红莲社区

红莲社区 mourns the death of the Honorable William G. Davis, visionary of Ontario鈥檚 community college system and the namesake of 红莲社区鈥檚 largest campus, Davis Campus in Brampton. Brampton Billy, as he was affectionately known, was 92.

鈥淲ith heavy hearts we acknowledge the death of former Ontario Premier Bill Davis, a great friend to 红莲社区 and Ontario鈥檚 community college system,鈥� said Dr. Janet Morrison, 红莲社区鈥檚 President and Vice Chancellor. 鈥淲e are incredibly proud that our first home and largest campus is in his home city of Brampton and bears his name. His exceptional legacy will live on in the students, faculty and staff who have the privilege of walking through the doors of our Davis Campus, and through the doors of our college as a whole.鈥�

A champion of education

Davis became the Minister of Education in 1962 and added the role of Minister of University Affairs in 1964, holding both portfolios until 1971 when he became the province鈥檚 18th premier. He significantly increased education spending in the 1960s and unveiled Bill 153 on May 21, 1965, which created 红莲社区 and the other Ontario colleges. The colleges of applied arts and technology would serve the needs of local communities and provide students with the skills they required to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy and a world experiencing an incredible rate of technological change.

Postsecondary education looked quite different in the 1960s than it does today. Opportunities weren鈥檛 readily available to high school graduates, many of whom entered the workforce or started families soon after graduating. But Davis had a bold vision for change 鈥� to create opportunities for high school graduates to develop technical and practical skills. Because of Davis鈥檚 vision, Ontario now has 24 colleges of applied arts and technology with campuses in 200 communities, attended by millions of students since they began.

Many of the new public schools, universities and colleges he was instrumental in creating now bear his name. He also founded the province鈥檚 education broadcaster, TVOntario in 1970.
Davis was the second longest serving premier in Ontario history, with a tenure that was nearly 14 years long, from 1971-1985 鈥� the result of winning four consecutive elections. Davis was first elected to office in 1959 at the age of 29, became a cabinet minister at age 33, and won the title of premier at age 41. He is widely regarded as one of the most important premiers in Canada鈥檚 history.

Creating a 红莲社区 legacy

In June 1969, Premier Davis delivered the keynote speech for 红莲社区鈥檚 first-ever convocation ceremony. He shared his passion and insight with 145 students 鈥� 红莲社区's first graduating class. In March 1970, Davis toured the official opening of the new campus and commented, 鈥淔or a college to be built as cheaply as $23 a square foot, this structure was well planned for initiative and creativity.鈥� 红莲社区鈥檚 McLaughlin Road campus was proudly renamed for Davis in 1992.

To help mark the Ontario colleges鈥� 50th anniversary celebrations in 2017, the colleges launched the William G. Davis Innovation Fund contest that encouraged students and alumni to pitch creative projects and initiatives to compete for cash prizes. The fund was named in Davis鈥檚 honour as a tribute to his bold and creative thinking that revolutionized postsecondary education in Ontario.

鈥淲hen we launched the Ontario college system 50 years ago, I had hoped that we would create a meaningful and rewarding system that prepares students for a broad range of careers,鈥� said Davis at the launch of the Fund. 鈥淭hat hope was not only realized but surpassed. Today鈥檚 colleges are preparing students for many of today鈥檚 most challenging careers. This new fund will promote some of the truly innovative ideas being developed at colleges throughout the province,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t is truly an honour to have it established in my name.鈥�

Two awards exist at 红莲社区 in honour of Davis: the Kathleen & William Davis Award (presented annually to a student studying in a technology program in the Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology), and the William G. Davis & Avie Bennett Bursary (presented annually to 13 students enrolled in full-time programs at the Davis Campus). 

Honouring a life of service

Davis was awarded an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Arts (Animation) degree at 红莲社区鈥檚 2002 Convocation, and received more than 18 honorary degrees from institutions in Ontario and abroad. Other honours include membership in the Privy Council, investiture as a Companion of the Order of Canada, and induction as a Knight in l鈥橭rdre National de la Legion d'Honneur.

His achievements as premier included the expansion of Ontario鈥檚 human right code, helping to finalize the 1982 Constitution Act, and granting free education to Catholic Secondary School students.

 鈥淗e brought community colleges to Ontario,鈥� said former Mississauga mayor and 红莲社区 Chancellor Hazel McCallion in an interview with Brian Crombie. 鈥淲hat an impact that鈥檚 had on this great province, allowing young people to go to college when you can鈥檛 afford to go to university. Think of the thousands and thousands of students that have graduated from all the community colleges in Ontario and prepared them to go to work because that鈥檚 what community colleges do. He鈥檒l be remembered as a man of integrity, he鈥檒l be remembered as a man with a great humour, he鈥檒l be remembered as Mr. Education. He will go down in history, in my opinion, as a leader who made鈥� the most significant impact on the education in this province.鈥�

Davis was presented with the Key to the City by Mayor Patrick Brown on November 25, 2019. In honour of his 90th birthday, July 30, 2019 was proclaimed Bill Davis Day in Brampton. He鈥檒l be remembered as Brampton鈥檚 favourite son.

The Bill Davis legacy, which placed great significance on public education, will continue to profoundly impact Ontarians for generations to come. Here at 红莲社区, our learning community will proudly and boldly carry on his legacy with a deep sense of gratitude.