Joseph Rotman

31
Joseph Rotman bigraphy, stories - Canadian politician

Joseph Rotman : biography

January 6, 1935 – living

Joseph Louis Rotman, (born January 6, 1935), is a noted Canadian businessman and philanthropist. Rotman has been the founder, benefactor and member of many successful organizations, such as the Clairvest Group Inc., the Rotman Research Institute, and the Rotman School of Management. Throughout his life, he has received two honorary degrees, as well as an induction into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. He is well-regarded for donating his time and financial assistance to numerous philanthropic causes including the arts, education and healthcare.

Business career

Rotman began his business career in 1962 and has been involved in establishing a number of private and public companies active in oil trading, petroleum distribution, oil and gas exploration, merchant banking, real estate and venture capital. In 1987, he founded Clairvest Group Inc., a Canadian-based company, which provides merchant banking for emerging companies and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. He continues to serve as a Member of the Board.

Joseph is also the Chairman of Roy-L Capital Corporation, a private family investment company. He has served on numerous corporate boards including the Bank of Montreal, Barrick Gold Corporation, Canada Northwest Energy Ltd., Masonite International and TrizecHahn Corporation. He has been involved as a founder of Tarragon Oil and Gas, Geocrude Energy, PanCana Resources, PanCana Minerals and Embassy Resources, as well as a number of other companies.

Other Achievements

In recognition of a lifetime of success and philanthropy, Sandra and Joseph Rotman were selected as torchbearers for the in Toronto on December 17, 2009.

Sandra and Joseph were also awarded the Beth Sholom Brotherhood Humanitarian award in 2010. Joseph was the Honouree of The Toronto Club’s 2011 Annual Members Dinner. He is also active with many other local, national and international organizations.

Supporter of the Arts

A lifelong enthusiast and supporter of the arts, Rotman has applied his business experience to creating environments for the arts to thrive in Canada and throughout the world. Rotman served as Chair of the Board of the Art Gallery of Ontario (1993–96), as a Board Member (1991-2000) and continues, along with his wife, to be a benefactor. During this time, he was also a Member of the Board of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards (1996-1998).

In July 2008, Rotman was appointed to a five-year term as Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, the national arts funding agency that provides grants, endowments, prizes and promotion of the arts.

Philanthropy

As both patrons and benefactors, Joseph and his wife Sandra have demonstrated a long-term commitment to promoting and developing internationally renowned Canadian institutions in the arts, education and healthcare. As well, they have supported the creation of new knowledge in science and technology, business practices, and public policy.

Over the past 20 years, Joseph and Sandra Rotman have served on numerous boards and donated more than $90 million. They share a passion and support for higher education, the arts and healthcare. Joseph once noted, “My father taught me that the most powerful way to inspire others to give is for them to see people giving in their community.”

Awards & Honours

In 1994, Rotman was awarded an honorary LL.D. from the University of Toronto, and less than a year later, his appointment as an officer of the Order of Canada was announced January 4, 1995.

In 2009, Rotman was not only awarded his second LL.D. from Western University but he was also inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame as a Companion and honoured, along with his wife Sandra, with the Outstanding Philanthropists Award by The Association of Fundraising Professionals.

On February 29, 2012, Rotman was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Life Sciences Ontario.

On November 21, 2011, Rotman was named the twenty-first Chancellor of his alma mater,The University of Western Ontario conferred the degree of Bachelor of Arts on Rotman in 1957. Western University. His four-year term began on July 1, 2012.