Hon William Grenville Davis

Davis, the former premier of Ontario, is counsel to the law firm Torys LLP and Vice Chairman of the International Advisory Council of Power Corporation of Canada. He also serves as a board member of seven major companies and is a member of the Governing Council of the University of Toronto. Davis had a 26-year political career in Ontario, including nine years as Minister of Education and 14 years as Premier, a similar post to a United States governor. After attending the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School, Davis was called to the bar in 1955. Davis was also awarded honorary degrees from eight Ontario universities as well three from Yeshiva University of New York, the National University of Ireland, and the University of Tel Aviv. In 1982, Davis was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. In 1986, he was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada, one of Canada's highest honors, and in 1987, was among the first 20 recipients of The Order of Ontario award. In 2003, Davis was inducted as a Knight in l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur by the ambassador of France.