George Vari
Encyclopedia
George William Vari, PC
, CM
(August 14, 1923 – December 9, 2010) was a Canadian
based developer and philanthropist. A civil engineer
and economist
, Vari emigrated to Canada following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
.
Vari made his fortune in international real estate development, building Paris
' Tour Montparnasse
, six of the pavilions at Expo 1967 in Montreal
, and Moscow
's Hotel Cosmos.http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=16102
He was renowned for his outstanding record in philanthropy, particularly in the field of educational institutions, making significant endowments to Ryerson University
, York University
and the University of Toronto
. York's Vari Hall is named after him, as are various scholarships and awards at these institutions. Ryerson University
renamed the Centre for Computing and Engineering (opened in 2004) to The George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre following a $5 million donation.
Vari and his wife operated the George and Helen Vari Foundation as a vehicle for much of their charitable works in Canada and internationally.
In 1992, Vari was named to the Security Intelligence Review Committee
and, as a result, became a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
entitled to be addressed as "The Honourable". He was also named to the Order of Canada
; both he and his wife have been appointed to France's Legion d'Honneur
.
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
, CM
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...
(August 14, 1923 – December 9, 2010) was 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...
based developer and philanthropist. A civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
, Vari emigrated to Canada following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
.
Vari made his fortune in international real estate development, building Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
' Tour Montparnasse
Tour Montparnasse
Tour Maine-Montparnasse , also commonly named Tour Montparnasse, is a tall office skyscraper located in Paris, France, in the area of Montparnasse. Constructed from 1969 to 1972, it was the tallest skyscraper in France until 2011, when it was surpassed in height by the Tour First...
, six of the pavilions at Expo 1967 in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
's Hotel Cosmos.http://www.yorku.ca/yfile/archive/index.asp?Article=16102
He was renowned for his outstanding record in philanthropy, particularly in the field of educational institutions, making significant endowments to Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
, 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....
and 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...
. York's Vari Hall is named after him, as are various scholarships and awards at these institutions. Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
renamed the Centre for Computing and Engineering (opened in 2004) to The George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre following a $5 million donation.
Vari and his wife operated the George and Helen Vari Foundation as a vehicle for much of their charitable works in Canada and internationally.
In 1992, Vari was named to the Security Intelligence Review Committee
Security Intelligence Review Committee
The Security Intelligence Review Committee is an independent agency of the government of Canada empowered to oversee and review the operations of Canada's security service, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and investigate complaints against CSIS...
and, as a result, became a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Queen's Privy Council for Canada
The Queen's Privy Council for Canada ), sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or simply the Privy Council, is the full group of personal consultants to the monarch of Canada on state and constitutional affairs, though responsible government requires the sovereign or her viceroy,...
entitled to be addressed as "The Honourable". He was also named to 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...
; both he and his wife have been appointed to France's Legion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.