W. Brett Wilson
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W. Brett Wilson (born on July 1, 1957) is a Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and panelist on the Gemini Award-winning Dragons' Den. Wilson was born in North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
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[edit] Career
Wilson graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1979 with a Bachelor of Engineering degree and worked for three years in the oilfields of western Canada. He then graduated from the University of Calgary’s MBA program in 1985, and began work as an investment banker with McLeod Young Weir Limited (now ScotiaMcLeod). Wilson co-founded his first investment banking advisory firm, Wilson Mackie & Co., in 1991.
In 1993, he co-founded FirstEnergy Capital Corp., a Canadian brokerage firm that provides investment-banking services to Canada’s oil and gas sector. Wilson retired from active duty at FirstEnergy in July, 2007 but retained his role as Chairman of the company until December, 2008.
He is currently Chairman of Prairie Merchant Corporation - his wholly owned private merchant bank focused on business opportunities in the energy, agriculture, real estate, sports, and entertainment industries. He is part owner of two professional sport teams: the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx and the Derby County Football Club[1][2].
According to recent media reports, Wilson has bought a partial interest in the Nashville Predators. He also returned to CBC's Toronto studios in May 2009 to shoot material for another 20 episodes for Season 4 of CBC's hit television show - Dragons' Den.
[edit] Philanthropy
Wilson is active in the charitable community, having given, and engaged others to give, tens of millions to nonprofit initiatives. He often takes a hands-on approach to philanthropy, including shaving his head to support kids cancer care, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to support Alzheimer’s research. He has for many years made annual trips with Youth With a Mission to Mexico to build homes with his family.
Wilson has focused his philanthropic initiatives on his home provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. He is a supporter of his alma mater, the University of Saskatchewan, and established the Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence there in 2007.[3]
In May 2007, Wilson quarterbacked one of the largest fundraisers held in Calgary - a joint 50th birthday party with 12 other community leaders - raising over $3 million for awareness and support of Prostate Cancer. He then co-chaired the David Foster Foundation event in Calgary in September 2007 which raised over $3 million for families of children requiring organ transplants. On February 2, 2009 it was announced that the Foster event won an award for Best Event Produced for a Non-Profit from the Special Events Magazine International Gala Awards [4]
He is active on profiling and funding research into the issue of domestic abuse, and has funded the Wilson Centre for Domestic Abuse Studies at the Calgary Counselling Centre.[5] He is a supporter of the Canadian Olympic Swim Team and has made a significant donation toward the men’s 2008 Beijing relay team training[6]. He also supports the sport of volleyball, and now owns the Rally Pointe volleyball centre in Calgary.
[edit] Personal
Wilson was married to Pamela Janzen in 1981. They divorced in 2001. They have three children currently 18, 21 and 24.
[edit] Selected Awards
- Canada’s Top 40 under 40 (Caldwell - 1997)
- Top 20 Deal Makers in Canada (Globe & Mail -1999)
- Top 10 list of M&A specialists in Canada (Globe & Mail - 2000)
- Management Alumni Excellence (MAX) Award, University of Calgary, Haskayne School of Business (2003)
- International Legacy of Honour, Young Presidents Organization - recognizing the global YPO leader who best exemplifies commitment to excellence in business, community orientation and the ideals of YPO (2004)
- Spirit of Giving Award (Association of Fundraising Professionals - 2005)
- University of Calgary Top 40 Alumni (2006 - 2007)
- Calgary’s Person of the Year (Avenue Magazine - 2007)
- University of Saskatchewan Alumni Award of Achievement (2007)[7]
- University of Saskatchewan Top 100 Alumni (2007)[8]
- Distinguished Lecturer, CJ Mackenzie Banquet, University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering (2008)
- Business Person of the Year (Alberta Venture Magazine - 2008)
- Canadian Youth Business Foundation Nation Builder Award - 2009
[edit] References
- ^ "CANOE - SLAM! Sports - Soccer - Peschisolido: Canadian invested wisely in Derby". Slam.canoe.ca. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2008/10/08/7017921-cp.html. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ "Calgarian invests in English soccer club, says he's 'fan of anything fun' - Yahoo! Canada News". Ca.news.yahoo.com. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081007/sports/soc_derby_ownership. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ (Posted April 16, 2007). "U of S News Releases: Wilson Centre for Entrepreneurial Excellence Established at University of Saskatchewan". Announcements.usask.ca. http://announcements.usask.ca/news/archive/2007/04/wilson_centre_f.html. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ "Gala Winners Named at The Special Event 2009". specialevents.com. http://specialevents.com/latest_stories/gala-award-winners-special-events-2009/. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
- ^ "May 10, 2006" (PDF). http://www.calgarycounselling.com/pdf/2006_05_10_BravestMen.pdf. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ "SWIMNEWS ONLINE - Swimming News, Swim Meet Results, Swimming World Rankings, Swim Links, Calendar". Swimnews.com. http://www.swimnews.com/News/view/6217. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ "U of S: University Advancement: Alumni Relations: Alumni Awards". Usask.ca. http://www.usask.ca/alumni/alumnisite/association/2007recipients.shtml. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ^ "University of Saskatchewan - 100 Alumni of Influence". Usask.ca. http://www.usask.ca/100/alumni/brett_wilson.php. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
