J. Edward "Ted" Johnson OC is the Canadian chair of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. He is a former lawyer, civil servant and an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Edward Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | J. Edward Johnson |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Other names | Ted Johnson |
| Alma mater | Ivey School of Business (University of Western Ontario), Sciences Po, McGill University, Queen's University at Kingston |
| Occupation(s) | Civil servant, lawyer |
| Employer(s) | Government of Canada, Lang Michener, Power Corporation of Canada |
| Organization | Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation |
| Awards | Order of Canada (2020) |
Education
editJohnson has an undergraduate degree from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Canada. After graduating he studied at Sciences Po in Paris, before studying law at McGill University, before switching to Queen's University at Kingston. He graduated Queen's University in 1976.[1]
Career
editAs a newly graduated lawyer, he articled at the Department of Justice before working for Justice Minister Ron Basford, Jean Chretien when he was Finance Minister and then as the Executive Assistant to the Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.[1][2] He also worked for the diplomat Robert Fowler.[3] After Trudeau left politics in 1984, Johnson became the General counsel and company secretary for Toronto law firm Lang Michener. In 1985 he additionally took the same two roles at the Montreal-based Power Corporation of Canada.[1][4]
He has been a mentor to Justin Trudeau.[5] He retired from practicing law in 2018 and was awarded the Order of Canada in December 2020.[1][6]
In 2002 he co-founded the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and became a director of the organization in 2001, the Vice Chair in 2018 and the Chair of the Board in 2021.[1] He is also the chair of the board of the National Theatre School of Canada, a director of the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Vice President of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.[7]
In April 2023, all but three members of the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation resigned, with Johnson remaining as one of the three who remained on an interim basis. He announced an independent review of the foundation's funding, after media focus on a $140,000 donation[8] from Chinese business man and political strategist Zhang Bin.[9][10]
Personal life
editJohnson lives in Westmount, Quebec.[11] Outside of work, he is a pilot and canoeist[12] who would go on canoe trips with Pierre Trudeau.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Cutherbertson, Ken (2021). "Ted Johnson, Law'76". Queen's Law Reports. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ John English, (2010). Just Watch Me: The Life of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Volume Two: 1968-2000. Canada: Knopf Canada.
- ^ Justin Trudeau. (2014). Common Ground. United States: HarperCollins Canada.
- ^ Thompson, Elizabeth (24 Feb 2021). "Parti Québécois calls on Ottawa to release documents on federal response to 1976 win". CBC. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Delacourt, Susan (2012-09-26). "Justin Trudeau's inner circle draws heavily on help of long-time friends". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ "The names and citations of the new members of the Order of Canada". thestar.com. 2020-12-30. Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ "Edward Johnson". Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. Archived from the original on 2023-04-16. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ Tumilty, Ryan (12 April 2023). "Trudeau foundation pledges independent investigation of controversial Chinese donation". National Post. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ "Trudeau Foundation says it's launching independent review of potential China-linked donation". CTVNews. 2023-04-12. Archived from the original on 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ Major, Darren (16 April 2023). "What is the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and what does it do?". CBC. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Geoff and Andrew Molson among 12 Quebecers appointed to Order of Canada". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 2021-10-18. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
- ^ Patrick Gossage . (1986). Close to the Charisma: My Years Between the Press and Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Canada: McClelland and Stewart.
- ^ Roy MacGregor, (2016). Canoe Country: The Making of Canada. Canada: Random House of Canada.
External links
edit- Edward Johnson, Talking with Pierre, Arctic Odyssey
