# G. Raymond Chang > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/G._Raymond_Chang > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/G._Raymond_Chang.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Raymond_Chang > Source revision: 1334703755 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Chancellor of Ryerson University G. Raymond Chang OC, OJ 郑佰勋 3rd Chancellor of Ryerson University In office 2006–2012 President Sheldon Levy Preceded by John Craig Eaton II Succeeded by Lawrence Bloomberg Personal details Born (1948-11-23)November 23, 1948 Kingston, Jamaica Died July 27, 2014(2014-07-27) (aged 65) Toronto, Ontario, Canada Spouse Donette Chin-Loy Children 2 Education St. George's College, Jamaica Alma mater University of Toronto **G. Raymond Chang**, [OC](/source/Order_of_Canada), [OJ](/source/Order_of_Jamaica) ([Chinese](/source/Simplified_Chinese_characters): 郑佰勋;[1] November 23, 1948 – July 27, 2014), was a Jamaican-born Canadian businessman, philanthropist and from 2006 until 2012, the third chancellor of [Ryerson University](/source/Ryerson_University).[2] ## Early life He was of [Hakka Chinese](/source/Hakka_people) descent, born the fifth of 12 children to Gladstone Vernon and Maisie Chang in [Kingston, Jamaica](/source/Kingston%2C_Jamaica).[3][4][5] His father was a second generation [Chinese Jamaican](/source/Chinese_Jamaicans) born to Chinese immigrants while his mother was born in Guyana, also of [Chinese Guyanese](/source/Chinese_Guyanese) descent.[4] Upon the death of Maisie's brother, Chang's parents adopted five of their then-orphaned nieces and nephew. This newly blended and inter-related family now comprised 12 children and was raised together with Chang's other cousins on two back-to-back streets on which were constructed five houses, each built for an individual "Chang" family. In total, 35 cousins lived side-by-side "around-the-block" of five houses.[3] Gladstone and Maisie, along with Gladstone's brothers and sisters, owned a successful bakery and several, other businesses on the island. From an early age, Gladstone and Maisie Chang insisted that all 12 children pursue a university education;[3] after he was educated as [St. George's College, Jamaica](/source/St._George's_College%2C_Jamaica).[6] ## Education Chang emigrated in 1967 first to [Troy](/source/Troy%2C_New_York) in the [United States](/source/United_States) (briefly at [Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute](/source/Rensselaer_Polytechnic_Institute)) and then to Toronto both times to attend university.[3] He earned an engineering degree from the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto) and went on to earn his qualifications as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst and largely pursued a career in finance. ## Career He worked for [Coopers & Lybrand](/source/Coopers_%26_Lybrand) for a time, and until 1983, when he and some partners bought into a small Toronto mutual fund management company that managed $5 million in assets. This predecessor company would grow and develop into [CI Financial](/source/CI_Financial), which in 2014 managed $100 billion of investments.[3] Chang started at CI Financial as vice-president and chief operating officer, and was promoted to COO and president in 1996, becoming president and CEO in 1998, and then chairman and CEO from 1999 to 2010. At that time, the Company had become the second largest publicly traded mutual fund company in Canada.[3][5][7][8][9] Chang also owned an investment holding company, G. Raymond Chang Ltd., and founded software firm Mercatus Technologies Inc.[7] Chang was also a shareholder and board member of various other Canadian and Jamaican companies. ## Awards, decorations and philanthropy The G. Raymond Chang Wing at the [Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital](/source/Holland_Bloorview_Kids_Rehabilitation_Hospital) in Toronto He was appointed to the [Order of Jamaica](/source/Order_of_Jamaica) in 2011 and as an officer of the [Order of Canada](/source/Order_of_Canada) in 2014.[10][11] Ryerson University's [Chang School of Continuing Education](/source/Chang_School_of_Continuing_Education) is named after him as benefactor.[3] Chang also donated tens of millions of dollars[5] to various institutions including Ryerson University, the [Royal Ontario Museum](/source/Royal_Ontario_Museum), the [Centre for Addiction and Mental Health](/source/Centre_for_Addiction_and_Mental_Health) and the [University of the West Indies](/source/University_of_the_West_Indies). He was a board member of the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation, endowed The Gladstone and Maisie Chang Chair at the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto) in internal medicine, and started a fellowship for West Indian doctors at the [University Health Network](/source/University_Health_Network).[3] In 2010, he was named Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by the Toronto Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.[5] ## Death Chang, who suffered from [leukemia](/source/Leukemia), died at the age of 65, several months after undergoing a [bone marrow transplant](/source/Bone_marrow_transplant).[12] His funeral mass occurred on August 9, 2014 at [St. Patrick’s Catholic Church](/source/St._Patrick's_Church_(Toronto)) in Toronto and was presided over, amongst others, by Rev. Fr. Luc Amoussou, the [Archbishop of Kingston](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Kingston_in_Jamaica) [Charles Dufour](/source/Charles_Dufour), followed by a reception hosted by Ryerson University at their [Mattamy Athletic Centre](/source/Mattamy_Athletic_Centre). He is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill, Ontario.[3] His widow Donette Chin-Loy was named Chancellor designate of [Toronto Metropolitan University](/source/Toronto_Metropolitan_University) in June 2024.[13] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["华裔慈善家郑佰勋获加拿大勋章 系唯一授勋华人-中新网"](https://www.chinanews.com.cn/hr/2014/07-02/6341865.shtml). *[China News Service](/source/China_News_Service)*. Retrieved 2026-01-25. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["General_Public - News & Events - Ryerson University"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141019073417/http://www.ryerson.ca/news/media/General_Public/201120615_MR_ChangConvocation.html). Ryerson.ca. 2012-06-15. Archived from [the original](http://www.ryerson.ca/news/media/General_Public/201120615_MR_ChangConvocation.html) on 2014-10-19. Retrieved 2014-07-28. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-obit_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-obit_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-obit_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-obit_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-obit_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-obit_3-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-obit_3-8) ["Philanthropist Raymond Chang's death casts "pall over everything": James"](https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/08/09/philanthropist_raymond_changs_death_casts_pall_over_everything_james.html). *Toronto Star*. August 9, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gleaner_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gleaner_4-1) ["'I am honoured and humbled' - Lead Stories - Jamaica Gleaner - Sunday | October 16, 2011"](http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20111016/lead/lead8.html). Jamaica Gleaner. 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2014-07-28. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-star_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-star_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-star_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-star_5-3) ["Raymond Chang: The covert philanthropist"](https://www.thestar.com/business/2011/01/07/raymond_chang_the_covert_philanthropist.html). *Toronto Star*. January 7, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["St George's College Dedicates Roadway to Great Past Students"](https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20151127/st-georges-college-dedicates-roadway-great-past-students). *The Jamaica Gleaner*. West Indies. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pride_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pride_7-1) ["Order Of Canada Bestowed Upon Jamaican National, G. Raymond Chang | Pride News Magazine"](http://pridenews.ca/2014/07/02/order-of-canada-bestowed-upon-jamaican-national-g-raymond-chang/). Pridenews.ca. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2014-07-28. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Rick Mercer and Chris Hadfield among Order of Canada recipients | Toronto Star"](https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/06/30/rick_mercer_and_chris_hadfield_among_order_of_canada_recipients.html). *Thestar.com*. 2014-06-30. Retrieved 2014-07-28. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Chancellor"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111020002720/http://www.ryerson.ca/about/chancellor/index.html). *Ryerson University*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ryerson.ca/about/chancellor/index.html) on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Order of Canada Appointments"](http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=15694&lan=eng). June 30, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-death_11-0)** ["Jamaican philanthropist Raymond Chang is dead"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140729015519/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Jamaican-philanthropist-Raymond-Chang-is-dead). *Jamaican Observer*. July 27, 2014. Archived from [the original](http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Jamaican-philanthropist-Raymond-Chang-is-dead) on July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-obit2_12-0)** ["Toronto philanthropist and former Ryerson University Chancellor passes away"](https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/07/27/toronto_philanthropist_and_former_ryerson_university_chancellor_passes_away.html). July 27, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Toronto Metropolitan University names Donette Chin-Loy Chang as new chancellor"](https://www.torontomu.ca/news-events/news/2024/06/tmu-names-donette-chin-loy-chang-as-new-chancellor/). --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [G. Raymond Chang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Raymond_Chang) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._Raymond_Chang?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.