McGill University, already among Canada’s most international academic institutions, is pleased to announce the creation of a new, endowed scholarships program for international undergraduate students, thanks to a generous gift from alumnus Gerald Rimer, BCom’56.
The Rimer Scholarships will introduce an endowed program of full undergraduate scholarships for international students who have been newly admitted to McGill’s undergraduate programs. The funding will cover full tuition and fees for up to four years of study in Montreal, as well as a monthly living allowance and the cost of return flights home.
The landmark donation had originally been intended to support renovations to McGill’s Leacock Building but will instead be redirected to establish this endowed scholarship program. The decision to redirect the gift was made jointly by the Rimer family and McGill when unforeseen changes to government funding policies for universities meant that the original scope and vision for the Leacock refurbishment, as had been agreed to with the Rimer family, was no longer feasible.
The University notes that the Rimer family’s decision to redirect their gift in no way represents a change of commitment on their part but is purely a consequence of a decrease in the government’s funding to universities which was beyond the control of McGill and the family.
The scholarships, molded to reflect the life of Gerald Rimer and his late wife, Judie, are designed around three key objectives:
- to encourage social mobility in a way that reflects the impact McGill had on Gerald Rimer’s life;
- to deliver a multicultural perspective to the undergraduate experience, reflecting the value that multicultural experiences played in Gerald and Judie Rimer’s lives;
- to allow a greater number of international students to experience and benefit from McGill’s multidisciplinary, liberal arts approach to university education.
The Rimer Scholarship program will be endowed in perpetuity through the family’s generous $10-million gift. It is estimated this will support a minimum of five undergraduate students at any one time and will ultimately create a large cohort of Rimer Scholar alumni. Students admitted to any McGill faculty will be selected primarily based on financial need.
“On behalf of McGill University, I extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to Gerald Rimer and his family for their unwavering commitment, and for the flexibility they have shown in reimagining how their generous support might be repositioned to address an emerging priority at such a critical time in our University’s history,” said Deep Saini, McGill’s President and Vice-Chancellor.
Among Canadian universities, McGill has long prided itself for dedicating the largest percentage of its operating budget to student support – a reflection of its strong commitment to making a McGill education accessible to any deserving student, regardless of their economic circumstances.
About Gerald Rimer
Gerald Rimer earned a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill in 1956 and went on to carve out a successful career in the international financial sector. He is a longtime supporter of his alma mater. In 2012, he established the Judie Rimer Entrance Scholarship in honour of his late wife. In 2017 he made a generous gift to the Desautels Faculty of Management to support renovations to the Faculty’s Armstrong Building. A gift from the Rimer family in 2021 will support the establishment of the Institute for Indigenous Research and Knowledges at McGill.
About McGill University
Founded in 1821, McGill University is home to exceptional students, faculty, and staff from across Canada and around the world. It is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning three campuses, 12 faculties, 14 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 39,000 students, including more than 10,400 graduate students.