Peter Bentley
Encyclopedia
Peter John Gerald Bentley, OC
(born March 17, 1930) is a Canadian
businessman and was the third Chancellor
of the University of Northern British Columbia
.
Born in Vienna
, Austria
, the son of Leopold Bloch-Bauer and Antoinette Ruth Pick, his family fled Vienna in 1938 and settled in British Columbia
. His father, who changed his name to Leopold "Poldi" Bentley, founded a furniture and paneling veneer company called Pacific Veneer with his broher-in-law John Prentice, that later became Canfor Corporation, an integrated forest products company.
In 1970, he became Executive Vice-President of Canfor Corporation, becoming President in 1975. He became Chairman and CEO in 1985, a position he held until 1995. From July 1997 to January 1998, he was again President and CEO. He continues to serve on the Board of Canfor, but stepped down as Chairman of the Board in 2009. He was a director and is currently an honorary director of the Bank of Montreal
, a member of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, a Chairman of Sierra Mountain Minerals Inc. (produces SierraSil) and a member of the board of directors of the Vancouver General Hospital & University of British Columbia Hospital Foundation. He has also served in numerous other volunteer positions including the BC Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Golf Association, two independent school boards, and UBC Advisory Boards.
In 1983, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
for playing "an important role in manufacturing, business and finance in British Columbia." He was awarded an honorary Law degree from the University of British Columbia
.
In 2004, he was appointed Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia and held that post until mid 2007. In 2005, his family was awarded a portion of US$21.8-million in restitution payments for the theft of the families's sugar refinery in Austria.
He is married to Sheila and has five children: Barbara, Susan, Joan, Michael,and Lisa.
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...
(born March 17, 1930) 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...
businessman and was the third Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of Northern British Columbia
University of Northern British Columbia
The University of Northern British Columbia is a small, primarily undergraduate university whose main campus is in Prince George, British Columbia. UNBC also has regional campuses in the northern British Columbia cities of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Quesnel, and Fort St. John...
.
Born in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, the son of Leopold Bloch-Bauer and Antoinette Ruth Pick, his family fled Vienna in 1938 and settled in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. His father, who changed his name to Leopold "Poldi" Bentley, founded a furniture and paneling veneer company called Pacific Veneer with his broher-in-law John Prentice, that later became Canfor Corporation, an integrated forest products company.
In 1970, he became Executive Vice-President of Canfor Corporation, becoming President in 1975. He became Chairman and CEO in 1985, a position he held until 1995. From July 1997 to January 1998, he was again President and CEO. He continues to serve on the Board of Canfor, but stepped down as Chairman of the Board in 2009. He was a director and is currently an honorary director of the Bank of Montreal
Bank of Montreal
The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...
, a member of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, a Chairman of Sierra Mountain Minerals Inc. (produces SierraSil) and a member of the board of directors of the Vancouver General Hospital & University of British Columbia Hospital Foundation. He has also served in numerous other volunteer positions including the BC Sports Hall of Fame, Canadian Golf Association, two independent school boards, and UBC Advisory Boards.
In 1983, 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...
for playing "an important role in manufacturing, business and finance in British Columbia." He was awarded an honorary Law degree from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
.
In 2004, he was appointed Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia and held that post until mid 2007. In 2005, his family was awarded a portion of US$21.8-million in restitution payments for the theft of the families's sugar refinery in Austria.
He is married to Sheila and has five children: Barbara, Susan, Joan, Michael,and Lisa.