Red Wilson's $50-million gift creates leadership college at McMaster

• By Shivraj Jhala
• Posted Monday, Sep 19, 2022 10:19 am

Red Wilson's $50-million gift creates leadership college at McMaster

“Wilson College” has an old-school ring to it, and rightly so, named as it is after a student who first walked through the stone arches on McMaster University’s campus six decades ago.

But in fact it’s the future, coming in 2024: the Wilson College of Leadership and Civic Engagement, a program at McMaster dedicated to learning about leadership in all its facets.

It’s launching thanks to a $50-million donation from philanthropist Lynton (Red) Wilson, that McMaster officials say is the largest single gift to liberal arts education ever in Canada.

“Leadership matters, it’s an important piece of the puzzle, whether it’s in a family, organization, or government,” Wilson told The Spectator. “It’s especially important in these times of rapid change in every aspect of our lives.”

The topic is taught in various ways in universities, but a McMaster news release says Wilson College will be the only program in the country focused exclusively on leadership and civic engagement, and will lead to an honours BA in the discipline. 

McMaster president David Farrar agrees with the notion that effective leadership is more an art than science, and accordingly the program will be part of the...[READ MORE]