Seymour Schulich, 77, is an entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born in Montreal, Schulich received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1961 and a Masters of Business Administration in 1965, both from McGill University. He obtained his Charted Financial Analyst degree from the University of Virginia in 1969.
His career began at the Shell Oil Company, and then Eastern Securities Ltd. Later, he joined the newly formed firm Beutel, Goodman & Company Ltd., where he became partner and Vice-President. He moved with the company to Toronto in 1977. His career at Beutel, Goodman spanned 22 years (1968-1990). During the last 3 years he served as President. It was one of the largest pension fund management companies in Canada during this period.
In 1985, Schulich pioneered the concept of royalty payment in the mining industry and created two gold royalty companies, Euro-Nevada and Franco-Nevada in partnership with Pierre Lassonde. As Co-Founder, Chairman, and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation, his team developed it into the largest royalty resource company in the world.
In 2002, Franco-Nevada merged with Normandy Mining Limited of Australia and Newmont Mining Corporation, creating the largest gold mining company in the world, Newmont Mining Corporation. (The Franco shareholders received 30% of the shares in Newmont). Schulich was a director of Newmont mining and the Chairman of its merchant banking division for 5 years until 2007.
He is among Canada’s greatest philanthropists having donated in excess of $350 million to university faculties of business, medicine, dentistry, nursing, engineering, chemistry, music, law, education, and science in numerous Canadian and a few foreign universities. Schulich endowments created 1,000 scholarships in these schools. He has also endowed libraries, dormitories, honour courts, medical health centers, lecture and music halls. In 2012 he created a unique “Schulich Leader” Program of fully prepaid four years STEM Scholarships spanning 25 universities in Canada and Israel.
Schulich has more than 40 years of experience in the natural resource business, having served on the boards of numerous oil and mining companies and many philanthropic organizations. His many accolades include being named “Mining Man of the Year” along with his business partner, Pierre Lassonde in 1997; he was awarded The Order of Canada in 2000, the highest recognition a Canadian civilian can receive. He has received honorary doctorates from five universities. He has been inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame (2006) and the Canadian Business Hall of Fame (2011).
In 2007, Schulich wrote a #1 – selling nonfiction book, Get Smarter, aimed at mentoring young Canadian adults. It has sold over 100,000 copies.
He is married to Tanna, his wife of 43 years. He has two daughters, Deborah and Judith, a sister Edith, and four grandchildren.