Irving Gerstein
Encyclopedia
Irving Russell Gerstein, CM
, O.Ont
(born February 10, 1941) is a Canadian
businessman, politician, and a Conservative
member of the Canadian Senate
. He was appointed on the advice of Stephen Harper
to the Senate on January 2, 2009. The son of Bertrand and Reva Gerstein
, Gerstein was made a Member of the Order of Canada
in recognition for being a "respected businessman and a loyal and diligent volunteer and philanthropist" in 1999. In 2002, he was awarded the Order of Ontario
.
Mr. Gerstein is best known for his time as President of Peoples Jewellers. He led the Peoples takeover of Zale Corporation
in 1996 and then Zale's takeover of Gordon Jewelry in 1989. By 1990, he headed the world’s largest jewelry retail empire.
He is or has served as a director of Atlantic Power Corporation, Medical Facilities Corporation, Student Transportation of America, Economic Investment Trust, CTV
Inc., Traders Group Limited, Guaranty Trust Company of Canada, Confederation Life
Insurance, and Scott’s Hospitality.
Mr. Gerstein is an honorary director of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, where he previously served as Chairman of the Board, Chairman Emeritus, and a director. He is also a director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
.
He is a long-time political fundraiser for the Progressive Conservative Party and now the Conservative Party of Canada.
Senator Gerstein received his BSc. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School of Finance and Commerce).
On February 23, 2011, Irving Gerstein was charged along with Senator Doug Finley for violations of the Canada Elections Act. Elections Canada alleges Irving Gerstein was complicit in a scheme that involved filing false tax claims and exceeding federal spending limits on campaign advertisements. If found guilty Gerstein faces up to a year in prison and fines exceeding $25,000.
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...
, O.Ont
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...
(born February 10, 1941) 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, politician, and a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
member of the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
. He was appointed on the advice of Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
to the Senate on January 2, 2009. The son of Bertrand and Reva Gerstein
Reva Gerstein
Reva Appleby Gerstein, is a Canadian psychologist and educator. She was the first woman Chancellor of the University of Western Ontario from 1992 to 1996....
, Gerstein 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...
in recognition for being a "respected businessman and a loyal and diligent volunteer and philanthropist" in 1999. In 2002, 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...
.
Mr. Gerstein is best known for his time as President of Peoples Jewellers. He led the Peoples takeover of Zale Corporation
Zale Corporation
The Zale Corporation is, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, a leading specialty retailer of jewelry in North America. The Zale Corporation was incorporated in Delaware in 1993...
in 1996 and then Zale's takeover of Gordon Jewelry in 1989. By 1990, he headed the world’s largest jewelry retail empire.
He is or has served as a director of Atlantic Power Corporation, Medical Facilities Corporation, Student Transportation of America, Economic Investment Trust, CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
Inc., Traders Group Limited, Guaranty Trust Company of Canada, Confederation Life
Confederation Life
Confederation Life Insurance Company, also known as Confederation Life, was a major Canadian insurance company and financial services provider. Its global head office was located in Toronto in what is now the Rogers Building...
Insurance, and Scott’s Hospitality.
Mr. Gerstein is an honorary director of Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, where he previously served as Chairman of the Board, Chairman Emeritus, and a director. He is also a director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research enables Canadian researchers to work on international research teams that are custom built to transform their fields of study...
.
He is a long-time political fundraiser for the Progressive Conservative Party and now the Conservative Party of Canada.
Senator Gerstein received his BSc. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School of Finance and Commerce).
On February 23, 2011, Irving Gerstein was charged along with Senator Doug Finley for violations of the Canada Elections Act. Elections Canada alleges Irving Gerstein was complicit in a scheme that involved filing false tax claims and exceeding federal spending limits on campaign advertisements. If found guilty Gerstein faces up to a year in prison and fines exceeding $25,000.