Overview

L. R. 'Red' Wilson's impact has been felt across generations of Canadians businesspeople and students. This biography honours a man who followed his interests wherever they led, sought out new challenges whenever he could, and above all, always worked to leave every place he stopped along better than he found it. Tracing the contours of Mr. Wilson's fascinating journey, renowned Canadian business historian Dimitry Anastakis brings to light an inspiring story of commitment, determination, and service. Born in Port Colborne in 1940, L. R. 'Red' Wilson's trajectory as a student, foreign service officer, senior civil servant, business leader, supporter of higher education, and philanthropist is an extraordinary tale of post-Second World War Canada. Mr. Wilson held executive leadership positions in some of Canada's largest and most important firms, including Redpath Sugar, the Bank of Nova Scotia, and Bell Canada Enterprises. Recipient of the 1994 International Business Executive of the Year Award, Mr. Wilson was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1997, and he has received honourary degrees from several universities, including McMaster University, where he was Chancellor from 2007-13. portrays Mr. Wilson's professional and personal lessons, learned from a lifetime of choices, and illustrates the importance of a strong character and astute values in achieving greatness.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dimitry Anastakis
Publisher:   University of Toronto Press
Imprint:   Aevo UTP
Dimensions:   Width: 14.00cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 21.60cm
Weight:   0.001kg
ISBN:  

9781487581732

ISBN 10:   1487581734
Pages:   412
Publication Date:   14 April 2026
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available, will be POD  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon it's release. This is a print on demand item which is still yet to be released.

Table of Contents

Foreword The Right Honourable David Johnston, 28th Governor General of Canada Introduction Part I: Early Port Colborne Lessons, 1940-58 Chapter One: Commitment  Chapter Two: Teachers, Role Models, Mentors  Chapter Three: Economy Part II: Formative Years, 1958-67 Chapter Four: Education   Chapter Five: Sportsmanship  Chapter Six: Duty  Part III: Learning the Ropes, 1967-81 Chapter Seven: Experience  Chapter Eight: Apprenticeship  Chapter Nine: Service  Part IV: Leadership, 1981-2000 Chapter Ten: Leadership   Chapter Eleven: Responsibility  Chapter Twelve: Mentorship  Chapter Thirteen: Character Chapter Fourteen: Determination  Part V:  Philanthropy and Family, “retirement” 2000- Chapter Fifteen: Modesty, Charity, History     Conclusion: Life, Lessons, and Legacies Afterword

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Author Information

Dimitry Anastakis is Professor and L.R. Wilson/R.J. Currie Chair in Canadian Business History at the University of Toronto in the Department of History and the Rotman School of Management, where he teaches about business, the state and politics, globalization, and automobility. He has published twelve books and edited collections, including five books on aspects of the Canadian auto industry in North America including Dream Car: Malcolm Bricklin’s Fantastic SV1 and the End of Industrial Modernity.

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