CAE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-01-28 published
Fraser ELLIOT/ELLIOTT,
Lawyer: 1921-2005
Co-founder of the Toronto law firm Stikeman Elliott saw the practice
as an institution rather than a business, writes Sandra
MARTIN.
It has since become a model for law offices across the country
By Sandra MARTIN,
Friday,
January 28, 2005 - Page S7
A lawyer, businessman, art collector and philanthropist who loved
to fish and play golf, Fraser
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT was a decisive man who
listened deeply and spoke briefly. "We always used to say that
if he was giving a speech, it wouldn't go longer than 2.5 minutes,"
said Olympian Richard Pound, a lawyer with the Montreal office
of Stikeman
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT, the firm Mr.
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT co-founded more than
50 years ago.
"When he and Heward [
STIKEMAN] set up the firm, Fraser was the
businessman and Heward was the visionary," said Edward
WAITZER,
current chair of the firm that now has offices in nine cities
around the world and more than 400 lawyers. "There was no question
who was running the firm, but they were incredibly compatible,"
said Mr. WAITZER. "
They were partners who never had a disagreement."
Although he had stepped down as chair about 20 years ago, Mr.
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT continued to go to the office every day until about two
weeks ago. "He was the kind of guy that most of the secretaries
around here would probably go and talk to if there was a problem
before they'd talk to me," said Mr.
WAITZER. "
There isn't a day
that goes by without somebody saying, 'What would Fraser think?'
He was the heart and soul of this law firm. He had a huge influence
because his footprint was just so deep."
R. Fraser ELLIOT/ELLIOTT was born in 1921, the
son of Colin Fraser
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT,
a federal deputy minister, and Mary Marjorie
(SYPHER.) He went
to Queen's University, graduating with a commerce degree in 1943
before going to Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto. He articled
under Henry
BORDEN, senior partner at Borden, Elliot, Kelley,
Palmer and Sankey, and was called to the Ontario bar in 1946.
He then went to the Harvard School of Business Administration,
graduating with an M.B.A. in 1947.
Heward STIKEMAN, meanwhile, had begun his career in what is now
called the Canada Revenue Agency under the mentorship of Mr.
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT's father, a career civil servant and one-time ambassador
to Chile. After reaching the level of assistant deputy minister
in 1945, Mr.
STIKEMAN went into private practice with the small
Montreal firm of Foster, Hannen and Watt, which added the name
Stikeman in recognition of his presence.
Fraser ELLIOT/ELLIOTT, the
son of Mr.
STIKEMAN's former boss at Revenue
Canada, was called to the Quebec bar in 1948. He then joined
Mr. STIKEMAN's law firm, which consequently added his name to
what was now a rather long list of partners. Over a beer at Mr.
STIKEMAN's house in Montreal late in 1951, the two men drew up
a financial blueprint for their own firm.
Within months, they had struck out on their own. Mr.
STIKEMAN
was the dreamer and Mr.
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT the pragmatic businessman. "He
was a Harvard M.B.A., so he understood about business and the
needs of business clients," said Mr. Pound, a long-serving member
of the International Olympic Committee and author of a corporate
history of the firm published to commemorate its 50th anniversary.
"The combination of his business acumen and Heward
STIKEMAN's
cachet, which brought in clients, for which Fraser
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT then
provided the business and corporate advice, forced all other
law firms in Canada to respond to their model, rather than the
other way around," said Mr. Pound.
From two lawyers in a tax boutique on St. James Street, the firm
now is one of the most successful tax and corporate law firms
in Canadian history. "Law firms are pretty simple," said Mr.
WAITZER. "
Basically, you try to attract the best possible people
and the best possible clients and you invest heavily in both."
The culture that Mr.
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT inculcated was one that saw the
firm as an institution rather than a business, by investing in
people, clients and relationships for the longer term rather
than maximizing annual income.
Part of that long-range view, said Mr. Pound, was succession
planning. "Over time, they [Mr.
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT and Mr.
STIKEMAN, who
died in 1999] were both very careful to ensure that there was
an orderly transition."
Mr. ELLIOT/ELLIOTT's profession was the law, but he made most of his
money as a businessman, becoming an early and major shareholder
in CAE (a landmark high-tech Canadian company specializing in
simulation and modelling technologies). He also owned a number
of other business interests. Although he was a judicious businessman,
he was also a passionate art collector, amassing a huge collection
of Canadian and international art that museums would "die to
have," according to Mr. Pound.
In recent years, he was also a very generous benefactor, establishing
the Fraser Elliott Foundation in 1985, which has given quietly
to a spectrum of causes that included the arts, universities
and hospitals. He was also active on several boards, including
the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Canadian Opera Company and Toronto
General Hospital, and endowed two chairs (in vascular surgery
and transplantation research) at the Toronto General and Western
Foundation.
"What was wonderful about him as a donor was that he asked really
good questions," said Wendy
McDOWAL, chief fundraiser at the
Canadian Olympic Committee. Before giving $10-million to the
capital campaign for the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing
Arts, he quizzed Ms.
McDOWAL about the fundraising campaign.
"He had a very keen mind and he wanted to understand the project
and the details of the project," said Ms.
McDOWAL, adding that
he was a no-nonsense person who didn't suffer fools. "But once
he had made his gift," she said, "he never second-guessed or
went back on his decision."
As a father, he was "a straightforward, honest individual who
honoured his family values and was loved by us all," said his
eldest son, Fraser
ELLIOT/ELLIOTT, an investment banker.
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CAE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-12-17 published
EVANS,
Colin▼
John,▼
Wing
Commander (Ret)
Born▼
January▼ 22, 1920 in Hamilton Ontario, John
EVANS passed
away peacefully on December 8, 2005 at age 85. Predeceased by
Marguerite his loving wife and sweetie of 58 years, brothers
Roy and Philip, and sister Dorothy. Devoted father of son Rob
and wife Gay,
Etobicoke and daughters Eve and husband Paul
MARTIN,
Toronto, Jan and husband Brian
CHURCHILL,
Etobicoke and Pat and
husband John
WILLIAMSON,
California. Is greatly missed by his
13 grandchildren Emily, Lyrandra, Bob, Caitlin, Victoria, Michael,
Joe and wife Sarah
PALLETT, Alex, Tommy, Mike, James, Alanna,
Cayleigh, and great grand_son Matthew. Survived by sister Win
and husband Ed
STEWARD/STEWART/STUART,
Cambridge and sister-in law Kathryn,
Burlington. John began a 25 year career with the Royal Canadian
Air Force in 1940 training on Gypsy Moth biplanes at Mt. Hope
Airport where he graduated at the top of his class. Following
his commissioning as a Pilot Officer, he served as a flying instructor
before a tour of ops as a fighter pilot with the 418 Mosquito
Squadron in England during 1943-44. John earned an Ace designation
with this night intruder squadron which became the Royal Canadian
Air Force's top scoring squadron in World War 2. After the War,
he attended the University of Toronto graduating in Aeronautical
Engineering in 1949. He returned to the Royal Canadian Air Force
with postings at Namao, Alberta; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Royal Military
College, Kingston; Greenwood, Nova Scotia and National Defence
Headquarters in Ottawa. Following integration of the services
in 1967, he took early retirement and joined Northwest Industries,
a division of
CAE, in Edmonton becoming their Vice President,
Technology. In the last 8 years of his working career, he served
as Dean of Science and Technology at Georgian College in Barrie
where he and Marg spent many enjoyable times sailing on Lake
Simcoe. Not one to retire completely, C.J. (as he was known)
designed and built his own lakeside home near Picton, Ontario
where they lived until moving to Toronto in 1986 to be closer
to their kids and growing numbers of grandchildren. He continued
to fly until age 75 and maintained a close association with his
beloved 418 Mosquito squadron buddies. In his own words, John
'had a marvelous life.' His family wishes to thank the staff
at Sunnybrook Hospital Veteran's Wing for their excellent care.
A private family service will be held to celebrate his life later
in the new year. If wished, donations may be made to the charity
of one's choice. 2005 Year of the Veteran
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CAE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-12-17 published
EVANS,
Colin▲
John▲
Wing Commander (Ret)
Born▲
January▲ 22, 1920 in Hamilton, Ontario, John
EVANS passed
away peacefully on December 8, 2005 at age 85. Predeceased by
his loving wife of 58 years, Marguerite, and brothers Roy and
Philip. Loving father of son Robert (wife Gay) and daughters
Eve (husband Paul), Jan (husband Brian) and Pat (husband John).
Will be sadly missed by his 13 grandchildren Emily, Lyrandra,
Bob, Caitlin, Victoria, Michael, Joseph (wife Sarah), Alexander,
Thomas, Mike, James, Alanna, Cayleigh, and great-grand_son Matthew.
Survived by sister Win (husband Ed) and sister-in-law Kathryn
(husband Roy). John began a 25 year career with the Royal Canadian
Air Force in 1940 training on Gypsy Moth biplanes at Mt. Hope
Airport where he graduated at the top of his class. Following
his commissioning as a Pilot Officer, he served as a flying instructor
before a tour of ops as a fighter pilot with the 418 Mosquito
Squadron in England in 1943-44. John earned an Ace designation
with this night intruder squadron which became the Royal Canadian
Air Force's top scoring squadron in World War 2. After the War,
he attended the University of Toronto graduating in Aeronautical
Engineering in 1949. He returned to the Royal Canadian Air Force
with postings at Namao, Alberta; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Royal Military
College, Kingston; Greenwood, Nova Scotia and National Defence
Headquarters, Ottawa. Following integration of the services in
1967, he took early retirement and joined Northwest Industries,
a division of
CAE, in Edmonton becoming their Vice President,
Technology. In the last 8 years of his working career, he served
as Dean of Science and Technology at Georgian College in Barrie
where he and Marg spent many enjoyable times sailing on Lake
Simcoe. Not one to retire completely, C.J. (as he was known)
designed and built his own lakeside home near Picton, Ontario
where they lived until moving to Toronto in 1986 to be closer
to their kids and growing numbers of grandchildren. He continued
to fly until age 75 and maintained a close association with his
beloved 418 Mosquito Squadron buddies. In his own words, John
"had a marvelous life." His family wishes to thank the staff
at Sunnybrook Hospital Veterans' Wing for their excellent care.
A private family service will be held to celebrate his life later
in the new year. If wished, donations may be made to the charity
of one's choice. 2005 Year of the Veteran
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CAESAR o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-10-21 published
BLAKE,
Beatrice
May
At the age of 95 and in complete peace, May
BLAKE passed away
on October 19, 2005. May was care-giver extraordinaire to many
children who remember her fondly and with love throughout their
adulthood. She was trained as a nanny in England and joined her
first family as a caregiver as a young teenager, no older than
15. She emigrated to Canada about 1932. Throughout her early
years as a nanny in Canada, May befriended and looked out for
other British nannies who would come to Toronto on two-year visas
to care for the children of Canadian families. May brought them
into the community of other nannies, made sure that they became
acquainted with Toronto and sent them home again at the end of
two years with farewell parties.
The adults for whom she cared as children and that she called
"her charges" owe their values of honesty, integrity, generosity
towards others and good humour to her teachings as they grew
from infancy through childhood into eventual maturity. May was
always proud of the achievements of "her charges" and followed
their successes in life, sending congratulations their way and
still providing advice as they made their path through life.
May has been a staunch supporter of Saint Margaret's Anglican Church
for more than 70 years. Up until two years ago, she was a regular
supporter of Saint Margaret's annual Christmas bazaar and rummage
sales. She was a frequent visitor to the sick and shut-ins of
her congregation. May
BLAKE's life was a happy and fulfilled
one.
May will be fondly remembered by her many Friends at her Church,
including Muriel
CAESAR,
Len and Jean
SOUTH, Trevor and Muriel
McCONNELL and Jean
FRASER.
She will also be lovingly remembered by "her charges" currently
living in Canada, Edward
BULMAN and his sister Elizabeth, Nadine,
Jon and Paul
LEVIN,
Sean and Kalen
McCOWAN, Denise
DELLIO, and
Alexandra and Laura
ROBINSON.
Jean
SHAWN, George
LEVIN, Anna
JOHNSTON (formerly
McCOWAN), Perry and Rae
DELLIO, Michael
ROBINSON
and Dr. Gail
ROBINSON, and all remember the fine and loving care
May BLAKE provided for their children and the tremendous contribution
she made to their family life.
Those who wish to celebrate May
BLAKE's life may join together
at Saint Margaret's Anglican Church, 53 Burnaby Boulevard, Toronto
on Monday, October 24, 2005 at 1 p.m. May loved children all
of her life and donations in her memory to Save the Children
Canada, 300-4141 Yonge Street, Toronto M2P 2A8, would be greatly
appreciated.
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CAESAR o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-12-28 published
HILL,
Herbert
Frank "
Herb"
Passed away suddenly at the Huronia District Hospital, Midland
on Monday, December 26, 2005. Herb
HILL, age 78 years, of Waubaushene.
Beloved husband of the late Joan (1998). Loving father of Doug
HILL of Barrie and the late Bonnie
PRIDHAM of Waubaushene. Loved
grandfather of Darren, Mike, Justin, Derek, Cody, and the late
Shane. Great-grandfather of Shona, Joshua, Dylan, Brittany, Braeden,
and Jacob. Dear brother of Ilene
CAESAR of Don Mills. Predeceased
by his brothers Dave and Stan, and by his sister Velma
ARMSTRONG.
Friends may call at the Coldwater Funeral Home, 22 Sturgeon Bay
Road, Coldwater (705-686-3344 or 1-888-645-5485) from 7-9 p.m.
Wednesday and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday, where the service will
be held on Friday, December 30th at 1 p.m. Cremation to follow.
As an expression of sympathy, donations in memory of Herb may
be made to the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation.
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