George Vari
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George William Vari, PC , CM, Ph.D , P.Eng. (born 1924) is a Canadian based developer and philanthropist. A civil engineer and economist, Vari emigrated to Canada following the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.
Vari made his fortune in international real estate Development. He has in recent decades been renowned for his outstanding record in philantropy, particularly in the field of educational institutions. He has made significant endowments to Ryerson University, York University and the University of Toronto. York's Vari Hall is named after him as are various scholarships and awards at both institutions. Ryerson University renamed the Centre for Computing and Engineering (opened in 2004) to The George Vari Engineering and Computing Centre following a $5 million donation.
Vari and his wife operate the George and Helen Vari Foundation as a vehicle for much of their charitable works in Canada and internationally.
In 1992, Vari was named to the Security Intelligence Review Committee and , as a result, became a member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada entitled to be addressed as "The Honourable". He has also been named to the Order of Canada and both he and his wife have been appointed to France's Legion d'Honneur.
