Honorary degree citation - Ben Weider*
By: Christopher A. Ross, June 1994
Mr. Chancellor, I have the honour to present to you Ben Weider, community leader, entrepreneur, businessman on a multi-national scale, philanthropist and pioneer of weight training and bodybuilding as strength conditioning for all sports.
Mr. Weider is a member of the Order of Canada and is the holder of an honourary Doctorate of Philosophy in the Sport Sciences from the United States Sports Academy. He is also the recipient of the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal.
Mr. Weider's influence on health, fitness and sport has been a profound one. Through the many publications of his company, his lectures all over the world and the articles he writes, Mr. Weider is a tireless promoter of physical culture, nutrition, body building and fitness. He is passionate in his belief that technique, strength and nutrition is what is vital for maximum prowess in the athlete.
En ce qui trait à l'engagement de Monsieur Weider envers la collectivité, son entreprise fait régulièrement des dons d'équipement à des gymnases publics, communautaires et sans but lucratif à Montréal ou ailleurs au Canada ainsi que dans de nombreaux autres pays comme l'Allemagne, la Pologne, Israël, la Syrie, le Liban et la République populaire de Chine.
In 1946, Mr. Weider formed the International Federation of Bodybuilders and he chairs this strong worldwide international sports federation with 139 countries as members.
Le nom de Ben Weider est universellement associé au conditionnement physique et aux appareils de conditionnement. L'entreprise Weider Sports Equipment Co., qu'il a fondée avec son frère Joseph en 1936 et dont le siège est à Montréal, est le plus important distributeur mondial de matériel de conditionnement physique. As well, the company publishes four monthly fitness and health magazines with a confirmed monthly circulation of 1.7 million. Moreover, the company manufactures and distributes nearly 100 fitness nutritional supplements and health food items. With sales of over $500 million worldwide, it is the fifth largest sports company in the USA.
Ben Weider has a passionate interest in Napoleon. Not only is he a prominent collector of Napoleania, he is an expert on Napoleonic history and the author of the book The Murder of Napoleon which has been translated into eleven languages.
Mr. Chancellor, it is an honour and a privilege for me to present to you, on behalf of the Senate and by the authority of the Board of Governors, Ben Weider, that you may confer on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
* deceased
