George R. Gardiner
Encyclopedia
George Ryerson Gardiner, (April 25, 1917 – December 7, 1997) was a Toronto
businessman, philanthropist and co-founder of the Gardiner Museum
, the only museum in Canada devoted exclusively to ceramic art
.
and educated at the University of Toronto
('39 B.Comm) and Harvard University
(MBA). George Gardiner began his career running a munitions factory during World War II
and later started his stock brokerage firm Gardiner Watson Limited which he sold to Dean Witter in 1983. He then opened the first discount brokerage firm in Canada which he sold to TD Bank
in 1987. He was also past president of the Toronto Stock Exchange
, founder of Gardiner Oil and Gas Ltd. and Scott's Hospitality Inc. which acquired the Kentucky Fried Chicken rights for Canada.
Following a marriage in which he had three children, he married Helen Gardiner
and with her co-founded the Gardiner Museum
of Ceramic Arts in Toronto
.
In 1989 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
In 1990, Gardiner's family endowed a chair in his name at the Schulich School of Business
at York University
in Toronto, dedicated to enhancing the teaching of ethics in management. The first holder of the George R. Gardiner Professorship in Business Ethics, Wesley Cragg was appointed in 1992, and was succeeded in 2007 by Andrew Crane.
. In the 1950s he established Gardiner farms, a breeding operation in Caledon East, Ontario. He raced horses in Canada and the United States. Among his notable runners was St. Vincent
who raced in the U.S. and who in 1955 set or equaled four course records, including a North America
n and World record
, and was voted that year's American Champion Male Turf Horse.
In 1976, Gardiner won a Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner
. In 2000, he was inducted in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
in the builders category.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
businessman, philanthropist and co-founder of the Gardiner Museum
Gardiner Museum
The Gardiner Museum is the only museum in Canada devoted exclusively to ceramic art. It is located on Queen’s Park just south of Bloor Street in Toronto, opposite the Royal Ontario Museum. The nearest subway station is Museum.-History:...
, the only museum in Canada devoted exclusively to ceramic art
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
.
Biography
Gardiner was born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and educated at 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...
('39 B.Comm) and Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
(MBA). George Gardiner began his career running a munitions factory during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and later started his stock brokerage firm Gardiner Watson Limited which he sold to Dean Witter in 1983. He then opened the first discount brokerage firm in Canada which he sold to TD Bank
Toronto-Dominion Bank
The Toronto-Dominion Bank , is the second-largest bank in Canada by market capitalization and based on assets. It is also the sixth largest bank in North America. Commonly known as TD and operating as TD Bank Group, the bank was created in 1955 through the merger of the Bank of Toronto and the...
in 1987. He was also past president 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...
, founder of Gardiner Oil and Gas Ltd. and Scott's Hospitality Inc. which acquired the Kentucky Fried Chicken rights for Canada.
Following a marriage in which he had three children, he married Helen Gardiner
Helen Gardiner
Helen E. Gardiner, , née McMinn was a Canadian philanthropist.-Biography:She was born in 1938 in Kirkland Lake, Ontario to a working family. She later moved to Toronto with her family and attended York University and Christie's Fine Arts School in London. She later married businessman George R...
and with her co-founded the Gardiner Museum
Gardiner Museum
The Gardiner Museum is the only museum in Canada devoted exclusively to ceramic art. It is located on Queen’s Park just south of Bloor Street in Toronto, opposite the Royal Ontario Museum. The nearest subway station is Museum.-History:...
of Ceramic Arts in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
In 1989 he was appointed 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...
.
In 1990, Gardiner's family endowed a chair in his name at the Schulich School of Business
Schulich School of Business
The Schulich School of Business is York University's business school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and is an internationally-ranked business school. Schulich offers undergraduate and graduate programs in business administration, finance, public administration and international business as...
at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in Toronto, dedicated to enhancing the teaching of ethics in management. The first holder of the George R. Gardiner Professorship in Business Ethics, Wesley Cragg was appointed in 1992, and was succeeded in 2007 by Andrew Crane.
Gardiner Farms
George Gardiner was a major figure in Canadian Thoroughbred horse racingThoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
. In the 1950s he established Gardiner farms, a breeding operation in Caledon East, Ontario. He raced horses in Canada and the United States. Among his notable runners was St. Vincent
St. Vincent (horse)
St. Vincent was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won in England and in the United States where he was a Champion who set or equaled five turf course records including two new North American records....
who raced in the U.S. and who in 1955 set or equaled four course records, including a North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n and World record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
, and was voted that year's American Champion Male Turf Horse.
In 1976, Gardiner won a Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner
Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner
The Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse racing honor. Created in 1975 by the Jockey Club of Canada, it is part of the Sovereign Awards program and is awarded annually to the most successful owner of Thoroughbred horses racing in Canada.Past winners: -References:*...
. In 2000, he was inducted in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and thoroughbred horse racing in Canada....
in the builders category.