Metadata
Title
Campaign Leadership
Category
general
UUID
cb7a605eef9d46e7bb2822bcdee7a48d
Source URL
https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/campaign-leadership/
Parent URL
https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/
Crawl Time
2026-03-10T06:57:48+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown
# Campaign Leadership

**Source**: https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/campaign-leadership/
**Parent**: https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/

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##

It takes leadership to Defy Gravity.

Introducing the visionary team of volunteer leaders spearheading Defy Gravity: The Campaign for the University of
Toronto and helping us realize our ambitious goals.

---

## Honorary Chairs

Our Honorary Chairs include some of Canada’s leading philanthropists and U of T’s most esteemed
benefactors:

**Leslie Dan**\
(’54, ’59, ’97)

**The Hon. Henry N. R. Jackman**\
(’53, ’56, ’93, ’11)

**Arthur S. Labatt**(’11) and **Sonia H.
Labatt**\*\
(’60, ’90, ’95, ’11)

**Michael Lee-Chin**\
(’07)

**The Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain**\
(’55, ’96, ’04)

**Sandra A. Rotman**\
(’75, ’07)

**Susan Scace**\
(’63, ’03, ’13)

**Gerald Schwartz**(’16) and **Heather
Reisman** (’21)

**Larry Tanenbaum** (’12) and **Judy Tanenbaum**

**James Temerty** (’23) and **Louise Temerty** (’23)

**Helen Vari**\*\
(’11)

\*We honour the memories of [Sonia H. Labatt](https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/in-memoriam-sonia-labatt-1937-2022/) (’60, ’90, ’95, ’11) and [Helen Vari](https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/in-memoriam-helen-vari-1931-2023/) (’11) who served the University with distinction as Honorary Chairs of the
Defy Gravity campaign.

---

## Campaign Co-Chairs

Our Campaign Co-chairs are passionate and accomplished business and community leaders who will guide a coalition of
campaign volunteers devoted to inspiring the highest level of support for U of T’s excellence and
aspirations.

**John M. Cassaday**\
(’81, ’17)

**Claire M. C. Kennedy**\
(’89, ’23)

**Brian D. Lawson**\
(’82)

**Som Seif**\
(’99)

---

## Campaign Steering Committee

Our Steering Committee includes a wide range of prominent leaders who serve as a sounding board, providing strategic
advice to help us engage the University’s diverse base of alumni, donors, and friends.

**John M. Cassaday**\
(’81, ’17)

**Noble C. Chummar**

**Victor G. Dodig**\
(’88)

**William A. Downe**\
(’78, ’18)

**Ira Gluskin\**(’64, ’22)

**Blake Goldring\**(’81, ’21, ’24)

**Wes Hall**\
(’23)

**Sana Halwani**\
(’04)

**Daisy Chiu-Fung Ho**\
(’90)

**The Hon. Henry N. R. Jackman**\
(’53, ’56, ’93, ’11)

**Sam Ibrahim**

**Claire M. C. Kennedy**\
(’89, ’23)

**Mark Krembil**\
(’88)

**Eva Lau**\
(’92)

**Brian D. Lawson**\
(’82)

**George Myhal**\
(’78, ’18)

**David Palmer**

**Rose M. Patten**\
(’09)

**The Hon. David Peterson**\
(’67, ’94)

**Richard D. Phillips**\
(’90)

**Susan Scace**\
(’63, ’03, ’13)

**Som Seif**\
(’99)

**Sachin Shah**\
(’99)

**Leah Temerty-Lord**

**Melanie A. Woodin**\
(’95, ’97)