ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΧΚΑΟ

ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΧΚΑΟ donor Heather Reisman walks BNN Bloomberg through her vision to make Toronto an innovation leader

Heather Reisman operating a back hoe during the groundbreaking of the reisman schwartz innovation centre
Heather Reisman operates a backhoe during the groundbreaking ceremony for ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΧΚΑΟ's Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre, made possible through a $100-million donation by Reisman and her husband Gerry Schwartz (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

The donors behind the ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΧΚΑΟ’s Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre saw the project as a β€œonce in a lifetime chance” to be involved in something that could be a force for good in the 21st century.

That’s according to business leader and philanthropist Heather Reisman, who told BNN Bloomberg the $100-million donation given to ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΧΚΑΟ by her and husband Gerry Schwartz was prompted by the ambitious vision articulated by President Meric Gertler and other ΟγΈΫΑωΊΟ²ΚΧΚΑΟ leaders.

β€œThey laid out the dream of what they had in mind, and it was so compelling," Reisman said. "It resonated with everything Gerry and I believe in."

Reisman said she’s especially proud of the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society, which will be devoted to exploring what she described as β€œthe intersection between galloping technology and who we are as human beings.”

The overarching mission of the new buildings and the institute, Reisman said, will be β€œto cross over philosophers, legal people, economic people, sociologists, who will mix it up with the AI scientists and the advanced technology scientists – to really lead with humanity.”

UTC