January 04, 2014 (Ottawa, ON) – His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, announced 90 new appointments to the Order of Canada on December 30. The new appointees include noted philanthropist, Peter Gilgan, who is very involved with cycling in Canada. Gilgan is among the 61 Members (C.M.) who were named in addition to four Companions (C.C.), 25 Officers (O.C.) and. These appointments were made on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.

Pedal readers will associate Gilgan’s name with the new 250m indoor velodrome under construction for the 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan Am Games in Milton, ON. In fact, the facility will be named the Mattamy Velodrome. Gilgan, the president and CEO of Mattamy Homes, has offered to pay up to $9 million of the projected $56 million price tag for the 154,000-square-foot facility expected to open in August, 2014. In March 2012, Gilgan also donated $40 million to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children.

Gilgan is a member of Les Domestiques, an Ontario riding club that played a very important background role in funding the velodrome. “There is a lot of money committed so far and Peter is the largest contributor,” Tim Hockey, the club’s founder and president, previously told Pedal. “Others from Les Domestiques are also helping financially. Gilgan is a big philanthropist and he is very much involved with Milton. Because he has a lot of business there, this is just one of his ways of giving back to the community.”

The Governor General’s office simply notes Gilgan was recognized “For his innovative leadership in Canada’s construction industry, and for his philanthropic support of initiatives in health care, education and athletics.”

“Peter Gilgan founded Mattamy Homes in 1978, naming the home builder for the two oldest of his eight children, Matt and Amy” notes a Forbes listing of Canadian billionaires. That same listing says that Gilgan trained as a chartered accountant, is 63 years old, and ranks Mattamy as the largest home building company in Canada today.

Milton Velodrome Groundbreaking here.
Governor General’s 90 appointments here.
Forbes listing here.