DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Linda Schuyler (BA ’74 Innis, Hon LLD ’16) and Stephen Stohn (JD ’77) hope their legacy donation will encourage other Innisians

Dedicated to the art of storytelling, Linda Schuyler is best known as executive producer and co-creator of the multi-award winning Degrassi television franchise. Her work has garnered international recognition, including the prestigious Peabody Award and two International Emmys.

She maintains an active involvement in a range of community and professional organizations, currently serving as vice chair of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. She is a Member of the Order of Canada, and, in 2012, was appointed to the Order of Ontario. She has received honorary doctorate degrees from

Open for more details about the exciting Renewal and Expansion of Innis College

Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Toronto.

Stephen Stohn has worked in the entertainment industry for over 50 years, and is a founding partner in the entertainment law firm Stohn Hay Cafazzo Dembroski Richmond LLP. Longtime executive producer of the Degrassi franchise, he was also a director and then chair of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).

His many accolades include 14 Canadian Screen Awards, and in 2011, induction into the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame. Currently serving as chancellor of Trent University, Stephen is also the author of Whatever It Takes: Life Lessons from Degrassi and Elsewhere in the World of Music and Television

“Innis has always managed to embody a sense of intimacy combined with innovation. Indeed, when I attended Innis in 1974, it was the only college in the country that offered courses in both film and women’s studies—and in a real sense, this helped forge the foundation of what became a lifelong career combining film with social issues as the Degrassi franchise evolved.

My husband, Stephen Stohn, and I have chosen to make our legacy donation not just because of Innis’s past and ongoing accomplishments, but also because we are impressed by the degree of student involvement in the planning and financial commitments embodied in the Innis College Renewal and Expansion Campaign—plans which put future students first. We hope our gift can prompt others to donate, in amounts large and small. The world needs more Innisians!”

After

The Innis Green, as seen here from the north, will undergo major transformation, bordered by the west wing expansion. More purposeful furnishings and access routes and walls of glass will bring life and functionality to our courtyard.

Casper Wong grew up in Vancouver, and initially came to U of T to pursue a career in law. He met his wife here, Daisy Singla, currently a scientist at CAMH, and assistant professor at U of T. After graduation, Casper worked in investment banking at BMO Capital Markets, and eventually co-founded Financeit in 2011, Canada’s leader in the point-of-sale financing industry. In 2020, Casper founded United Nation of Cyclists, a cycling team focused on promoting diversity and inclusivity.

“I had a great experience at Innis College and have stayed in touch with both Charlie [Keil] and Ennis [Blentic], who have done a fantastic job of keeping in touch with alumni. Throughout the years, I have been fortunate enough to contribute to the Innis student experience by participating in panel discussions, fireside chats, and most recently, as the virtual keynote speaker for the 2021 graduation ceremony. The natural evolution of this journey was to help contribute financially to the continued growth and expansion of the College. Innis gave me a strong foundation to start my professional life, and I made some incredible lifelong friends. I hope future alumni will see success and pass along their support to the next generation as well.”

Greg Kalil is the founder of Stormont Partners, a Toronto-based merchant bank focused on real asset advisory and investment. Greg entered the real estate business one week after graduating from U of T in 1983, and has spent his entire career in this industry.

Greg is a reformed sailor, mediocre golfer, sometimes wood craftsman, and pretty good cook. In addition to serving on Innis’s Campaign Cabinet, he is a past board chair of Trellis Housing Initiatives, a not-for-profit provider of supportive housing; a past board member of Toronto Community Housing, FRPO, and Holy Trinity School; and an advisor to the board of Anishnawbe Health.

“Innis was my initial connection to U of T. I lived in the old Vlad House residence in my first and second years, ate most of my meals at the College, went to pub nights, and generally had the time of my life. Looking back, I realize how often I think about my time at U of T and Innis and how formative it was for me as a young person.

The [Renewal and Expansion] project immediately appealed to me as a way to perpetuate the kind of experience that I enjoyed. To achieve our philanthropic intentions, we are using a combination of assets, including proceeds from insurance, which allows us to fulfil our philanthropic objectives in meaningful ways. Our family is very pleased to be able to support Innis’s expansion with our gift.”