I Remember Chancellor Norman Jewison

^{Former Vic U chancellors Norman Jewison and Wendy Cecil pose with President Emeritus Paul Gooch and Blake Goldring Vic 8T1, at the 2011 launch of the Jewison stream of the Vic One program. (Photo: Babak, Victoria University Archives)}

By Wendy Cecil

Vast numbers of people remember Norman Jewison as the baseball-capped director of countless wonderful movies—and so he was! But as the one who succeeded him as chancellor of our alma mater, I fondly remember him in his scarlet velvet and gold brocade chancellor’s gown at Victoria University. I was privileged to wear the same gown.

I first met Norman many years ago, when a U of T colleague and I were dispatched to ask if he’d be the honorary chair of the annual fundraising campaign. We were nervous about requesting such a favour, but when we arrived at Norman’s office, he welcomed us enthusiastically and started telling us stories about his life and experiences.

We knew we had to put “the question” to him soon, because time was short. Finally, we blurted out: “Will you be the honorary chair of U of T’s annual fundraising this year?” We waited. Did he flinch? Did he say, “I’ll get back to you”? Absolutely not! He gave us that pixie smile and declared that he’d absolutely love to do it—and then he casually went back to telling us stories. Our mission accomplished, we nearly buckled with relief and joy. It was so typical of Norman: he made us feel like we were doing him a favour by asking him to take on a task! He was incredibly gracious. That was Norman’s charm; every time you saw him, he made you feel special. His gift was that he really loved people.

When Norman was chancellor of Vic U, that gift was always in evidence. He came to my home for a dinner with some exceptional students from the Vic One program’s Jewison stream. They were young writers, poets, filmmakers and artists who were jumpy about spending an evening with a legend. But Norman told a few stories to put them at ease, and then turned his focus on them as individuals. He wanted to know what they’d created and what they were working on. He asked about their dreams and their ambitions. He offered genuine encouragement and praise and gave some personal advice to each of them. It was magical.

Norman relished his time with those students and it showed. He gave them his full attention, inspiration and ultimately, a dose of confidence too. This was the real Norman Jewison shining through. He just knew how to make people feel really good. Whether he was hosting an event, interviewing a guest on stage for Charter Day, or convening Convocations in his glorious red chancellor’s gown, you always felt better when you saw him!

Norman was a man of small physical stature, so when I succeeded him as chancellor, I was delighted that his gown actually fit me. Whenever it was on my shoulders, I could feel the example he set in his love for everything about Vic U and its students. Norman left big shoes to fill in more than one activity over his long and productive life; he also left behind a long trail of people grateful to have known and walked beside him for a little while. I have no doubt he is now paying intense attention to the goals and dreams of the angels.

Wendy Cecil Vic 7T1 was chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto from 2010–2017. She currently chairs the University of Toronto Presidents’ Circle and the Victoria University Defy Gravity campaign.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Vic Report.