Heather Reisman
Encyclopedia
Heather Reisman is a Canadian
businesswoman. Reisman is the founder and chief executive of the Canadian retail chain Indigo Books and Music
. Previously, she was president of Cott Corporation, a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks.
Reisman is married to Gerald Schwartz, founder and CEO of Onex Corporation. Together they have four children and seven grandchildren.
, who headed the Canadian delegation that negotiated the 1988 Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement
.
She was educated at McGill University.
, to form the largest book retailer in Canada. In 2006 she founded the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation whose mission is to enrich the libraries in under-resourced public schools.
She drew praise and criticism in October 2001, after announcing that Indigo would not sell Hitler's Mein Kampf
in its bookstores.
In August 2006, as a result of differing reactions by the two main Canadian political parties to the 2006 Lebanon War, Reisman announced that she and husband Gerry Schwartz would be joining Robert Lantos
in withdrawing their longtime support for the Liberal Party of Canada
and supporting the Conservative Party of Canada
under Stephen Harper
.
As part of her role as CEO of Chapters/Indigo, she has been removing a number of titles available, such as Mein Kampf.
. Her initiative found support around the world.
, a controversial group of influential business and government leaders who meet annually behind closed doors under a media blackout to discuss world issues.
Reisman has been a delegate for several years at the annual conference of the Bilderbergs. In Istanbul, Turkey, 31 May - 3 June 2007 she was in the company of other notable Canadians: Jason Kenney
, Member of Parliament; and Gerald Butts
, Principal Secretary in the Office of the Premier of Ontario.
She is also reported to have attended the last meeting in Sitges
, Spain.
. In 2009 Reisman received an honorary doctorate Wilfrid Laurier University
. In 2009, the Financial Times
listed Reisman as one of the top 50 businesswomen in the world.
In 2010, she received an honorary doctorate from Mount Allison University
.
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...
businesswoman. Reisman is the founder and chief executive of the Canadian retail chain Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books and Music
Indigo Books & Music Inc. is a Canadian retail bookstore chain. The company was founded in 1996 by CEO Heather Reisman, wife of Gerry Schwartz, majority owner and CEO of Onex Corporation....
. Previously, she was president of Cott Corporation, a leading supplier of private label carbonated soft drinks.
Reisman is married to Gerald Schwartz, founder and CEO of Onex Corporation. Together they have four children and seven grandchildren.
Early life
Reisman was born in Montreal, Quebec to a Jewish family. She is the niece of Simon ReismanSimon Reisman
Sol Simon Reisman, was a Canadian civil servant, and the country's chief negotiator for the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement....
, who headed the Canadian delegation that negotiated the 1988 Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement
Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement
The Free Trade Agreement was a trade agreement signed by Canada and the United States on October 4, 1988. The agreement, finalized by October 1987, removed several trade restrictions in stages over a ten year period, and resulted in a great increase in cross-border trade...
.
She was educated at McGill University.
Career
In 1996, she founded Indigo which, in 2001, merged with its main rival, ChaptersChapters
Chapters is a Canadian big box bookstore banner owned by Indigo Books and Music. Formerly a company in its own right competing with Indigo, the combined company has continued to operate both banners since their merger in 2001.-History:...
, to form the largest book retailer in Canada. In 2006 she founded the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation whose mission is to enrich the libraries in under-resourced public schools.
She drew praise and criticism in October 2001, after announcing that Indigo would not sell Hitler's Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf is a book written by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. It combines elements of autobiography with an exposition of Hitler's political ideology. Volume 1 of Mein Kampf was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926...
in its bookstores.
In August 2006, as a result of differing reactions by the two main Canadian political parties to the 2006 Lebanon War, Reisman announced that she and husband Gerry Schwartz would be joining Robert Lantos
Robert Lantos
-Life and career:Lantos was born in Budapest, the son of Agnes and László Lantos, a mechanic and truck company owner. Lantos spent much of his childhood in Montevideo, Uruguay, where his family had fled after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956...
in withdrawing their longtime support for the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
and supporting the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
under Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
.
As part of her role as CEO of Chapters/Indigo, she has been removing a number of titles available, such as Mein Kampf.
Death penalty for Sakineh Ashtiani
On July 5, 2010, Reisman started to create an online petition to save an Iranian woman, Sakineh Ashtiani, from the death penalty by stoningStoning
Stoning, or lapidation, is a form of capital punishment whereby a group throws stones at a person until the person dies. No individual among the group can be identified as the one who kills the subject, yet everyone involved plainly bears some degree of moral culpability. This is in contrast to the...
. Her initiative found support around the world.
Bilderberg Group
Reisman is listed as a member of the steering committee of the Bilderberg GroupBilderberg Group
The Bilderberg Group, Bilderberg conference, or Bilderberg Club is an annual, unofficial, invitation-only conference of approximately 120 to 140 guests from North America and Western Europe, most of whom are people of influence. About one-third are from government and politics, and two-thirds from...
, a controversial group of influential business and government leaders who meet annually behind closed doors under a media blackout to discuss world issues.
Reisman has been a delegate for several years at the annual conference of the Bilderbergs. In Istanbul, Turkey, 31 May - 3 June 2007 she was in the company of other notable Canadians: Jason Kenney
Jason Kenney
Jason T. Kenney, PC, MP is Canada's current Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism. He has represented the riding of Calgary Southeast in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997....
, Member of Parliament; and Gerald Butts
Gerald Butts
Gerald M. Butts is the President and CEO of the global conservation organization, WWF-Canada . The official announcement of his appointment was made on June 25, 2008 and he became President and CEO on September 2, 2008....
, Principal Secretary in the Office of the Premier of Ontario.
She is also reported to have attended the last meeting in Sitges
Sitges
*Church of Sant Bartolomeu i Santa Tecla . It houses two Gothic sepulchres , belonging to the an older church located on the same site...
, Spain.
Awards
In 2006 Reisman received an honorary doctorate from Ryerson UniversityRyerson 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...
. In 2009 Reisman received an honorary doctorate Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
. In 2009, the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
listed Reisman as one of the top 50 businesswomen in the world.
In 2010, she received an honorary doctorate from Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University
Mount Allison University is a primarily undergraduate Canadian liberal arts and science university situated in Sackville, New Brunswick. It is located about a half hour from the regional city of Moncton and 20 minutes from the Greater Moncton International Airport...
.