When asked what inspired him to leave a future legacy gift for York University, Tyler Ward (BA ’10, MA ’19) explains, “It’s not about leaving a legacy, it’s about enriching future generations. For me, it’s not just something to do, but it’s a personal mission.”
That mission was shaped early in life through his exposure to the realities of inequity in under‑resourced communities and among populations facing systemic barriers. Tyler’s father was a high school teacher, and his mother was a public health nurse. For as long as he can remember, dinner table conversations centered on social justice, poverty, and inequity.
Tyler’s first foray into social justice advocacy came in high school. At 16, he began working in tobacco control with an emphasis on educating youth on the practices the tobacco industry uses to addict young people.
With a fire in his belly for systems change, Tyler began his post-secondary career. He initially enrolled at the University of Toronto but soon transferred to York University. For Tyler, it was love at first sight. York’s deep connection to social justice, in both its culture and curriculum, and its intersectional approach to health equity resonated deeply with him, and he immersed himself into the social determinants of health and health policy. It was also York’s diverse student and faculty community that drew him in.
During his undergrad, Tyler studied under Prof. Dennis Raphael, a professor of Health Policy and Management who he credits with introducing him to courses such as Social Determinants of Health and Poverty and Inequality. Tyler returned to York for a master’s degree under Prof. Raphael’s supervision and the two developed a long-lasting working relationship that spanned over a decade.
After completing his time at York, Tyler pursued a law degree. Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to professional roles that inform public health policy, sustainability and community engagement. Today, Tyler and his wife support dozens of charities in their wills and life insurance, including Daily Bread, Sunnybrook Hospital, Indspire, and, of course, York University. He emphasizes that philanthropy is not just for the wealthy, and hopes his gift inspires others, especially millennials, to leave a legacy gift as well.
With a mission and core values strongly aligned to his own, Tyler is leaving a legacy gift for York. He believes that it is important to increase access for equity-deserving groups who face barriers to higher education, especially at institutions like York, which empower students to think critically about the issues of today and make change. After all, Tyler shares the common worldview that “Education is one of the fundamental bedrocks for a flourishing democracy.”