Billionaire Kenneth Thomson, Canada's richest man, dead at 82
TORONTO (CP) - Billionaire Kenneth Thomson, Canada's richest person, has died at age 82.
Thomson, who owned about 70 per cent of the Thomson Corp. (TSX:TOC), had become chairman of the global information group after the 1976 death of his father, Roy, and turned the chairmanship over to his son, David, in 2002.
He remained on the board of Thomson Corp. and headed the Woodbridge Co., his family's private investment company.
He was ranked ninth on the Forbes magazine list of the world's wealthiest individuals, with an estimated fortune of $19.6 billion US.
He died Monday morning at his office in Toronto, a spokesman said, adding that the cause of death was not immediately known.
Ken Thomson was the only son of Roy Thomson, the hard-driving creator of a business empire that began with a tiny radio station in northern Ontario and grew to embrace Canada's dominant newspaper group and other interests ranging from North Sea oil to travel agencies, the Hudson's Bay Co. and the Times of London.
Under Ken Thomson, the Thomson Corp. and its corps of non-family managers sold most of the company's newspapers and other holdings to concentrate on providing specialist information to legal, investment, medical and other professionals, largely in electronic formats.
"He was a remarkable man who did so much to build this business by constantly investing in the future," stated Richard Harrington, CEO of Thomson Corp.
"He was a strong leader whose energy and enthusiasm for Thomson was contagious. Anyone who met Ken was touched by his grace, charm and humility."
Ken Thomson served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, then attended Cambridge University and joined his father's newspaper business.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, their three children and their families.
TORONTO (CP) - Billionaire Kenneth Thomson, Canada's richest person, has died at age 82.
Thomson, who owned about 70 per cent of the Thomson Corp. (TSX:TOC), had become chairman of the global information group after the 1976 death of his father, Roy, and turned the chairmanship over to his son, David, in 2002.
He remained on the board of Thomson Corp. and headed the Woodbridge Co., his family's private investment company.
He was ranked ninth on the Forbes magazine list of the world's wealthiest individuals, with an estimated fortune of $19.6 billion US.
He died Monday morning at his office in Toronto, a spokesman said, adding that the cause of death was not immediately known.
Ken Thomson was the only son of Roy Thomson, the hard-driving creator of a business empire that began with a tiny radio station in northern Ontario and grew to embrace Canada's dominant newspaper group and other interests ranging from North Sea oil to travel agencies, the Hudson's Bay Co. and the Times of London.
Under Ken Thomson, the Thomson Corp. and its corps of non-family managers sold most of the company's newspapers and other holdings to concentrate on providing specialist information to legal, investment, medical and other professionals, largely in electronic formats.
"He was a remarkable man who did so much to build this business by constantly investing in the future," stated Richard Harrington, CEO of Thomson Corp.
"He was a strong leader whose energy and enthusiasm for Thomson was contagious. Anyone who met Ken was touched by his grace, charm and humility."
Ken Thomson served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War, then attended Cambridge University and joined his father's newspaper business.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, their three children and their families.
