Celebrating Community Visionaries

Ryerson University, Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa

Mohamad Fakih is president and chief executive officer of Paramount Fine Foods, the fastest-growing Middle Eastern halal restaurant chain in North America. This year, Paramount will expand to include 63 locations, with new restaurants opening in Lebanon, the United Kingdom, the United States, Dubai and Pakistan.

Following the Canadian government’s decision in 2016 to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees, Fakih travelled to Lebanon to visit the Islamic relief camps. He then partnered with Ryerson University to offer the newcomers employment counselling and to provide up to 100 jobs in his restaurants.

In addition to helping the Muslim community, Fakih supports multiple non-profit organizations. They include the Canadian Cancer Society and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. In 2017, Fakih received several honours. For example, the Brampton Board of Trade named him businessperson of the year and Toronto Life magazine included him in its list of the top 50 most influential people in the city. Fakih also received an RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant award and his charitable work and business leadership were publicly acknowledged by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons.

Order of Ontario, Queen's Park

Dr. ElMaraghy was the first female dean of engineering in Canada when the UWindsor appointed her in 1994, and was the first Canadian woman to earn a doctorate in mechanical engineering. She is Canada Research Chair in Manufacturing Systems.

During her UWindsor career, ElMaraghy founded and is currently director of the Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Centre. Her research on flexible manufacturing has helped manufacturers around the world adapt and respond to market changes.

Appointments to the Order of Ontario are made on the recommendation of an independent advisory council based on public nominations.

“The Order of Ontario recognizes exemplary service of the highest calibre,” says lieutenant governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell. “From breaking ground in advances in health care, to speaking out for those who cannot speak for themselves, to nourishing our souls through art and music, they have served this province with dedication and generosity. To them we are grateful.”

ElMaraghy is a fellow of the Canadian Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and the International Academy for Production Engineering, as well as a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Ryerson University, Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa

Salah Bachir is president of Cineplex Media, and publisher of Cineplex Magazine and Le magazine Cineplex. He also owns the sponsorship/marketing company Phamous Characters Inc.

Bachir is an avid art collector and enthusiastic patron of mostly Canadian art. His diverse collection includes more than 3,000 pieces and features many works by Canadian artists such as Betty Goodwin, Stephen Andrews and Attila Richard Lukacs. He also owns pieces by international icons, including a renowned collection of work by Andy Warhol.

Bachir has donated pieces to the Art Gallery of Ontario (where a room was named in his honour), Oakville Galleries, Canada’s National Gallery, Rideau Hall and the Canadiana Fund. Additionally, the University of British Columbia and the Art Gallery of Hamilton have produced shows featuring Bachir’s collections.

Best known to many as a philanthropist, Bachir has served on committees and boards for numerous organizations. They include the Canadian Film Centre (founding member), the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Luminato Festival, Business for the Arts, the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research and the 519 Church Street Community Centre Capital Campaign.

Bachir has been awarded many honours for his charitable activities. A recipient of the Heart Award from the Variety Club of Ontario, he was voted grand marshal of Toronto’s 25th annual Pride Parade in 2005. A few years later, he was named Man of the Year by Famous People Players and soon after received a lifetime achievement award at the Toronto Pride gala. In 2010, Bachir was named an honorary patron for life by the 519 Church Street Community Centre, and in 2012 he received the Human Relations Award from the Canadian Centre for Diversity. Bachir has been honoured by the Canadian Civil Liberties Union for excellence in business, and in April of this year he was presented with the MOCCA Award in Contemporary Art 2015, honouring him for his work in the field.