On January 23, 2023 the archives lost its “patron Saint”, The Rt. Hon. Donna Haley, whose generosity has transformed its physical space and ability to serve researchers and the Trinity community. A member of the class of 5T1, Donna had a great time while she was here, participating in a full range of extramural activities. The highlight must have been undertaking the role of Chloe McFiggin, a rough-and-tumble young woman from northern Ontario who enters the sedate halls of ‘St. Gilda’s’ in Keith MacMillan and Ron Bryden’s musical Saints Alive, first performed in 1949. A Gilbert & Sullivan-ish spoof of life at Trinity College, the play was remounted in 1952 and again in 2009 for the 30^th anniversary of the GIT (with Donna in attendance).

 

The archives contains quite a quite complete record of these productions, including long-playing records, programmes, scripts, and photographs. Above is an image of Donna as Chloe and below an appreciation sent to her from Keith MacMillan and Ron Bryden with a bouquet of flowers. The verse note reads as follows: 

                Excuse us if we join in the general

                                                                refrain

                Of humble admiration, too emphatic to

                                                                restrain;

                From Ron and Keith, accept these blooms,

                                                                with many thanks again

                To a rough and tough tomato from a

                                                                rough and tough terrain!

In real life Donna had the kind of well-rounded life that we all aspire to. She was a much-admired judge, a community leader who supported many causes and institutions, a musician, a friend. We remember her with great admiration and affection.