Wes Hall (businessman)

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Wes Hall
Wes Hall photo by Djuradj Vujcic.jpg
Hall in 2024
35th Chancellor of the University of Toronto
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 1, 2024 (2024-07-01)
Preceded by Rose Patten
Personal details
BornWes J. Hall
Saint Thomas, Jamaica
OccupationBusinessman, entrepreneur

Wesley J. Hall is a Canadian businessman and entrepreneur, best known as a "Dragon" investor in the Canadian reality television series Dragons' Den . [1] He has served as the 35th chancellor of the University of Toronto since July 1, 2024.

Life and career

Born and raised in Saint Thomas, Jamaica, [2] Hall moved to Toronto, Ontario, as a teenager. [3] After being educated as a law clerk at George Brown College, he worked in the legal division of CanWest until founding Kingsdale Advisors, a shareholder services and business consultancy, in 2002. [3] In 2006, the firm became a major player in Canadian business when it managed Xstrata's purchase and takeover of Falconbridge. [3] He also later established QM Environmental, an environmental remediation firm. [2]

In 2020 he launched the BlackNorth Initiative, an organization which works to combat racism in business. [4]

He joined Dragons' Den in 2021 for the show's 16th season. [1]

He has written his autobiography "No Bootstraps When You’re Barefoot", honouring his grandmother.[ citation needed ]

Hall was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Toronto in 2023. [5] In 2024, he was elected to serve as the university's 35th chancellor, and has held the office since July 1, 2024. [6] [7]

References

  1. 1 2 Murtz Jaffer, "New panelist on ‘Dragons’ Den,’ Wes Hall (a.k.a. ‘The Fixer’) brings a different approach". Toronto Star , October 19, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Noelle Boughton, "I don't know what impossible is, says Wes Hall". Wealth Professional, September 7, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Joe O'Connor, "Man on a mission: How Wes Hall and the BlackNorth Initiative are bringing change to Bay Street". National Post , September 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ Shannon Proudfoot, "How Wes Hall is attacking racist systems, starting at the top". Maclean's , January 18, 2021.
  5. ↑ University of Toronto, U of T to confer honorary degrees on 14 academic, business and community leaders, February 16, 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  6. ↑ UofT News Team (May 16, 2024). "Wesley J. Hall elected to serve as the 35th chancellor of the University of Toronto". U of T News.
  7. ↑ "Office of the Chancellor". University of Toronto. Retrieved January 19, 2026.


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