Jay S. Hennick

Early life and education

Jay Stewart Hennick was born on January 20, 1957, in Toronto, Ontario. His entrepreneurial journey began at the age of 15 when he worked as a summer lifeguard at an apartment complex, an experience that sparked his first business idea. While still a 17-year-old high school student in 1972, Hennick borrowed $1,000 from his father, Sam, to launch Superior Pools, a commercial swimming pool staffing and management company. This venture grew to employ hundreds of students across the Greater Toronto Area, providing Hennick with early business management experience. After graduating from high school in 1975, he pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from York University in 1978. Hennick then attended the University of Ottawa, where he received a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1981, laying the foundation for his subsequent legal career. Both universities would later recognize his achievements by awarding him Honorary Doctorates of Laws.

Legal career and the formation of FirstService

Following law school, Hennick joined the predecessor firm to Fogler, Rubinoff LLP, where he worked under the mentorship of senior partner Lloyd S.D. Fogler. He specialized in corporate and business law, with a particular focus on transactions involving regulated financial institutions like banks and trust companies. After four years as an associate, Hennick was promoted to partner, becoming the youngest lawyer ever admitted to the partnership at the firm. During his years in private practice, he advised on and executed a wide variety of corporate and business law transactions. While maintaining his legal career, Hennick continued to operate and expand his business interests. In 1989, he acquired the College Pro Painters franchise system and merged it with his Superior Pools business to form the core of what would become FirstService Corporation. This period was important, as Hennick was introduced to renowned management thinker Peter Drucker in 1990, whose ideas influenced his strategic approach to building his companies.

Leading FirstService to a public listing and expansion

Hennick's transition from lawyer to full-time corporate leader was marked by the successful public listing of FirstService Corporation. He made the decision to take the company public in 1993, completing an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange that year. The company's shares were then listed on the NASDAQ exchange in 1995, expanding its access to capital markets. In 1996, Hennick left his private law practice to focus entirely on his role as founder and chief executive officer of FirstService, guiding its expansion into a leading provider of essential residential and property services. His leadership was recognized with major awards, including Canada's Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998 and CEO of the Year from Canadian Business Magazine in 2001. Under his direction, FirstService grew through strategic acquisitions and organic growth, establishing a strong market position in North America.

The creation of Colliers and corporate structure

A major strategic shift occurred in June 2015 when FirstService executed a plan of arrangement to separate into two independent, publicly traded entities. The separation created Colliers International Group Inc., a global real estate services and investment management company, and the newly focused FirstService Corporation, which retained the residential and property services businesses. Hennick assumed the roles of global chairman and chief executive officer of Colliers, while remaining chairman and founder of FirstService. The market capitalization of Colliers is more than US$5 billion. Hennick owns, directly and indirectly, more than 14 percent of the equity in Colliers and controls 45 percent of the votes of the company, making him its controlling shareholder. He is also the largest shareholder of FirstService Corporation, maintaining significant ownership and influence in both companies he founded.

Philanthropy through The Jay and Barbara Hennick Family Foundation

Jay Hennick and his wife Barbara are prominent Canadian philanthropists, having co-founded The Jay and Barbara Hennick Family Foundation. The foundation focuses its giving on education, healthcare, and the arts, primarily within Canada, and has made several record-breaking donations. A major area of support has been higher education, particularly integrated business and law programs. The foundation has established the Hennick Centre of Business and Law at York University and the Jay S. Hennick Business and Community Leadership Program at the University of Ottawa. A $6 million gift to York University led to the renaming of its combined JD/MBA program as the Hennick JD/MBA Program, which provides scholarships to students. In 2016, the Hennick Family Wellness Centre opened at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, notable for housing the largest collection of works by Canadian artist Sorel Etrog. The family's philanthropic commitments have consistently set new benchmarks for the institutions they support.

• In October 2021, a $36 million donation to Sinai Health led to the renaming of its facility to Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, the largest single gift in the organization's history.
• In July 2022, the foundation donated $50 million to the Royal Ontario Museum to support a multi-year revitalization plan, representing the largest cash gift the museum had ever received.
• On April 10, 2026, the foundation made another $50 million donation, this time to Humber River Health, which was also the largest in that organization's history and resulted in the renaming of its Wilson site to Hennick Humber Hospital.
• The foundation has also supported Yad Vashem in Israel, where an entrance arch at the Yad Vashem Entrance Plaza is named for Barbara and Jay Hennick and Family.

Through The Jay and Barbara Hennick Family Foundation, the Hennicks have made historic donations to various institutions. In 2021, they donated $36 million to Sinai Health, resulting in the renaming of a facility to Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital. In 2022, the foundation made a $50 million donation to the Royal Ontario Museum. In 2026, the foundation made another $50 million donation to Humber River Health, leading to the renaming of its main site to Hennick Humber Hospital. The foundation also supports causes like the Hennick Centre of Business and Law at York University and Yad Vashem in Israel.

Board service and community leadership

Beyond his corporate and philanthropic work, Hennick has served in significant leadership roles for major healthcare institutions for decades. He has been a member of the board of directors of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto since 1998, demonstrating a long-term commitment to the organization. From 2011 to 2013, he served as the Co-Chairman of the Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation, helping to guide its fundraising efforts. Hennick then assumed the role of Chairman of the hospital's board of directors from 2013 to 2016, providing governance leadership during a period that included the opening of the Hennick Family Wellness Centre. His sustained involvement with Mount Sinai Hospital aligns with his family foundation's major investments in healthcare infrastructure and patient wellness programs in Toronto.

Documentary film production

Hennick has also ventured into documentary film production as a personal pursuit separate from his business career. He co-produced the 2021 Netflix documentary 'Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art,' which explores one of the largest art fraud scandals in United States history. The film investigates how a New York gallery sold tens of millions of dollars worth of forged artworks over a period of years. More recently, he served as the executive producer for the documentary 'Born Hungry,' which follows the journey of Canadian chef Sash Simpson. This documentary premiered at the Palm Springs International Festival in 2024, highlighting Hennick's interest in supporting Canadian creative talent and storytelling through the medium of film.

Honours, awards, and recognition

Jay Hennick's contributions to business and philanthropy have been widely recognized through numerous prestigious awards and honours. In 2019, he received two significant accolades: the International Horatio Alger Award, which honours individuals who have succeeded despite adversity, and an appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada. Both York University and the University of Ottawa have awarded him Honorary Doctorates of Laws in recognition of his achievements and his substantial support for their academic programs. His induction into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2024 is a capstone honour, cementing his status as one of Canada's most influential business leaders. His inclusion on Forbes' annual list of the world's billionaires in 2022 quantifies his financial success. These honours collectively acknowledge his journey from a teenage entrepreneur to a builder of global corporations and a major philanthropist.

Questions about Jay S. Hennick

How did Jay Hennick make his money?

Jay Hennick built his wealth primarily through founding and leading two major public companies. He started with a pool management business as a teenager, which he later merged with a painting franchise to form FirstService Corporation. After taking FirstService public, he oversaw its growth and, in 2015, engineered its separation into two companies: Colliers International, a global real estate services firm where he is CEO, and the new FirstService Corporation. His controlling shareholdings in these multi-billion-dollar companies form the basis of his fortune, leading to his inclusion on the Forbes billionaires list. He owns over 14% of Colliers equity with 45% of the votes, and is the largest shareholder in FirstService.

What is Jay Hennick's connection to York University?

Hennick is an alumnus of York University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1978. The university later awarded him an Honorary Doctorate of Laws. Through The Jay and Barbara Hennick Family Foundation, he has made substantial philanthropic contributions to York, including a $6 million gift that led to the renaming of the integrated JD/MBA program as the Hennick JD/MBA Program. The foundation also established the Hennick Centre of Business and Law at York's Osgoode Hall Law School and Schulich School of Business to support postgraduate studies. These initiatives provide financial support and specialized programming for students pursuing combined degrees in business and law.

What are some of the largest donations made by the Hennick Family Foundation?

The Jay and Barbara Hennick Family Foundation has made several of the largest donations in the histories of the recipient institutions. In 2021, they gave $36 million to Sinai Health, resulting in the renaming of Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital. In 2022, they donated $50 million to the Royal Ontario Museum, the largest cash gift it had ever received. Most recently, in April 2026, the foundation made another $50 million donation to Humber River Health, which was also the largest in that organization's history and led to the renaming of its main site to Hennick Humber Hospital. Each of these gifts was described as the single largest donation in the history of the receiving organization at the time it was made.

Is Jay Hennick involved in the film industry?

Yes, Jay Hennick has worked as a documentary film producer. He co-produced the 2021 Netflix documentary 'Made You Look: A True Story About Fake Art,' which investigates a major art fraud case in the United States. He also served as the executive producer for the documentary 'Born Hungry,' which follows Canadian chef Sash Simpson and premiered at the Palm Springs International Festival in 2024. This work represents a personal interest separate from his primary business career in real estate and property services. His role typically involves supporting the production and financing of documentary projects.

What awards has Jay Hennick won?

Hennick has received numerous awards for his business leadership and philanthropy. He was named Canada's Entrepreneur of the Year in 1998 and CEO of the Year by Canadian Business Magazine in 2001. In 2019, he received the International Horatio Alger Award and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. Both York University and the University of Ottawa have awarded him Honorary Doctorates of Laws. A pinnacle of his recognition was his induction into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2024. His business success also placed him on Forbes' list of the world's billionaires in 2022.

What is Jay Hennick's role at Colliers and FirstService today?

Following the 2015 separation of the companies, Jay Hennick serves as the Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Colliers International Group Inc., the global real estate services and investment management company. He is also the controlling shareholder of Colliers, owning more than 14% of the equity and holding 45% of the voting rights. For FirstService Corporation, the residential and property services company he originally founded, he holds the position of Founder and Chairman. He remains the largest shareholder of FirstService as well, maintaining leadership and significant ownership roles in both entities he helped create and grow into publicly traded leaders in their respective sectors.

Sources and further reading

• Jay S. Hennick (Wikipedia)
• Jay S. Hennick (horatioalger.ca)
• Jay S. Hennick (hennick.com)
• About Jay and Barbara Hennick (yorku.ca)
• Founder & Chairman, FirstService Corporation (firstservice.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-07.