Philanthropists Cheryl and Rob McEwen to be honoured at the 2018 Bryden Alumni Awards
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In 2017, Cheryl and Rob McEwen (CM, MBA ’78, LLD ’05) made a transformational $8-million donation to the Schulich School Business – one of the largest gifts ever received by the school. Including their most recent gift, the McEwens have donated more than $10 million to benefit Schulich. In honour of their long-term support, York University named the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building after them and is honouring them on Nov. 20 at the 2018 Bryden Alumni Awards.
“I hope that it inspires people to think about what they can do for the school,” said Cheryl. “The school is really the essence of all of those that make it what it is. The more you put yourself into something, the more you get out of it. Seek advice and network your way through difficult chapters. You really have to be fully engaged and fully committed.”
Her career embodies this. As a volunteer, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Cheryl has received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contributions to advance research in regenerative medicine and stem cells. She is the vice-chair of the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation Board, which raises money for research, education and enhanced patient care. She has served on the board since 2005. As an entrepreneur, Cheryl has worked for 25 years within the fashion industry and is the founder of Make My Day Foods. A firm believer in the ability of nutrition to prevent disease and support overall mental and physical well-being, Cheryl’s community leadership has helped raise over $26 million to support medical research and patient care.
Rob is Chair and chief owner of McEwen Mining. He is also the founder, former Chair and CEO of Goldcorp, one of the world’s largest gold producers. In 1990, he pivoted from the investment industry to the mining industry, where he consolidated five companies to create Goldcorp. During his 13 years at the helm, the company’s market capitalization grew from $50 million to over $8 billion and its share price grew at a compound annual rate of 31 per cent. Rob is a recipient of the Order of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and PDAC Developer of the Year Award, and in 2017 he was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame. In 2005, York University bestowed Rob with an honorary doctor of laws. In 2007, he received the Schulich Alumni Recognition Award for Outstanding Executive Leadership.
Rob credits his success to being “stubbornly persistent.” He adds, “Ask for responsibility. That will give you the freedom to drive your future. Do not sit back and wait. Going through school, I never contemplated an award like this, but suddenly sitting there, them saying, ‘We’re going to give you this.’ Well, isn’t that very nice?”
In the larger community, the couple’s generosity is far reaching, having made donations in excess of $60 million to encourage excellence and innovation in health care and education. Rob and Cheryl’s donations have led to the creation of the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine at Toronto General Hospital, the McEwen School of Architecture at Laurentian University, the McEwen Leadership Program at St. Andrew’s College, and the Lakefield College Gym and Entrepreneurial Scholarship. In addition, they have made significant contributions to the Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital and the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre.
Now in its 18th year, the Bryden Alumni Awards celebrate outstanding York University alumni and friends who have achieved the extraordinary and made remarkable contributions in their fields, communities and to the University. Learn more about our 2018 Bryden recipients and purchase tickets or corporate tables for this year’s event at yorku.ca/Bryden2018.
How disability is disclosed in job interview affects hiring, research finds
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The Schulich School of Business at York University attracted an outstanding new recruit last spring: Professor Brent Lyons from Simon Fraser University. An expert in stigma in organizations, he led a team of researchers from the Universities of British Columbia, Maryland and New Mexico in a study that examined the effects of disclosing a concealable disability when applying for a job.
Research found that an observer’s reaction to the disclosure of a disability makes a difference
Lyons’ team found that disclosure strategies affect reactions, such as pity or admiration, which, in turn, influence the hiring decision-making processes. More specifically, job applicants with concealable disabilities would benefit from adopting strategies that emphasize positive aspects of a disability. This works both ways, however: organizations should ensure that employees making hiring decisions are not basing judgments on non-job-relevant information.
The results of this study were published in the Journal of Applied Psychology (2017).
Individuals with disabilities often hide it to limit harm
Brent Lyons
Existing research tells us that people with disabilities face biases that can negatively affect employment. Indeed, the employment rate for Canadians with disabilities is comparatively low. Statistics Canada reported that the employment rate of Canadians aged 25 to 64 with disabilities was 49 per cent, compared with 79 per cent for Canadians without a disability (2011).
This, naturally, drives people with disabilities to conceal it as a way of mitigating potentially harmful bias. These individuals then face the added burden of keeping a secret.
If these people choose, instead, to disclose their disability in a job interview situation, they open themselves up to the reaction of the interviewers. Does the way they disclose this information affect the outcome? That’s the central, pressing question that Lyons’ team sought to answer.
Two different strategies of disclosure
The researchers commenced a pilot study, a small-scale experiment to evaluate the feasibility of a more comprehensive study. In it, they focused on two different ways that a person with a disability could disclose this fact:
integration, emphasizing positive aspects of a disability, underscoring that disability is valuable, which combats stereotypes of incompetence; and
de-categorization or de-emphasizing the disability.
From the perspective of the observer, or interviewer, controllability is an important part of this study. This refers to perceptions of a stigmatized individual by an observer – in particular, perceptions around whether the stigmatized person is responsible for their condition/illness/disability or if the condition/illness/disability could be reversed by the stigmatized individual.
Onset controllability refers to whether contracting a condition can be blamed on a stigmatized individual. (In this study, “low onset” controllability refers to when the individual with a disability was seen as not responsible for their disability; “high onset” controllability refers to the opposite.)
Controllability refers to the observer’s perceptions around whether the stigmatized person is responsible for their condition/illness/disability
Ninety-eight participants were surveyed after staged job interview
In the pilot study, the researchers examined the effectiveness of the two disclosure strategies and considered the underlying mechanism that explains any differences in effectiveness. They hypothesized that both approaches could lead to pity (negative) and/or admiration (positive).
The study participants were 98 working adults, roughly divided among men and women, from the United States, with an average age of 36 years. The researchers chose six concealable conditions (HIV, lung cancer, hearing impairment, back pain, epilepsy and brain trauma), although hearing impairment was considered the focal disability.
Here’s how the study ran: participants were told that university students were taking a business class in which the final project involved fundraising for their idea. Participants were instructed to hire students based on their capacity to effectively sell themselves and raise money for a startup. They were told to evaluate each student based on their responses to personal questions during the mock job interview, such as, “Is there is anything you would like us to know about you?,” at which point the students disclosed their disability.
Participants surveyed to determine pity or admiration, and if they would recommend hiring
In the survey, participants were asked, “To what extent does this person make you feel…” “pity,” “sorrow” and “sympathy.” This was how the researchers measured the participants’ pity reactions.
Participants were also asked, “To what extent does this person make you feel…” “admiration,” “proud” and “fond.” This was how the researchers assessed participants’ admiration reactions.
Participants were then asked if they would recommend hiring the person.
Findings suggest that if pity is lowered, likelihood of being hired is raised
The researchers found that the effectiveness of disclosure strategies depended on onset controllability – that is, whether being disabled, in the eyes of the study participants, can be blamed on a stigmatized individual. Lyons explained: “Decategorization, or distancing oneself from the disability, reduced pity reactions, but only when the individual was seen as not responsible for their disability. This is low-onset controllability.”
In other words, when pity was reduced, this led to an increased likelihood of being hired. Conversely, if pity were elevated, the likelihood of being hired was lowered.
When pity was elevated, this led to a decrease in the likelihood of being hired
Takeaway messages for both sides of the table
Although the researchers are not suggesting that individuals with disabilities should be responsible for managing bias in hiring contexts, the results of this study suggest that people with concealable disabilities are likely to benefit from adopting integration strategies in a job interview, emphasizing the positive.
The takeaway message for organizations? Adopt strategies to ensure that employees making hiring decisions are not basing judgments on non-job-relevant information. This could go a long way toward stigma reduction in organizations.
To read the full journal article, visit the website. To learn more about Lyons, visit his faculty profile page.
By Megan Mueller, senior manager, research communications, Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation, York University, muellerm@yorku.ca.
Schulich launches new Master of Supply Chain Management program
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Students and faculty attend the launch of the new program
Earlier this month, the Schulich School of Business hosted a program launch and networking social to officially kick off the school’s new Master of Supply Chain Management (MSCM) program. The program is unique in that it can be taken full-time in 12 months by graduates of business, economics, science and engineering degree programs or on a part-time basis by working professionals for completion in as little as two years. The first cohort of students will begin their studies in May 2019.
The event started with a supply chain industry panel discussion that included David Johnston, the new program’s director; Mark Gallant, senior director of supply chain at Home Depot; Joe Lombardo, director of transportation and network performance at Purolator; and Carlos Menezes, vice-president of distribution and planning at Canadian Tire.
In their remarks, each emphasized why they believe this management professional program is a much-needed initiative in the industry right now. “There are not a lot of supply chain designation professionals with the right experience and social behaviour,” said Lombardo. “The ability to co-operate and collaborate is missing.”
Members of the panel discuss the need for the new program
“We need managers that can truly operate, participate and drive projects,” added Gallant.
Menezes also believes that people management is critical for this industry. “You have to motivate your team when you’re a manager, and be able to convince folks of your ideas and to follow your plan,” he said.
Johnston revealed that they have set up an agreement with the Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA) to provide graduating students with advanced standing for the Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) accreditation.
Prospective students were invited to ask questions and had the opportunity to discuss the MSCM program with faculty and the admission team after the panel discussion.
Schulich celebrates completion of campus expansion project
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Cheryl and Rob McEwen
The Schulich School of Business community came together on Sunday, Oct. 21 to celebrate the official completion of the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building. This campus expansion was one of the five major pillars of Leading Change, Schulich’s most comprehensive fundraising and alumni engagement campaign to date.
Pictured, left to right: Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth, Cheryl McEwen and Rob McEwen
The ceremony was attended by more than 300 guests, including students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends. Master of ceremonies John S. Hunkin (MBA ’69, Hon. LLD ’04) welcomed guests and the ceremony started with speeches given by York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton, Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth, Rob McEwen (MBA ’78, Hon. LLD ’05), Cheryl McEwen and Graduate Business Council President James Prince (MBA ’19). “This building will help keep Schulich ahead of the curve and at the forefront of business education and research,” said Dean Horváth.
“Schulich is all about excellence and attracting faculty and staff who are the most highly qualified people in their fields,” said President Lenton. “By linking our commitment to access, excellence and strengthening our outreach not only locally but globally, we continue to increase and magnify impact many times over.”
The Schulich community came together to celebrate the official completion of the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building on Oct. 22
Rob and Cheryl McEwen, longtime supporters of Schulich who are known for their leadership, entrepreneurialism and philanthropy, also believe that the building will propel Schulich to the forefront of business education globally. “I think this building will ignite an explosion of collaborative research, innovation and a generation of Canadian leaders that will propel Canada into the 21st century,” said Rob McEwen.
With a solar chimney, extensive green roofs and rainwater capture systems, the newly opened facility is one of the most environmentally sustainable academic buildings in North America.
Guests enjoyed exploring and learning more about the features and programs in the building through experiential, behind-the-scenes journeys, including an architectural and art walking tour, presentations from the Centres of Excellence, a deep dive into Schulich’s research world, and a meditation session in the new Colleen and Brian Johnston Wellness Suite.
The evening concluded with a reception honouring Dezsö Horváth’s 30th anniversary as dean. Throughout his 30 years of leadership, Dean Horváth has been pushing forward an agenda that has been changing the course of business education. As the world’s longest-serving dean, he has helped turn Schulich into a leading global business school and a global thought leader in various areas of management education.
Financial Times ranks the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA No. 1 in Canada
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The Financial Times of London ranked the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA (EMBA) at York University the No.1 EMBA program in Canada and 32nd globally. The 2018 Financial Times ranking, which was released on Monday, marks the 12th straight year that the Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program has been ranked No. 1 in Canada.
The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program was ranked 32nd globally and placed 12th among programs based in North America in this year’s Financial Times ranking. The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program finished ahead of Michigan, Kellogg and Columbia, and behind Duke, Cambridge and Chicago. Among Canadian-based programs, the Kellogg-Schulich EMBA placed ahead of the Rotman School of Management, which ranked 47th; the Cornell-Queen’s EMBA, which ranked 56th; the Ivey EMBA, which ranked 62nd; and the University of Ottawa’s Telfer EMBA, which ranked 99th.
The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA ranked No. 1 in Canada in the categories of Salary Increase, Career Progress, Aims Achieved, Work Experience and International Course Experience.
The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA also ranked among the top 25 in the world in the following categories:
15th in the world in the “Career Progress” category, which measures the changes in the level of seniority and the size of the company alumni now work in versus before their EMBA degree;
16th in the world in the “International Course Experience” category, which measures the percentage of classroom teaching hours that are conducted outside the country in which the business school is located; and
21st in the world in the “Research” category, which measures the number of articles published by the faculty in leading academic and business practitioner journals.
The Kellogg global network of EMBA partner schools collectively performed very well in this year’s ranking, with the Kellogg-Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) EMBA Program placing 1st overall, the Kellogg-WHU Beisheim EMBA Program based in Germany ranking 28th, the Kellogg EMBA Program finishing 34th, and the Kellogg-Schulich EMBA Program placing 32nd.
Dezsö J. Horváth
“We’re proud to have once again been rated the No. 1 EMBA program in Canada and one of the top EMBA programs in the world,” said Schulich Dean Dezsö J. Horváth. “Ever since the Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program was established, it has been consistently ranked number No. 1 in Canada by every single major global survey.”
The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA Program has been ranked #1 in the world and among the top 10 in the world by The Economist in the three global EMBA rankings it has conducted and was the top-ranked program in Canada in each of those rankings. The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA Program was also ranked No. 6 in the world by QS Global EMBA in 2018.
Kindness is key to success, says honorary degree recipient Colleen Johnston
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Graduands of the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA program at York University’s Schulich School of Business listened to an inspirational talk on kindness during their convocation ceremony on Oct. 12.
During the fifth ceremony of Fall Convocation, Schulich alumna and leading business executive Colleen Johnston was recognized with an honorary doctor of laws. She delivered a speech urging the graduating class to always consider kindness on their path to success.
From left: Chancellor Gregory Sorbara, Colleen Johnston and York President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton
Johnston has been praised by her peers for her visionary leadership in the emergent financial technology space, and spent 14 years at TD with 10 of those years as chief financial officer. Her career in the industry spans 30 years, and during that time she championed the role of women and encouraged emerging leaders to gain the confidence to strive for more.
As an active community member, promoting health and well-being, she chaired the boards of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Bridgepoint Health and the ShareLife Corporate Campaign, she sits on the boards of St. Michael’s Hospital and the Shaw Festival, and she is a member of the Schulich School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council.
Colleen Johnston
“Today, your talents, grit and determination are well rewarded,” she told graduands. “In the time I have with you today, I’d like to focus on personal reflections and some personal advice. These aren’t usually found in textbooks, but are – in my opinion – the foundations of a successful and rewarding career and life.”
Johnston focused on three themes during her talk, beginning with thoughts on creating a kinder world.
Despite living in a time of tough headlines, the world is more prosperous and peaceful than ever with increased globalization, advancements in technology and diversity and inclusion being valued in society. But, in a rapidly thriving world many will be left behind, she suggested.
“As you leave this school and blaze your trail, remember that society only thrives when everyone in it has the means to succeed,” she said. “Give your time, your know-how, your empathy to those who do not have your advantages. Don’t wait to give back. Find a way today, in small ways and small gestures, to make a difference. You too will be enriched.”
Never forget your humanity, she advised, as it is required to be tough and resilient. But – do not confuse being tough with being hard, she said, because it’s not just what you accomplish that counts, but it is also the ‘how’ that will define you.
Her second piece of advice was to be patient with success.
“You will change the world, but it won’t happen right away,” she said. “The road to the top is not smooth and it’s not always quick. I won’t sugar coat it – there are a lot of menial tasks you’ll be asked to do. Do them. And do them with enthusiasm. Lead by example.”
Embrace starting small, and expanding contributions as your career advances, she said.
“When you achieve success in your ‘circle of influence’ – what you control – you can use it to benefit your ‘circle of concern’ and contribute back to causes you care about in bigger ways. It’s a virtuous circle. And it makes life’s journey so much more enriching.”
Lastly, Johnston urged graduands to consider kindness towards themselves. The more you take care of yourself, she said, the higher you will soar.
“You need to build your energy and resilience through sleep, vacations, eating well, taking care of your body and maintaining a positive outlook,” she said.
She also touched on perfectionism, and letting go.
“True confession – I’m still a recovering perfectionist,” she said. “Perfection is boring and it drags you down. It’s also unachievable. My advice: find ways to reflect and learn from experiences – positive or negative – and then re-set and move on. Give yourself a break.”
Don’t forget, she said, to find joy in small things.
“Let’s work together to make the world a better place – a kinder place. Be patient – it won’t happen overnight. And finally be kind to yourself,” she said.
Five exceptional leaders to receive honorary degrees at York’s Fall Convocation
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Five outstanding individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to the service of community, education, public service and business will receive honorary degrees from York University during the Fall 2018 Convocation ceremonies.
“Each of these individuals has proven themselves a remarkable leader, not only because of the ingenuity they have demonstrated in their chosen professional fields, but also because of their dedication to the communities they serve,” said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda L. Lenton. “We look forward to celebrating their excellence, and we know they will inspire York’s newest graduates as they embrace their own roles as the leaders of tomorrow.”
York University’s Fall Convocation ceremonies will be held from Oct. 10 to 13. A full schedule can be found here.
Below are the recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured:
Dr. Frances Shepherd, MD Faculty of Health and Osgoode Hall Law School Wednesday, Oct. 10, 10:30 a.m.
Dr. Frances Shepherd
Dr. Frances Shepherd is a respected medical oncologist recognized for her scientific research on lung cancer and her contributions to the design, development and conduct of clinical trials. Her landmark studies are noted for changing treatment and outcomes for patients with both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer at a global level.
She is currently a senior staff physician at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, where she has held the Scott Taylor Chair in Lung Cancer Research since 2001. She is also a full professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto.
Shepherd has mentored more than 40 postdoctoral research Fellows from around the world, many of whom now hold senior academic positions of their own. She has authored or co-authored more than 500 peer-reviewed publications and 35 book chapters.
She is on the editorial board of several journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, as well as on numerous lung cancer advisory boards and data and safety monitoring boards for international lung cancer trials.
Dame Moya Greene Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies 1 Thursday, Oct. 11, 10:30 a.m.
Dame Moya Greene
Dame Moya Greene is one of Canada’s most influential and accomplished exports to the U.K. She has dedicated most of her life to public service and managing complex public and private organizations, mastering the daunting challenges that come with evolving business models.
She was appointed president and chief executive officer of Canada Post on May 12, 2005. In 2010, Greene was appointed chief executive officer of the U.K.’s Royal Mail. Greene was the first non-Briton and first woman to hold the post.
Greene has been the recipient of many personal awards in both Canada and the U.K. In 2003, she was named among the 100 most influential women in Canada by the National Post; in 2004, she was named one of the top 40 female corporate executives in Canada by Ivey Business School. In February 2013, BBC Radio 4 called her the 12th most powerful woman in Britain. Also in 2013, she received the Sunday Times Business Person of the Year Award. The following year saw Greene voted Business Person of the Year by the Financial Times. In 2015, she was ranked as one of the most powerful female CEOs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the Fortune 500. In 2018, Greene was named Business Leader of the Year by the Evening Standard. In June 2018, Greene was honoured by the Queen, who bestowed on her a damehood for services to the United Kingdom.
Anna Maria Tremonti
School of the Arts, Media Performance and Design and Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies 2 Thursday, Oct. 11, 3:30 p.m.
Journalist Anna Maria Tremonti
Journalist Anna Maria Tremonti is a familiar and engaging voice behind Canada’s most listened-to radio program, best known as a fearless interviewer who engages and informs on CBC’s Radio One show “The Current.”
Tremonti is dedicated to revealing the stories behind the headlines. Among her countless interviews have been those with Maher Arar, the Syrian-born Canadian whose detention as a political prisoner in Syria resulted in a public inquiry into Canada’s role in his deportation, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai for which she was awarded a 2014 Gracie Award for Best Interview Program.
Tremonti has received two Gemini Awards, an Outstanding Achievement Award from Women in Film and Television Toronto, and a Radio and Television News Directors Award.
Tremonti was CBC’s foreign correspondent in Berlin, London, Jerusalem and Washington. She has covered pivotal historical events and conflicts, from the breakup of the Soviet Union to wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and the efforts to impeach President Bill Clinton.
Colleen Johnston Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA Friday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m.
Alumna Colleen Johnston
York University alumna and business executive Colleen Johnston has been praised by her peers for her visionary leadership in the emergent financial technology (fintech) space.
As chief financial officer from 2005-15, she helped guide TD through the financial crisis and played a key role in the bank’s growth and North American expansion. During her tenure as CFO, she built a world-class finance organization and developed an award-winning investor relations program. From 2015-18, Johnston was instrumental in reshaping TD’s technology capabilities and the digital and customer experience for the future.
After close to 14 years at TD, and a career that spans over 30 years, Johnston retired from TD Bank Group in April of 2018.
As Chair of TD’s Women In Leadership committee, Johnston championed the role of women and encouraged emerging leaders to gain the confidence to strive for and reach positions of increased responsibility.
As an active community member, promoting health and well-being, she chaired the boards of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Bridgepoint Health and the ShareLife Corporate Campaign, she sits on the boards of St. Michael’s Hospital and the Shaw Festival, and she is a member of the Schulich School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council.
Professor Thandika Mkandawire is a noted economist and public intellectual who has published broadly on the social sciences. He is an expert and scholar on policy-making, transformation and democratization in Africa.
He is a former director of the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and the first person to take on the new position of Chair in African Development at the London School of Economics.
Mkandawire was formerly director of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. He also served as senior research Fellow at the Centre for Development Research in Copenhagen and has taught at the Universities of Stockholm and Zimbabwe.
He has held the Olof Palme Professor for Peace with the Institute for Future Studies in Stockholm. He was born in Malawi and received his bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees in economics at Ohio State University.
Mkandawire has served on the board of the Social Science Research Council. He is also a member of the editorial boards of Africa Development, Africa Review of Books, Development and Change, Global Governance, Journal of Development Studies, Journal of Human Development, Oxford Development Studies and Feminist Economics.
Ceremonies on Wednesday and Thursday will take place at the Aviva Centre, 1 Shoreham Dr., Keele Campus. The Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA ceremony on Friday will take place in the McEwen Auditorium, Seymour Schulich Building, also on the Keele Campus. The Glendon ceremony on Saturday will be held on the Glendon Campus, located at 2275 Bayview Ave.
Rob Wildeboer awarded Hennick Medal for Career Achievement
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Rob Wildeboer
The Jay and Barbara Hennick Centre for Business and Law at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business announced that Rob Wildeboer (LLB/MBA ’85), executive Chair and co-founder of Martinrea International Inc., is the recipient of the 2017 Hennick Medal for Career Achievement.
Rob Wildeboer
The Hennick Medal, awarded annually to a business and law graduate who has earned widespread recognition in the business and legal communities, was presented to Wildeboer at a reception in his honour in Toronto on Oct. 3, hosted by Wildeboer Dellelce LLP.
“Rob Wildeboer is an accomplished entrepreneur and legal dynamo with a global reputation for propelling businesses forward,” said Edward J. Waitzer, Jarislowsky Dimma Mooney Chair in Corporate Governance at Osgoode and Schulich, and director of the Hennick Centre. “The Hennick Medal recognizes Rob’s outstanding contributions as a lawyer, business person and community leader, particularly his exceptional leadership ability in motivating people and moving organizations toward a vision.”
In his position at Martinrea International Inc., a global auto parts supplier specializing in automotive fluid systems and metal forming products, Wildeboer oversees 15,000 employees at 44 divisions in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Europe and China.
He is also a founding partner of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, which is focused on corporate, securities, lending, tax and real estate law. He now serves as counsel to the firm.
Prior to founding Wildeboer Dellelce in 1993, he was a lawyer with Stikeman Elliott LLP, an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School (where he taught corporate law and corporate finance) and a regulator with the Ontario Securities Commission.
Wildeboer is a director of the Canadian Automotive Partnership Counsel; a present and past adviser to the governments of Canada and Ontario on a variety of economic, trade, investment, industry, manufacturing and automotive mandates; past Chair of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and Chair of Cardus, both leading Canadian think tanks; and a director or adviser of numerous charitable organizations. In 2012, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to Canada.
In addition to his LLB from Osgoode and MBA from Schulich, he holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph and an LLM from Harvard University.
Previous recipients of the Hennick Medal for Career Achievement have been Kathleen Taylor, former president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts and now Chair of the RBC Board of Directors, in 2010; Tye Burt, former president and CEO of Kinross Gold Corporation, in 2011; Moya Greene, CEO of Royal Mail Group, in 2012; Gregory Sorbara, former MPP of Vaughan and now chancellor of York University, in 2013; Marianne Harris, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), in 2014; the late Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. and Chair of Ferrari S.p.A., in 2015; and Carol Hansell, founder and senior partner of Hansell LLP and Hansell McLaughlin Advisory, in 2016.
About the Hennick Centre
Launched in 2009, the Jay and Barbara Hennick Centre for Business and Law – a joint initiative of Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business at York University – is the first Canadian centre to promote and develop joint business and law scholarship and education. Made possible by a gift from Jay and Barbara Hennick, the Hennick Centre’s flagship is the joint JD/MBA program offered by Osgoode and Schulich. The Hennick Centre also draws together the teaching and research strengths of the Davies Fund for Business Law and other endowed Chairs, including the Jarislowsky Dimma Mooney Chair in Corporate Governance, cross-appointed to Osgoode and Schulich.
New website is an essential resource for international business, Canadian entrepreneurs and SMEs
In addition to content generated by the centre and the Schulich School of Business, the website features links to more than 600 resources from approximately 200 governments, agencies, non-governmental organizations, multilateral organizations and private businesses in the areas of international business, innovation and entrepreneurism.
The Centre for Global Enterprise will continue to expand the number and range of resources offered on the website, providing an essential, open-source search engine for Canadian entrepreneurs and companies with international ambitions.
Schulich Professor Peter Macdonald appointed co-director of Hennick Centre
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Hennick Centre
Schulich School of Business Professor Peter Macdonald has been appointed the new co-director of the Hennick Centre for Business and Law at York University.
Peter Macdonald
Macdonald is a lawyer, mediator and co-director o the joint MBA/JD program at Schulich, and graduated from York’s Osgoode Hall Law School in 1985. Between 1987-94 he practiced corporate, commercial and securities law with two downtown Toronto law firms and a large multinational corporation in Montreal. Since 1995, Macdonald has acted as a commercial mediator and dispute resolution trainer in a broad range of litigious, regulatory and business-oriented contexts. In 2001, he joined the faculty at Schulich School of Business to teach business law to undergraduate and graduate students. He has received numerous teaching excellence awards.
“We’re very fortunate to have Peter join us as a co-director of the Centre,” said Ed Waitzer, director, Hennick Centre for Business and Law. “As co-director of the JD/MBA program, Peter already plays a key role in, and has made a huge contribution to, many of our programs and priorities. He’s a terrific resource.”
Launched on Feb. 6, 2009, the Jay and Barbara Hennick Centre for Business and Law at York University is the first Canadian centre to promote and develop joint business and law scholarship and education. Made possible by a transformational gift from Jay and Barbara Hennick, the Hennick Centre is a hotbed for initiatives and programs that deliver the competencies professionals need to analyse business and legal problems in a holistic way. It is a joint initiative of Osgoode Hall Law School, the largest common-law law school in Canada, and world-leading business school Schulich School of Business.
The Hennick Centre also draws together the teaching and research strengths of the Davies Fund for Business Law and other endowed Chairs including the Jarislowsky Dimma Mooney Chair for Corporate Governance and the Osler Chair in Business Law. The Centre has launched a business certificate program for practicing lawyers with Osgoode Professional Development and the Schulich Executive Education Centre. The Centre also hosts an annual lecture series and awards endowed medals of honour for academic achievement to JD/MBA students, and career achievement to international leaders in business and law.
The Hennick Centre’s long-term strategic plan is “Defining the Intersection of Business, Law and Public Policy.”
