Hilary Weston at the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust for Nonfiction Gala at the Toronto TELUS Centre for Performing and Learning in November, 2012.Della Rollins/The Globe and Mail
Hilary Weston, an Irish-Canadian businessperson, philanthropist and writer who served as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario from 1997 to 2002, has died at the age of 83.
Ms. Weston’s family confirmed her death in a statement on Sunday.
“Our mother lived with unwavering devotion to her family and a belief in the power and importance of community and service,” said her son, Galen Weston Jr., who is the chairman and former president of Loblaw Companies Ltd.
“Brilliant, brave, compassionate, and beautiful, she brought a touch of music to everything she did — in her decades of public service, philanthropy and her remarkable business career.
“Her greatest joy was the life she created for her family and friends — filled with warmth, love and fun.”
Prior to public office, Ms. Weston was the deputy chair of Holt Renfrew from 1986-1996 and participated in the charitable activities of the W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
The Westons are one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in the country, best known for their connection to the Loblaw grocery chain.
Her late husband, W. Galen Weston, known as Galen Weston Sr., died in 2021 at the age of 80. The couple was married for 55 years.
As Ontario’s Lieutenant-Governor, Ms. Weston focused on issues related to youth, women and volunteerism.
In 2003, she was awarded the Order of Canada which is given to recognize outstanding achievement, dedication to community and service to the country.
Ms. Weston reads the speech from the throne at Queen’s Park in April, 1999.Kevin Frayer/The Canadian Press
Rideau Hall said at the time that Ms. Weston served with grace and distinction, and she was only the second woman appointed to this position.
“Always seeking to improve the quality of life for her fellow citizens, she has been actively involved in numerous charities and not-for-profit organizations throughout her private and public life,” it said.
Ms. Weston’s passion for the arts, education, health research and volunteerism culminated in recent years with the creation of the Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation.
Since 2021, the foundation has committed close to $150-million to charities impacting healthcare, education, women, refugees and the environment in Canada, Ireland and the U.K., her family said.
Ms. Weston’s daughter, Alanna Weston Cochrane, said her mother loved a challenge and brought an innate creativity and style to everything she did.
“But it was her vision, coupled with her enormous capacity for hard work, that made her a great female leader,” she said.