Professor emerita Susan Phillips is one of six Carleton University community members — all women — who were appointed to the Order of Canada late last year.
Phillips is the founder of Canada’s first and only graduate program in philanthropy, which launched in 2013. The program has since trained leaders working across Canada’s non-profit and community sectors.
The Charlatan sat down with Phillips to discuss the honour, her roots and her perception of philanthropy centring on community, inclusion and being an active citizen.
The Charlatan (TC): It’s an honour to be named to the Order of Canada. Where were you when you got the call and what did it mean to you?
Susan Phillips (SP): It is a deep honour and a surprise. You first get an email from the Governor General’s office saying they want to talk to you confidentially.
Then you get the phone call, and it’s such a surprise that you just blubber. You make no sense. It’s the most delightful and surprising call I’ve ever had. You don’t know you’ve been nominated, and the process often takes years, so it really does come completely out of the blue.
TC: You grew up in the small hamlet of Craigmyle, Alta. How did your upbringing shape who you are?
SP: It was a little town of about 100 people in a part of Alberta with no coal, no oil and no gas, but I developed an interest in civic affairs very early. My father was the postmaster, and the post office was in the front of our house, so I grew up listening to people talk about community matters every day.
Because it was so small, there was no charity as we understand it today. You helped each other by giving away casseroles and sharing extra vegetables from the garden. That gave me a deep appreciation for community building, belonging and engagement.
TC: What drew you to the study of non-profits, philanthropy and public policy?
SP: My early academic focus was on citizen engagement. I initially studied urban planning, but always with an interest in how citizens participate in public policy and with each other. Over time, that work evolved into studying voluntary associations, non-profits and philanthropy.
I don’t see philanthropy simply as giving money. It’s not just something wealthy people do. It’s an act of citizenship. It’s how we engage in building strong, vibrant and inclusive communities.
TC: How did the master of philanthropy and non-profit leadership degree come to be at Carleton?
SP: I saw the need for professional education specifically tailored to this sector, which employs about one in 10 Canadians. We didn’t know if people would come, so we tested the idea with a week-long course and hoped for 12 participants. We had 65 people sign up within 24 hours.
That told us there was real interest. We committed to building a world-class, national program with its own degree name. People told us it wouldn’t work with online courses, mixing experienced professionals with younger students.
But that mix became the magic.
Students across generations form strong cohorts and support each other into leadership roles.
TC: As you mentioned, many people think philanthropy only means donating money. What would you say to students who want to give back?
SP: It’s about being engaged. What are the things that matter to you? What can you do about them? It might be organizing, mobilizing or bringing people together.
Giving and volunteering appear to have declined, but we don’t measure newer forms of engagement very well. Gen Z in particular is very active, often through online activism and social media. We need to recognize and encourage those forms of participation if we want strong, inclusive communities.
TC: The Order of Canada’s motto is “They desire a better country.” What does a better Canada mean to you?
SP: We’re at an interesting moment of reinvention. What makes Canada distinctive is its inclusive diversity — not just tolerance, but engagement with difference.
That coming together to build something of value without ego feels very Canadian.
I think Canada can be a model for how to build stronger communities and a stronger nation in an inclusive and respectful way.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Featured image by Simon McKeown/the Charlatan
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