15 Notable University of Toronto Alumni Who Changed the World

15 Notable University of Toronto Alumni Who Changed the World

The University of Toronto (U of T) is a leading public research university in Ontario, Canada. It has three campuses and enrols nearly 100,000 students, offering hundreds of degree programmes. Over its long history since 1827, U of T has produced many distinguished graduates who have shaped politics, science, literature and the arts worldwide. From prime ministers and Nobel laureates to best-selling authors and celebrated actors, here are 15 of the most famous and notable University of Toronto alumni.

World Leaders and Politicians

William Lyon Mackenzie King

William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874–1950) was Canada’s 10th Prime Minister (1935–1948) and holds the record as the longest-serving prime minister in Canadian history. A native Ontarian, King earned his BA (1895), LL.B (1896) and MA (1897) from U of T’s University College. He led Canada through the Second World War and introduced pioneering social-welfare programmes (unemployment insurance, old-age pensions) that helped modernise the country. King’s legacy includes numerous honorary degrees and public commemorations (he appears on Canada’s $50 bill) and he is widely regarded as one of Canada’s most influential statesmen.

Lester B. Pearson

Lester B. Pearson (1897–1972) was a Canadian diplomat and politician who served as the 14th Prime Minister of Canada (1963–1968). Pearson earned a BA in history from U of T’s Victoria College in 1919. As an international statesman, he famously organized a UN peacekeeping force to resolve the 1956 Suez Crisis, an achievement that won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. In office, Pearson introduced Canada’s flag and expanded social programmes. His honours include the Nobel Prize and Canada’s Order of Canada, cementing his reputation as a peacemaker and public servant.

Stephen Harper

Stephen Harper (b. 1959) was the 22nd Prime Minister of Canada, serving from 2006 to 2015. Harper studied economics at the University of Toronto’s Trinity College but left without graduating. He later completed his education in Alberta and entered politics as leader of the Conservative Party. As prime minister, Harper pursued conservative fiscal policies (including reducing the federal deficit) and focused on economic development and northern affairs. He had previously served as Canada’s Minister of Finance (2006–2015) and became a prominent figure in Canadian politics during the early 21st century.

Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga

Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga (b. 1937) is a Latvian politician and academic who served as the President of Latvia from 1999 to 2007. Before her presidency, she studied psychology at the University of Toronto’s Victoria College, earning a BA in 1958 and an MA in 1960. As president, Vīķe-Freiberga led Latvia into the European Union and NATO, playing a pivotal role in her country’s post-Soviet integration into Western institutions. She later co-chaired the Club of Madrid (an association of former democratic leaders) and received numerous honours, including Latvia’s Order of the Three Stars.

Scientists

Frederick Banting

Frederick G. Banting (1891–1941) was a Canadian medical scientist best known for co-discovering insulin. He studied medicine at the University of Toronto (earning an MB ChB in 1916). In 1923, Banting (with J.J.R. Macleod) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this breakthrough. This discovery transformed diabetes from a fatal disease into a manageable condition. Banting later became a prominent surgeon and military doctor. He was knighted by Britain and is celebrated in Canada as one of the country’s greatest scientists.

John C. Polanyi

John Charles Polanyi (b. 1929) is a Canadian chemist who received the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Polanyi earned his BSc in chemical engineering at U of Toronto and later pursued graduate studies. He became famous for his research on chemical kinetics and reaction mechanisms. His Nobel-winning work involved using infrared lasers to study how molecules exchange energy during chemical reactions. Polanyi’s career has included professorships at U of T and contributions to science policy; he has also been honoured with the Order of Canada and numerous scientific medals.

Bertram N. Brockhouse

Bertram Neville Brockhouse (1918–2003) was a Canadian physicist who won the 1994 Nobel Prize in Physics. He completed his MA (1948) and PhD (1950) at U of Toronto. Brockhouse developed the neutron triple-axis spectrometer, an instrument that allowed scientists to observe atomic lattice vibrations and excitations in solids. His pioneering instrument greatly advanced condensed matter physics. Along with collaborator Clifford Shull, Brockhouse was recognised with the Nobel for this work. He later served as Chancellor of McMaster University and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Writers and Journalists

Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood (b. 1939) is one of Canada’s most celebrated authors, known for her novels, poetry and essays. She earned her BA (1959) from U of T’s Victoria College. Atwood’s works often explore themes of politics, identity and environment. She is best known for The Handmaid’s Tale (1985), a dystopian novel that won international acclaim and was adapted into an award-winning TV series. Atwood has won numerous literary honours, including two Booker Prizes (for The Blind Assassin and The Testaments), the Governor General’s Award and the Arthur C. Clarke Award. She has also received Canada’s Order of Canada and has published over 40 books.

Michael Ondaatje

Michael Ondaatje (b. 1943) is a Canadian novelist and poet, author of The English Patient and Anil’s Ghost. He received a BA (1965) from U of T. Ondaatje’s writing blends history with lyrical prose. The English Patient (1992) won the Booker Prize and was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film. His other honours include the Giller Prize (for Anil’s Ghost and Divisadero), the Governor General’s Award for poetry (The Cinnamon Peeler), and the Prix Médicis in France. Ondaatje is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada for his contributions to literature.

Barbara Frum

Barbara Frum (1937–1992) was a leading Canadian broadcast journalist. She earned a BA in history from U of T in 1959. Frum became a household name as a CBC radio and TV host. She was acclaimed for her incisive interviewing style on shows like As It Happens and The Journal. Frum covered major news stories and political events, and became one of Canada’s most respected news anchors. She won several awards for journalism and was named to Canada’s Order of Canada (posthumously). Frum’s career paved the way for future generations of Canadian women in media.

Actors and Hosts

Donald Sutherland

Donald Sutherland (1935–2024) was a prolific Canadian actor who appeared in over 100 films. He graduated from U of T’s Victoria College in 1958 with a degree in engineering and drama. Sutherland starred in classics like MASH (1970), Klute (1971), Ordinary People (1980), and The Hunger Games series. His many awards include two Golden Globes, a Genie, and an Emmy. In 2017, he received an Academy Honorary Award for his lifetime of achievement. Sutherland’s long career and distinctive performances have made him one of the most celebrated Canadian actors in Hollywood.

Victor Garber

Victor Garber (b. 1949) is a Canadian actor and singer known for his work on stage, film and television. A U of T alumnus, he studied at Victoria College in the 1960s. Garber gained fame in musicals like Godspell and films such as Titanic, Argo and Milk. He co-starred in the TV series Alias and Legends of Tomorrow. Garber has received multiple Tony nominations for Broadway roles and six Emmy nominations for television. In 2022 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in recognition of his distinguished career in the performing arts.

Don McKellar

Don McKellar (b. 1963) is a multi-talented Canadian actor, writer and director. He graduated from U of T’s Victoria College and began acting in film and TV. McKellar’s film Last Night won an award at Cannes (1998) for best Canadian film. He co-wrote the Academy Award-winning film The Red Violin (1999). As an actor, he has appeared in films by directors Atom Egoyan (Exotica) and David Cronenberg (eXistenZ). On stage, McKellar co-created the Tony-winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone. He has won two Canadian Genie Awards for acting and screenwriting. His wit and creativity have made him a prominent figure in Canadian entertainment.

Economists

John Kenneth Galbraith

John K. Galbraith (1908–2006) was a prominent economist and diplomat. He earned a BSc (Agriculture) from U of T’s Ontario Agricultural College in 1931. Galbraith taught economics at Harvard for most of his career and was an adviser in several U.S. administrations. He is best known for his bestselling book The Affluent Society (1958), which critiqued consumerism and chronicled American economic growth. Galbraith also served as U.S. Ambassador to India under President Kennedy. He received the U.S. Medal of Freedom (1946) and Presidential Medal of Freedom (2000) for his public service. Galbraith’s ideas on wealth and welfare have had a lasting influence on economic thought.

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