Arts & Science alum Mary McBride is an award-winning educator, dedicating her life to nurturing the intellectual curiosities of others and instilling the same passion for learning she discovered as an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto.
“Teaching has always given me a sense of purpose. It was often so engrossing that I made time for little else,” says McBride, who earned her honours bachelor of arts degree in 1968, majoring in Latin and French as a member of Victoria College.
“The knowledge I gained from U of T has found its way into my teaching nearly every year since graduation.”
For over four decades, McBride taught at Banting Memorial High School in Alliston, Ontario, where she aspired to make her courses in Latin, Ancient Greek and French exciting and accessible.
McBride estimates some years she spent more than 400 hours working with students outside scheduled classes. She often woke up at 5 a.m. to grade papers, stayed after the bell to tutor and prepare students for contests. McBride also led class trips to the Royal Ontario Museum and, for many years, an educational expedition to Europe.
“A teacher must set high standards,” says McBride, who won the 2004 Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching. “You cannot demand much of the students if you don’t demand much of yourself.”
Searching for fulfillment in retirement, McBride became an instructor at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. Her courses in Latin and Ancient Greek draw rave reviews, and McBride’s students twice nominated her for an Excellence in Teaching Award. She also received the Languages and Translation Award for 2020 and the Career Impact Award for 2023.
“I have failed retirement many times,” says McBride, who turns 80 this year. “There's nothing more exciting than teaching.”
McBride supports student success at U of T with philanthropic gifts to Victoria College and the Department of Classics. She has donated dozens of books from her personal library and plans to leave some additional pieces of her collection — more than 500 titles on classical languages and culture — to the department’s Woodbury Library.
“I want the books to have another life with some future scholars,” she says.
McBride is an ardent enthusiast of Victoria College reunions. She dials up former classmates and nudges them back to St. George campus — her efforts produced “quite a showing” at the 25-year reunion. McBride made sure to attend the 40-, 50- and 55-year reunions.
“I plan to attend the 60-year reunion in 2028 as well,” she says.
Until then, she’ll continue teaching several classes per week with the School of Continuing Studies.
“Retirement can't hold a candle to teaching,” says McBride. “My students are always teaching me new things, and they give my days purpose.”