 2023 Arbor Awards, the highest honour granted by the University of Toronto to volunteers: Alyson M. Barnett-Cowan, Andrew J. Foley, Andrew M. Kavanagh, Sheila M. Royce, Richard Ruggle, Margaret R. Sinclair, Catherine Siemens, Ann Wilton, Bruce Winter and Peipei Yu.

The 2023 Arbor Award recipients were celebrated in person for the first time since 2019. At the ceremony on January 16, 2024, past recipients who received Arbor Awards during the pandemic – 2020, 2021 and 2022 – were also invited to attend.

Photo (clockwise): 2021 Recipient Darcey Lazerte; 2023 recipient Alyson Barnett-Cowan and daughter; 2023 recipient Ann Wilton with family; and 2023 recipient Catherine Siemens and 2021 recipient Elizabeth Holmes.

At the ceremony, Trinity College Chancellor and alumnus Brian Lawson (photo), a leading member of the U of T community and a 2021 Arbor Award recipient, spoke to the group from his perspective as a fellow volunteer.

“Something we know all too well is that as much as we give to the university, we gain so much in return,” he said. “It is profoundly fulfilling to join forces with others to support something so important and where the impacts are so immediate and clear,” said Lawson, whose volunteer commitments currently include co-chairing the Defy Gravity campaign and serving as Trinity College Chancellor. He received an Arbor Award in 2021 alongside his wife, Joannah. [U of T Alumni website]

Congratulations to Trinity’s recipients of the U of T Arbor Awards 2023 (below), Arbor Awards 2022, Arbor Awards 2021 and Arbor Awards 2020!

>> View all photos from the 2023 Arbor Awards Ceremony and Presentation: Jan. 16, 2024

Trinity’s Arbor Award Recipients 2023

Alyson M. Barnett-Cowan

Trinity alum: A dedicated Trinity College alumni volunteer since 2016, Alyson has lent her knowledge, skills and expertise to advance alumni engagement efforts and support the success of the Trinity community as a whole. Currently, she serves as an executive member of the Divinity Associates; a member of the Annual Divinity Conference Planning Committee, and of Trinity College Corporation. In addition, she recently helped plan a 50th anniversary celebration for her graduating class.

Andrew J. Foley

Trinity alum: Andrew served as a dedicated member of the Law Alumni Association from 2015 to 2021, during which time he provided invaluable guidance to the advancement team on alumni engagement. Since 2021, Andrew has supported the Career Development Office as a US Alumni Advisor, offering advice and insights to students on the summer recruitment process in the United States. From 2021 to 2023, he also served as a Pearson Scholarship Review Panel volunteer.

Andrew M. Kavanagh

Trinity alum: Andrew has been a committed Rotman Commerce Alumni Mentorship Program volunteer since 2019, sharing invaluable industry insights with his mentees and facilitating career exploration opportunities. Andrew also participates in and attends events hosted by the program and offers expertise and knowledge to other student mentees.

Sheila M. Royce

Trinity alum: A graduate of Trinity College’s Class of 6T8, Sheila has been a dedicated alumni volunteer for decades. As Class Representative, she has been a proactive leader in Reunion fundraising and outreach efforts. She also actively works to ensure her classmates stay connected and engaged, including by organizing and hosting countless class socials and Reunion gatherings.

Richard Ruggle

Trinity alum: Major the Reverend Richard Ruggle, CD has supported the Soldier’s Tower Committee by officiating at the Service of Remembrance on the St. George Campus since 2017. He fosters a sense of community and an appreciation of the University’s heritage.

Margaret R. Sinclair

Peggy has been integral to the success of the Trinity College Friends of the Library Booksale for many years, helping to sort, price and pack the large Mystery section. For the past six years, she has researched and helped to produce the program for the Friends’ annual Christmas party.

Catherine Siemens

Catherine has been an essential volunteer with Trinity College Friends of the Library for nearly two decades. Over the years, she has consistently supported the Trinity College Book Sale, as well as researched material and helped produce the program for the annual Friends’ Christmas party.

Ann Wilton

Trinity alum: Ann has been a long-time volunteer who generously contributed her time and knowledge on both the Alumni Association Executive of Trinity College and the St. Hilda’s College Board of Trustees for nearly 10 years. Together with her family, she also founded the Brian Morgan Scholarship in Law, which is given annually to a student entering law school.

Bruce Winter

Trinity alum: A committed and engaged volunteer, Bruce has contributed his time and expertise to numerous U of T governing bodies and committees over the past eight years. He was elected to the Governing Council in 2015, where he remained an Alumni Governor until 2021. Over the years, he served on many different committees of the Governing Council as well as the Working Group on Governance Oversight of Capital Projects. He has also been a member of the Trinity College Corporation since 2017 and volunteered with the Rotman-ICD Directors Education program from 2006 to 2011.

Peipei Yu

Trinity alum: A long-time mentor and volunteer with the Rotman Commerce Alumni Mentorship Program, Peipei has mentored many students over the years and volunteered his time with numerous student groups. His mentees frequently note that Peipei offers invaluable new perspectives and insightful advice.

U of T Arbor Award recipients are essential to advancing the University of Toronto as one of the world’s great institutions of higher learning and advanced research. These leading members of the U of T community elevate all facets of life at the university, providing volunteer supports that span everything from governance and academic programming to experiential learning and mentorship, among other valuable contributions. We congratulate all 2023 Arbor Award recipients who have given so generously of their time, energy and expertise.

Categories: Alumni; College News; University of Toronto News