What a beautiful gift by Sandy and Cecile Mactaggart, giving their home as an outright gift to the University of Alberta.
Not just any house.
Soaring – the name of the house and property – is one of the most beautiful private properties in Edmonton.
The large but unpretentious home sits on acres of secluded land off Whitemud Road stretching down to the riverfront. Decades ago, Mactaggart and his partner Jean de la Bruyere were the lead developers of (old) Riverbend.
The Mactaggarts have given so much back to this city – particularly to the library, to land conservation and to the University of Alberta. They are Edmonton’s first couple of philantrophy.
Ive been working in this house for a week and ill be there for a few more weeks working o a renovation. this house is not humble …it is one of the most pretentious houses Ive ever seen. it has a bomb shelter, disco, and swimming pool in the living room , in it. Why didn’t they give this 35 million dollar property to the homeless shelters or to battered women’s causes? They could at least sell it and do so many wonderful things with it. No ! Instead the president of the university will reside there. Because everyone knows how broke the U.of A. is !