Sanford Riley

Sanford Riley is a renowned business leader and philanthropist. He was the Chancellor of The University of Winnipeg  from 2000 to 2009 and has served as the founding chairperson of The University of Winnipeg Foundation Board of Directors since 2003.

He is the CEO and president of Richardson Financial Group, a company he founded in 2003 with James Richardson & Sons. Riley has held a director position within a long-list of organizations and is or has been chairman of the board for countless more. 

Riley was a member of the Canadian National Sailing Team for 10 years and competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics. His involvement in community activities is extensive.

At UWinnipeg, he established the H. Sanford Riley Fellowships in Canadian History and he and his wife, Deborah, also generously support other organizations such as Health Science Centre, The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Children’s Hospital, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the United Way.

Riley was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University in 2009, and named Chancellor Emeritus in 2013. He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2002 and the Order of Manitoba in 2013. In 2016, Riley became a member of the Advisory Council to the Order of Canada.