Talking about toilets was once considered socially scandalous until English sanitary engineer Thomas Crapper (yes, that was his real name) pioneered the “bathroom showroom,” and a renovation industry was born.
Pearson alumnus Lye, Year 18/1993, Malaysia, isn’t looking for that kind of notoriety. Still, the sign we created poignantly establishes the importance of his monetary gift to the College’s wastewater treatment plant. In a world where number one matters most, it’s nice to know there are people like Lye who recognize it’s just as important to look out for number two.
“I have been involved in real estate development throughout my career, and I understand the importance of projects like this, as unglamorous as they might be,” says Lye.
Matched by an anonymous donor, Lye invested $50,000 into upgrading the sewage treatment facility, which has been showing its age. The pipes, mechanical and electrical, all need upgrades, while the building requires a facelift. Lye learned the state of affairs firsthand during a summer reunion visit in 2023.
“If we as alumni don’t step in to help support essential campus infrastructure projects like this, who will? By making a gift to this project and having the College install this eye-catching plaque, I hope it will draw attention to the ongoing need to support similar campus renewal projects.”
Over the past many years, Pearson has invested significantly into infrastructure projects such as replacing all the roofs and many of the windows on campus, fully upgrading each student dorm, and modernizing classrooms as funding becomes available. If you are to visit the campus this fall, you will also see a considerable project underway to replace the College’s 50-year-old electrical grid.
We are grateful to donors like Lye, who are helping to cross items off our maintenance to-do list. If you would like to learn more about projects underway on campus and to understand how you can make these possible, please contact Carly Milloy at advancement@pearsoncollege.ca or visit https://www.pearsoncollege.ca/giving/room-sponsorship/.