A Legacy of Love: Longtime U of T Professor Honours her Late Daughter Through a Bequest

For many families, remembering a loved one is tied to the hope that their legacy will continue to make a difference in the world. For Jo Aitken, Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, that took the form of a thoughtful and lasting gift – a bursary established in memory of her late daughter, Jenifer (Jeni) Aitken, who graduated from the then-University of Toronto Faculty of Law in 1987.

Following her daughter’s passing in 2023, Jo – along with family friend Margaret Leighton (LLB, 1987) – rallied friends and family to raise funds, establishing the Jenifer Aitken Bursary. The bursary ensures that Jeni’s passion for mooting and principled advocacy continues to inspire future students and reflects Jo’s deep commitment to supporting the areas that shaped her daughter’s approach to lawyering.

Jo, a retired full professor from the School Graduate Studies at the University of Toronto, later arranged for a bequest in her will to significantly grow the bursary and ensure its impact on JD students for years to come before her own passing in October 2025.

The Jenifer Aitken Bursary stands as a lasting tribute to both mother and daughter. Jeni’s sister, Melanie Aitken (LLB, 1991), who is also a graduate of the-now Jackman Law, reflected:

“It’s nice to have something that brings the two of them together – two very different but equally academically gifted people – in celebrating my sister’s life through this bursary.”

A Lasting Impact on the Faculty

Margaret, who was a close friend of Jeni’s since their first week at law school, remembers Jeni as “remarkable, extremely smart, extremely caring, and deeply committed to practicing the kind of law that makes a difference in people’s lives.” She adds that Jeni’s commitment to meaningful legal practice – and the formative role the law school played in her development – inspired family and friends to contribute to the bursary. Margaret reflected on the importance of sustaining the connection to the law school:

“It lets me continue to have a relationship with the law school I attended in the 1980s. And while the current law school is so different, the things that we did as students are still being done and are still important to teaching and building good lawyers, especially around the mooting program and learning how to be an excellent oral advocate. That’s something that won't change in 2026; it's just as important as it was in 1980.”

Melanie also reflected on the profound role the Faculty played in their lives. “The law school was incredibly important to my sister. Her closest friendships came from that time – it really formed us and meant a lot to us as people.”

Remembering Jo Aitken

Margaret also shared her impressions of Jo, Jeni’s mother, whose intellect and warmth left a profound impression:

“Jo was a force to be reckoned with… she was always interested in what I was doing, but even more so in my kids’ lives and what they were doing. The only way I can describe her is as a force with incredible range of intellectual inquiry and commitments. You could talk to her about literature, theater, politics, social justice… She was an amazing woman.”

Melanie reflected on Jo’s dedication to teaching:

“She loved teaching – that was definitely her passion. Her students adored her and remained in her life decades later.”

For Jo, maintaining a strong connection to the Faculty and the broader University community was essential. The bursary is a reflection of that commitment, ensuring that students continue to grow and thrive in an environment where talent is nurtured and potential realized.

A Living Legacy

Through the Jenifer Aitken Bursary, Jeni and Jo’s shared values – excellence, generosity, intellectual engagement, and dedication to justice – continue to shape the student experience at the Faculty. “It’s meaningful for our family to be associated in a lasting way with the law school,” Melanie added.

The inaugural bursary was awarded last year, marking the beginning of what will be a lasting tradition of recognizing students who embody Jeni’s spirit of excellence and engagement. “The first recipient is now articling at BLG, a milestone that Jo was very pleased to hear,” Margaret noted.

Together, the bursary and Jo’s bequest ensure that Jeni’s passion for thoughtful advocacy, along with Jo’s commitment to supporting students, will continue to influence generations of future lawyers. Through the opportunities it creates, their legacy will live on at the Faculty for years to come.

Learn more or contribute to the Jenifer Aitken Bursary.