Avie Bennett
Encyclopedia
Avie Bennett, is a Canadian
businessman and philanthropist
.
. In 1991, he purchased Hurtig
Publishers, publisher of the Canadian Encyclopedia.
He is also Chairman and President of First Plazas Inc., (his commercial real estate company), The Canadian Publishers; Chair of the Historica Foundation of Canada; and President of the International Readings at Harbourfront.
(D.Litt) at York University
He was the tenth Chancellor of York University
from 1998 to 2004. He is currently Chancellor Emeritus and a member of the Board of Directors of the York University Foundation. In recognition of his support of York University the Student Services Centre at York's Keele campus was renamed the Bennett Centre for Student Services in 2006.
In 2003 he was appointed Chair of The Historica Foundation of Canada. The Art Gallery of Ontario
appointed him an honorary chair of the board of trustees in 2004.
In 1991 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
, promoted to Officer in 1997, and promoted to Companion in 2003. In 1996, he was awarded the Order of Ontario
. He has received honorary degrees from the University of Ottawa
, the University of Toronto
and York University
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
businessman and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Work History
In 1986, he acquired the Canadian publishing company, McClelland & Stewart Inc. In 2000, he donated his shares, 75% of the company, to the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. In 1991, he purchased Hurtig
Mel Hurtig
Mel Hurtig, is a Canadian publisher, author, political activist and former political candidate.He was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He is the former president of the Edmonton Art Gallery.-Businessman and Publisher:...
Publishers, publisher of the Canadian Encyclopedia.
He is also Chairman and President of First Plazas Inc., (his commercial real estate company), The Canadian Publishers; Chair of the Historica Foundation of Canada; and President of the International Readings at Harbourfront.
Honours
Avie Bennett received a Doctor of University (D.U.) from the University of Ottawa in 1997 and a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from the University of Toronto in 1995. In June 2004, Avie Bennett was made a Doctor of LettersDoctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
(D.Litt) at York University
He was the tenth Chancellor of York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
from 1998 to 2004. He is currently Chancellor Emeritus and a member of the Board of Directors of the York University Foundation. In recognition of his support of York University the Student Services Centre at York's Keele campus was renamed the Bennett Centre for Student Services in 2006.
In 2003 he was appointed Chair of The Historica Foundation of Canada. The Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario
Under the direction of its CEO Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO embarked on a $254 million redevelopment plan by architect Frank Gehry in 2004, called Transformation AGO. The new addition would require demolition of the 1992 Post-Modernist wing by Barton Myers and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg...
appointed him an honorary chair of the board of trustees in 2004.
In 1991 he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, promoted to Officer in 1997, and promoted to Companion in 2003. In 1996, he was awarded the Order of Ontario
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
. He has received honorary degrees from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
.
External links
- Avie Bennett at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...