Celebrating 25 years of giving to Laurier Brantford students

Paul Williamson believes in dreaming big, setting stretch goals and supporting the local community in Brantford. It’s an outlook that inspired the retired entrepreneur – then CEO of The Williamson Group – to make his first philanthropic gift to Laurier’s Brantford campus when it was little more than a big vision fuelled by grassroots support for local university access.

Flash forward, and those investments by early supporters of the campus have paid dividends, transforming the lives of the more than 10,000 alumni, enabling change-making programming and research and positively transforming the campus district. This year, Laurier celebrated its 25th anniversary in Brantford, with much of its success owing to the generosity of donors and community partners, who have given more than $20.5 million in support of programs, awards and capital on the Brantford campus.

At fall convocation, Williamson was presented with the Order of Wilfrid Laurier University in recognition for his contributions to a variety of Laurier Brantford initiatives over many years. Williamson’s’s giving spans many areas – from capital projects, like the Heritage Block and Laurier-Brantford YMCA to entrepreneurship programs, scholarships and the new Laurier Hub for Community Solutions. For him, it’s never just about the project. It’s a way to show his belief in Laurier’s impact on the Brantford community.

Marking the occasion of Williamson’s recognition is also an opportunity to reflect on the more than 2,000 donors who have supported Laurier Brantford since 1999, and the lasting impacts of their support.

“For 25 years, Laurier Brantford has received consistent and dedicated support from individuals like Paul and from organizations, businesses and all level of government,” says Jason Coolman, Laurier’s vice-president, advancement and external relations. “Thank you to all our donors who believe in Laurier students and the thriving of the Brantford community.”

Access to Education

Providing local access to postsecondary education has been a core mission of Laurier’s Brantford campus since its inception and thanks to the generosity of donors like Paul, Laurier has awarded $3.78 million in scholarships and awards to more than 3,600 students.

In 1999, the Grand Valley Education Society (GVES) launched the fundraising campaign for Laurier Brantford. The group raised $2 million from generous donors who believed in the vision of a Laurier campus in Brantford, with half going to help furnish and equip the first location at the old Carnegie Library. The other $1 million endowed scholarships and bursaries for students. Lead donors to this fund include The Rotary Club of Brantford and S.C. Johnson and Son Ltd.

In 2004, the City of Brantford established the City of Brantford Award program, a new endowment at Laurier in support of awards for students at the Brantford campus. The gift is doubled with matching funds from the provincial government, through the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund. Through the program, more than $81,000 has been granted to 40 students to date.

In 2024, Laurier Brantford supporters gave nearly $25,000 in support of the Laurier Brantford 25th Anniversary Bursary. This gift was matched by the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association (WLUAA) for a total of almost $50,000 in support of student bursaries.

Vibrant Spaces

In 2003, the Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union (WLUSU) pledged, through their student levy, what was at the time the largest gift in Laurier’s history. These funds supported initiatives of importance to students, with more than $250,000 directed to Laurier’s Brantford campus. Recent projects supported by the levy include the Level One Lounge in One Market, a social space for students equipped with billiards, table tennis and video games; the Techshare Program, which lends technology to students in need; Care Kits, wellness-focused kits handed out during exam periods in support of student mental health; the inaugural MarketFest; and the 25th anniversary Forever Golden Mural.

From 2006 to 2011, Laurier marked its centennial with a capital campaign.

Hundreds of Laurier Brantford donors, led by Steven and Helen Kun, Davis Fuels, GK York, The Williamson Group and Vicano Construction Limited supported the renovation of Brantford’s downtown Heritage Block.

With the community’s outpouring of support, Laurier constructed a new multi-story Research and Academic Centre at 150 Dalhousie Street. This new space included lecture halls, food services, a new bookstore which has become a gift shop, a lounge, meeting rooms and administrative offices.

SC Johnson Canada donated $1 million in support of the re-development of 38 Market Street, creating space to house academic programs, student services and administrative offices, including alumni relations staff. In recognition of this critical support, Laurier proudly named the SC Johnson Building in their honour.

Through the generosity of many Laurier alumni, WLUAA contributed additional funds to update the building’s lecture hall, which was renamed Alumni Hall in 2010.

In 2012, a $2 million bequest from the estate of Brantford chemist William Nikolaus Martin supported the launch of the Bachelor of Arts and Science in Health Studies; the William Nikolaus Martin labs for faculty and student research; and, at Laurier’s Waterloo campus, the William Nikolaus Martin Science Scholarships for science graduate students.

In 2018, Laurier and the YMCA, along with community representatives, celebrated the completion of the newly built Laurier Brantford YMCA, a 120,000-square-foot, multi-storey facility featuring an aquatic centre, large gymnasium, fitness and conditioning spaces, multi-purpose studios and lounge areas. The project’s capital campaign raised a total of $5.4 million from federal, provincial and municipal government, as well as local individuals and corporate donors including Steven and Helen Kun, Roger and Edith Davis, WLUSU, the WLU Graduate Students’ Association and many others.

In 2019 and 2022 Onkwehonwè:ne, the Indigenous Student Centre, underwent renovations thanks to generous support from various donors including Eric and Valerie Grundy and WLUAA. These renovations create a larger supportive and nurturing space for Laurier’s growing Indigenous student community, allowing for much-needed staff and programming expansion. The space is also able to offer increasingly vital access to academic programs and assistance with career development to further enhance employment options for Indigenous students on Laurier’s Brantford campus.

Eric and Valerie also support the Grundy Scholar, a four-year role that aims to further Indigeneity at Laurier with outstanding Indigenous educators contributing to undergraduate and graduate teaching.

Laurier is deeply committed to supporting Indigenous students, and this dedication is reflected in the generous contributions from donors who fund scholarships and bursaries to help remove financial barriers and foster academic success.

Transformative Programming and Research

In 2017, a gift from Mary Stedman established the Laurier Stedman Prize for high school students in Brantford. This gift helps promote and foster young writers, raises the profile of Laurier’s Brantford campus in the community and helps the university develop relationships with teachers at local high schools. The Samuel W. Stedman Foundation also continues to support Laurier Brantford on an ongoing basis which has helped to shape the campus in many ways, including MarketFest and the Forever Golden mural.

In 2019, the Race family established the Academic, Creative and Engaged Research Showcase (ACERS). This annual event celebrates creative undergraduate student projects across disciplines and highlights the importance of research in professional careers. The showcase provides a unique opportunity for students to present their work to their peers and the broader community in the form of posters, videos or podcasts, while competing for prizes.

“At Laurier, we owe our success in Brantford to the generosity and passion of community members and alumni, who believe in the transformative power of postsecondary education,” says Deborah MacLatchy, Laurier’s president and vice-chancellor. “I look forward to continuing to strengthen these partnerships to grow our vibrant campus community in Brantford.”