Photo courtesy of The University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections. The Winnipeg Tribune Fonds.
1913 - 1992
Philanthropist, Arts Patron and Icelandic Cultural Preservationist
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Signy Hildur Eaton (née Stephenson) was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on July 1st, 1913. Her father, Fredrik Stephenson, had arrived to Nýja Ísland with his mother in 1876, when a large group of Icelandic emigrants settled near Gimli, New Iceland. Her mother Anna (Guðmundsdóttir) Olson was born a year later, as the community was emerging from the tragedy of a severe smallpox epidemic. At the age of 15, Fredrik moved to Winnipeg to take a position with the Icelandic-weekly Lögberg, eventually becoming its manager. Signy grew up speaking Icelandic in the home, and with a deep appreciation of her Icelandic heritage. When Signy was crowned Fjallkona at the 1967 Centennial Islendingadagurrin, she delivered her greetings in Icelandic. She spoke to the significance of the Icelandic language to the preservation of Icelandic culture and literary heritage – a language first spoken in North America nearly a thousand years ago. According to biographer W.J. Lindal, “Signy has been at all times deeply conscious of the heritage of language and literature, of character, courage and sense of true values which the immigrants from Iceland brought with them to Canada.” Signy and her husband, John David Eaton, made a substantial contribution to the Trust Fund to endow a permanent chair in Icelandic language and literature at the University of Manitoba.
Signy had met John David Eaton while she was a student at the University of Manitoba and he was living in Winnipeg, working at one of his grandfather’s famous department chain stores. At the Portage Avenue store. The Eaton’s were a prominent family in Toronto, Canada, with department stores stretching across the breadth of the country. Many of us ‘older folk’ will remember the excitement of the Eaton Mail Order Catalogue arriving in the fall, or the magic of visiting a signature Eaton store with its whimsical Christmas window displays. Signy and John David were married on August 9th, 1933, in Ontario, at the family home on Lake Rosseau. According to Wikipedia, Signy wore a ‘Viking headdress’ and Icelandic songs were sung. The Eaton’s had both the Union Jack and the Icelandic flag flying at the event. The couple had four children: John, Fredrik, Thor and George.
After their marriage, Signy and John David settled in Toronto, where they quickly became a prominent figure in the city's social and cultural circles. Signy embraced her new role in the Eaton family, balancing her responsibilities as a mother with her growing interest in philanthropy and the arts. She was actively involved in numerous organizations, supporting causes related to education, health, the arts a well as charitable funding of projects in New Iceland and Iceland. Signy preferred to keep much of her philanthropic donations private, especially those to Iceland, but her efforts were not unnoticed, and Signy was awarded Knight of the Order of the Falcon, Iceland’s highest honour, in 1959.
Signy Eaton was a founder member of the Art Gallery of Toronto in 1919. Renamed the Art Gallery of Ontario in 1966, the AGO has a special Signy Eaton Gallery. Signy was instrumental in securing the prestigious Henry Moore collection for the AGO. According to Logberg-Heimskringla, Signy and architect John Parkin “…flew to Britian where they persuaded sculptor Henry Moore to donate his enormous collection to the Art Gallery of Ontario.” John Parkin designed the Henry Moore exhibition room Signy served as a board member on the AGO and played a crucial role in the gallery's expansion and collection development. Her contributions helped shape the AGO into a world-class institution it is today.
Signy and her husband’s interest in the arts was broad and diverse. They had an extensive private art collection included 19th century and contemporary paintings and pieces of sculpture. It included works by Pablo Picasso, Maurice Utrillo, Raoul Dufy, Marc Hagall and Jean-Paul Riopelle. Signy also had an interest in ancient arts and gathered a valuable collection of Chinese art and jade. Their donations to galleries and museums, including the AGO and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, greatly enriched public collections and made art more accessible to all Canadians.
Art in all its forms captured Signy’s imagination. Signy was a member of the Women’s Committee of the Symphony Orchestra of Toronto, a member of the Opera Committee and a member of the Ballet. In recognition of her contributions to the arts, Signy was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1977. Her support extended beyond financial assistance; she was known for encouraging emerging artists and fostering a vibrant artistic community.
Signy Eaton was also renowned for her extensive charitable work. She was actively involved in numerous organizations, supporting causes related to education, health, and social welfare. She was particularly engaged with the Hospital for Sick Children and the Children’s Aid Society. Lindal comments that, “[her]…many monetary philanthropies must be left to the imagination of the reader as she refuses to disclose them.” We do know of her generous donations to the Trust Fund for the permanent chair in Icelandic Language and Literature at the University of Manitoba, mentioned earlier, and of her generous donations to the Betel Home for the Aged in Gimli, Manitoba where her mother was born. Signy was appointed to the Board of Governors of York University when it opened in 1961 and held the position of Chairman of its Advisory Committee on Art. Signy received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from York University in 1971.
Influencer in Canadian Art and Philanthropy and Icelandic Heritage
Signy Eaton's legacy is visible in many spheres of Canadian life. Her philanthropy and advocacy for the arts have left a lasting mark on cultural institutions and the broader community. We remember her also for her commitment to championing the preservation of the Icelandic language and culture in North America, fostering pride in our Icelandic heritage and strengthening the bond with Iceland.
Today, Signy’s name is associated with several endowments, scholarships, and charitable initiatives that continue to benefit Canadians in so many ways, and to celebrate her lifelong dedication to public service and the arts. Through her philanthropic vision and unwavering support for the arts and community development, Signy Hildur (Stephenson) Eaton helped shape the cultural and social landscape of 20th-century Canada. Her life remains an inspiring example of generosity, cultural stewardship, and national pride.
References:
Signy Eaton – A Nati on Builder. W.J. Lindal. The Icelandic Canadian, Autumn 1959. https://timarit.is/page/8125763#page/n19/mode/2up
Greeting from the Mother of the Mountain by Mrs John David (Signy) Eaton. Gimli, Manitoba, July 31, 1967, in translation by J.G Johannsson. https://timarit.is/page/8128027iabr=on#page/n19/mode/2up/search/Signy%20Eaton
Ibid. Lindal. The Icelandic Canadian Autumn 1959, page 20. https://timarit.is/page/8125763#page/n19/mode/2up
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signy_Stefansson_Eaton
Order of the Falcon described https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Falcon Source Signy’s award, Lindal, ibid. p.20
Art Gallery of Ontario. See https://ago.ca/node/95 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Gallery_of_Ontario
Eaton’s matriarch wielded power, aided arts. Obituary: Signy Eaton. Lögberg Heimskringla Issuer 32 (18.09.1992). https://timarit.is/page/2238918?iabr=on#page/n0/mode/2up/search/Signy%20Eaton See also the Art Gallery of Ontario, The Henry Moore Sculpture Centre https://ago.ca/collection/henry-moore-sculpture-centre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signy_Stefansson_Eaton
https://www.rom.on.ca/people/eaton-family
https://digitalarchiveontario.ca/objects/256148/john-david-eaton-congratulates-his-wife-after-she-received-h?ctx=31bfb0fb9d199c9c72abf04b3a99f32c701acf62&idx=4