John D. Thompson Entrepreneurial Development Seminar
Annual John D. Thompson Entrepreneurial Development Seminar
“Unleashing the Entrepreneur within the Engineer”
The seminar is hosted annually by the McGill Engine Centre and its objective is to inspire engineering students to think about entrepreneurship. That is, to think like an entrepreneur. Whether a student goes on to start their own company, or becomes part of start-up, or joins a small/medium enterprise (SME), or a large firm, there is always a place for an entrepreneurial perspective. We want to grow the entrepreneurial culture and spirit across McGill.
The Annual John D. Thompson Entrepreneurial Development Seminar is held thanks to the generosity of Engineering Alumnus John D. Thompson (BEng‘57).
Upcoming Dates
The Seminars typically take place during the winter semester. If you are interested in attending this or any other event, please refer to the McGill Engine Centre’s event calendar for up-to-date listings. For more information, please contact the McGill Engine Centre.
Proudly Supported By Alumnus John D. Thompson (B.Eng. 1957)
John D. Thompson, born in Montreal in 1934, graduated from McGill University in Mining Engineering in 1957 and received an MBA degree in 1960 from the Ivy School of Business. He began his business career with the FBDB prior to joining Roynat Capital shortly after it was founded in 1962. He began as an investment officer, became a supervisor in 1965, the general manager in 1968, a director in 1970 and president and chief executive officer in 1973.
He is currently the president of the Macdonald Stewart foundation, and former director of Transat A.T. Inc. , Domtar Corporation, AXA insurances, BCE mobile, CP Hotels, and SHERMAG, as well as a number of corporations of the Scotiabank group including the Montreal Trust Company of Canada, the Bank of Nova Scotia trust company, national trust company, scotia life insurance company, scotia general insurance company, Scotia Mortgage Corporation, The Mortgage Insurance Company of Canada, Maple Trust company, and Dundee Bank of Canada.
Active in his community, he served as president of St. Mary’s Hospital center and its foundation. He is married to Jocelyne Vanasse and has five children, 10 grand-children, and one great granddaughter.