Toronto - The University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management will celebrate the contributions to Canadian business and society of Hon. Michael Wilson, 33rd Chancellor of the University and Rotman Bachelor of Commerce alumnus with a special award this evening.
“It is a great privilege to present the School’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award to the Hon. Michael Wilson, an influential business, public policy and community leader, and a cherished friend and contributor to the University. As an alumnus, he is an inspiration for students and alumni – a true role model for leadership, service and integrity,” said Dean Tiff Macklem of the Rotman School.
Prof. Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto and Dean Macklem will be joined by special guests including the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, Gordon M. Nixon, Retired President and CEO, Royal Bank of Canada, and Dr. Catherine Zahn, President and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to pay tribute to Mr. Wilson for his extraordinary contributions in public service, the private sector and the not-for-profit sector.
“Michael Wilson is an exceptional leader and friend. He has succeeded in every facet of endeavour he has undertaken and it was an honour to have been associated with him in the Government of Canada,” said the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney.
“There is not a more deserving recipient than Michael, who has spent a lifetime achieving great things in so many different areas. His trademark is ethics, integrity and trust, and he is universally liked and respected. Michael’s diverse career and accomplishments across so many areas makes him an outstanding role model for all young Canadians and most fittingly Rotman graduates,” said Gordon Nixon.
“I have a profound admiration for Michael Wilson’s relentless advocacy toward ending the stigma associated with mental illness. On behalf of all Canadians who have benefitted from his unwavering dedication and leadership, I’m deeply grateful,” said Dr. Catherine Zahn.
"Chancellor Wilson is a passionate advocate for our students. He actively promotes mental wellness and the value of alumni-student mentorship to encourage and support Canada’s next generation of leaders," says Prof. Meric Gertler.
A global leader in investment banking, Mr. Wilson is currently the Chairman of Barclays Capital Canada Inc. Previously he was the Chairman of UBS Canada, Vice Chairman of RBC Dominion Securities and was responsible for RBC Financial Group’s Institutional Assessment Management business.
Mr. Wilson has held distinguished positions in the public service - a Member of Parliament from 1979 to 1993; he was appointed Canada’s Minister of Finance in 1984, and later Minister of International Trade and Minister of Industry, Science and Technology under Prime Minister Mulroney. During his tenure, he played key roles in NAFTA negotiations and represented Canada at the G7, IMF, World Bank, OECD and GATT meetings. From 2006 to 2009, he was Canada’s Ambassador to the United States.
A leading national and international mental health advocate, Mr. Wilson currently serves as Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada. He is Vice Chair of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Honourary Chair of Brain Canada. He has built a prolific record of leadership in professional and community organizations, including CAMH, Canadian Cancer Society, Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships, and the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance. Mr. Wilson also holds honorary degrees from the University of Toronto and Trinity College and is a Companion of the Order of Canada.
The inaugural Rotman Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the Rotman Alumni Awards Dinner, an annual celebration established to pay tribute to exceptional alumni who have contributed significantly to their organizations and communities. The black-tie gala kicks off the Reunite@Rotman homecoming weekend, bringing together the School’s global alumni community for experiential learning sessions on innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability, public policy, leadership, and more. The homecoming festivities bring about a dynamic new era of alumni relations at the School, showcasing an extraordinary cadre of alumni and faculty scholarship.
The Rotman School of Management is located in the heart of Canada’s commercial and cultural capital and is part of the University of Toronto, one of the world’s top 20 research universities. The Rotman School fosters a new way to think that enables our graduates to tackle today’s global business and societal challenges. For more information, visit www.rotman.utoronto.ca.
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For more information:
Ken McGuffin
Manager, Media Relations
Rotman School of Management
University of Toronto
Voice 416.946.3818
E-mail mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca