Mary Louise & Ronald Laidlaw Martin Graduate Scholarships continue to change students’ lives

Nov 21, 2025

*Mary and Ron Martin were champions of education at all levels. All photos courtesy of the Martin family.*

Over the past six years, dozens of students have overcome financial barriers and been given the freedom to focus on their academics, thanks to the Mary Louise & Ronald Laidlaw Martin Graduate Scholarships, established through a generous million-dollar donation from the estate of Mary Martin.

“My parents always saw the importance of higher education and supporting students,” says Peter Martin, one of Canada’s most distinguished astrophysics leaders and mentors, an Officer of the Order of Canada and a professor in U of T’s Canadian Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA). “I know they would be delighted with how effective these scholarships have been in the lives of students.”

During his own studies, Peter benefitted from scholarships and says he could not have got through his undergraduate or graduate degrees in Toronto and the University of Cambridge without fellowship support. The significant philanthropy behind these awards was not lost on Mary and Ron and factored in Mary’s decision to leave an estate gift to the university.

It’s inspiring to see the next generations take exciting steps toward their own careers, thanks to this support.

“Having enjoyed a rewarding career in astrophysics myself as a professor, it’s inspiring to see the next generations take exciting steps toward their own careers, thanks to this support,” Peter says.

Peter and his siblings, John, Anne and Jim, all studied or taught at U of T. Their scholastic success reinforced their parents’ staunch belief in the power of education, which in turn inspired the siblings.

It’s inspiring to see the next generations take exciting steps toward their own careers, thanks to this support.

A lifelong commitment to helping others

Mary studied at Queen’s University and Mount Allison University, and Ron graduated as a dentist from U of T. Both understood the importance of private funding for making education accessible to all and showed a lifelong commitment to learning and helping their community, for instance Ron serving as chair of the local board of education.

“Support for graduate studies has to come from somewhere,” Peter says. “It requires government fellowships and private funding. My parents were aware of that need and left this legacy gift to bolster funding for students when they need it most.”

“The generosity of Mary and Ron Martin continues to have a profound impact on graduate student education at Arts & Science,” says Stephen Wright, interim dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science. “These scholarships help make our faculty a premier location for the brightest young minds across Canada and internationally.”

Making a meaningful difference for students

The Martin Graduate Scholarships support students in astronomy and astrophysics, ecology and evolutionary biology, physics and public policy. Recipients across these disciplines share a deep well of gratitude for the support and have had the opportunity to express that gratitude directly to the Martin family.

“This incredible generosity motivates me to work harder toward my academic and career goals in public policy, economics and political science,” says Jinyan Li, a 2024–25 recipient of the Martin Graduate Scholarship in Public Policy. “To the Martin family, thank you for believing in my potential and making a meaningful difference in my educational journey.”

Some students, like Tia Harrison, who received the Martin Graduate Scholarship in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology in 2022 as a fifth-year doctoral student, drew a direct line between the award and their ability to produce the highest possible quality of research in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This award has allowed me to continue my studies in Toronto without worrying about my personal finances,” Harrison says. “I am confident I will be able to graduate with a thesis I am proud of because of the Martin Scholarship during this difficult time.”

Alongside the scholarships, the Faculty of Arts and Science established the annual public Martin Lectures. Since the inaugural Martin Lecture took place in 2019, lectures have rotated among the four disciplines, bringing top scholars as speakers to the University of Toronto. Most recently, Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Hinton delivered the 2025 Martin Lecture in Physics, detailing his work on Boltzmann Machines, which earned him the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics.

By Coby Zucker