A distinctive low-rise condo building near the St. George campus contains a discrete but fitting piece of the Frank Peers legacy that’s still paying dividends for students and communities.
The building stands out for its sense of design, with large white balconies coming to a V-shaped midpoint above the main entrance, adding to the modernist flare of the architecture.
“It isn’t hard to spot,” says retired U of T political science professor David Rayside, a former colleague and friend who was the executor of the Frank Peers estate.
“Frank chose a condo on a corner that looked directly down the street to the University of Toronto. His own aesthetics fit the building,” says Rayside.
“He was not the sort of person who would renovate to fit the latest trends, so his condo unit stayed remarkably as it was, like a time capsule.”
Over time, the two-bedroom condo has continued to be a catalyst for good, helping to directly fund almost half a dozen scholarships through the Department of Political Science using a form of philanthropic support called residual interest.
“It's not a common form of giving but when the conditions are right, it can be great for both the donor and the University,” says Michelle Osborne, executive director of gift planning.
“Especially if a donor is planning to leave most, if not all of their estate to charity, they may have more tax credits than they’ll ever be able to use. This gift structure in effect advances the receipts and gives them time to be able to have the benefit.”
By donating the condominium in 2001, while retaining a life interest in the property, Peers was able to continue to reside there as long as he wished, says Osborne.
“This way, he got a very sizable tax receipt for the present value of the condo that he could use to offset income during his lifetime,” she says.
“The benefit to him is that he always knew that a good portion of his estate was going to go to charity upon his death and he could benefit from the tax receipt in life.”
Osborne says while there may be some hesitancy, any fears about donating a home or personal property as a gift of residual interest can usually be allayed through careful planning. “I think the reason why people may not consider it is really just because their advisor may not know about it, or they don't know about it.”
Peers passed away in 2016 after living in the condo for approximately fifteen years after it was donated.
“At the core of Frank's interest in legacy was his interest in the power of education — the power of education to change individual lives, and also to change society. He didn't come from a fancy family and education made a huge difference in his own career.”
Raised in Depression-era rural Alberta, Peers was one of eight children in his family.
He rose through the ranks of the CBC, devoted to creating programming that reflected Canadian interests and values, and informed the public.
He left broadcasting mid-career to earn a PhD at U of T in 1966, and joined the Political Science department at the University of Toronto until he retired in 1983.
“In his radio career and his university role he might have seemed conventional to some and yet he took risks. But in every case, it was a well-considered risk, one that he had thought through in his meticulous way,” says friend and advisor Robert Vipond, professor emeritus of political science.
“I think you can see that in his decision to donate the apartment.”
Rayside says he and Vipond were given wide latitude when setting up scholarships Peers endowed from his estate, and knew he believed the public good was best served by broadening access and opportunities.
He also insisted on naming most of the endowments for people he admired, such as long-standing colleagues Peter Russell and Stefan Dupré, instead of naming them after himself.
Catherine Dumé and Saman Asim are two recent winners of a Peers-endowed political science scholarship for students who are engaged in issues related to equity.
“I plan on pursuing a career in disability advocacy through policy,” says Dumé.
“Persons with disabilities deserve to experience life to the fullest, whether through education, careers, job opportunities, or simple individual autonomy as they navigate their community,” she says.
Asim says he hopes to introduce different forms of learning into existing education systems while also moving towards creating alternative systems.
“I want to work towards inclusivity in the education systems, not just for students from different communities and backgrounds, which is absolutely crucial, but also through different perspectives and techniques,” he says.
If you are considering or have already left a gift in your will to the University, please let us know so we can thank you and ensure your wishes are honoured. To discuss your legacy giving at the Faculty of Arts & Science, contact Becky Fallis, Senior Development Officer, at becky.fallis@utoronto.ca or 416-978-5988.