CAMH “Mental Health Matters: Investing in our Youngest Citizens”.

Biography

Michael Wilson is the Chairman of Barclays Capital Canada Inc. building on 37 years experience in the investment business. 

Previously, Mr. Wilson was Canada’s 22nd Ambassador to the United States of America from March 13, 2006 to October 9, 2009.  Prior to taking up this position, Mr. Wilson was Chairman of UBS Canada, an operating division of UBS AG.

Before joining UBS in July 2001, Mr. Wilson was responsible for RBC Financial Group's Institutional Asset Management business and also served as a Vice Chairman of RBC Dominion Securities.  

Mr. Wilson was elected to the House of Commons in 1979.  In September 1984, he was appointed Minister of Finance.   In May 1991, he became Minister of Industry, Science and Technology and Minister for International Trade.  During his tenure as a member of the Cabinet, Mr. Wilson had responsibility for the NAFTA negotiations and represented Canada at the G-7, IMF, World Bank, OECD, GATT and other international meetings. 

Prior to his career in public life, Mr. Wilson's career was in investment banking with various responsibilities in corporate, government and international finance. He was also Director of a number of companies including BP plc and Manulife Financial. 

Mr. Wilson is currently Chancellor of the University of Toronto and chairs the Governing Council of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.  He has been active in a number of professional and community organizations, including Brain Canada, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Council for Public- Private Partnerships and the Canadian Coalition for Good Governance. He has received a number of awards for his work in these fields, as well as from The Conference Board of Canada, The Public Policy Forum, The Rotman School of Business and The Canadian Club of Toronto.

Mr. Wilson is a Companion of the Order of Canada and has honorary degrees from the University of Toronto, University of Calgary, York University, Trinity College at the University of Toronto and the Royal Military College of Canada.

Mr. Wilson is married to Margie. They have two children and five grandchildren. He also finds time for golf and powder skiing.