North York woman bequeaths $1.8 million to architectural conservancy
The Architectural Conservancy Ontario is calling a $1.8-million gift bequeathed by a life-long North York resident a surprising and astonishing donation.
The Architectural Conservancy Ontario is calling a $1.8-million gift bequeathed by a life-long North York resident a surprising and astonishing donation.
The contribution came from the estate of Mary Millard, who was born in 1925 and died May 21, 2013.
She was predeceased by her husband and had no children.
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The daughter of a justice at the Supreme Court of Ontario, Millard attended Havergal College but was expelled for unknown reasons, the conservancy said.
She attended Jarvis Collegiate before graduating from the University of Toronto, where she studied philosophy and sociology.
She went on to teach briefly at York Mills Collegiate Institute.
In the 1960s, she earned her private pilot’s licence.
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The conservancy will use the gift to proceed with a heritage photography project and for other programs and activities.
"This astonishing gift came as a complete surprise to ACO," president Richard Longley said in a statement.
"Whatever the reason for her generosity, ACO is extremely grateful for the Mary Millard bequest and it promises to make the best possible use of it, for the benefit of all Ontarians who understand ACO’s slogan: The Past, Our Present, Your Future."
Although her interest in architecture was restricted to a hatred of monster homes, Millard did have family ties to the field, Longley noted.
Her favourite uncle was architect Percival Alan Deacon and her sister-in-law was Christine Millard, first wife of Ron Thom, architect of Trent University and Massey College.
Her bequest to the ACO is one of three causes to which she left funds.
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