Preserving Trent’s Momentous Architecture for Future Generations

April 17, 2023

$250,000 gift to the Bryan P. Davies Heritage Fund is the most recent investment from past board chair Bryan Davies who has enjoyed a lifelong passion for architecture

A $250,000 gift to the Bryan P. Davies Heritage Fund will help create lasting and meaningful support for the University’s iconic architecture.

Bryan Davies, a past Trent board chair, announced during the Toronto launch of the Campaign for Momentous Change that his gift would help conserve the masterful works of architect Ron Thom and his team of architects and designers.

“Trent is a university with a unique pedigree thanks to the amazing vision of founding president Tom Symons who invested heavily in its built heritage, retaining renowned architect Ron Thom,” says Mr. Davies. “This wonderful legacy needs to be not only cherished but preserved.”

Mr. Davies, who has held numerous senior positions in the public and private sector including as Deputy Minister of Finance in the Ontario government, has long dovetailed his aptitude for numbers with his passion for architecture.

When the opportunity arose throughout his illustrious career, he helped make smart investments in heritage. In the mid ’80s, for example, when serving as Deputy Minister for the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture, he championed funding for the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre to refurbish the building to its original glory.

He and his spouse Andra Takacs went on to privately support Elgin Theatre, leading to the naming of the theatre’s main lobby as the Davies Takacs Lobby. Mr. Davies does not seek naming recognition but instead gives generously because of his passion for built heritage.

Outside of his career, Mr. Davies has also been heavily involved with not-for-profits in the heritage and educational sectors. He first became involved with Trent after befriending then-Trent president Bonnie Patterson (1998-2009) who encouraged him to become involved in the Peterborough area where he has vacationed since his youth. “I’m a big believer that inspiring work happens in an inspiring environment,” he says, noting that the setting and structures at Trent serve the Academy well.

After serving on Trent’s finance committee and then as board chair, Mr. Davies has stayed involved with Trent impressed by not only its architecture but also its focus on interdisciplinary studies, low faculty-to-student ratio, and its ‘Cinderella story’ of growing from community support including payroll deductions from G.E. workers.

After six decades of growth, Trent’s architecture continues to inspire those across the world, and Mr. Davies’ goal is to help steward that landscape for decades to come. “Like so much excellent design, Trent’s architecture needs upkeep and maintenance to preserve its glory for future generations,” he says.

Learn more about supporting momentous research at Trent University.