Gordon Nixon, BCom'79, LLD'03, and his wife Janet, BCom’80, have continued to give back to Queen’s since graduating. After starting his banking career at Dominion Securities in Toronto, Gord became managing director of Investment Banking when the Royal Bank of Canada acquired the company in 1987. His career with RBC has gone from strength to strength and he now holds the position of RBC’s chief executive officer and director of Royal Bank of Canada and chairman of RBC's Group Executive.
Over the years he has received many awards including an honorary degree from Queen’s in 2003. He was named CEO of the Year by the Financial Post Business Magazine in 2007. Also in 2007, he was awarded the Order of Ontario and in 2010 was proudly appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.
Gord has played a significant part in Queen’s history and is currently volunteer chair of the Initiative Campaign and sits on the Queen’s School of Business Advisory Council. While studying at Queen’s he was a member of the Gaels’ 1978-79 championship squad. He and Janet recently made a significant gift to Queen’s towards the revitalization of the campus rugby field, which will now be known as Nixon Field and benefits Queen’s proud rugby tradition.
