About Chancellor Emeritus Peterson

The Honourable David R. Peterson, P.C., Q.C., O. Ont., C. St. J., L. d’H., D.U., L.L.D.

The Honourable David Peterson is Chairman of the Toronto law firm of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. In 1975, he was elected as a Member of the Ontario Legislature, and became the leader of the Ontario Liberal party in 1982. He served as Premier of the Province between 1985 and 1990.

Mr. Peterson has been active in a large number of charitable, educational and environmental organizations and is currently the Chancellor of the University of Toronto; director of St. Michael’s Hospital and was the Chairman of the successful Toronto Bid for 2015 Pan Am Games. He is a director of a number of public and private companies in Canada including Rogers Communications Inc., Franco-Nevada Corporation and Shoppers Drug Mart and was the Founding Chairman of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club Inc. and Chapters Inc.

He has been awarded the Order of Ontario and the Ordre de la Pléiade. The Government of France appointed him a Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour of France and he was summoned by Her Majesty to the Privy Council in 1992. Mr. Peterson has received honorary doctorates from a number of universities.

At its meeting on June 25, 2012, the Governing Council of the University of Toronto approved the appointment of the Honourable David R. Peterson as Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Toronto.