R. Samuel McLaughlin: Canada’s Greatest Philanthropist?
Sam McLaughlin was many things in his lifetime: entrepreneur, business leader, auto baron, Honourary Colonel, sportsman. But one thing really set him apart - his belief in sharing his good fortune.
As one of Canada’s wealthiest industrialists, McLaughlin’s legendary generosity began early in his career. Then, in 1952, at the age of 80, he established the R.S. McLaughlin Foundation. The funding priority was promoting good health among Canadians by encouraging study and research in medical science and by nurturing arts, culture, education and community as keys to healthful living.
McLaughlin had instructed that the Foundation close after 50 years, which it did, having disbursed almost $200 million . Factoring in the plethora of personal and anonymous gifts doled out during his lifetime, apart from his Foundation, and allowing for inflation, Sam McLaughlin may be Canada’s greatest philanthropist to date.
All of the donations are too numerous to mention, but some highlights include:
Education, Health and Science:
- $50 million to the University of Toronto to create the R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre for research on gene therapy, molecular pharmacology and tissue engineering
- $7,178,000 to the University of Toronto, some of it to create the R.S. McLaughlin Chair in Surgery, plus research grants of $3,340,000
- $4 million to the Hospital for Sick Kids, including funding the first Intensive Care Unit
- $1.3 million to the University of Guelph
- $10.3 million to Queen’s University for research
- $6 million to Queen’s University for the McLaughlin Engineering Building, Adelaide Hall Women’s Residence, Wallace Hall Dining Hall, and fellowship programmes
- The $4 million John Buchan library given to Queen’s University
- $5 Million to the University of Western Ontario for The R.S. McLaughlin Macromolecular Structure Facility;
- $10 Million to the University of Ottawa for the R. Samuel McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment
- The R.S. McLaughlin Centre for Research and Education in Aging and Health,
- The R. Samuel McLaughlin Addiction and Mental Health Information Centre;
- Millions of dollars went to over a thousand Travelling Fellowships in Medicine for Canada’s brightest medical graduates with their commitment of teaching medicine in Canada, and to The Edward Gallie Visiting Professorships in Medicine
- Millions of dollars were given to:
- The Ontario College of Art
- RyersonUniversity
- McMasterUniversity
- YorkUniversity for McLaughlin College
- TrentUniversity
- DalhousieUniversity
- McGillUniversity
- AcadiaUniversity
- Universityof Montreal
- CarletonUniversity
- Universityof Waterloo
- Universityof Saskatchewan
- Universityof Calgary
- Universityof Lethbridge
- MountAllison University
Art and Culture:
When McLaughlin made a gift of his fine art collection including his Group of Seven collection, Emily Carr, and 57 works by Gagnon to The McMichael Gallery in 1972, it was the largest gift of art ever made in Canada at the time.
His gift of Paul Peel’s “After the Bath”, which previously resided in McLaughlin’s dining room, was given to the Province of Ontario and now sits in the Art Gallery of Ontario where it has been voted “Visitor Favourite”.
Extensive gifts were made to:
- The Robert McLaughlin Gallery
- The Canadian Opera Company
- The National Ballet of Canada
- The Stratford Festival
- The Toronto Symphony Orchestra
- Roy Thomson Hall
- Mendelssohn Choir
At home in Oshawa McLaughlin gave $3.8 million in gifts to Oshawa General Hospital and $5 million more to fund the R.S. McLaughlin Regional Cancer Centre. He paid for The Oshawa Public Library and its collection and funded its bookmobile and several renovations. His commitment and generosity to the Ontario Regiment earned him the title of Honourary Colonel for Life. He provided program funds and capital funding for a camp for the Boy Scouts which they named Camp Samac in his honour. He also funded the Girl Guides, The Oshawa Generals Hockey Team, Settlement House; Eastview Boys and Girls Club. He donated The YWCA’s Adelaide House and provided scholarship and bursary funding to area High Schools. And of course, Parkwood Estate -his 55-room mansion filled with exquisite furnishings, art, and 12 acres of gardens which he gave to his community. Priceless.
In 1989, Parkwood was officially designated a National Historic Site and R.S. McLaughlin was named a person of significance to Canadian heritage by Parks Canada, the agency responsible for Canada's program of historical commemoration. The dual designation of both Sam McLaughlin as an individual and Parkwood as a landmark make this site a rich and unique property and the source of tremendous pride in the community.
Sam McLaughlin left us a great legacy, a place of honour in Canadian history. Let’s ensure that his generosity is remembered, celebrated and honoured. Every gift to Parkwood helps us preserve this glorious home - a fitting tribute to a great and generous Canadian.
