About the Collection
David G. Patterson ’66 majored in Philosophy and Political Science during the formative years of Trent University. Following graduation, David and his wife, Anne, relocated to Toronto where they began establishing management careers in finance and consulting, concurrently securing MBA degrees from the University of Toronto.
In 1989, David and Anne launched their own new ventures, which, over the subsequent three decades, combined and grew to become Northwater Capital Management Inc. and its international group of companies. During this time, David and Anne were committed philanthropists with a special interest in Trent University. In 2007, after establishing bursaries to support Trent students, David and Anne initiated the idea and provided major funding for Trent’s first endowed chair, The Kenneth Mark Drain Chair in Ethics, named in honour of a cherished uncle and life-long Peterborough resident. In 2019, David and Anne recognized the significance of the teaching career and education philosophy of a favourite aunt by establishing the Margaret Patterson Endowed Bursary Fund for students in the Teacher Education Stream at Trent’s growing Durham GTA campus. In 2014, Trent awarded David Patterson an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Over their many years in business, David and Anne gradually acquired art, primarily glass art works, to enhance the experience of the spaces in which they lived and worked. This collection, curated by Sandra Ainsley of the Sandra Ainsley Gallery in Toronto, was donated to Trent in 2019. Over 40 works, including several large glass sculptures, many smaller unique glass pieces, contemporary paintings, and photographs, all from important artists, were purposefully installed across Trent campuses under the expert direction of Sandra Ainsley and her son and gallery partner, Daniel Ainsley.
The Pattersons and the Ainsleys intend that Trent students, faculty, staff, and visitors enjoy the beauty, inspiration, and artistic impact of the works in this collection for many years to come.
Please click on the artists names below for photos of the works and biographical information about the artists.
