Hilary Weston

Hilary Weston
Born	Hilary Mary Frayne (1942-01-12) 12 January 1942 Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland
Died	2 August 2025(2025-08-02) (aged 83) London, England
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, author, lieutenant governor
Known for	26th lieutenant governor of Ontario

Hilary Mary Weston (née Frayne; January 12, 1942 – August 2, 2025) was an Irish-Canadian entrepreneur and author who held the position of 26th lieutenant governor of Ontario from 1997 until 2002. Throughout her term, Weston prioritized advocacy for women’s issues, volunteer engagement, and youth development, particularly highlighting individuals involved with homelessness support, hospice care, and mentorship programs for vulnerable young people.

Early life

Born Hilary Mary Frayne on January 12, 1942, in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland, she was raised in Dublin by her parents William and Noel Frayne alongside four siblings. She received her education at Loreto Abbey, Dalkey. Following the passing of her father when she was 17 years old, she took on the responsibility of supporting her family by working as a fashion model. In 1966, she married Galen Weston, and the couple moved to Toronto in 1971 where she became a naturalized Canadian citizen. Together they had two children, Alannah and Galen Jr., and were grandparents to five grandchildren.

Business career

Weston dedicated more than twenty years to the business and fashion industries. She held the role of deputy chair at Holt Renfrew, where she actively promoted Canadian designers and products. Additionally, she served on the board of directors for Brown Thomas & Co. in Ireland.

Lieutenant-governor of Ontario

Appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien on December 12, 1996, Weston became Ontario’s second female lieutenant governor following Pauline Mills McGibbon. At her investiture on January 24, 1997, she declared that her annual salary of $92,000 would be donated to charitable causes. During her tenure as the province’s 26th lieutenant governor, she concentrated efforts on empowering youth, enhancing women’s roles in society, and encouraging volunteerism.

Charity work

In 1979, Weston established the Ireland Fund of Canada, a non-partisan organization dedicated to financing community initiatives in Ireland aimed at fostering peace; she remained its honorary patron for life.

Her passion for early childhood education led her to become the founding chairperson of Toronto’s Mabin School. She also co-founded and chaired the Canadian Environment Educational Foundation and initiated the Winter Garden Show at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Weston co-wrote two widely acclaimed books about Canadian homes and gardens: In a Canadian Garden (1989) and At Home in Canada (1995).

Following her vice-regal service, Weston spearheaded Canada’s most successful cultural fundraising campaign by securing over $250 million for the Royal Ontario Museum. She acted as patron for numerous social organizations including Abbeyfield House Society, Hospice Association of Ontario, Yonge Street Mission, Landmine Survivors Network, Ontario March of Dimes, and Prince's Trust Canada. Furthermore, she applied her expertise in business and fashion as a board member of London’s Selfridges department store.

Later life and death

Weston passed away in London on August 2, 2025, at age 83 after experiencing a week of deteriorating health. She had been living there during her later years.

Honours

During her tenure as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Weston was honoured with the Order of Ontario (OOnt) in 1997, and concurrently held the position of ex officio Chancellor of the Order. That same year, she was also appointed as a Dame of Justice of the Venerable Order of St. John (DStJ).

In 2003, Weston was designated a Member of the Order of Canada, and she was awarded both the Canadian editions of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. Furthermore, in the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was elevated to Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in recognition of contributions made by the Galen Weston Foundation to the College of St. George at Windsor Castle.

Weston received honorary degrees from ten universities, among them University of Western Ontario, Concordia University, University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto, Massey College, Trinity College, Dublin, and University College Dublin.

In 2009, she was honoured with the President's Award at the YWCA Toronto Women of Distinction Awards for her exemplary leadership across both public and private sectors.

Ribbon bar

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Order of Canada (CM)	2003
	Royal Victorian Order (CVO)	2015
	Order of St. John	1997 Dame of Justice
	Order of Ontario (OOnt)	1997
	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal	2002 Canadian version
	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	2012 Canadian version