October 9, 2009

World-renowned philanthropist and entrepreneur Pierre Lassonde will present a very special course in leadership, business and entrepreneurship to the class that bears his namesake this fall. The Lassonde Entrepreneurship Series will take place on Saturday mornings as a complimentary addition to the regular course of study for top students in the Lassonde Mineral Engineering Program.
 
The course will be an unprecedented chance for students to engage with one of Canada’s top business minds.
 
Pierre Lassonde is recognized as one of Canada’s foremost experts in the area of mining and precious metals. In 1980, Pierre began ten years as President of the gold division of Beutel, Goodman & Company, directing its highly successful gold investment fund. Pierre co-founded Franco-Nevada Mining Corporation with Seymour Schulich in 1982 and over a 20-year period, provided shareholders with a 36% annualized rate of return. He became post-merger President of Newmont Mining Corporation in 2002 – the world’s largest gold producer. From January to November 2007, Pierre was Vice Chairman of Newmont Mining Corporation. In 2008, Pierre led a group of investors in bringing back Franco-Nevada to the public market and became its Chairman.
 
In addition to his support of the Lassonde Mineral Engineering Program and the Lassonde Institute at the University of Toronto, his philanthropic activities have included the funding of academic buildings at the Ecole Polytechnique, establishing the Lassonde New Venture Development Center at the University of Utah and serving as Chairman of the Quebec National Art Museum. In 2003, Pierre was awarded membership in the Order of Canada.
 
With over 25 years of experience in the mining and investment business, Pierre is one of Canada’s leading gold analysts and is the author of the Gold Book, The Complete Investment Guide to Precious Metals.
 
For more information on the Lassonde Mineral Engineering Program and the Lassonde Entrepreneurship Series, please contact Colin Anderson, Communications & Student Programs Coordinator, Department of Civil Engineering at (416) 978-0945 or colin@civ.utoronto.ca.