Professor Carl McMillan donates $1 million to uOttawa Faculty of Law

Professor McMillan taught in the economics program, in the Sprott School of Business and at the Norman Patterson School of International Affairs. He was instrumental in creating the Institute of Soviet and East European Studies. 

He came to Ottawa in 1968 from the United States after completing his BA and MA at Yale and doing stints in the US Navy and the US Foreign Service. After leaving the Foreign Service, he had offers to teach at three different universities. He accepted a two-year assignment with Carleton University because he was attracted to its location in Canada’s capital and the city’s bilingualism. While teaching at Carleton, he earned a PhD in economics from Johns Hopkins University in 1972.

It was during his first two years at Carleton that he fell in love with the Ottawa area and ended up living here until he passed on October 29, 2024.

He thought highly of uOttawa’s Faculty of Law. He considered it unique and important in that it offers both civil and common law programs in both English and French. This influenced his wish to make a donation in support of both programs.

The Common Law and Civil Law Sections of the Faculty of Law will each receive $500,000 to fund scholarships, emerging needs and projects that will positively impact the student experience. 

“It’s gratifying to have our distinct law school recognized by a generous gift from a deeply respected member of the Ottawa community,” said Kristen Boon, who is the Susan & Perry Dellelce Dean of the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section. “As an educator, Professor McMillan understood the importance of what we do here and how unique it is in Canada.”

Marie-Eve Sylvestre, who is dean of the Faculty of Law, Civil Law Section, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the gift’s alignment with the Faculty’s mission. “Teaching civil and common law systems, alongside Indigenous legal traditions, is a strength and distinctive feature of our law school. In that sense, we truly reflect Canada’s legal landscape and fulfill a vital role in bridging these different legal traditions in both official languages. Professor McMillan’s gift will allow both schools to enhance programming and pilot new and shared initiatives.” 

Professor McMillan loved languages. He learned Spanish easily while attending high school in Lima, Peru. He became fluent in French while in Paris during his junior year abroad at Yale. He also became proficient in Russian and studied German and Italian. This affinity for languages was one of the factors that inspired his philanthropy. 

He was the recipient of Carleton University’s Founders Award in 2022 for his many contributions to the university during his career and for funding an endowed research chair: the McMillan Chair in Russian Studies. 

He was a dedicated philanthropist who enjoyed an interesting and well-lived life. In recognition of Professor McMillan, the Faculty of Law will be naming a classroom in his honour, though no such recognition was asked. It is, however, well deserved.