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WHO IS HE
ANYWAY
This
brief summary is more suitable for an obituary but
it may
help to put the talks into some perspective.
When you look back on
50
years of doing things, you realize that
your “Best Before Date” has
likely expired! ***************************************************
Mr. Fierheller graduated from Trinity College at the
University of Toronto with an Honours Degree in Political Science and
Economics in 1955. He joined IBM in Toronto
that year and subsequently progressed through a number
of positions in
their sales organization. He was Marketing Manager for IBM’s federal
government business in Ottawa prior to founding Systems Dimensions
Limited (SDL) in 1968.
Mr. Fierheller was President of SDL from the inception
of the
company until it was acquired by Crown Life of Toronto. SDL was one of
the pioneering companies in the computer services industry in Canada.
In April, 1979, Mr. Fierheller moved to Vancouver as President
and Chief Executive Officer of Premier Cablesystems Limited. In July,
1980, Premier merged with Rogers Cablesystems Inc. to form one of the
world’s largest cable TV companies. Mr. Fierheller was a Vice Chairman
of Rogers Cablesystems Inc. and Chairman of Canadian Cablesystems
Limited, as well as the President and CEO of Rogers Cable TV - British
Columbia Limited.
During 1983, Mr. Fierheller led the team that was successful in
winning the mobile cellular radio licences for Cantel. He was the
founding President and CEO of Cantel Inc. In September 1989, he was
promoted to Chairman and
CEO of Rogers Cantel Mobile Inc. He was Vice Chairman, Rogers
Communications Inc. until 1996 and now heads a private investment and
consulting firm.
Mr. Fierheller has been actively involved in community affairs in
Ottawa, and Vancouver and Toronto including: Chairman of the Board of
Governors of Carleton University, Chairman of the Finance Committee of
the Board of Governors of Simon Fraser University, Chairman of United
Way Campaigns in Ottawa in 1971, Vancouver in 1981 and in Toronto in
1991, President of the Canadian Information Processing Society, member
of the Executive Committee of
the National Arts Centre, a Trustee of the
Vancouver General Hospital Foundation, a Director of Vancouver Opera and
a member of the Vancouver Centennial Commission.
Since returning to Toronto, Mr. Fierheller has served
as Chair of the Board of the United Way of Greater Toronto, Chair,
Information Technology Association of Canada, Chair, Smart Toronto,
Trustee of the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, President of The
Toronto Board of Trade, Director, Ontario
Exports Inc., Chair of The Spirit of Leadership Campaign, Trinity
College, University of Toronto, Chair of the Sigma Chi Canadian
Foundation and President of the National Club.
Mr. Fierheller currently serves as the Chairman of the Honorary
Board of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance.
He is currently Chair
of the Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre Capital
Campaign, a Director of The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research,
Past Chair, Toronto Adventurers Club, is on the Campaign Cabinet of the
Canadian Opera House Corporation and the Board of the Council for
Business & the Arts in Canada.
He has also served on a number of public company Boards
including: Extendicare Inc., Falconbridge Inc., Telesystem International
Wireless Inc., GBC North American Growth Fund and Rogers Wireless Inc.
Mr. Fierheller has received many awards including a Doctor of
Laws degree from Concordia University in 1976,
a Doctor of Sacred
Letters from Trinity College in 1999,
the Award of Excellence from the
Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association; is a Significant Sig
from Sigma Chi Fraternity, and in March 1991, he received Toronto’s
highest honour, The Award of Merit. In 1998 he received the highest
award from the United Way of Canada, the André Mailhot Award. In the
Fall of 1998, he was admitted into the Canadian Information Productivity
Hall of Fame, as well as receiving the Arbor Award from the University
of Toronto.
In July, 2000 Mr. Fierheller was appointed a Member of The Order
of Canada.
In May, 2001, he was honoured by the Association of Fundraising
Professionals as the Outstanding Volunteer of the Year during The
International Year of the Volunteer. In 2002,
he received the Queen’s
Golden Jubilee Medal and the Salute to the City Award for service to the
City of Toronto. In 2005
he was made a member of the Sigma Chi Hall of
Fame.
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