Businessman Gregory Belton will be honored for philanthropy

TORONTO, June 3, 2019 – Glendon Campus graduates will receive their York University degrees on Friday at the university’s first Convocation ceremony of the spring.

More than 250 students are expected to attend Convocation, the ceremony at which their degrees will be conferred, along with family and friends. Businessman and philanthropist Gregory Scott Belton, a Glendon alumnus, will be awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

“Convocation is a time to recognize the hard work and dedication of our students, and to celebrate individuals who have made a significant impact on the communities served by the University,” said Rhonda L. Lenton, president and vice-chancellor of York. “Since graduating from Glendon, Mr. Belton has achieved great success in the insurance industry while raising millions for at-risk youth. His commitment to excellence and to providing opportunities for young people in his community makes him a worthy role model.”

Gregory Belton is Executive Chairman of HUB International Ontario, a global insurance brokerage and Canada’s largest property insurance brokerage firm. An insurance industry leader who has combined business success with social conscience, Belton graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Glendon College in 1980.

He joined the insurance industry soon after and went on to found HKMB at age 29 which grew to be Canada’s largest privately-owned insurance brokerage and was then sold to HUB in 2008, a tremendous start-up success story in a crowded industry.

While developing his business, Belton was active in philanthropy. He has worked in a leadership role with many charitable institutions over the years including The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. As national president, he launched the Charter for Business, which has generated corporate donations of more than $30 million for work with at-risk youth. He was Chairman of The Duke of The Edinburgh’s International Award from 2007-2016, when he was succeeded by HRH Prince Edward, and is a director of St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation.

In 2009, Belton was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by Queen Elizabeth II and in 2016 was made a member of the Order of Canada.

Convocation will be held on the Glendon Green at Glendon Campus, located at 2275 Bayview Avenue, on Friday, June 7, 2019 at 2:30pm. (MAP)

York University champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. York students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. York U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, York is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.
York U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Yanni Dagonas, York University Media Relations, yannidag@yorku.ca, 647-468-7850.