David Robert Peterson

The Hon. David R. Peterson, P.C., K.C., O.Ont., C. St. J., C.L.H., D.U., L.L.D., is Chairman Emeritus of the law firm of Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP. Mr. Peterson is Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Toronto, a director of St. Michael’s Foundation, Stratford Endowment Foundation Board, and was Chairman of the successful Toronto Bid for 2015 Pan Am Games. In September 2013, Mr. Peterson accepted the nomination to become Chair of the Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games Organizing Committee (TO2015).

He was a director of a number of public and private companies including Rogers Communications Inc., Franco-Nevada Corporation, Ivanhoe Cambridge, and was the Founding Chairman of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Club Inc. and Chapters Inc. Mr. Peterson was director or active with a number of charitable, educational and environmental organizations including the Shaw Festival, the Ontario March of Dimes, the Ontario Canada Day Committee, Canadian Club, Cercle Canadien, Council for Canadian Unity, Young Presidents Organization, World President’s Organization, the Society for Educational Visits & Exchanges in Canada, Frontier College, Peter Lougheed Medical Research Foundation, Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, Magnetic True North Theatre, West Park Health Centre and Toronto Abuse Centre as well as being on the Advisory Board of the Coady International Institute and the Steering Committee of the Toronto City Summit Alliance.

He was chairman of the Commonwealth Team observing the 1992 elections in Guyana. He was chief federal negotiator for the devolution of the Northwest Territories and has worked on a number of important negotiations with the First Nations. He was an adjunct professor at York University, a fellow of McLaughlin College and Executive-in- Residence at Rotman School of Management and a senior fellow of Massey College. He speaks often on national and international issues, as well as being a frequent commentator on television.