The Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry honours the legacy of William (Bill) Dowkes (ChemE 6T2), a 2000 Arbor Award recipient and distinguished alumnus whose impact continues to resonate across the University of Toronto community.
Bill served as a Senior Tutor in Chemical Engineering and was a dedicated donor, supporting students and faculty throughout his career. His passing earlier this year was deeply felt across the department and the wider university community.
Throughout his life, Bill contributed in numerous ways to the university. He served as assistant secretary of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, chaired admissions, awards, and student counselling at Innis College, led the Hart House Camera Club, and worked as a chemical engineering demonstrator and senior lecturer. As Professor Ramin Farnood reflects, “Bill Dowkes embodied the very best of our community—excellence, compassion and a deep commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers. His contributions have shaped countless student journeys, and his legacy will continue to inspire us for years to come.”
Bill’s generosity established a range of scholarships and bursaries, creating opportunities for students in financial need. His first scholarship, the G.W. Ross Dowkes Memorial Prize in Chemical Engineering, was established in honour of his late father. He also supported awards such as the Bill Dowkes Award for Digital Photography at the Hart House Camera Club and the William J. Dowkes Undergraduate Summer Research Grant in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. As he once shared, “I’ve seen desperate students… I’ve got some money. Why not use it to stop a student from dropping out?”
Bill’s influence lives on through the students and scholars who continue to benefit from his generosity. We honour his enduring contributions to our department and the broader U of T community.
Read more about Bill’s 60 years at Hart House here