Founding Donors
When they heard that the University of Toronto was planning a new complex dedicated to innovation, Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman knew they wanted to get involved. The couple sensed this was a transformational initiative and firmly believed it would lead to the creation of life-changing ideas and enterprises.
Mr. Schwartz and Ms. Reisman are two of Canada’s most respected entrepreneurs and business leaders. Mr. Schwartz is the founder, Chair and CEO of Onex Corporation, Canada’s oldest and most successful private equity firm. Ms. Reisman is the founder, Chair and CEO of Indigo, the country’s leading book and lifestyle retailer.
The couple are also among the country’s most generous philanthropists. They have long supported institutions and causes across Canada, particularly in the areas of literacy, education, health care and advanced research. At U of T, their previous gifts have made an immense difference to students, researchers and programs in several faculties. Both have had a long relationship with the university, serving as advisors for numerous strategic initiatives. Mr. Schwartz sat on U of T’s Governing Council, and his valuable counsel helped to shape the institution we know today.
Recognizing the immense value of a flagship building with bespoke spaces for research-based innovation, Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman made a historic investment in 2019 to establish the 750,000-square foot Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus.
Thanks to their visionary support, the university completed Schwartz Reisman West, the west tower of the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, in 2023.
The gift from Mr. Schwartz and Ms. Reisman also helped create the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, an interdisciplinary academic research and public policy institute investigating the impact of technology on people’s lives and working to ensure powerful technologies like artificial intelligence serve the public good while protecting citizens and societies from harm.
