Lawrence Heisey
Encyclopedia
William Lawrence Heisey, OC
(May 29, 1930 – May 28, 2009) was a Canadian
businessman and philanthropist. He was president and chairman of Harlequin Enterprises Limited.
Born in Toronto
, Ontario
, he went to Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
class of 1948, before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Trinity College
and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School
. He joined Procter & Gamble
in 1954 and left in 1967 to serve as executive Vice President in Sales for Standard Broadcasting
. From 1971 to 1982, he was President of Harlequin Enterprises Limited. From 1982 to 1990, he served as Chairman. He served as a director for Aetna Life Insurance Co. of Canada, Business Depot Ltd., and Staples Inc.
He has been active in many different organizations. He has been involved with the Toronto French School
where he was a Director from 1966 to 1973, Chairman from 1967 to 1971, and Foundation Trustee from 1978 to 1982. He was a Governor of the Banff Centre
from 1982 to 1988. He was a member of the Board of Governors of York University from 1985 to 1997. He was a Director of the Canadian Opera Company
from 1984 to 1986. He was a member of the Advisory Board of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection
. He was president of the National Ballet School Foundation.
In 1994, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
in recognition for being a "leader in Canadian business and philanthropy".
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...
(May 29, 1930 – May 28, 2009) was 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 and philanthropist. He was president and chairman of Harlequin Enterprises Limited.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, he went to Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute is a high school in the Lawrence Park neighbourhood of Toronto. It is a non-semestered school and focuses mainly on academics, drama, music, and visual arts, featuring strong French extended and immersion streams....
class of 1948, before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Trinity College
University of Trinity College
The University of Trinity College, informally referred to as Trin, is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1851 by Bishop John Strachan. Trinity was intended by Strachan as a college of strong Anglican alignment, after the University of Toronto severed its ties with the Church of...
and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. He joined Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
in 1954 and left in 1967 to serve as executive Vice President in Sales for Standard Broadcasting
Standard Broadcasting
Slaight Communications is a Canadian radio broadcasting company. The company was first formed as Slaight Broadcasting in 1971, when owner J. Allan Slaight acquired CFGM in Richmond Hill...
. From 1971 to 1982, he was President of Harlequin Enterprises Limited. From 1982 to 1990, he served as Chairman. He served as a director for Aetna Life Insurance Co. of Canada, Business Depot Ltd., and Staples Inc.
He has been active in many different organizations. He has been involved with the Toronto French School
Toronto French School
The Toronto French School , founded in 1962 , is an independent, bilingual, co-educational, non-denominational school in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Elizabeth II, as Queen of Canada, is the royal patron of the school....
where he was a Director from 1966 to 1973, Chairman from 1967 to 1971, and Foundation Trustee from 1978 to 1982. He was a Governor of the Banff Centre
Banff Centre
The Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
from 1982 to 1988. He was a member of the Board of Governors of York University from 1985 to 1997. He was a Director of the Canadian Opera Company
Canadian Opera Company
The Canadian Opera Company is an opera company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest opera company in Canada and the third largest producer of opera in North America. The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.-History:For 40 years until...
from 1984 to 1986. He was a member of the Advisory Board of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Peggy Guggenheim Collection
The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is an art museum on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. It is one of several museums of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation....
. He was president of the National Ballet School Foundation.
In 1994, 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...
in recognition for being a "leader in Canadian business and philanthropy".