Professor Donald Forster

Higher education leader and economist Donald Forster studied political science and economics at the University of Toronto, where he later joined the faculty as a lecturer in political economy. He assumed increasingly important administrative roles at the University, starting with his role as a don in UC’s Sir Daniel Wilson Residence and culminating in his service as vice-president and provost of U of T from 1972 to 1975. Thereafter he served as president and vice-provost of the University of Guelph.

In 1983, he was elected president of the University of Toronto, but sadly died of a heart attack just 23 days before he was due to take office. In addition to his contributions to higher education, he was a member of the Economic Council of Canada and served as an advisor to several governments in the developing world.