61. Vittorio (Vic) De Zen
Net worth: $866 million | Up 4% | Location: Toronto | 06 rank: 59
The class-action lawsuit against Royal Group Technologies Ltd., which also named founder and former CEO De Zen and former Ontario finance minister Greg Sorbara, was finally settled in October. The Canadian Commercial Workers Industry Pension Plan received a $9-million payment over allegations that the company inflated financial results and hid certain business transactions.
62. Robert (Bobby) Julien and Delia Moog
Net worth: $859 million | Up 15% | Location: Toronto | 06 rank: 45
In January, Julien and Moog’s Kolter Communities helped the 1 Bloor St. E. property in Toronto, which is at the corner of busy Yonge and Bloor streets, finally get the makeover it deserved when it sold it to Kazakhstan-based builder Bazis International. Kolter had planned a 60-storey building complete with retail space, condos, offices and a movie theatre, but let the property go to focus on its U.S. interests.
63. Albert Latner
Net worth: $837 million | 7% | Location: Toronto | 06 rank: 63
Latner and his family, of Dynacare Inc. and the L Group of Companies, whose businesses range from casinos to air-cargo shippers to medical laboratories, had another low profile year, but their Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort continued to attract plenty of star power. In July alone, Tonight Show host Jay Leno, actor Bruce Willis and 1970s classic rockers the Doobie Brothers all graced the resort’s Avalon Ballroom Theatre.
64. Asper Family
Net worth: $833 million | Down 24% | Location: Winnipeg | 06 rank: 41
In its followup move to Bell Globemedia’s buyout of CHUM Ltd., Canwest Global Communications Corp. (TSX: CGS) teamed up with U.S. private equity firm Goldman Sachs Capital Partners to buy Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. for $2.3 billion. The deal required a paltry $132-million cash contribution from Canwest. But it puts serious pressure on CEO Leonard Asper to provide returns, as shares will be divvied up between the buyers at the end of 2010 based on how much the company earns — which helps explain the 200-employee layoff at Global Television in October.
65. Saul Feldberg
Net worth: $826 million | 6% | Location: Toronto | 06 rank: 54
The Feldberg office furniture empire is truly a family affair. With one son, Joel, leading the privately held Global Group and another, David, at the helm of Global’s publicly traded affiliate, Teknion Corp. (TSX: TKN), the family patriarch has kept his chips close at hand. If Teknion’s $631 million in sales last year and significant showroom expansion plans are any indication, business acumen is in the Feldberg blood.
66. David Werklund
Net worth: $819 million | Up 30% | Location: Calgary | 06 rank: 73
In June, Werklund led a group of private investors, including Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), to agree to a $3.5-billion takeover of CCS Income Trust, which provides energy and environmental waste management services. Werklund is currently CEO and will remain in that position when the company goes private. The deal closed on Nov. 14. Unitholders received $46 per unit, while Werklund agreed to receive $45.50 a unit.
67. Henry (Hal) Jackman
Net worth: $815 million | Up 1% | Location: Toronto | 06 rank: 61
The founder of insurance holding company E-L Financial Corp. Ltd. (TSX: ELF) has never been one to mince words. This year Jackman, a former Ontario lieutenant-governor, made headlines with outspoken comments about his old friend Conrad Black and criticism of the Conservative Party for forcing out a candidate in his Toronto Centre riding. He also made a big statement about the importance of studying humanities when, in May, he gave his second $15-million donation to his alma mater, the University of Toronto.
68. Chan Family
Net worth: $788 million | Up 4% | Location: Vancouver | 06 rank: 66
Four years after acquiring Kauai Lagoons Golf Club in Hawaii, Burrard International Holdings Inc., run by Caleb Chan, sold the 27-hole course this year. Burrard subsidiary GolfBC Group still owns and operates 12 courses in B.C. and Hawaii.
69. Pierre Karl and Érik Péladeau
Net worth: $777 million | Up 45% | Location: Montreal | 06 rank: 85
Quebecor Media Inc. outbid Black Press Ltd. for Osprey Media Income Fund in August in a deal worth $414 million. It was worth the fight, as Quebecor Media profits jumped 82% in Q3 — progress the company attributes in part to the acquisition. President and CEO Pierre Karl also sold most of Quebecor World’s (TSX: IQW) European printing division to Dutch competitor RSDB Group for $341 million in an attempt to reduce debt.
70. Eugene Melnyk
Net worth: $759 million| Up 1% | Location: Barbados | 06 rank: 65
The Biovail Corp. (TSX: BVF) founder announced his retirement in May. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission served him with notices of possible lawsuits, and the Ontario Securities Commission ordered him to pay $1 million for allegedly failing to disclose trades of Biovail shares made from trust accounts set up in the Cayman Islands. On a brighter note, Melnyk’s kept busy hiring and firing in the top ranks of his Ottawa Senators NHL franchise as well as making a $1-million donation to create a fund to support amateur athletes.
