Paul Godfrey
Paul Godfrey | |
---|---|
Toronto Blue Jays President and CEO | |
In office 2000–2008 | |
Preceded by | Sam Pollock |
Succeeded by | Paul Beeston |
4th Metro Toronto chairman | |
In office 1973–1984 | |
Preceded by | Albert Campbell |
Succeeded by | Dennis Flynn |
Chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation | |
In office 2010–2013 | |
Preceded by | Kelly McDougald |
Succeeded by | Peter Wallace (interim) |
Personal details | |
Born | Paul Victor Godfrey January 1939[1] Toronto, Ontario |
Nationality | Canadian |
Political party | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario |
Alma mater | University of Toronto |
Occupation | Media and sports executive, politician |
Profession | Chemical engineer |
Paul Victor Godfrey, CM,[2] OOnt[3] (born January 1939) is a businessman and former Canadian politician.[4] During his career, Godfrey was a North York alderman, Chairman of Metro Toronto, President of the Toronto Sun and head of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was instrumental in bringing the Toronto Blue Jays to Toronto and has campaigned to bring the National Football League to Toronto.[5][6] He is the former president and CEO of Postmedia Network.[7]
Background
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Godfrey grew up in a working class Jewish family near the Kensington Market neighbourhood of Toronto, the son of Bess (Greenbaum) and Philip Godfrey.[8][unreliable source?][9][10]
He later moved to the
After graduating from
In 1999, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.[2]
In 2010, he was appointed to the Order of Ontario.[3]
His underbite jaw was surgically corrected in August 1981, a trait for which he had been satirized for years.[12]
Politics
He entered politics as an
Godfrey was attributed with backing a campaign led by pro-development Conservatives and Liberals united behind the candidacy of Art Eggleton, to unseat the left-wing Toronto mayor John Sewell.[14]
In 1985, it was reported Godfrey had joined the new Ontario Premier
Godfrey was chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation from 2009 until he was fired on May 16, 2013, by Premier Kathleen Wynne.[16]
During the Ontario PC Party of Ontario's 2015 leadership race, Godfrey endorsed Barrie MP Patrick Brown for leader.[17]
Media
In 1984, after he left politics he joined the
He had been named president and CEO of
SkyDome
In 1984 he was appointed to the board of a new crown agency called the Stadium Corporation of Ontario along with
Blue Jays
On 1 September 2000, Godfrey became president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club when Rogers Communications bought the baseball club.[28] He stepped down as president on September 22, 2008, after eight years.[4][28] During his tenure, the team payroll increased from US $46 million to US $98 million. While the Blue Jays posted four out of eight seasons better than .500, they achieved no better than second place in the American League East division.[29] In 2004, the Blue Jays purchased SkyDome for $25 million, far below its original construction cost of $650 million. The purchase gave Godfrey more latitude in controlling the total game experience.[30]
Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
Godfrey was announced as the chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation,[31] a role in which he served until being dismissed in 2013.[16]
Other positions
Godfrey served on the board of directors of the now defunct
References
- ^ "Paul Godfrey". IMDb.
- ^ a b Order of Canada citation
- ^ a b "29 Appointees Named To Ontario's Highest Honour". Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. January 25, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ a b "Paul Godfrey hired to run National Post". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. December 2, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
- ^ "CANOE – SLAM! Sports – NFL – NFL dangles a carrot". Archived from the original on July 17, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ NFL franchise for Toronto still just a dream Archived October 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Paul Godfrey steps down as Postmedia CEO as company announces $1.4M loss".
- ^ a b Al Parker. Five Questions for Paul Godfrey. Toronto Sun. December 20, 2008.
- ISBN 978-1-77100-022-2.
The product of hard-working Jewish parents, Godfrey grew up in the Kensington Market neighbourhood before the family migrated to North York
- ISBN 9780802049391.
- ^ a b "Godfrey resigns as Sun Media CEO. CBC News. November 10, 2000".
- ^ Heer, Jeet (October 28, 2014). ""Smile and Move On": Paul Godfrey on Racism".
- ^ Godfrey captures vacant seat on North York Board of Control The Globe and Mail (1936–Current); September 26, 1970; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Globe and Mail pg. 5
- ISBN 978-1-4594-0940-8.
- ^ Rosemary Speirs. Godfrey joins Miller's Thursday 'kitchen cabinet'. Toronto Star. March 8, 1985. pg. A1, A16.
- ^ a b Benzie, Robert; Brennan, Richard J. (May 16, 2013). "Paul Godfrey fired as head of OLG, board of directors resign". Toronto Star. Torstar. Archived from the original on August 21, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ^ "Postmedia CEO wades into Ontario PC leadership race". Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ Bob Papoe. Paul Godfrey new Sun chief as Creighton forced to retire. Toronto Star. November 6, 1992. pg A1, D1, D6.,
- ^ Rob Ferguson. Newspapers: Black swaps papers for Post. Toronto Star. July 21, 1998. pg A1.
- ^ Les Whittington. Torstar bids $748 million for Sun newspaper chain. Toronto Star. October 29, 1998. pg A1, A30.
- ^ Rob Ferguson, Jim Wilkes. Quebecor tops Torstar bid for Sun chain. Toronto Star. December 10, 1998. pg A1, A40.
- ^ Rob Ferguson. Sun group axes 180 jobs. Toronto Star. March 3, 1999. Pg. A1
- ^ a b Surridge, Grant (December 2, 2008). "Godfrey brings winning record to National Post: President, CEO, Making paper profitable main task". National Post. Toronto: Canwest Global Communications Corp. p. A2. Retrieved August 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Bradshaw, James (November 23, 2016). "Postmedia executives receive $2.3-million in retention bonuses". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ David Miller. Battle is on for right to build our domed stadium. Toronto Star. October 7, 1984, pg A1, A13.
- ^ Dan Smith, Tim Harper. SkyDome director quits as critics tackle NFL bid. Toronto Star. pg A1, A2
- ^ Tony Van Alphen. Two high profile directors quit SkyDome. Toronto Star. November 24, 1998. Pg. A1, A24
- ^ a b "Godfrey steps down as Jays president". CBC News. September 29, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
- ^ Jesse Campigotto (October 22, 2008). "Q&A: Paul Godfrey – The former Blue Jays president and CEO talks about the future of the club". CBC News. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
- ^ "Blue Jays buying SkyDome for $25M". CBC News. November 29, 2004. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ Benzie, Robert; Ferguson, Rob (November 28, 2009). "Paul Godfrey appointed by Liberals to head troubled OLG". Toronto Star. Torstar. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2023. Alt URL
- ^ Gelfand, Phyllise (December 1, 2008). "Paul Godfrey Named President and CEO, National Post" (Press release). Toronto: CanWest. Archived from the original on May 19, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
- ^ Robertson, Grant; Willis, Andrew (October 6, 2009). "The Asper dream ends, the selloff begins". The Globe and Mail. Toronto: Bell Globemedia. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
External links
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- Herbie Fund A fund Godfrey established with his wife, Gina, at the Hospital for Sick Children.