In Memoriam: The Honourable Hilary Weston, Champion of the Arts and Education

Through her unwavering commitment to philanthropy, most notably through The Weston Family Foundation and The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation, Mrs. Weston profoundly shaped the arts landscape in Canada. Her vision and generosity opened doors for countless young people, empowering them to explore their creativity, reach their potential, and experience the transformative power of music.

The Royal Conservatory has been honoured to be a beneficiary of the Weston family's philanthropic spirit since the 1970s. Their visionary support helped launch our groundbreaking Learning Through the Arts program, which brought creativity and music into classrooms across the country.

Their contributions have extended to nearly every corner of the RCM. The Weston Family Foundation supported the Building National Dreams campaign, which transformed our Bloor Street facilities and led to the naming of both the Weston Family Box Office and the Reta Lila Weston Music Court. In 2012, they, along with family member Wendy Rebanks, established the Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency Program, which remains the RCM’s prestigious postgraduate professional training program for emerging artists. The family has also generously supported numerous fundraising events and initiatives over the years, establishing multiple scholarships at The Glenn Gould School and uplifting generations of talented young musicians.

Most recently, The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation’s support of the Oscar Peterson Program has opened doors for underserved youth in the Greater Toronto Area, providing access to comprehensive, tuition-free music education at the Oscar Peterson School of Music. Reflecting Canada’s multicultural society, this program is grounded in Dr. Peterson’s belief that music education should be available to all, and it aligns closely with Mrs. Weston’s enduring values of inclusion, access, and opportunity.

In 2016, The Royal Conservatory awarded The W. Garfield Weston Foundation (now known as The Weston Family Foundation) an Honorary Fellowship, recognizing decades of exceptional generosity and partnership. Mrs. Weston’s personal connection to our mission was evident in her regular attendance at RCM fundraising events, where she showed great warmth and enthusiasm for the accomplishments of our students and the power of music to uplift and unite.