Sheldon Levy
{{short description|Canadian academic administrator and civil servant}}
{{POV|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sheldon Levy
| image = Sheldon Levy.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Levy in 2008
| office = Special Advisor to (Canada) Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion
| term_start = December 2018
| term_end = September 2021
| predecessor =
| successor =
| office2 = CEO of NEXT Canada
| term_start2 = October 30, 2017
| term_end2 = December 30, 2018
| predecessor2 = Andrea Matheson (Interim)
| successor2 = Joe Canavan
| office3 = Ontario Deputy Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
| term_start3 = December 1, 2015
| term_end3 = September 30, 2017
| predecessor3 = Deborah Newman
| successor3 = Greg Orencsak
| order4 = 8th
| office4 = President and Vice-Chancellor of Ryerson University
| term_start4 = 2005
| term_end4 = 2016
| predecessor4 = Claude Lajeunesse
| successor4 = Mohamed Lachemi
| birth_place =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1949}}{{cite web|last1=Gee|first1=Marcus|title=The Ryerson revolution: how the once dumpy polytechnic is redrawing downtown |url=http://torontolife.com/city/the-ryerson-revolution-how-the-once-dumpy-polytechnic-is-redrawing-downtown/|website=Toronto Life|date=24 March 2010|access-date=8 April 2016|language=en-US}}
| occupation = CEO, educational administrator, civil servant
| nationality = Canadian
| alma_mater = York University
}}
Sheldon Levy {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC}} (born 1949) is a veteran Canadian business leader in higher education who is currently President and Vice-Chancellor of University Canada West (UCW) in Vancouver and a special advisor on the development of the forthcoming University of Niagara Falls. He previously served as president and vice-chancellor of Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) (2005–2015), as Deputy Minister in the Government of Ontario (2015–17), and in many other leadership roles. He has been honoured many times for his lifelong contributions to student entrepreneurship and digital innovation in higher education.
Life and career
= Education =
Levy studied at Downsview Public and Secondary School, in Toronto, and earned his master's degree in mathematics from York University.
= Early career =
Levy began his career in university administration shortly after completing his degree in mathematics and held numerous roles including Vice president, institutional affairs, at York University; President of Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology; Vice president, government and institutional relations, at the University of Toronto; and Vice president, finance and strategy, at Ontario Tech University (formerly University of Ontario Institute of Technology).{{cite news |author1-link=the original |title=UOIT vice-president named next president of Ryerson University |url=http://uoit.ca/EN/main2/news_events/news_archives/news_releases/35302/20050201.html |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=University of Ontario Institute of Technology |date=1 February 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051230224026/http://uoit.ca/EN/main2/news_events/news_archives/news_releases/35302/20050201.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 December 2005}} [https://ontariotechu.ca/EN/main2/news_events/news_archives/news_releases/35302/20050201.html Alt URL]{{cite news |last1=Chiose |first1=Simona |title=Ryerson University's Sheldon Levy to join higher education ministry |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ryerson-universitys-sheldon-levy-to-join-higher-education-ministry/article26168364/ |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=The Gobe and Mail |date=31 August 2015}}
= Ryerson University =
In 2005 Levy was appointed president and vice chancellor of Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University).{{cite web |title=Biography: Sheldon Levy President and Vice-Chancellor Ryerson University |url=http://digitalmediazone.ryerson.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/05_Bio_SheldonLevy_Nov09.pdf |website=Digital Media Zone |publisher=Ryerson University |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416140543/http://digitalmediazone.ryerson.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/05_Bio_SheldonLevy_Nov09.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2016}} [http://digitalmediazone.ryerson.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/05_Bio_SheldonLevy_Nov09.pdf Alt URL]{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Louise |title=Ryerson president Sheldon Levy to tackle new role at Queen's Park |url=https://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2015/08/31/ryerson-president-sheldon-levy-to-tackle-new-role-at-queens-park.html |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=Toronto Star |date=31 August 2015}} He served in the role from 1 August 2005 through 30 November 2015. His tenure was marked by a number of campus revitalization projects, including the establishment of the [https://www.mattamyathleticcentre.ca// Mattamy Athletic Centre] in the former Maple Leaf Gardens building and the construction of the [https://slc.blog.torontomu.ca// Student Learning Centre] on Yonge Street.{{cite news |last1=Kupferman |first1=Steve |title=Sheldon Levy's six most city-changing moments as Ryerson honcho |url=https://torontolife.com/city/sheldon-levy-ryerson-city-changing/ |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=Toronto Life |date=9 December 2013}}
= Subsequent positions =
In December 2015, Levy was appointed Deputy Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for the Government of Ontario,{{cite news |title=Ryerson president Sheldon Levy heading to Queen's Park |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ryerson-president-sheldon-levy-heading-to-queen-s-park-1.3209932 |access-date=19 January 2023 |agency=CBC News |publisher=The Canadian Press |date=31 August 2015}} a position he held until September 2017. He then served as CEO of [https://www.nextcanada.com// NEXT Canada] from November 2017 to December 2018 and as special advisor to the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, the Honourable Mary Ng, from December 2018 to September 2021.{{cite web |title=Sheldon Levy |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/18449104?leadSource=uverify%20wall |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=19 January 2023}}{{cite news |title=Minister Ng appoints special advisor - Sheldon Levy named special advisor on scaling up small and medium-sized businesses |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/minister-ng-appoints-special-advisor---sheldon-levy-named-special-advisor-on-scaling-up-small-and-medium-sized-businesses-702158821.html |access-date=19 January 2023 |date=7 December 2018}}
= University Canada West =
In September 2021, Levy was announced as the interim president and vice-chancellor of UCW, replacing Brock Dykeman.{{cite news |title=Sheldon Levy Appointed Interim President of University Canada West |url=https://www.ucanwest.ca/media/news-releases/sheldon-levy-appointed-interim-president-of-university-canada-west/ |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=University Canada West |date=24 September 2021}} By March 2022, he was appointed as the permanent president and vice-chancellor of the school.{{cite news |title=UCW Announces Sheldon Levy as President and Vice-Chancellor |url=https://www.ucanwest.ca/media/university-news/ucw-announces-sheldon-levy-as-president-and-vice-chancellor/ |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=University Canada West |date=23 March 2022}} The university announced that Levy would be staying on in 2023.{{cite news |title=UCW Announces Sheldon Levy to Stay on as President into 2023 |url=https://www.ucanwest.ca/media/university-news/ucw-announces-sheldon-levy-to-stay-on-as-president-into-2023/ |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=University Canada West |date=30 November 2022}} In addition to his role at UCW, Levy has also been named as a special advisor in the development of University Niagara Falls Canada.{{cite news |title=The University of Niagara Falls Canada ready to offer world-class, digitally-minded education from the heart of Niagara Falls |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-university-of-niagara-falls-canada-ready-to-offer-world-class-digitally-minded-education-from-the-heart-of-niagara-falls-805226269.html |access-date=19 January 2023 |agency=University Canada West |publisher=Cision |date=17 October 2022}}
Levy is also a strategic consultant and special advisor to Knightstone Capital Management Inc.{{cite web |title=Sheldon Levy |url=https://www.k-cap.com/team/sheldon-levy/}}
= Board appointments =
Levy is a member of the board of directors of Baycrest Health Sciences.{{cite web |title=Sheldon Levy |url=https://www.baycrest.org/Baycrest-Pages/About-Baycrest/Leadership/Board-Members/Sheldon-Levy |website=Board Members |publisher=Baycrest Centre |access-date=19 January 2023}} His previous board appointments have included the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Waterfront Toronto and the Innovation Institute of Ontario. He also served as honorary chair of the [https://brookfieldinstitute.ca// Brookfield Institute Advisory Board].{{cite news |last1=Rolfe |first1=Kelsey |title=Sheldon Levy wins Toronto Region Builder Award |url=https://ryersonian.ca/sheldon-levy-wins-toronto-builder-award/index.htm |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=Ryersonian |date=19 January 2014}}{{cite news |last1=Hopper |first1=Tristin |title=Ryerson president Sheldon Levy, who vowed 'university as city-builder, to step aside at end of current term |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/to1203-levy |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=National Post |date=3 December 2013}}{{cite web |title=Sheldon Levy |url=https://brookfieldinstitute.ca/team/sheldon-levy/ |publisher=Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship |access-date=19 January 2023}}
= Personal life =
Levy is a known motorcycle enthusiast. Ryerson University Magazine reported in its winter 2015 issue that Levy “likes to go on trips that last for days and that don't have any precise destination.” He rode his motorcycle across central and western Canada, from Toronto to Vancouver, in the summer of 2022.
Awards and honours
= Order of Canada =
In November 2020, Levy was amongst 114 new appointments to the Order of Canada as an appointed Officer, “for his exceptional leadership as an education administrator and for promoting student entrepreneur incubators on university campuses across the country.”{{cite news |title=Governor General Announces 114 New Appointments to the Order of Canada |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/activities/2020/governor-general-announces-114-new-appointments-order-canada |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=The Governor General of Canada |date=27 November 2020}}
= Honorary doctorates =
Levy has been bestowed three honorary doctorates in the past from three Canadian universities, including:
- A Doctor of Laws (LLD) from York University in 1999.{{cite web |title=Honorary Degree Recipients |url=https://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate/sub-committee-on-honorary-degrees-and-ceremonials/honorary-degree-recipients/ |publisher=York University |access-date=19 January 2023}}
- A Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Lakehead University in 2018.{{cite web |title=Past Honorary Degree Recipients |url=https://www.lakeheadu.ca/studentcentral/graduating/past-distinguished-guests/past-honorary-degrees |publisher=Lakehead University |access-date=19 January 2023}}
- A Doctor of Laws (LLD) from Mount Allison University in 2019.{{cite web |title=Honorary degrees |url=https://mta.ca/about/leadership-and-governance/university-honours/honorary-degrees |publisher=Mount Allison University |access-date=19 January 2023}}
Accolades
An article by Toronto Life magazine, called the "Ryerson Revolution", describes in detail how Levy has taken the initiative since starting as president to improve Ryerson University, by purchasing Maple Leaf Gardens, shutting down Gould Street and a space sharing agreement with AMC Theatres, creating an urban campus, instead of the more traditional closed-off university campus.
He was the driving force behind the Digital Media Zone (DMZ) which opened in April 2010. It is a multidisciplinary workspace for research and learning, home to both entrepreneurial companies and industry solution-providers. With access to overhead, business services, and a rich network of contacts, entrepreneurs and researchers can accelerate product launches, and contribute to Canada's success in the digital economy. It has taken over three floors at the AMC Complex building.
In 2015, Levy was the subject of a viral video produced by Ryerson University custodian Bob Skelly.{{Citation|last=dangreenwoo|title=This Song is for Sheldon Levy|date=2015-12-18|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHZn3QNBz-U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/fHZn3QNBz-U |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=2016-07-20}}{{cbignore}}
Controversies
In 2006, Levy sparked controversy by defending the decision of Ryerson's Awards and Ceremonials Standing Committee of the Academic Council to award an honorary degree to Margaret Somerville, who is noted for her opposition to same-sex marriage and gay families. He explained that while Ryerson University did not agree with Dr. Somerville's views, revoking the award would be counter to freedom of speech and the right to expression.{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060619/ryerson_protest_060619/20060619?hub=TopStories|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315155606/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060619/ryerson_protest_060619/20060619?hub=TopStories|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 15, 2007|title=Faculty protests award for Montreal ethicist|work=CTV News|access-date=June 19, 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=10eb2f42-aefb-42d7-b647-e1d9ed01361a&k=92658|title=Protests as ethicist Margaret Somerville awarded honorary degree by Ryerson|work=Erin Atack, Canadian Press|access-date=August 17, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130092233/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=10eb2f42-aefb-42d7-b647-e1d9ed01361a&k=92658|archive-date=November 30, 2007}}
In 2008, as part of a heritage preservation agreement for the construction of the Student Learning Centre on Yonge Street, Ryerson agreed to preserve the Sam the Record Man sign that had been located on the site. When the university later proposed to install smaller replica signs on Yonge Street instead, Levy and the university were criticized for attempting to change the original agreement.{{cite news |last1=Laregina |first1=Bruce |title=PR pros offer Levy advice in the wake of Sam Sign debacle |url=https://ryersonian.ca/pr-pros-offer-levy-advice-in-the-wake-of-sam-sign-debacle/index.htm |access-date=19 January 2023 |publisher=Ryersonian |date=18 September 2013}} In 2017 the original sign was re-installed above 277 Victoria Street, steps from its original location.{{cite news |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Amara |title=Sam the Record Man sign shines over Yonge-Dundas for 1st time in over a decade |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sam-the-record-man-sign-shines-again-1.4481696 |access-date=19 January 2023 |agency=CBC News |date=10 January 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060924220927/http://www.ryerson.ca/about/president/about/ Ryerson University: Sheldon Levy's Biography]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130209043651/http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/from-print-edition-informer/2010/03/24/the-ryerson-revolution-how-the-once-dumpy-polytechnic-is-redrawing-downtown/ "Ryerson Revolution"]
{{s-start}}
{{s-aca}}
{{succession box |
title = President of Ryerson University |
years = 2005–2015|
before = Claude Lajeunesse |
after = Mohamed Lachemi }}
{{succession box |
title = President and Vice-Chancellor of University Canada West |
years = 2021-Present|
before = Brock Dykeman |
after = }}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Levy, Sheldon}}
Category:Presidents of Toronto Metropolitan University
Category:Academic staff of the University of Toronto
Category:Canadian university and college chief executives
Category:Ontario civil servants