Arrangements announced for the passing of Peter Milligan
Philanthropist, lawyer, advocate for Canadian contemporary artists and friend of OCAD U Peter Milligan passed away at age 69. The public is invited to bid a farewell at Turner and Porter Funeral Home, Yorke Chapel, 2357 Bloor Street West, Sunday, November 18th, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be a private family interment.
Milligan and his wife Dorene MacAulay Milligan, an OCAD U alumna (Painting & Drawing, 2001), were tremendous supporters of the university since 2003.
“Peter Milligan's death comes as a terrible and unexpected shock. Peter was an inspirational figure; a philanthropist, art lover and collector, expert sailor and navigator of deep water, supporter of Casey House and talented lawyer,” said Dr. Sara Diamond, President & Vice-Chancellor, OCAD University. “Peter was a close friend and colleague. Our deepest sympathies are with Dorene and his son Jeremy.”
Through Project 31, bursaries, student assistance and other programs, the Milligans donated more than $350,000 to OCAD U. They also funded the position of Dorene and Peter Milligan Executive Director, OCAD U Galleries, held by Francisco Alvarez.
The Project 31 fundraising auction was especially significant to Milligan, who was involved since its inception. Over the years, he bought many works by faculty and alumni at the event. Milligan refused to call himself a “collector” of art, preferring the word “custodian” as he felt artworks should be accessible to all.
“I may acquire art, but over time it has to come into the public domain,” he said in a 2015 interview. “I was happy to see these pieces at Project 31 and they are now in our home.”
Most recently, Peter Milligan was the driving force in bringing the exhibition Imago Mundi – Great and North, to Onsite Gallery from October 24 to December 16, 2018. Milligan saw the international Imago Mundi exhibition at the Venice Biennale and met with exhibition patron Luciano Benneton and curator Francesca Valente to bring the stunning Canadian portion of the exhibition to Toronto.
Peter Milligan was a member of the President’s Advisory Council and the Ignite Imagination Campaign Cabinet. The Milligan family has kindly included OCAD University in their list of expressions of sympathy (Globe and Mail obituary).
