NORMAN AND GAY LOVELAND

Norman (JD 1972)
Gay (BA 1965 TRIN, BEd 1972, MEd 1972)

Norman and Gay Loveland are passionate about improving access to education, focusing on traditionally underrepresented groups in higher education, including Indigenous scholars and students first in their family to pursue higher education.

Norman and Gay Loveland share a deep commitment to support educational opportunities for underrepresented groups in higher education — particularly Indigenous scholars. Deeply dedicated to helping Canada move forward on the path to reconciliation, they made a $2 million gift to the Faculty of Law to establish the Loveland Chair in Indigenous Law in 2022. Combined with the couple’s previous benefaction to endow financial aid bursaries for Indigenous law students, their contributions are among the largest gifts designated to Indigenous law in Canada.

In 2023, the Lovelands made a $500,000 gift to establish the Tugwell Loveland Scholars in support of scholars at risk at the Faculty of Law. Matched by the faculty, the gift established a $1-million endowment creating bursaries for the JD program, support for graduate scholarships and visiting scholars who are considered scholars at risk. This includes asylum seekers or refugees from all over the world whose studies have been impacted by changing political events or laws.

Norman was an engineer in the Canadian military before he decided to pursue a career in law. He graduated from the U of T Law class of 1972 and joined Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP where he practised tax law for over 30 years. Gay graduated from Trinity College and then completed both her undergraduate and graduate degrees at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). She taught for many years and volunteered extensively in her community.

The Lovelands are fervent advocates for education. While teaching high school, Gay says she became intensely aware of how difficult it was for Indigenous children to access education. In addition to their support for the Faculty of Law, the couple also has a tradition of giving to Trinity College, including supporting the Gay Tugwell and Norman Loveland Welcome Desk at the Lawson Centre for Sustainability. In 2023 they made a $1-million gift to fund the Tugwell Loveland First Generation Awards at Trinity College. This gift will provide dedicated resources for students who are the first in their families to pursue higher education.
Through a long history of supporting a range of programs the Lovelands have built a lasting legacy rooted in accessible excellence.