Jonathan Wener appointed chancellor of Concordia University

Montreal, October 8, 2014 — A long-time champion of Concordia University has been named its new chancellor. Jonathan Wener, chairman and CEO of real estate development firm Canderel will take over the role on January 1, 2015, from L. Jacques Ménard, who has been chancellor since 2011. Wener has been the university’s deputy chancellor since 2012.

Wener graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Commerce from Sir George Williams University, one of the two institutions, along with Loyola College, that merged in 1974 to form Concordia. Wener served on the university’s Board of Governors from 1995 to 2012 and was vice-chair of the Board from 2005 to 2011.  He was also chair of Concordia’s Real Estate Planning Committee from 1996 to 2012.

Under Wener’s leadership, Concordia drew up a plan to revitalize its downtown campus by renovating existing buildings and embarking on construction of several new buildings to meet the growing needs of the academic community. Over the past two decades, Wener has overseen construction of two distinctive new buildings that helped changed the face of the campus: the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex and the John Molson School of Business.

Concordia’s president and vice-chancellor, Alan Shepard, praises Wener for his instrumental role in transforming the campus.

“Quartier Concordia is the vibrant neighborhood it is today thanks in large measure to the vision of supporters of the university such as Jonathan Wener,” says Shepard.  “The recently transformed Grey Nuns Building is merely the latest of several renovations and new construction he had a hand in steering to successful completion.”

Norman Hébert Jr., chair of Concordia’s Board of Governors, sees Wener’s appointment as chancellor as a continuation of the fine tradition of Concordia alumni serving their alma mater.

“Both Jonathan Wener and L. Jacques Ménard, our outgoing chancellor, are among the devoted alumni Concordia is grateful to count at the forefront of its supporters,” says Hébert. “They are leaders in their respective fields and also believers in giving back to their community.”

Ménard is chairman of BMO Nesbitt Burns and president, BMO Financial Group, Québec. He has also been actively engaged in working to lower the school drop-out rate and founded the Groupe d’action sur la persévérance et la réussite scolaires au Québec.

“Community service is in the DNA of a man like Jonathan Wener,” says Ménard. “That’s why he has given so much of his time, expertise and energy to a variety of organizations devoted to education, culture and health.”

Beyond his commitments to Concordia, Wener has served as a member of various community, business and charitable boards and, in 1989, launched a high-profile fund-raising initiative, the Défi Canderel. Every spring, participating teams from a variety of organizations run through downtown Montreal to raise funds for cancer research. The Défi has raised more than $9.7 million in its 25-year history.

“My years at Sir George Williams University were instrumental in preparing me for the entrepreneurial life I embarked on following graduation,” says Wener. “It’s been a joy for me to help in a transformation that allows Concordia to be widely recognized as the excellent institution I know it to be.”