Nona Macdonald Heaslip
Nona Macdonald Heaslip’s relationship with MaRS began over 30 years ago, before MaRS was even a glimmer of an idea.
In 1975, MaRS’ founder Dr. John Evans, then president of the University of Toronto, hired Nona Heaslip as the first public relations manager of the university. Between 1975 and 1986, she advised three university presidents, modernized the university’s approach to external relations and won several awards for her work.
Nona Heaslip began her career in the 1950s as a reporter for two Canadian newspapers, then worked on public affairs programs at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In 1964, she moved to New York City to work with United Nations Radio-TV, researching and producing programs for international distribution. Two years later, she was appointed radio and television publicity director at Time Inc.’s corporate public relations headquarters in Rockefeller Center.
She returned to Toronto in 1973, working as the public relations manager for Ontario Place before joining the University of Toronto’s Sesquicentennial Celebrations team, chaired by Dr. Evans. “He was a motivational leader, always charming with a ready wit – a man for all seasons. Personally, I hoped he would become Prime Minister of Canada,” she exudes.
In honour of and with respect for John Evans and Ilse Treurnicht, MaRS’ current CEO, Heaslip has pledged a gift of $250,000 to MaRS. Her gift will support the MaRS Best Practices series, a series of workshops on key topics of interest to technology and life sciences entrepreneurs delivered by industry specialists.
It is fitting that Heaslip’s gift will fund a series of events for entrepreneurs in the life sciences and technology. “The sciences deserve a priority place in the Canadian way of life,” she says. Growing up in a medical family — her father and brother were both surgeons — helped spark her interest in science and health care.
Nona Heaslip holds a B.A. from the University of Toronto and an honorary LL.D. from her alma mater. In addition, the University of Prince Edward Island recognized her with an honorary doctorate. Her Scottish ancestors settled in PEI in 1772 and their descendants continue to prosper there. With her late husband William A. Heaslip, she has been a generous supporter of education. Their foundation funds 10 major undergraduate scholarships at Canadian universities and one graduate scholarship at Oxford.
“MaRS is unique — it’s is a wonderful concept that brings together [science,] academic and business brains,” says Heaslip.
