Blake Goldring
{{short description|Canadian business leader, philanthropist, and entrepreneur (born 1958)}}
{{COI|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Blake Goldring
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|size=100%|CM|OOnt|MSM|CD}}
| image = Blake Goldring at the 2017 CFC Annual BBQ Fundraiser (37026261701).jpg
| caption = Goldring in 2017
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|09|13}}
| birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| alma_mater = University of Toronto, INSEAD
| occupation = Executive Chairman of AGF Management Limited, businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist
| spouse = Belinda (Priebe) Goldring
}}
Blake Charles Goldring (born September 13, 1958) is a Canadian businessman, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He is the executive chairman of AGF Management Limited, a Canadian investment management firm.{{Cite web|url=https://www.agf.com/ca/en/newsroom/all-news/press-releases/2018-09-26-blake-c.-goldring-announces-decision-to-transition-to-new-role-kevin-mccreadie-named-chief-executive-officer-and-judy-goldring-named-president.jsp|title=Blake C. Goldring Announces Decision to Transition to New Role as Executive Chairman Kevin McCreadie named Chief Executive Officer and Judy Goldring named President|website=www.agf.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-30}} As of 2025, AGF has approximately $53 billion in assets under management.{{Cite web |title=AGF Reports May 2025 Assets Under Management and Fee-Earning Assets |url=https://www.agf.com/corporate/news-insights/press-releases/pr/2025-06-04-agf-reports-may-2025-assets-under-management-and-fee-earning-assets.jsp |access-date=2018-11-30 |website=www.agf.com |language=en}}{{cite news |url=https://web.tmxmoney.com/article.php?newsid=5720467584733905&qm_symbol=AGF.B |title=AGF Reports July 2018 Assets Under Management |date=August 3, 2018
|access-date=August 7, 2018}}
Goldring is also the chairman of Canada Company: Many Ways to Serve, a non-partisan organization he founded in 2006 to bring together community leaders across Canada to support the Canadian military and their families.
Early life and education
Goldring was born on September 13, 1958, in Toronto,{{cite news |last1=Pitts |first1=Gordon |title=Blake Goldring: Bay Street veteran also walks on Military Row |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/blake-goldring-bay-street-veteran-also-walks-on-military-row/article20387177/ |website=The Globe and Mail |date=8 September 2008 |access-date=16 March 2019}} the second eldest of five children born to C. Warren Goldring and Barbara (Dowd) Goldring. He attended St. Andrew's Junior High and York Mills Collegiate Institute in Toronto.
Goldring attended Victoria College at the University of Toronto, graduating with an honours degree in Economics.{{cite web|title=Blake C Goldring|url=http://alumni.utoronto.ca/portrait/blake-c-goldring/|website=University of Toronto Alumni Website|publisher=University of Toronto|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314082510/http://alumni.utoronto.ca/portrait/blake-c-goldring/|archive-date=2016-03-14|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/blake-goldring-bay-street-veteran-also-walks-on-military-row/article20387177/ | last=Pitts |first= Gordon | title=Blake Goldring: Bay Street veteran also walks on Military Row |newspaper=The Globe and Mail | date=September 8, 2008
|access-date=December 24, 2015}} In his fourth year, he became the National Vice President of AIESEC. Following this, he transferred to McGill University to complete his undergraduate degree. He earned a Master of Business Administration [MBA] from INSEAD in 1982.{{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/soldier-of-very-good-fortune/article17996035/ | last=Lang |first=Amanda | date=May 25, 2007 |title=Soldier of very good fortune |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |access-date=December 23, 2015}}
He became a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB) in 1984 and earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1996.
He received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the Royal Military College in 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.investmentexecutive.com/-/news-57460 |last=Harman |first=Megan |title=Goldring appointed first ever Honorary Colonel of the Army |date=March 27, 2011 |access-date=February 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806121341/http://www.investmentexecutive.com/-/news-57460 |archive-date=August 6, 2016 |url-status=dead }} He also received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Victoria University, Toronto in 2021{{Cite web|url=https://vic.utoronto.ca/about-victoria/victorias-charter-day-2/|title=Victoria's Charter Day » Victoria College}} and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Toronto in 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://vic.utoronto.ca/news/vic-alumnus-blake-goldring-receives-u-of-t-honorary-degree/|title=Vic Alumnus Blake Goldring Receives U of T Honorary Degree}}
Career
= Early career =
After graduating from INSEAD, Goldring joined the Bank of Montreal (BMO), working in international and corporate banking.
= Career at AGF =
In late 1987, Goldring joined AGF. He held various positions, including analyst, regional sales manager, and head of sales and marketing. He was named president and chief operating officer in 1997, chief executive officer in 2000, and chairman and chief executive officer in 2006.{{cite news |url=http://globeinvestor.com/servlet/AppNoticeArticleHTMLTemplate?tf=GlobeInvestor/AppNotices/DisplayNotice.html&cf=GlobeInvestor/AppNotices/config-neutral.cfg&slug=Goldring&date=20060630 |title=Blake C. Goldring, CFA, Chairman and Chief Executive Office |newspaper=Globeinvestor.com | date=June 30, 2006 |access-date=December 24, 2015}} He transitioned to the role of executive chairman in 2018.
During his tenure, AGF acquired several wealth management firms and built and sold AGF Trust and Unisen. He also oversaw the merger of NCL Investments into Smith & Williamson. Goldring led the development of four strategic investment platforms at AGF. {{cite news |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/streetwise/agf-chief-seeks-aggressive-turnaround/article21083039/ |title=AGF chief seeks aggressive turnaround in tough fund industry | last=Nelson |first= Jacqueline |newspaper=The Globe and Mail | date=October 13, 2014 |access-date=December 24, 2015}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/streetwise/agf-aims-to-be-more-than-mutual-funds-with-new-ventures/article34729134/|title=AGF at 60: Transformation is a work in progress|work=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2017-04-21|language=en-ca}}{{Cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/investing/agf-eyes-rich-investors-airports-to-meet-rising-revenue-outlook|title=AGF eyes rich investors, airports to meet rising revenue outlook|work=Financial Post|access-date=2017-04-20|language=en}}
Community involvement
= Honorary Colonel appointments =
Goldring served as Honorary Colonel of The Royal Regiment of Canada (2005-2011) and as the first Honorary Colonel of the Canadian Army (2011-2017).{{cite news |url=http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/news/article.page?doc=honorary-colonel-of-the-army-appointed/hnps1vf9 |title=Honorary Colonel Of The Army Appointed |date=March 26, 2011 |access-date=February 29, 2016 |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012115303/http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/news/article.page?doc=honorary-colonel-of-the-army-appointed%2Fhnps1vf9 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNVOv7XZfKY |title=Army HCol Goldring's Retirement |access-date=December 14, 2017}}
Canada Company: Many Ways to Serve
Goldring founded Canada Company: Many Ways to Serve in 2006.{{Cite news|url=https://www.canadacompany.ca/en/about/our-history/|title=Our History - Canada Company|work=Canada Company|access-date=2018-11-30|language=en-US}} The organization supports the Canadian military and their families through various initiatives, including scholarships for children of fallen soldiers and the Military Employment Transition (MET) Program.
Other community involvement
Goldring believes in giving back to his community and supports initiatives related to the arts, education, health and the Canadian military. He has experience sitting on a number of private and not-for-profit boards. He is Chair of the C.D. Howe Board of Directors, Past Chair of SIMA (formerly the Investment Funds Institute of Candid) and Co-Chaired Toronto's Economic and Cultural Recovery Advisory Group. Goldring is also past Director of The Canadian Film Centre and past Vice-Chair of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He is past Director of the Libraries and Archive of Canada Foundation, past Director of The World Wildlife Fund and a past Member of the United Way Cabinet, building on a long family history of supporting the United Way. He is active in the University of Toronto alumni community and has supported various programs and initiatives.{{Cite web|url=http://magazine.utoronto.ca/great-gifts/goldrings-give-151-million-to-varsity-victoria-soldiers-tower/|title=Goldrings Give $15.1 Million to Varsity, Victoria, Soldiers' Tower {{!}} Winter 2017 {{!}} University of Toronto Magazine|website=magazine.utoronto.ca|date=19 September 2007 |access-date=2017-01-09}}{{cite web|url=http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2013/10/goldring-student-centre-opens-victoria-college |title=The Goldring Student Centre Opens at Victoria College|publisher=Urban Toronto|website=urbantoronto.ca|access-date=2018-02-14}}
Awards and recognition
Goldring has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the AIESEC Canada Hall of Fame (2003), the Person of Influence Award (2007), the University of Toronto Arbour Award (2009),{{cite web|url=https://alumni.utoronto.ca/events-and-programs/awards/arbor/recipients/2009 |title=2009 Arbor Awards Recipients |website=alumni.utoronto.ca |access-date=2018-02-14}} the Meritorious Service Medal, the B'nai B'rith Award of Merit (2011),{{Cite web|url=http://app.streamsend.com/ss/1/6N4X/48r7mip35h|title=Award of Merit Dinner tonight to honour Blake Goldring, Chairman and CEO of AGF Management|website=app.streamsend.com|access-date=2018-08-07}} the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), the Order of the Diocese of Toronto (2013),{{cite web|url=https://www.toronto.anglican.ca/2013/12/20/48-named-to-the-order-of-the-diocese-of-toronto/ |title=48 named to the Order of the Diocese of Toronto |website=www.toronto.anglican.ca |date=20 December 2013 |access-date=2018-02-14}} the Vimy Award (2014),{{cite news |url= https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/around-town-honouring-the-great-war-through-great-art | last = Phillips | first = Caroline |title=Around Town: Honouring The Great War through great art
| newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date = November 12, 2014 | access-date=February 29, 2016}} the Canadian Forces' Decoration (2017),{{Cite web|url=http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/news/article.page?doc=honorary-colonel-of-the-army-appointed/hnps1vf9|title=National Defence {{!}} Canadian Armed Forces {{!}} News Release {{!}} Honorary Colonel Of The Army Appointed|last=Defence|first=Government of Canada, National|website=www.forces.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-08-07|archive-date=2018-07-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201616/http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/news/article.page?doc=honorary-colonel-of-the-army-appointed%2Fhnps1vf9|url-status=dead}} the Order of Canada (2018), and the Order of Ontario (2024).{{Cite web |title=Order of Ontario Appointees |url=https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/1004015/2023-order-of-ontario-appointees |website=Ontario Newsroom |access-date=2024-11-03}} He received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
Coat of arms
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = Blake Charles Goldring Escutcheon.png
|notes = Granted by the Canadian Heraldic Authority on 15 August 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/3560 |title=Blake Charles Goldring |publisher=Canadian Heraldic Authority |accessdate=15 January 2024}}
|escutcheon = Azure five rings interlaced in annulus on a chief Or a bee volant Proper between two roses Gules seeded Or.
|crest = A demi-griffin Or charged on its flank with a Latin cross grasping in its dexter claw a sword and in its sinister claw a torch enflamed Gules.
|motto = {{strong|Prodesse Et Procedere}} (trans. "To Serve And Succeed").
}}
Personal life
Goldring lives in Toronto with his wife and three daughters.{{cite news |url= https://www.thestar.com/business/personal_finance/2015/12/02/why-young-investors-avoid-the-stock-market-roseman.html |title=Why young investors avoid the stock market: Roseman | last = Roseman | first = Ellen | newspaper= The Toronto Star |date = December 2, 2015| access-date=February 29, 2016}}{{Failed verification|reason=Source only confirms that he has three daughters, not whether they live with him or anything about his wife|date=June 2025}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:21st-century Canadian businesspeople
Category:Members of the Order of Canada
Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Decoration
Category:University of Toronto alumni
Category:Businesspeople from Toronto