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Canadian Business History

Shedding light on the strategic and political decisions that have shaped business today

The Canadian Business History program furthers the study of Canadian business history through courses, publications, events, and outreach, including through the Canadian Business History Association. Focusing on entrepreneurs and business leaders, firms and sectors, legislation and periods of historical importance, the program sheds light on the strategic and political decisions that shape the current business landscape.

The emphasis of the Canadian Business History program at Rotman is upon understanding how globalization, technology, individuals and companies have shaped the Canadian business experience, and giving students the best context to understand how these changes shape not only the past, but the present and the future of business in Canada.

Discovering the foundations of the present

Using original case studies and research papers written specifically to highlight key companies, legislation or periods of historical importance, the program uncovers the strategic and political decisions that shaped the present-day business landscape in Canada.

The cases found on this site have been written by current or former students under faculty direction. Many of the case studies and research papers include primary research, both from past stakeholders and financial data derived from the Rotman School's own Financial Post financial report collection.

The program is made possible through the generosity of several prominent business leaders, including Lynton (Red) Wilson; Richard Currie; James Fleck; Anthony Fell; Henry N.R. (Hal) Jackman, and John McArthur, dean emeritus of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business Administration. These leaders established the L.R. Wilson/R.J. Currie Chair in Canadian Business History, which has been held by Professor Dimitry Anastakis since 2019. 

From 2012 to 2017, the Wilson/Currie Chair was held by the late Professor Chris Kobrak.  The former director of the Canadian Business History Program at Rotman is Professor Joe Martin.

In addition, the late University Professor Emeritus Michael Bliss donated his business history collection of books to the Business Information Centre at the Rotman School.