20 Facts About Sheldon Levy

Sheldon Levy was born on 1949 and is a veteran Canadian business leader in higher education who is currently President and Vice-Chancellor of University Canada West in Vancouver and a special advisor on the development of the forthcoming University of Niagara Falls.

Sheldon Levy previously served as president and vice-chancellor of Ryerson University, as Deputy Minister in the Government of Ontario, and in many other leadership roles.

Sheldon Levy has been honoured many times for his lifelong contributions to student entrepreneurship and digital innovation in higher education.

Sheldon Levy began his career in university administration shortly after completing his degree in mathematics and held numerous roles including Vice president, institutional affairs, at York University; President, Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technology; Vice president, government and institutional relations, at the University of Toronto; and Vice president, finance and strategy, at Ontario Tech University.

In 2005 Sheldon Levy was appointed president and vice chancellor of Ryerson University.

Sheldon Levy served in the role from 1 August 2005 through 30 November 2015.

Sheldon Levy's tenure was marked by a number of campus revitalization projects, including the establishment of the Mattamy Athletic Centre in the former Maple Leaf Gardens building and the construction of the Student Learning Centre on Yonge Street.

In December 2015, Sheldon Levy was appointed Deputy Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for the Government of Ontario, a position he held until September 2017.

Sheldon Levy then served as CEO of NEXT Canada from November 2017 to December 2018 and as special advisor to the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion, the Honourable Mary Ng, from December 2018 to September 2021.

In September 2021, Sheldon Levy was announced as the interim president and vice-chancellor of UCW, replacing Brock Dykeman.

The university announced that Sheldon Levy would be staying on in 2023.

Sheldon Levy is a strategic consultant and special advisor to Knightstone Capital Management Inc.

Sheldon Levy is a member of the board of directors of Baycrest Health Sciences.

Sheldon Levy served as honorary chair of the Brookfield Institute Advisory Board.

Sheldon Levy has been bestowed three honorary doctorates in the past from three Canadian universities, including:.

An article by Toronto Life magazine, called the "Ryerson Revolution", describes in detail how Sheldon Levy has taken the initiative since starting as president to improve Ryerson University, by purchasing Maple Leaf Gardens, shutting down Gould Street and a space sharing agreement with AMC Theatres, creating an urban campus, instead of the more traditional closed-off university campus.

Sheldon Levy was the driving force behind the Digital Media Zone which opened in April 2010.

In 2015, Sheldon Levy was the subject of a viral video produced by Ryerson University custodian Bob Skelly.

In 2006, Sheldon Levy sparked controversy by defending the decision of Ryerson's Awards and Ceremonials Standing Committee of the Academic Council to award an honorary degree to Margaret Somerville, who is noted for her opposition to same-sex marriage and gay families.

Sheldon Levy explained that while Ryerson University did not agree with Dr Somerville's views, revoking the award would be counter to freedom of speech and the right to expression.