{{coi|date=October 2024}} {{Short description|Canadian businessman}} {{Infobox person | image = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|7|2}} | birth_place = [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]], Canada | occupation = Businessman, entrepreneur | alma_mater = [[Ryerson University]] | known_for = Founder and Chief Executive Officer of [[GFL Environmental|Green For Life Environmental Inc. (GFL)]] }} '''Patrick Dovigi''' is a Canadian former hockey goaltender, entrepreneur, businessman, founder, president, and chief executive officer of Canadian environmental services company Green For Life Environmental Inc. (GFL). Under Dovigi's leadership, [[GFL Environmental]] has grown to have a total enterprise value of $5.13 billion as of April 2018.<ref name = globecap>{{cite news | url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/streetwise/article-top-of-the-heap-how-bc-partners-pulled-off-the-biggest-private-buyout/ | title = Top of the heap: How BC Partners pulled off the biggest private buyout in Canada with GFL deal | last = Nelson | first = Jacqueline | date = June 3, 2018 | newspaper = The Globe and Mail | accessdate = October 4, 2018 }}</ref><ref name = press2>{{cite news | url = https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gfl-environmental-inc-announces-5-125-billion-recapitalization-with-new-investors-led-by-bc-partners-and-their-partner-otpp-300634207.html | title = GFL Environmental Inc. announces $5.125 Billion recapitalization with new investors led by BC Partners and their partner OTPP | date = April 22, 2018 | accessdate = October 4, 2018}}</ref> In 2017, Dovigi's net worth was estimated at $1.08 billion.<ref name=net>{{cite news | url = https://www.canadianbusiness.com/lists-and-rankings/richest-people/rich-100-patrick-dovigi/ | title = Canada's Richest People 2018 | date = November 9, 2017 | newspaper = Canadian Business | accessdate = October 3, 2018 | archive-date = August 5, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210805000658/https://www.canadianbusiness.com/lists-and-rankings/richest-people/rich-100-patrick-dovigi/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> In 2018, GFL merged with [[Waste Industries]],<ref name=WI>{{cite news | url = https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/gfl-environmental-buying-u-s-company-waste-industries-in-deal-valued-at-3-65b-1.4127947/ | title = GFL Environmental buying U.S. company Waste Industries in deal valued at $3.65B | date = October 10, 2018 | newspaper = CTV News | accessdate = October 26, 2018}}</ref> increasing Dovigi's net worth to more than $1 billion.
==Early life and education== Dovigi grew up in [[Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]].<ref name=globe1>{{cite news | url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/torontos-new-garbage-magnate-stickhandles-his-way-to-the-front/article559083/ | title = Toronto's new garbage magnate stickhandles his way to the front | last = Lorinc | first = John | date = October 26, 2011 | newspaper = The Globe and Mail | accessdate = March 3, 2016}}</ref> As a boy, Dovigi demonstrated a talent for hockey goaltending, an interest supported by his family. Dovigi attended [[Ryerson University]] in [[Toronto]] in 2000, studying business management at the school.<ref name="life">{{cite news | url = http://torontolife.com/city/qa-patrick-dovigi/ | title = Q&A: Patrick Dovigi, the NHL-goalie-turned-entrepreneur who won Toronto's lucrative garbage contract | last = Johnston | first = Malcolm | date = January 31, 2012 | newspaper = Toronto Life | accessdate = March 3, 2016}}</ref>
==Hockey career== Dovigi played minor league hockey in Canada, tending goal for the [[Ontario Hockey League]] (OHL)'s [[Erie Otters]] in parts of three seasons from 1996 to 1999.<ref name=otter>{{cite news | url = http://www.ottershockey.com/article/looking-back-at-the-1996-and-1997-drafts | title = Looking back at the 1996 and 1997 drafts | last = Roper | first = Paul| date = March 28, 2012 | website = ottershockey.com | accessdate = March 4, 2016}}</ref> Dovigi also played as a goalie for Toronto's St. Michael's Majors in the team's 1998 to 1999 season.<ref name=globe2>{{cite news | url = https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/business-is-picking-up-at-garbage-upstart-green-for-life/article22759312/ | title = Business is picking up at garbage upstart Green for Life | last = Kari | first = Shannon | date = February 3, 2015 | newspaper = The Globe and Mail | accessdate = March 1, 2016}}</ref>
In 1997, Dovigi followed his cousins into the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) in Canada when he was drafted 41st as a goalie by the [[Edmonton Oilers]] in that year's entry draft.<ref name = globe1 /><ref name = opener>{{cite news | url = http://theeyeopener.com/2001/10/hockey-team-gets-offensive/ | title = Hockey team gets offensive | last = Gonsalves | first = Kevin | date = October 10, 2001 | newspaper = The Eyeopener | accessdate = March 2, 2016}}</ref> Although passionate about playing hockey, a teammate of Dovigi's recalls that, "We were thinking only about hockey. His [Dovigi's] mind was somewhere else".<ref name = globe2 />
==Early career== While playing minor league hockey, Dovigi began gaining business and entrepreneurial experience. From 1999 to 2002, Dovigi served as vice president of Right Lease, a construction equipment and automotive leasing company. In 2002, Dovigi gained exposure to corporate finance when he joined Brovi Investments. It was while working at Brovi Investments that Dovigi gained his first experience in waste management.<ref name = globe1 />
In 2004, a waste transfer station in [[Maple, Ontario]] suffered a fire. Brovi Investments had a mortgage on this waste transfer station and Dovigi was assigned to oversee the station's clean-up.<ref name=sun>{{cite news | url = http://www.torontosun.com/2011/10/30/levy-talkin-trash | title = Levy: Talkin' trash | last = Sue-Ann | first = Levy | date = October 30, 2011 | newspaper = The Toronto Sun | accessdate = March 2, 2016}}</ref>
Dovigi then established a new company and worked with the municipality of Vaughan and the environment ministry for two years to return the operating license to the waste transfer station.<ref name = sun />
In 2004, Dovigi took a seat on the board of NGTV, otherwise known as "No Good TV", which was a [[YouTube]] music and celebrity channel and an organization chaired by [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] bassist and vocalist [[Gene Simmons]].<ref name = life />
==Green For Life Environmental Inc.== In 2007, Dovigi founded Green For Life Environmental Inc. He would go on to acquire several local haulers, including National Waste Services.<ref name = globe1 /><ref name = globe2 /> GFL later won a $186-million, nine-year contract to manage and collect the residential waste of 155,000 homes in the west end of Toronto.<ref name = globe2 />
In 2016, GFL gained an equity investment from Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, which raised the total value of GFL to roughly $2.4 billion.<ref name = world>{{cite news | url = https://waste-management-world.com/a/gfl-environmental-completes-cad800m-acquisition-of-matrec | title = GFL Environmental Completes CAD$800m Acquisition of Matrec | last = Messenger | first = Ben | date = February 22, 2016 | newspaper = Waste Management World | accessdate = March 2, 2016}}</ref>
In April 2018, GFL negotiated a recapitalization with BC Partners and the [[Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan]] at $5.125 billion.<ref name = waste5>{{cite news | url=https://www.wastedive.com/news/gfl-to-stay-private-amid-ipo-rumors-with-5b-recapitalization-deal/521984/ | title = GFL to stay private amid IPO rumors with $5B recapitalization deal | last = Rosengren | first = Cole | date = April 14, 2018 | newspaper = Waste Dive | accessdate = October 4, 2018}}</ref> In October 2018, GFL merged with Waste Industries in a deal that valued Waste Industries at US$2.825 billion (approximately C$3.65 billion). The merger doubled GFL's presence in the United States.<ref name = WI/>
In 2025, GFL negotiated a deal to sell its environmental services division, which was valued at $8 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-07 |title=GFL to sell majority stake in environmental services business |url=https://www.recyclingproductnews.com/article/42723/gfl-to-sell-environmental-services-business-valued-at-dollar80-billion |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=Recycling Product News |language=en}}</ref> In the same year, GFL subsidiary Green Infrastructure Partners was recapitalized by Energy Capital Partners at an enterprise value of $4.25 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GFL’s infrastructure spinoff completes deal valuing business at nearly $3.1B |url=https://www.wastedive.com/news/gip-energy-capital-partners-recapitalization-gfl-cash-proceeds/757045/ |access-date=2026-01-13 |website=wastedive.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Dovigi continues to serve as GFL's president and chief executive officer.
==Recognition and community involvement== In 2017, Dovigi was named Entrepreneur of the Year in the Power & Utilities & Environment sector at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Ontario Awards.<ref name=Awards>{{cite news | url = http://gflenv.com/patrick-dovigi-wins-ernst-young-award/ | title = GFL Founder & CEO Patrick Dovigi Wins Prestigious Ernst & Young Award | date = October 25, 2017 | accessdate = October 5, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, he appeared on the Canadian Business - Canada's Richest People 2018 list at #97 with a listed net worth of $1.08 billion.<ref name = net/>
In honour of his hometown, in 2018 Dovigi acquired naming rights for GFL for the home of the Soo Greyhounds from the city of Sault Ste. Marie. The arena will be called the [[GFL Memorial Gardens]] for the next 10 years.<ref name = Sault>{{cite news | url = https://www.sootoday.com/local-news/we-can-officially-call-it-the-gardens-again-10-photos-1045627 | title = We can officially call it 'The Gardens' again | last = Taylor | first = Darren | date = September 12, 2018 | newspaper = Sootoday.com | accessdate = October 5, 2018}}</ref> Also in 2018, Dovigi was elected to the Board of Directors of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF).<ref name = EREF>{{cite news | url = https://wasteadvantagemag.com/marty-bryant-patrick-dovigi-and-tara-hemmer-elected-to-eref-board-of-directors/ |title = Marty Bryant, Patrick Dovigi and Tara Hemmer Elected to EREF Board of Directors | date = February 22, 2018 | newspaper = wasteadvantagemag.com | accessdate = October 5, 2018}}</ref>
Dovigi has made financial donations to organizations that include Camp Oochigeas,<ref name = Camp>{{cite news | url = https://www.ooch.org/camp/your-impact/individual-donors-2016-copy | title = Individual Donors | accessdate = October 5, 2018}}</ref> [[Habitat for Humanity]],<ref name = Habitat>{{cite news | url = http://habitatgta.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Annual-Report-2017-FINAL-web.pdf | title = Annual Report 2017 | accessdate = October 5, 2018}}</ref> Sunnybrook Foundation, [[The National Ballet of Canada]].<ref name = Ballet>{{cite news | url = https://national.ballet.ca/NBOC/media/MediaLibrary/Documents/AGM%202017/NB1516_AnnualReport_FINAL_WEB.pdf | title = Annual Report | accessdate = October 5, 2018}}</ref>
In June 2019, Dovigi donated $5 million to fund a new sports medicine clinic, called The Dovigi Family Sports Medicine Clinic, which will be built in partnership with Sinai Health in Toronto.<ref name = value>{{cite news | url = https://www.valuewalk.com/2019/06/patrick-dovigi-donates-5m-to-fund-new-dovigi-family-sports-medicine-clinic/ | title = Patrick Dovigi Donates $5M To Fund New Dovigi Family Sports Medicine Clinic | date = June 14, 2019 | newspaper = Value Walk | accessdate = June 26, 2019}}</ref>
==Other organizational work== Dovigi serves as a director on the board of directors for the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA).<ref name = owma>{{cite news | url = http://www.owma.org/About/BoardofDirectors.aspx | title = OWMA | accessdate = March 3, 2016}}</ref>
==Personal life== Dovigi lives in Toronto with his wife, Fernanda, and five children and has a second home in [[Muskoka, Ontario]].<ref name = "musk">{{cite news | last = Kamping-Carder | first = Leigh | date = September 1, 2016 | title = Muskoka, Canada's Vacation-Home Haven, Gets a Modern Makeover | newspaper = The Wall Street Journal | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/muskoka-canadas-vacation-home-haven-gets-a-modern-makeover-1472739690/ | accessdate = October 3, 2018}}</ref>
In 2021, an entity tied to Dovigi purchased an apartment for $4.5 million on the 38th floor of [[432 Park Avenue]], a luxury development in New York City.<ref>{{Cite news | last = Clarke | first = Katherine | title=Exclusive {{!}} A Mega-Lawsuit, a Rush of Listings and Price Cuts Galore: What's Going on at 432 Park? | url = https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-homes/432-park-avenue-lawsuit-sales-0302e9fb?mod=hp_lead_pos8 | access-date = 2024-05-30 | work = WSJ | language = en-US}}</ref> In December 2022, Dovigi sold his [[Aspen, Colorado]] mansion for $55 million, after one year of ownership.<ref>{{Cite web | last = Hourie | first = Ilya | date = 2022-12-31 | title = Patrick Dovigi sells Aspen home for $55M | url = https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2022/12/31/former-pro-hockey-player-sells-aspen-home-for-55m/ | access-date = 2023-05-27 | website = The Real Deal | language = en}}</ref>
In May 2023, Dovigi purchased €330 million superyacht [[Ahpo (yacht)|''Ahpo'']] from fellow Canadian billionaire [[Michael Lee-Chin]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = €330M Lürssen Ahpo sold in three months and renamed Lady Jorgia | url = https://www.boatinternational.com/yacht-market-intelligence/brokerage-sales-news/lurssen-superyacht-ahpo-sold | access-date = 2023-05-27 | website = www.boatinternational.com |language = en}}</ref> Upon his purchase, it was reported to be renamed to ''Lady Jorgia'', but this renaming never took place.<ref>{{Cite web | title = LADY JORGIA Yacht • Patrick Dovigi $350 Million Superyacht • Lurssen • 2021 | url = https://www.superyachtfan.com/yacht/lady-jorgia/ | access-date = 2023-05-27 | website = SuperYachtFan | language = en-us}}</ref> It made its first high-profile appearance since Dovigi's purchase at the 2023 [[Monaco Grand Prix]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = The coolest yachts in town for the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix | url = https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/news/monaco-grand-prix-yachts-2023 | access-date = 2023-05-27 | website = www.boatinternational.com | language = en}}</ref> In 2025, Dovigi purchased [[Breakthrough (yacht)]], a 118.8-metre (389 ft 9 in) yacht originally commissioned by [[Bill Gates]].
In December 2025, Dovigi became the first customer in the world to take delivery of a [[Bombardier Global 7500|Bombardier Global 8000]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Murdo |title=Bombardier hands over first Global 8000 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/business-aviation/bombardier-hands-over-first-global-8000/165617.article |access-date=2025-12-10 |website=Flight Global |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bombardier’s Global 8000 enters into service – Aeronews Global |url=https://aeronewsglobal.com/bombardiers-global-8000-enters-into-service/ |access-date=2025-12-10 |language=en-US}}</ref>. He previously owned a Bombardier Global 7500 registered C-FPJD<ref>{{Cite web |title=This is PATRICK DOVIGI: The Success Story of GFL Environmental's Founder |url=https://www.superyachtfan.com/yacht/lady-jorgia/owner/ |access-date=2025-12-10 |website=SuperYachtFan |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Floor |first=Berend Jan |date=2024-05-25 |title=Garbagejet of garbizjet? {{!}} AirOnline.nl |url=https://www.aironline.nl/weblog/2024/05/25/garbagejet-of-garbizjet/ |access-date=2025-12-10 |website=www.aironline.nl |language=nl-NL}}</ref>.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dovigi, Patrick}} [[Category:1979 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Ontario]] [[Category:Canadian ice hockey goaltenders]] [[Category:Edmonton Oilers draft picks]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario]] [[Category:Toronto Metropolitan University alumni]]