Leonard Lee
Encyclopedia
Leonard G. Lee, CM
is a Canadian
entrepreneur and founder of Lee Valley Tools
and Canica Design. Born in 1938, near the hamlet of Algrove in central, rural Saskatchewan, he grew up in a log cabin without electricity or running water.
He received a Diploma in Civil Engineering from Royal Roads Military College
and a Bachelor of Economics degree in 1963 from Queen's University
. He worked for the federal government for sixteen years as a topographical
surveyor, member of the Canadian Foreign Service and civil servant in the Department of Industry
. In 1978, he founded Lee Valley Tools Ltd., a Canadian woodworking and gardening tools mail-order business which has since grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. In 1985 he founded Veritas Tools. In 1991 he founded Algrove Publishing. With his son Robin now running Lee Valley Tools, Lee has started a new business, Canica Design, a medical/surgical instrument company, headquartered in Almonte
, Ontario
.
In 2002, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
for "being a successful entrepreneur". In 2007, he was granted an honorary degree from the Royal Military College of Canada
in Kingston, Ontario
. In 2011 he was granted an honorary PhD from the University of Ottawa
.
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...
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...
entrepreneur and founder of Lee Valley Tools
Lee Valley Tools
Lee Valley Tools is a Canadian business specializing in tools and gifts for woodworking and gardening.-Corporate Identity:The company is family-owned. The founder, Leonard Lee, is a recipient of the Order of Canada. He founded the company in 1978, in Ottawa, Ontario...
and Canica Design. Born in 1938, near the hamlet of Algrove in central, rural Saskatchewan, he grew up in a log cabin without electricity or running water.
He received a Diploma in Civil Engineering from Royal Roads Military College
Royal Roads Military College
Royal Roads Military College was a Canadian military college located in Hatley Park, Colwood, British Columbia near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The facility is currently being used as the campus for Royal Roads University, a public university that offers applied and professional academic...
and a Bachelor of Economics degree in 1963 from Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
. He worked for the federal government for sixteen years as a topographical
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
surveyor, member of the Canadian Foreign Service and civil servant in the Department of Industry
Industry Canada
Industry Canada is the department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for regional economic development, investment, and innovation/research and development. The department employs 6104 FTEs across Canada....
. In 1978, he founded Lee Valley Tools Ltd., a Canadian woodworking and gardening tools mail-order business which has since grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. In 1985 he founded Veritas Tools. In 1991 he founded Algrove Publishing. With his son Robin now running Lee Valley Tools, Lee has started a new business, Canica Design, a medical/surgical instrument company, headquartered in Almonte
Almonte, Ontario
Almonte is a Canadian exurb and former mill town located in Lanark County, in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. Formerly a separate municipality, Almonte is now a ward of the town of Mississippi Mills, which was created on January 1, 1998 by the merging of Almonte with Ramsay and...
, 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....
.
In 2002, he 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...
for "being a successful entrepreneur". In 2007, he was granted an honorary degree from the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
. In 2011 he was granted an honorary PhD from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
.