A transformational legacy gift advancing health education at Niagara College was announced at the sold-out 34th Annual NC Gala on March 28.
The $3 million gift from the estate of Norris Walker will support the College’s new Health Education building, which is being constructed at the Welland Campus. The project is key to NC’s efforts to address a critical shortage of frontline healthcare workers in Niagara, and will allow the College to graduate 800 additional students from its health programs each year.
“Norris Walker’s lifetime of community service and philanthropy is reflected in all corners of our community, and his decades of support for Niagara College has changed the lives of thousands of students,” said NC President Sean Kennedy. “All of us at Niagara College are incredibly grateful for this legacy gift, which will significantly enhance our ability to bolster frontline healthcare in Niagara.”
The $3 million gift builds on a $4 million donation from the Norris Walker estate announced in June 2025, bringing the total bequest to $7 million – the largest legacy gift in the College’s history.
“My parents recognized the important role that Niagara College plays in economic and social development in the community,” said Sheila Bonapace, daughter of Norris and Marilyn Walker. “They also believed that every student should be given the opportunity to reach their full potential through education. It’s wonderful that our family legacy will continue to support students for years to come.”
In recognition of the $3 million gift, the 13,000 square-foot main student and community gathering place in the new Health Education building will be named the Norris Walker Family Community Courtyard. The new space complements the existing Norris Walker Family Community Courtyard located at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
A proposed rendering of the new Norris Walker Family Community Courtyard at the Welland Campus.
These legacy gifts build on the Norris Walker family’s extensive history of generosity at the College, including a $1 million gift from the estate of Marilyn Walker in 2019 that established the Marilyn I. Walker Centre of Excellence in Visual Arts and Technology; a $1.2 million donation in 2015 to support the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre; the establishment of the Norris and Marilyn Walker Scholarships in 2004, as well as support for several NC fundraising campaigns.
“We’re incredibly grateful to donors like the Norris Walker family who understand the lasting impact their support has on students’ lives,” said Gord Arbeau, Vice President, External Relations. “Gifts like these help Niagara College expand classrooms and labs and support more students to successfully graduate and fill the growing healthcare workforce shortages.”
Norris Walker was a fourth-generation business owner and a dedicated philanthropist whose legacy of giving has deep roots throughout the Niagara region. He was a steadfast supporter of postsecondary education in Niagara, as well as organizations such as the Walker Family Cancer Centre, Bethlehem Housing, Hotel Dieu Shaver Hospital, Shaw Festival, Wellspring Niagara, Pathstone Mental Health, United Way, Niagara Symphony Orchestra and more. Norris passed away in January 2024, almost a decade after his wife Marilyn, who passed away in October 2015.
The Walker family joins several philanthropic partners supporting NC’s health education project, including the Myhal Family Foundation, the Haj-Ahmad Family Foundation, and the late entrepreneur Wally Bamford.
The new building will connect to the existing Applied Health Institute at the Welland Campus, and when completed in 2027 will be the largest mass timber structure in the Niagara region.
In addition to graduating an additional 800 healthcare workers each year, the new building will double the capacity of the College’s community dental clinic to serve 3,000 patient visits annually, and provide a new enhanced home for the Myhal School of Nursing alongside advanced paramedic, pharmacy, dental, and virtual-reality simulation labs designed to mirror real clinical environments.
Learn more about the Health Education building at niagaracollege.ca/health-education-building.
The 34th annual NC Gala
More than 670 guests attended the sold-out Niagara College Gala on March 28 at the Fallsview Casino Resort.
Presented this year by CIBC, the evening drew support from 28 corporate sponsors and more than 50 businesses. Funds raised support the new Health Education building and 25 student scholarships, including six new student awards established this year.
“CIBC is honoured to serve as presenting sponsor of Niagara College’s Gala, which celebrates excellence across the College and the positive impact of its graduates,” said Tara Zecevic, Executive Director, Global Payment Services, CIBC Capital Markets. “Supporting initiatives like this reflects CIBC’s commitment to helping students develop the skills and experience needed to succeed in essential fields like healthcare.”
The Gala was also an unforgettable opportunity for more than 75 participating students who gained hands-on experience in event preparation and execution. Students represented multiple programs, including Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film, Carpentry and Renovation, Community Integration Through Co-operative Education (CICE), Culinary Management, Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality), Hospitality – Hotel and Restaurant Operations, Landscape Technician, Public Relations, Business – Sales and Marketing, and Social Media Management.
Together campaign
Launched in 2024, the Together campaign is the largest fundraising initiative in NC’s history. The multi-year, $50 million initiative focuses on addressing critical workforce shortages in healthcare and skilled trades, making education more accessible, creating diverse learning environments, and fostering research, creativity, and innovation to help close Canada’s productivity gap.
Community partners and donors are invited to learn more about the important priorities of the Together campaign by visiting niagaracollege.ca/together.
