A true friend of the Library Skip to main content Make your mark Explore by Big Idea Opportunities that open doors Research that changes lives Innovation that drives progress Shaping future-ready students Causes That Matter The McGill Sustainability Park Building a healthier McGill Collaborating for responsible AI Supporting Indigenous excellence Faculties, Schools and Units Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Arts Continuing Studies Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences Education Engineering Law McGill Libraries Desautels Faculty of Management Medicine and Health Sciences Schulich School of Music Science Athletics & Recreation The Neuro Faculties, Schools and Units Ways to give Ways to give Make your mark by supporting students, giving to your faculty or funding an innovative project. Give today Online By phone By mail Wire transfers Securities McGill staff payroll deductions Gift matching options Give tomorrow Leave a bequest Life insurance Retirement plan assets Charitable remainder trusts More ways to give International giving Corporations Foundations Endowed giving McGill Crowdfunding McGill24 Get involved Get involved Be part of McGill's global community. Read our award-winning magazine, The McGill News, attend exciting events featuring top researchers, take advantage of networking and mentorship opportunities and more. [] Attend an event Global Tour Volunteer McGill Fund Leadership Council Planned Giving Ambassadors Strategic Giving Council McGill stories Submit your McGill stories About About Discover Make your mark [] President's message Advancement Council The McGill Fund Legacy Societies Français Search Search fr Give Home All stories A true friend of the Library A true friend of the Library Katherine Smalley’s legacy gift to the Libraries honours the value of a McGill education By University Advancement 2026-06-12 As a McGill student in the 1960s, Katherine Smalley, BA’67, spent countless hours tucked away in the Libraries’ dim corridors, studying late into the night on hard chairs. Those quiet spaces became the foundation for a life of curiosity, courage, and impact. Today, Katherine is ensuring that future students have an even brighter experience by leaving a legacy gift to support the McGill Libraries for generations to come. “If you’re giving a legacy gift, you want it to endure,” Katherine says. “It’s not just about the continuity of the Library itself, but the preservation of knowledge, information, and the freedom of thought.” Her McGill education – an honours degree in political science and philosophy – shaped her worldview and fueled a remarkable 25-year career in journalism. Katherine reported from war zones in Lebanon, covered dictatorships in Latin America, and explored social justice issues across the globe. Her work was deeply influenced by McGill professors Charles Taylor and Raymond Klibansky, whose teachings on political philosophy and human rights became the foundation of her reporting. “One could say my degree was impractical,” she reflects, “but I’ve used it every day of my life.” After transitioning into corporate finance, Katherine founded Allied Capital Corporation in Toronto. Today, she remains a passionate McGill volunteer, serving on the Toronto Faculty Advisory Board and the Friends of the Libraries. And now, as a Planned Giving Ambassador, Katherine is helping others discover the power of legacy giving. Through McGill’s Leave a Legacy, Unlock a Future challenge, donors who declare their legacy gift immediately unlock $3,000 in bursary support for students in financial need. Katherine calls it “very rewarding,” adding: “I’ve met McGill grads around the world, and I have yet to meet one who doesn’t have some sort of dedication or interest in the University.” Katherine’s story is a testament to the enduring impact of a McGill education and the transformative power of giving back. Her legacy gift not only supports the Libraries, but also inspires others, especially women, to make their mark on McGill’s third century. Declare your legacy gift today and help unlock bursary support for students who need it most. Your gift will shape lives – and futures – for generations to come. McGill Library Faculty of Arts Legacy giving Bequests Related stories {{ article.description }} Access all news and stories Contact Contact Us 514.398.5000 1.800.567.5175 University Advancement 1430 Peel Street Montreal, QC, H3A 3T3 Get Directions Giving to McGill Make your mark Ways To Give About Explore Opportunities Research Innovation Future-ready Faculties, Schools and Units More from McGill Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube LinkedIn McGill Alumni Get involved Copyright © McGill University. All rights reserved Policy on responsible use Privacy notice