Joseph Lebovic o.c., c.m., ph.d.

Joseph Lebovic, born in Czechoslovakia, and a Holocaust survivor from Hungary, is an outstanding and exceptional individual who has made his philanthropic and humanistic mark in Toronto, the city he calls home.

Joe studied Theology and Economics at London University before immigrating to Canada in 1949 with his father, a sawmill operator, and brother Wolf. In 1953 they established Lebovic Enterprises Ltd. Their business acumen, hard work and focused determination created a success story that has allowed Joe to make an extraordinary impact in the city of Toronto and in the Province of Ontario.

Lebovic Enterprises, a building and development company, has since its inception been known for uncompromising workmanship and the setting and maintaining of new industry standards in the design and construction of new homes, earning Lebovic Enterprises numerous design and architectural awards. Joe has been a long time member of BILD, Building Industry and Land Development Association, and in 2013 received the prestigious BILD Lifetime Achievement Award. Joe has also served as the national and provincial president of the Urban Development Institute and was on its Board of Directors for over 20 years. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of Bramalea Limited.

Joe’s community philanthropy is renowned and impactful. In Toronto, his name is connected to the Mt. Sinai Hospital where he and his brother made the largest Canadian gift ever made to a hospital. In addition, Mr. Lebovic has generously supported the Toronto General Hospital, Scarborough General Hospital, and Scarborough Centennary Hospital. He also gave the lead gift to the new Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus. Lebovic Jewish Community Campus. Located in the heart of York Region, this campus represents the finest in community planning, building and development and is home to a network of health and wellness, fitness and social service agencies fulfilling the needs of an eclectic and diversifies community. The Lebovic Centre for Arts and Entertainment opened in 2009 in Stouffville Ontario in one of the oldest historic buildings still remaining which was renovated and converted as a multi use community centre and theatre. In addition, the Rouge Valley Health System, The Canadian Cancer Society, the Metro Zoo, local children’s sports teams and many other organizations and institutions have benefitted from Joe’s sense of altruism and belief in strengthening the community in which he lives.

In 2005, he was awarded the Spirit of Jerusalem Medallion by the State of Israel Bonds and in 2006 was recognized as a Holocaust Survivor by the Province of Ontario in affiliation with the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem. Mr. Lebovic received the Canada Medal for the 125th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada by the Governor General of Canada and in 2009, Mr. Lebovic received the Beth Shalom Synagogue Humanitarian Award in acknowledgement for his outstanding community contributions.

In 2014, he also received an honourary doctorate degree from Yeshiva University in New York. Mr. Lebovic has served on numerous community boards and executive committees. He served on the Executive at Scarborough Centenary Hospital for twenty years, the Board of Scarborough General Hospital for six years and served for two years as a member of the Scarborough Board of Health. He serves on the Executive Board at Mount Sinai Hospital and is also a member of its Building and Property Committee. Mr. Lebovic was a member on the Foundation Board of Directors at Markham Stouffville Hospital as well as the Board at the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Mr. Lebovic served as Secretary and Treasurer of Ner Israel Yeshiva College for more than twenty years. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Stouffville Cultural Foundation, was an active member of the Executive Board of Directors of the United Jewish Appeal and Israel Bonds, and was on the Board of Governors of B’nai Brith, Canada. Mr. Lebovic is also a former member of the East Metro Youth Association. Mr. Lebovic is also an executive member of the Joint Distribution Committee, the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization.

Joseph Lebovic’s commitment to Jewish education is rooted in Joe’s personal life experience which has not only shaped his values but also his priorities. His leadership in the creation of the Lebovic Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Waterloo has been pivotal in establishing a world- class well-respected program which has also helped to foster an understanding of Judaism among a diverse religious population of students. He has also supported the Centre for Jewish Studies at the University of Toronto as well as scholarships in the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson University. In 2016 Lebovic Golf Club opened and was ranked the 3rd best new golf course by Golf Digest. The par 70 layout is set upon 150 acres of rolling hills on the Oak Ridges Moraine in Aurora, Ontario.

In early 2019 Joe and his brother Wolf Lebovic received the ‘Order of Canada’ for their contributions and measurements of success and, through the sum of their accomplishments, have helped build a better Canada.