茄子直播

President Emeritus John R. Evans (with astronaut Buzz Aldrin) was the founding chair of MaRS Discovery District (photo courtesy MaRS Discovery District)

Honouring Dr. John R. Evans

Fund named for former 茄子直播 president

The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is paying tribute to the outstanding contributions of Dr. John R. Evans, the CFI鈥檚 first Board Chair and a former president of the University of Toronto, by renaming one of the CFI鈥檚 core funds in his honour.

鈥淔or many years, John Evans has played an exemplary role in supporting Canada鈥檚 scientific community, leading in higher education, and productively linking academe, government, and the private sector,鈥 said Dr. Kevin P. D. Smith, the current CFI Board Chair. 鈥淚t was without hesitation that the Board unanimously approved renaming the CFI鈥檚 Leaders Opportunity Fund the John R. Evans Leaders Fund.鈥

Evans served as the CFI鈥檚 Board Chair between 1997 and 2007, driving the CFI to innovate and catalyzing the creation of novel funding mechanisms for research infrastructure that have transformed Canada鈥檚 research landscape.

鈥淎ll of us who have been involved with CFI were privileged on two levels," said Evans. "We worked with outstanding CFI staff and review panels. And we helped to support great minds and fine institutions of advanced research across Canada.

"I am deeply humbled and grateful to the CFI鈥檚 leadership for sustaining my association with this remarkable organisation.鈥

The new name will be used for what has been known as the Leaders Opportunity Fund (LOF), which was launched in 2005 to help universities attract and retain top researchers. The fund allows universities to put together competitive packages of research support that are essential to attract today鈥檚 best research talent. To date, the CFI has distributed more than 3,067 LOF awards at 72 research institutions across the country.

鈥淚n keeping with his vision of providing the best for Canada鈥檚 universities, it seems fitting to honour John Evans鈥 contribution through this fund which has had such a striking impact on research across the country,鈥 said Gilles G. Patry, president and CEO of the CFI.

鈥淭hroughout his extraordinary career, John Evans has been a constant catalyst for the betterment of his country and the world,鈥 added Professor David Naylor, 茄子直播 president. 鈥淗e cares deeply about the next generation of leaders, and I cannot imagine a more fitting tribute to this great Canadian.鈥

Evans received his MD from 茄子直播 and undertook specialty training in internal medicine and cardiology in London, England, Boston and Toronto. Among his many leadership roles, Evans was founding dean of McMaster University鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine, president of the University of Toronto (1972-78), founding director of the Population, Health and Nutrition Department of the World Bank in Washington, D.C. and founding chair of the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.

Evans is a Companion of the Order of Canada, member of the Order of Ontario, a Fellow of the Order of Ontario, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and London, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

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