Campaign Update

"We're at two hundred million and counting..."

"I am delighted to report," John Cleghorn, Chair of The McGill Twenty-First Century Fund, told a May 2 meeting of key volunteers, "that The McGill Twenty-First Century Fund has surpassed our target of $200,000,000--the most ambitious private-funding objective in Canadian university history. It's an achievement everyone in the McGill community can take great pride in--faculty, staff, students, graduates and friends around the campus and all over the world." Principal Bernard Shapiro added, "And we did it despite a difficult economic situation, an unstable political climate, plus internal changes at McGill."

At the same time, Cleghorn reminded his audience that many deserving projects remain unfunded. This of course reflects the nature of the campaign, with some projects holding greater appeal to potential donors than others. Volunteers--a small army, 1,182 strong--will be fêted at a special event at Redpath Hall on May 27, during which the final total of $200-million-plus will be unveiled.

Campaign priorities and high points

Prior to the official campaign kick-off in September 1993, six broad areas considered to be essential strategic investments were identified through an exhaustive three-year consultative planning process. Those key areas are: students, teaching and research, libraries, new construction, equipment and renewed space, and emerging priorities.

An official final report with full details on campaign achievements is being prepared for distribution in September. In the meantime, here are some selected highlights.

Students

• A grand total of 151 new enhanced fellowships and scholarships, including those funded by major donations from the Max Stern Foundation, Hydro-Québec, and the Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation
• The four-phase Athletics Complex redevelopment project, which, when completed, will double the amount of space available for athletics at McGill

Teaching and research

• Twelve new named endowed chairs, including the Alva Chair in Genetics, held by Dr. Charles Scriver, and the E.P. Taylor Chair, held by Dr. Ronald Melzack
• The medical informatics project, setting the pace for information technology applications designed to improve medical education, research and patient care
• New initiatives at the Centre for University Teaching and Learning (CUTL), including grants to 17 professors from seven faculties, the new Royal Bank Skills Development Fund, new fellowships, and a Symposium Fund
• Establishment of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, committed to promoting awareness and understanding of Canadian issues

Libraries

• Major enhancements to the McGill library system, made possible by generous donations, including major gifts from Seymour Schulich, R. Howard Webster and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, to help maintain existing collections, preserve rare manuscripts, upgrade computer technology and keep pace with the information explosion

Equipment and renewed space

• Major renovations to existing Engineering buildings, including new laboratories and state-of-the-art facilities
• Modernization of equipment and facilities in various faculties and buildings
• Renovations to Moyse Hall in the heritage Arts Building to improve the front-of-house area and to outfit workshop areas

New construction

• First major buildings on campus since the 1970s: the M.H. Wong Building (Chemical Engineering and Materials Science) and the new McGill Athletics Complex downtown, plus the Research Greenhouse and Swine Facility on the Macdonald Campus
• The new Athletics Complex includes the Fieldhouse, the Weider Varsity Weight Room, the Seagram Sport Science Centre, the McGill Sport Medicine Clinic, Tomlinson Hall, and the Cleghorn Laboratory, officially opened on May 17, which will house the only hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) chamber in eastern Canada, a research tool for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and the relief of exercise-induced fatigue

Emerging priorities

• Enhancements to Deans' Development Funds, which cover priorities that emerged after campaign priorities had been established
• Faculty and staff commitment to upgrade the campus daycare
• Faculty and Staff Development Training Fund

Campus community: strong start, stronger finish

Faculty and staff were trailblazers for this campaign, with 66% participation launching The McGill Twenty-First Century Fund with a record $4,230,000 in gifts and pledges. In recent months, more student associations have developed thoughtful projects that have won broad student support--a total of more than $9,500,000, which ranks among the highest such student efforts in Canada.