Donald K. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Donald K. Johnson, OC
is a Canadian
philanthropist who was born and raised in Lundar, Manitoba. He currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.
Johnson received a BScEE from the University of Manitoba in 1957 and an MBA from the Ivey Business School in 1963. His initial career was in electrical engineering with Canadian General Electric in Toronto and Federal Electric Corporation on the DEW line in the Canadian Arctic.
Johnson began his career in the investment industry in 1963 when he joined Burns Bros. & Denton Ltd. Since then he has held a series of management positions in Institutional Equity, Sales, Trading, Research, International, Retail and Investment Management. He was President of Burns Fry (1984–1989), and Vice-Chairman, Investment Banking, for BMO Nesbitt Burns
and predecessor companies (1989–2004). Mr. Johnson continues as Member, Advisory Board, BMO Capital Markets.
Johnson's activity in the non-for-profit sector is extensive. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario
, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation and Chairman of its Vision Campaign, a $15 million campaign for the Eye Centre at Toronto Western Hospital
. He is Chairman Emeritus and director of the Council for Business and the Arts in Canada, a trustee of the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, and a member of the 2009 Major Individual Gifts Campaign Cabinet of the United Way of Greater Toronto. He is a past board member of the National Ballet of Canada
, the Bishop Strachan School Foundation, and was Chairman of the Investment Dealers Association and a Governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange
. In 1996-97 Johnson chaired a successful $13 million capital campaign for the National Ballet to build a new home for the Company in Toronto.
Johnson has played the lead role on behalf of the charitable sector in Canada in lobbying the federal government to remove tax barriers for gifts of publicly listed securities to registered charities. His efforts over many years met with success first in 1997 when the Canadian government cut the capitals gains tax for such gifts in half, and then further in 2006 when the tax was eliminated entirely.
Johnson is a recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Award, Association of Fundraising Professionals (1997), Friends of the Association of Gift Planners (1997), Richard Ivey School of Business Distinguished Service (1998) and the Arbor Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the University of Toronto
(1999).
Johnson was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada
in 2005. He was promoted to Officer in 2009 "for his key role in changing Canada’s tax laws to eliminate the capital gains tax on gifts of publicly traded securities to registered charities, and for his support of health care research and the arts".
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...
philanthropist who was born and raised in Lundar, Manitoba. He currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.
Johnson received a BScEE from the University of Manitoba in 1957 and an MBA from the Ivey Business School in 1963. His initial career was in electrical engineering with Canadian General Electric in Toronto and Federal Electric Corporation on the DEW line in the Canadian Arctic.
Johnson began his career in the investment industry in 1963 when he joined Burns Bros. & Denton Ltd. Since then he has held a series of management positions in Institutional Equity, Sales, Trading, Research, International, Retail and Investment Management. He was President of Burns Fry (1984–1989), and Vice-Chairman, Investment Banking, for BMO Nesbitt Burns
BMO Nesbitt Burns
BMO Nesbitt Burns is a Canadian investment firm. Since its formation in 1912, BMO Nesbitt Burns and its predecessor companies have offered aid to investors in meeting their financial goals. In August 1987 the Bank of Montreal took advantage of new banking regulations to acquire Nesbitt Thomson,...
and predecessor companies (1989–2004). Mr. Johnson continues as Member, Advisory Board, BMO Capital Markets.
Johnson's activity in the non-for-profit sector is extensive. He serves on the Advisory Board of the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation and Chairman of its Vision Campaign, a $15 million campaign for the Eye Centre at Toronto Western Hospital
Toronto Western Hospital
-External links:****...
. He is Chairman Emeritus and director of the Council for Business and the Arts in Canada, a trustee of the Toronto Foundation for Student Success, and a member of the 2009 Major Individual Gifts Campaign Cabinet of the United Way of Greater Toronto. He is a past board member of the National Ballet of Canada
National Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
, the Bishop Strachan School Foundation, and was Chairman of the Investment Dealers Association and a Governor of the Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange
Toronto Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange in Canada, the third largest in North America and the seventh largest in the world by market capitalisation. Based in Canada's largest city, Toronto, it is owned by and operated as a subsidiary of the TMX Group for the trading of senior equities...
. In 1996-97 Johnson chaired a successful $13 million capital campaign for the National Ballet to build a new home for the Company in Toronto.
Johnson has played the lead role on behalf of the charitable sector in Canada in lobbying the federal government to remove tax barriers for gifts of publicly listed securities to registered charities. His efforts over many years met with success first in 1997 when the Canadian government cut the capitals gains tax for such gifts in half, and then further in 2006 when the tax was eliminated entirely.
Johnson is a recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Award, Association of Fundraising Professionals (1997), Friends of the Association of Gift Planners (1997), Richard Ivey School of Business Distinguished Service (1998) and the Arbor Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(1999).
Johnson was appointed 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...
in 2005. He was promoted to Officer in 2009 "for his key role in changing Canada’s tax laws to eliminate the capital gains tax on gifts of publicly traded securities to registered charities, and for his support of health care research and the arts".