Canada’s Leading Men Gala
Weizmann Canada celebrated 50 years of supporting the Weizmann Institute of Science by honouring 10 remarkable Canadian men at its Leading Men Gala in Toronto on November 16.
The event featured William Shatner, the Canadian-born actor and performer most well-known for his leading role in the Star Trek movies and television series. Prof. Oded Aharonson of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences was the Weizmann Institute speaker. The event raised $6 million for multiple projects including those chosen by the “leading men” themselves, including research fellow chairs, scholarships, an annual conference, and a collaboration.
The honorees each chose projects that will fund basic research in neuroscience, complex systems research, Alzheimer’s disease, memory research, personalized medicine, diabetes, olfaction, cardiac disease and neurological studies.
The Leading Men Gala was co-chaired by Francie Klein and Darlene Switzer-Foster, and Weizmann Institute President Prof. Daniel Zajfman was in attendance.
The Leading Men honored at the Gala included:
- Dr. Daniel C. Andreae, academic and philanthropist
- Tom Beck, Founder of Noma Industries
- Jordan Banks, Global Head of Vertical Strategy & Managing Director, Facebook Canada
- Sam Belzberg, Chairman & CEO, Gibralt Capital Corporation
- David Cynamon, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman at K2 Pure Solutions
- Jeremy Freedman, President & CEO, Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc.
- Rob McEwen, Chairman & Chief Owner, McEwen Mining Inc. and Lexam VG Gold
- Ralph Medjuck, Chairman & CEO, Centennial Group Ltd
- Calin Rovinescu, President & CEO of Air Canada
