Toronto’s 50 Most Influential: #41, Gary Slaight
Our annual ranking of the people whose smarts, connections and clout are changing the city as we know it
Gary Slaight
Slaight Communications Inc.
41 The head of the Slaight Family Foundation followed up on a generous 2014—he gave a total of $100 million to six Toronto hospitals—with another year of giving away his broadcasting family’s fortune. In January, John Tory shaved Slaight’s head to launch #NoHairSelfie, a campaign that raised $1.8 million for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. In February, he split $7 million among seven organizations, including War Child Canada and Free the Children. He’s a staunch protector of Toronto’s arts community—there’s Slaight money behind the Junos, Soulpepper, Canada’s Walk of Fame, and many more—and this year he gave $20,000 to the Polaris Music Prize to increase award amounts.
Family Business:
Slaight’s wife, Donna, sits on the CAMH Foundation’s board and is chair of Human Rights Watch’s Canada Committee.
