A local foundation has set the bar high when it comes to making donations to the new law school.
The Paterson Foundation gave Lakehead University's Faculty of Law a $1 million gift Tuesday morning that will help with renovations. Foundation president Don Paterson said his family has a long history of supporting the university and wanted that tradition to continue.
"We really wanted to be on board with the law school," Paterson said in a recently renovated auditorium at the school now named after his father John.
It was also a way to recognize a milestone in the community as Lakehead opens the first law school in the province in 40 years. Paterson said Thunder Bay needs to recognize how important the university is to the community.
"Both socially and economically," he said.
It's the lead donation in what the law school hopes is the first of many.
"We look forward to the rest of the community supporting us as well," dean Lee Stuesser said. "Any and all support is welcome."
"You can't do it simply through government funding."
Stuesser said phase one of the school's renovations are nearly complete and will be ready for a public open house in the coming weeks.
"we're very close," he said.
