Sheldon Levy

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Sheldon Levy
Sheldon Levy.jpg
Levy in 2008
Special Advisor to (Canada) Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion
Assumed office
December 07, 2018
CEO of NEXT Canada
In office
October 30, 2017 – December 30, 2018
Preceded byAndrea Matheson (Interim)
Succeeded byJoe Canavan
Ontario Deputy Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
In office
December 1, 2015 – September 30, 2017
Preceded byDeborah Newman
Succeeded byGreg Orencsak
Personal details
Born1949 (age 72–73)[1]
NationalityCanadian
Alma materYork University
OccupationCEO, Educational Administrator, Civil Servant

Sheldon Levy OC (born 1949) became, in December 2018, special advisor to the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, advising on improving the scale-up ecosystem.[2] He also serves as a strategic consultant and special advisor to Knightstone Capital Management Inc.[3]

Levy was educated at Downsview Public and Secondary School, in Toronto, and earned his master's degree in mathematics from York University.

Employment[]

Levy has previously been employed as

  • CEO of NEXT Canada 1 November 2017 to 30 December 2018
  • Deputy Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for Ontario[4] 1 December 2015 through 30 September 2017.
  • President and vice chancellor of Ryerson University 1 August 2005 through 30 November 2015. He retired from his executive positions at Ryerson on 31 July 2015,[5][6]
  • President of Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology;[7][8][9]
  • Vice president, finance and strategy, University of Ontario Institute of Technology;
  • Vice president, government and institutional relations, University of Toronto;
  • Vice president, institutional affairs, York University.

Levy's current board and committee appointments include:

  • Honorary chair, Brookfield Institute Advisory Board
  • Board of directors,
  • Advisory board, Elder Research Centre, Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning

Levy's previous Board appointments include:

  • The Board of Directors, Toronto Board of Trade.

Accolades[]

An article by the Toronto Life magazine, called the "Ryerson Revolution", describes in detail how Levy has taken the initiative since starting as president to improve Ryerson University, by purchasing Maple Leaf Gardens, shutting down Gould Street and a space sharing agreement with AMC theatres, creating an urban campus, instead of the more traditional closed-off university campus.

He was the driving force behind the (DMZ) which opened in April 2010. It is a multidisciplinary workspace for research and learning, home to both entrepreneurial companies and industry solution-providers. With access to overhead, business services, and a rich network of contacts, entrepreneurs and researchers can accelerate product launches, and contribute to Canada's success in the digital economy. It has taken over three floors at the AMC Complex building.

In 2015, Levy was the subject of a viral video produced by Ryerson University custodian Bob Skelly.[10]

Controversy[]

In 2006, Levy sparked controversy by defending the decision of Ryerson's Awards and Ceremonials Standing Committee of the Academic Council to award an honorary degree to Margaret Somerville, who is noted for her opposition to same-sex marriage and gay families. He explained that while Ryerson University did not agree with Dr. Somerville's views, revoking the award would be counter to freedom of speech and the right to expression.[11][12]

References[]

  1. ^ Gee, Marcus (24 March 2010). "The Ryerson revolution: how the once dumpy polytechnic is redrawing downtown". Toronto Life. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Minister Ng appoints special advisor - Sheldon Levy named special advisor on scaling up small and medium-sized businesses".
  3. ^ "Sheldon Levy".
  4. ^ "Ryerson president Sheldon Levy heading to Queen's Park | CBC News".
  5. ^ "Ryerson president Sheldon Levy to tackle new role at Queen's Park". Toronto Star. August 31, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  6. ^ "Biography: Sheldon Levy President and Vice-Chancellor Ryerson University" (PDF). Digital Media Zone. Ryerson University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  7. ^ Sonja Puzic and Alison Northcott: "Goodbye Rye High: Sheldon Levy — New pres wants to make Ryerson a more welcoming place for students". The Eyeopener. 2005-08-23. Archived from the original on 2005-11-05.
  8. ^ "UOIT vice-president named next president of Ryerson University". University of Ontario Institute of Technology. 2005-02-01. Archived from the original on 2005-12-30.
  9. ^ Chiose, Simona. "Ryerson University's Sheldon Levy to join higher education ministry". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  10. ^ dangreenwoo (2015-12-18), This Song is for Sheldon Levy, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2016-07-20
  11. ^ "Faculty protests award for Montreal ethicist". CTV News. Archived from the original on March 15, 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2006.
  12. ^ "Protests as ethicist Margaret Somerville awarded honorary degree by Ryerson". Erin Atack, Canadian Press. Archived from the original on November 30, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2006.

External links[]

Academic offices
Preceded by President of Ryerson University
2005–2015 		Succeeded by
Mohamed Lachemi
Retrieved from ""