Investing in a golden future for Laurier rugby – in memory of Bill Webb (BBA ’86)

In celebration of their dear friend and former teammate William (Bill) Webb (BBA ’86), a group of rugby Golden Hawks is fundraising to establish an endowed award in his memory to support rugby at Laurier.

The Bill Webb Memorial Fund aims to provide financial awards for student-athletes on the men’s rugby team, as well as support the Laurier rugby program. By keeping Webb’s love for the sport alive, the group hopes to showcase the benefits rugby can bring to the community.

“Bill was an incredible man who made a tremendous impact, here at Laurier and far beyond,” says Jason Coolman, vice-president of Advancement and External Relations at the university. “His many friends here miss him deeply, but his legacy at Laurier will live on for many generations.” 

Webb began his rugby career in high school, where he captained a sports team for the first time. In a 2021 “Beyond the Degree” interview, Webb said that while he wasn’t the best player, he had a vision of how the team needed to communicate and work together. This was Webb’s first big leadership opportunity, one that he said taught him that an effective leader must know how to be an ambassador, know how to communicate and understand the importance of integrity.

For Webb, what he called the “five pillars of rugby” – integrity, respect, teamwork, passion, discipline – were the same core values required to be an effective business leader. 

As a student, Webb was able to pursue his lifelong passion for investment and finance as well as his passion for rugby. Webb was part of a small group of rugby enthusiasts who launched a rugby club in 1981. When the club became a varsity team in 1984, Webb became club president and captain of the Golden Hawks rugby team.

After graduating, Webb built a successful career in the financial sector and served as executive vice-president and chief investment officer at Gluskin Sheff + Associates until his retirement in 2015. He then became a founding partner and later an advisor at Waypoint Investment Partners.  

Together with his wife, Agnes, Webb generously supported many initiatives at Laurier, including a transformational gift of $1 million to the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics to support the construction of Lazaridis Hall. In making their gift, the couple hoped to give future students the same impactful experience that Webb enjoyed. Webb was a steady champion of Laurier’s co-op program throughout his career, supporting the hiring of more than 130 students for co-op placements. 

Webb’s impact on the Laurier community only risks being overshadowed by his impact on Canadian rugby. Although his career as a player ended with a serious knee injury, Webb continued to be a champion for the sport in Canada. He became director and capital campaign co-chair of Rugby Canada, in addition to being on the Captain’s Council of TIRF (Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation) and a founding member of the Rugby Alliance, supporting grassroots and youth rugby. 

Webb helped fundraise for a new training facility, and the Al Charron Rugby Canada National Training Centre in Langford, B.C. was completed in 2017. He was also instrumental in launching the Toronto Arrows RFC, Canada’s only Major League Rugby team. 

Bill Webb passed away in August 2023, leaving a legacy of affection, devotion and generosity to the Laurier community.  

Webb’s former teammates – original members of the Rugby Golden Hawks from the 1981 inaugural year – hope the Bill Webb Memorial Fund will continue his good work of supporting rugby.  

“Bill was not only a stellar scrumhalf, captain and club president, he had the sport flowing through his veins. He raised millions of dollars to support a sport he believed had a place in Canadian life.” 

You can help honour Webb’s commitment to Laurier rugby with a gift to the Bill Webb Memorial Fund.