Gerry Schwartz
Encyclopedia
Gerald W. Schwartz, OC
born c.1941 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a Canadian
businessman. In 1977 he co-founded CanWest Global Communications
Inc, followed by Onex Corporation in 1983. He has been a director of Scotiabank
since 1999. With an estimated net worth of $US 1.0 billion (as of March 2011), Schwartz was ranked by Forbes
as the 24th wealthiest Canadian and 1,140th in the world.
The Gerald Schwartz School of Business
at St. Francis Xavier University
was named in his honour in recognition of his donations to the university.
In 2005, he was awarded the Ernst & Young
Entrepreneur Of The Year 2005 Ontario Lifetime Achievement award. In 2006, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
Gerald W. Schwartz is also an Advisory Council member of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre
.
where he became an active brother of the Sigma Alpha Mu
Fraternity. He later received an MBA degree from Harvard University
in 1970.
, Chief Executive of Indigo Books and Music
. Together they have four grown children.
Schwartz owns a mansion in Rosedale, Toronto, a house in Palm Beach Florida and a house in Bel Air California.
troops.
In 2005, he started 4-year full scholarship program for IDF's lone soldiers, who came to Israel on their own and served in IDF, called Heseg
. http://www.heseg.com/page2.asp The Foundation offers scholarships to successful applicants in order to support their pursuit of academic excellence following their completion of military service. These scholarships consist of full stipends for academic studies as well as financial support for daily living expenses and related benefits.
In 2006, he made a donation to University of Waterloo
for $578,000 for an exchange program between University of Waterloo
, Canada and University of Haifa
, Israel. (more information) He wanted Canada to be working with Israel as partners.
The gold, silver and bronze medals for top academic standing in the JD/MBA program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law
and Rotman School of Management
are named after Schwartz.
Schwartz was a founder in 2004 of the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy
.
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...
born c.1941 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a Canadian
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. In 1977 he co-founded CanWest Global Communications
CanWest Global Communications
Canwest Global Communications Corporation, which operated under the corporate brand Canwest, was a major Canadian media company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with its head offices at Canwest Place...
Inc, followed by Onex Corporation in 1983. He has been a director of Scotiabank
Scotiabank
The Bank of Nova Scotia , commonly known as Scotiabank , is the third largest bank in Canada by deposits and market capitalization. It serves some 18.6 million customers in more than 50 countries around the world and offers a broad range of products and services including personal, commercial,...
since 1999. With an estimated net worth of $US 1.0 billion (as of March 2011), Schwartz was ranked by Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
as the 24th wealthiest Canadian and 1,140th in the world.
The Gerald Schwartz School of Business
Gerald Schwartz School of Business
The Gerald Schwartz School of Business and Information Systems is located on the campus of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. It was named after businessman Gerald Schwartz in recognition of his donations to the university...
at St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University
St. Francis Xavier University is a post-secondary institution located in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The school was founded in 1853, but did not offer degrees until 1868. The university has approximately 5000 students.-History:...
was named in his honour in recognition of his donations to the university.
In 2005, he was awarded the Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
Entrepreneur Of The Year 2005 Ontario Lifetime Achievement award. In 2006, he was made an Officer 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...
.
Gerald W. Schwartz is also an Advisory Council member of the Dancer Transition Resource Centre
Dancer transition resource centre
Founded in 1985 by former ballerina Joysanne Sidimus, the Dancer Transition Resource Centre is a Canadian charity that provides counselling and retraining grants to dancers making career transitions...
.
Early life
He received his B.A. and LL.B. degrees from the University of ManitobaUniversity of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
where he became an active brother of the Sigma Alpha Mu
Sigma Alpha Mu
Sigma Alpha Mu , also known as "Sammy", is a college fraternity founded at the City College of New York in 1909. Originally only for Jewish men, Sigma Alpha Mu remained so until 1953, when members from all backgrounds were accepted. Originally headquartered in New York, Sigma Alpha Mu has...
Fraternity. He later received an MBA degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1970.
Personal life
He is married to Heather ReismanHeather Reisman
Heather Reisman is a Canadian businesswoman. Reisman is the founder and chief executive of the Canadian retail chain Indigo Books and Music. Previously, she was president of Cott Corporation, a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks.Reisman is married to Gerald Schwartz,...
, Chief Executive of Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books & Music Inc. is a Canadian retail bookstore chain. The company was founded in 1996 by CEO Heather Reisman, wife of Gerry Schwartz, majority owner and CEO of Onex Corporation....
. Together they have four grown children.
Schwartz owns a mansion in Rosedale, Toronto, a house in Palm Beach Florida and a house in Bel Air California.
Support for Israel
One of his initiatives has been to send hundreds of iPods to IDFIsrael Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
troops.
In 2005, he started 4-year full scholarship program for IDF's lone soldiers, who came to Israel on their own and served in IDF, called Heseg
HESEG Foundation
The HESEG Foundation is a charitable foundation created by Canadians Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman in 2005 to provide scholarships to former "lone soldiers" who are non-Israeli-born Jews without family in Israel who go to the country in order to serve in the Israel Defense Forces...
. http://www.heseg.com/page2.asp The Foundation offers scholarships to successful applicants in order to support their pursuit of academic excellence following their completion of military service. These scholarships consist of full stipends for academic studies as well as financial support for daily living expenses and related benefits.
In 2006, he made a donation to University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
for $578,000 for an exchange program between University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
, Canada and University of Haifa
University of Haifa
The University of Haifa is a university in Haifa, Israel.The University of Haifa was founded in 1963 by Haifa mayor Abba Hushi, to operate under the academic auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
, Israel. (more information) He wanted Canada to be working with Israel as partners.
The gold, silver and bronze medals for top academic standing in the JD/MBA program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law
University of Toronto Faculty of Law
Established in 1887, the University of Toronto Faculty of Law is one of the oldest professional faculties at the University of Toronto. The Faculty of Law is particularly renowned in the areas of corporate law, international law, law and economics, and legal theory.The law school has been...
and Rotman School of Management
Rotman School of Management
The Joseph L. Rotman School of Management commonly known as Rotman School of Management is the University of Toronto's business school, located in St. George Street in Downtown Toronto. The school, named after Joseph L...
are named after Schwartz.
Schwartz was a founder in 2004 of the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy
Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs was founded in 2004 as the principal advocacy, oversight and co-ordinating body for a number of Jewish Canadian organizations including the Canada-Israel Committee , the Canadian Jewish Congress/United Jewish Appeal and National Jewish...
.