Roger Greenberg was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, at the
9 a.m. ceremony on Monday, June 20, “in recognition of his outstanding contributions
to the philanthropic sector and for spearheading fundraising campaigns for numerous organizations in the health and education sectors.”
Greenberg is the executive chairman of the Board of The Minto Group and Minto Apartment REIT. He is also the executive chairman and managing partner of the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group, sits on the board of governors of the Canadian Football League and the Ontario Hockey League. Greenberg was one of five members of Ottawa’s business community leading the Lansdowne Transformation Plan.
In 1985, Greenberg joined Minto on a full-time basis and became its chief executive officer (CEO) in 1991. He has since divided his time and passion between overseeing operations of Minto and lending his expertise to philanthropic causes in the community. He held the CEO role until October 2013.
Throughout his career, Greenberg has received many distinguished awards and honours, including becoming a Member of the Order of Canada, the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario Lifetime Achievement Award, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Gilbert Greenberg Distinguished Service Award by the Ottawa Jewish Community, the Ottawa Business Journal’s CEO of the Year in 2004, and United Way Community Builder Award in 2001. He is the former Honourary Colonel of the 30th Field Artillery Regiment, nicknamed the “Bytown Gunners”.
Greenberg obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Toronto and his law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School. After completing his bar admission in 1982, Greenberg practised real estate law at Toronto law firm Blaney McMurtry for three years.
Greenberg and his wife Cindy have three children: Nicholas, Jenna, and Jamie.