Richard W. Ivey joins Board of Directors at MaRS

Toronto, February 19, 2009 – MaRS Discovery District is pleased to announce the appointment of businessman and philanthropist Richard W. Ivey, C.M., to its Board of Directors.

“Richard has a strong track record of community involvement and commitment to research and innovation, most recently through his continuing role as Chair of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR),” noted Dr. John Evans, Founding Chair of the Board at MaRS. “His integrity and dedication to building a strong foundation for Canada’s innovation economy will be of tremendous benefit to MaRS.”

“I have followed the evolution of MaRS with great interest from its inception,” said Mr. Ivey. “The visionary founders have persevered through some enormous challenges and I am thrilled to be getting involved as MaRS positions itself to add tremendous value to Canada’s knowledge-based economy.”

Mr. Ivey is Chair of Ivest Properties Ltd., a real estate development and management company as well as Chair of CIFAR. He is also active in the governance of Newport Partners Income Fund, Canada Colors and Chemicals Ltd., University Health Network, the Toronto Community Foundation, Lester Pearson College of the Pacific Foundation, the Ivey Foundation, and the Richard Ivey School of Business.

Mr. Ivey practiced law at Torys until 1982 and then served in a variety of executive roles in companies in the packaging and logistics industries for almost 20 years.

“We are delighted to welcome Richard Ivey to the Board of MaRS,” said CEO Ilse Treurnicht. “Richard has had a long-standing interest in the dual roles of MaRS – moving important discoveries from our academic institutions to the marketplace and supporting entrepreneurs growing innovative companies.  He is deeply committed to research excellence and public service.  He is also a business leader, angel investor, and hands-on philanthropist.  All these worlds intersect at MaRS, and we will benefit greatly from his keen insight and considerable experience.”

About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (www.marsdd.com) is a large scale, mission driven innovation centre located in Toronto and networked across Ontario, focused on building Canada’s next generation of technology companies. MaRS works closely with entrepreneurs to grow and scale their ventures into global market leaders in life sciences and health care, information, communications and digital media technologies, cleantech, advanced materials and engineering, as well as innovative social purpose business.

For more information, contact:
Linda Quattrin
Director Communications
MaRS Discovery District
416.673.8104
lquattrin@marsdd.com