Volunteer and philanthropist David Wilson reflects on his student days and motivation for giving back

Source: https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/david-wilson-reflects-on-student-days-and-motivation-for-giving-back/ Parent: https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/theme-category/ways-to-participate/

Feb 12, 2026

“Without Victoria College,” longtime University of Toronto volunteer David Wilson says, “I wouldn’t be here.” That’s because the retired financial leader and philanthropist’s parents met at Victoria University’s E.J. Pratt Library in 1940. Wilson also attended Vic, earning a bachelor of commerce in 1968, followed by an MBA from York University. He then launched a career in finance, which led to executive roles as vice-chair of Scotiabank and chair of the Ontario Securities Commission.

Wilson received an honorary degree from U of T in June 2025 in recognition of his decades of service to the university and numerous community organizations. He currently serves as co-chair of the campaign cabinet for Victoria University as part of U of T’s Defy Gravity campaign. In a recent interview, he spoke about his philanthropy, memories from his student days and his motivation for giving back.

Why did you decide to join Victoria University’s campaign as co-chair?

I have a deep attachment to U of T that started with my parents and grew stronger when I attended Vic and served in various roles across the university throughout my career. So, when my fellow Vic alum Judy Goldring – who I know from my time on Governing Council and our work on Bay Street – called and asked if I’d join her on the campaign, I said yes right away. Judy took the helm at the start of the campaign, and this past year it’s been my turn. We use our networks as best we can to bring donors to the table.

How is philanthropy shaping current and future students’ experiences at Vic?

It makes a big difference. My sister (Ann Wilson, BA 1972 VIC) and I have funded two Vic One scholarships – a student bursary named for our parents, William and Margaret Wilson, and another in our names (the David and Ann Wilson Professorship in Public Policy and Society in the Lester B. Pearson Stream of the program).

In the Vic One program, first-year students get to take part in small group seminars, lectures and tutorials and meet inspiring guest speakers. The program has very high achievement rates and can really jump-start academic journeys.

I have a deep attachment to U of T that started with my parents and grew stronger when I attended Vic and served in various roles across the university.

Ann and I have heard from students who’ve received our scholarship in the past, and we get fantastic feedback about how much they appreciated what they learned and the experiences they’ve had.

I have a deep attachment to U of T that started with my parents and grew stronger when I attended Vic and served in various roles across the university.

You and Ann recently gave $1 million to support the new VOLT (Victoria Opportunity for Leaders for Tomorrow) Scholarship program at Vic, which supports students from underrepresented communities, particularly Black and Indigenous students. What inspired you to make this gift?

Ann and I were both inspired by the program, especially because it reminded us of our mother and her attitude toward diversity. My mother always admired immigrants and new Canadians. For Christmas one year in her later years, I gave her a big book of taxi vouchers so she could go back and forth comfortably without worrying about driving. She loved talking to the drivers, many of whom were immigrants, and hearing their stories. We all know that integrating into a new community is not easy, so the idea that we could help students in this way – and relieve them of some of the financial burden – was really inspiring.

What do you remember most from your time as a Vic student?

Because I studied commerce and finance, I didn’t have many classes at Vic, but I did study at the library a lot. When I was in my third year, I convinced my younger brother, Kenneth, who was in pre-med at U of T, to join a fraternity with me. But the initiation was right before his first set of exams the next week in December, and he did not do well!

I felt guilty that I was the cause, so we resolved that starting in the first week of January, every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, we would have dinner at the fraternity house and go to the Vic library and study every week until his next exams in the spring. And we did that. And he got through pre-med, got into medical school, became a doctor and even got the Order of Canada for his work. And I benefited, too, because I was studying along with him.

In 2018, you and some of your peers from the Rotman Commerce class of 1968 decided to celebrate your 50th reunion by creating a student scholarship. How did that idea come about?

A group of us got together over lunch to organize the reunion and reminisced about our four years of commerce at U of T, our professors, what we learned and how much it helped to prepare us for the real world. We were all grateful for our beloved old commerce stream and thought about how we could give back, and we all kicked in different amounts depending on our financial capabilities.

We’ve met some of the recipients and they’re very impressive kids. They’re a completely different generation from us, of course! The five of us who created the scholarship still get together for lunch. We’ve invited some of the scholarship recipients and enjoy getting to know them.

As someone who has been involved in many areas of the university, do you have any advice for other alumni considering getting involved?

There are so many opportunities. For me, serving on Governing Council was really important and satisfying. There are several routes to get involved, including applying as an alumni representative.

A lot of work takes place at the committee level, since the Governing Council as a whole has 50 members. I was chair of the business board for a few years, and that’s a great way to get your arms around what’s happening.

I was also on the presidential search committee twice – once for the appointment of David Naylor [president from 2005 to 2013], and I chaired the committee that selected Meric Gertler [president from 2013 to June 2025]. That was one of the most satisfying things I’ve done in my life, not just at U of T. It was satisfying not only at the moment, but also over time, because we picked a great leader.

David Wilson received an honorary degree from U of T in June 2025.

When you received your honorary degree last June, in your speech you encouraged graduates to spend time working in the not-for-profit world. Why is this important to you?

It’s amazingly rewarding. Part of the reason, for me at least, is it makes you feel like you’re doing something to make up for the good fortune you’ve had in your own life. In not-for-profits you’re often dealing with people who are less fortunate. To paraphrase something JFK said in one of his speeches: For those to whom much is given, much is expected. That’s my motivation.

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