The University of Toronto community is mourning the Honourable Hilary M. Weston, a distinguished business leader, former Ontario lieutenant-governor and philanthropist who passed away on Aug. 2, 2025.
A dual citizen of Ireland and Canada, Weston was born in Ireland on Jan. 12, 1942. She moved to Toronto with her husband, W. Galen Weston, in the 1970s. W. Galen, who passed away in 2021, was credited with turning around Loblaw Companies and shaping it into the country’s leading retailer.
Weston made invaluable contributions to the U of T community for decades. Through the Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation, she donated $2.5 million to U of T’s Defy Gravity campaign in 2021. This gift established the Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation Climate and Environment Bursaries at Massey College, as well as programming at the Faculty of Arts & Science, including the Hilary Weston KenSAP Awards. U of T recently welcomed two Kenyan students to study at St. Michael’s College through this program, which helps high-achieving, low-income Kenyan high school graduates gain admission to the top colleges and universities across North America.
Weston was also director of the Weston Family Foundation, which was established by Willard Garfield Weston and Reta Howard Weston. The foundation supported a wide range of activities over several decades, including graduate fellowships, such as the W. Garfield Weston Doctoral Fellowship program and the Weston Brain Institute International Fellowships in Neuroscience.
Hilary Weston’s exemplary philanthropic leadership has enriched the entire province of Ontario – and the University of Toronto is no exception.
“The University of Toronto joins in mourning the passing of the Honourable Hilary Weston and in paying tribute to her global legacy as a business leader, author, philanthropist and public servant,” said U of T President Melanie Woodin.
Hilary Weston’s exemplary philanthropic leadership has enriched the entire province of Ontario – and the University of Toronto is no exception.
“Through her leadership and generosity, Dr. Weston made an impact for the better around the world and here in Canada, including at U of T, where she was a strong supporter of the Faculty of Arts & Science and St. Michael’s College. On behalf of the university, I would like to offer condolences to her children and grandchildren at this sad time.”
Weston spent decades as a leader in the fashion and retail industries, notably as deputy chair of Holt Renfrew from 1986 to 1996. She was devoted to empowering women and young people and championing cultural institutions, including the Royal Ontario Museum and the Gardiner Museum. She became Ontario’s lieutenant-governor in 1997 and held the role until 2002.
Weston received two honorary degrees from U of T, including an honorary doctor of laws in 2000 and a doctor of sacred letters from St. Michael’s College in 1997. She was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2003 for her outstanding achievement and dedication to community and service.
“Hilary Weston’s exemplary philanthropic leadership has enriched the entire province of Ontario – and the University of Toronto is no exception,” said David Palmer, U of T’s vice-president, advancement. “Her generous support of students has created life-changing opportunities to access a world-class education and global experiences. We are incredibly grateful to have shared in her vision of creating a better world.”
