Philip Bridgman LIND

1943 - 2023

PHILIP BRIDGMAN LIND Philip Bridgman Lind, known to most as Phil, was a modern-day renaissance man who impacted many facets of Canadian life, from cable television and broadcasting, to sports, arts and culture, politics and social issues. His 80th birthday on August 20, 2023 was, coincidentally, the day he died. The eldest child of Susan (Susie) Bridgman and Walter (Jed) Lind, Phil will forever be linked to legendary entrepreneur Ted Rogers, with whom he helped grow a small company with two radio stations and fewer than 10,000 cable subscribers into one of Canada's great companies, Rogers Communications Inc., during the 40 years they worked together. He leaves his daughter Sarah, son Jed, daughter-in-law Jessica and granddaughter James and grandson Jack. He also leaves his brothers Ronald, Geoffrey (Jane) and sister Jenifer (predeceased George Burbidge) and nieces and nephews: Andrew, Jessica, Rebecca, Emily, Robin, Julie, Maggie, Philip, Carly, Clarke and Joni; as well as long-time companion Ellen Roland and her daughters Signy (Connar) and Alexa (Rob). Phil was predeceased by former wife Anne (Rankin) Lind. In addition to his many roles at Rogers, which included strategic planning, programming, government relations and Vice-Chairman on the Rogers board of directors, Phil was a director of several other high-profile organizations during his career, including: Brookfield Asset Management (formerly Brascan), St. Marys Cement, Union Gas, and Ontario Hydro. Phil was a patron of the arts and one of Canada's great collectors of modern art, in particular contemporary photography. He was an enthusiastic promoter of numerous Canadian artists. For decades, Phil served on several galleries' boards, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, Vancouver Art Gallery and The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery at Toronto's Harbourfront. Phil was an avid sports fan, especially when it came to the Toronto Blue Jays, which he was instrumental in Rogers Communications acquiring in 2000. He was also a long-suffering fan of the Cleveland Browns. The idea behind Sportsnet, now Canada's largest sports network, belonged to Phil and he orchestrated its launch. A lover of fly fishing, Phil was passionate about conservation and environmental awareness. He was the founder of Sierra Club in Ontario, a volunteer environmental group, and a long-time director of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, an organization dedicated to the conservation, protection and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon. He was also a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. Phil was the founder and longtime chair of CPAC, the national TV network that delivers House of Commons and other public affairs programming. He was also ahead of his time on gender equality in business by promoting women to executive levels and pushing boards of directors for more female representatives. When lauded for this, Phil would respond matter-of-factly, 'I just want the best talent on my team, whether man or woman.' Born August 20, 1943, Phil was a life-long lover of pranks and jokes. He also never met a burnt hot dog he didn't like, or a real dog he did like. He was awarded the Order of Canada and inducted into the U.S. Cable Hall of Fame, only the third Canadian so honoured. The others being Ted Rogers and JR Shaw. On July 1, 1998, at age 54, Phil suffered a massive stroke. He had to re-learn how to walk, talk and read, and write with his left hand, which many found more legible than his previous right-handed writing. Only one year after the stroke, Phil returned to Rogers and 14-hour work days. Phil was also fervent about politics and Canada-U.S. relations. He was a Progressive Conservative who held back-room advisory roles to many prominent Canadian politicians. With one of his many philanthropic endeavours, Phil combined his love for his alma mater, the University of British Columbia, and Canada-U.S. relations. He created and funded the 'Lind Initiative' which furthers understanding between the two countries by inviting prominent Americans to UBC to discuss important current issues. Begun in 2015, the Lind Initiative continues to this day. Phil also held a Master's Degree in Political Sociology from the University of Rochester and he was awarded an honorary doctorate from UBC and OCAD. John Grieve Lind, Phil's grandfather, was a prospector during the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s who used his fortune to partner with the Rogers family, relatives of Ted's family, to start St. Marys Cement in 1912. His grandfather's Klondike experiences and hardships led to Phil's fascination with the Yukon, a place he visited numerous times. Over the years, Phil compiled an abundant number of Klondike books and artefacts, one of the world's largest private collections. The federal government designated it 'a cultural property of outstanding significance'. The entire collection was donated to UBC in Vancouver in 2021 and will be on public display in the UBC Library's Rare Books and Special Collections section when the renovated floor of the library to house the collection re-opens this fall. Phil loved to travel the world – both for business and pleasure. He had a deep affection for British Columbia with its natural beauty and culture. He flew to B.C. 10 times per year for decades and was involved in many campaigns for worthy causes. His oasis was, however, always the family recreational property that his grandfather bought in 1932 on the Rocky Saugeen River, south of Owen Sound. On the land are numerous Lind family homes with communal amenities like tennis courts, a swimming pool, a baseball diamond and, of course, fishing on the river. It was only here at such an idyllic place in the company of family, Phil would say, where he could truly escape and relax from the rigors of work. In 2018, Phil wrote his memoirs, along with Robert Brehl, entitled Right Hand Man: How Phil Lind Guided the Genius of Ted Rogers, Canada's Foremost Entrepreneur. The book received positive reviews from politicians, journalists, and Bay Street executives for its candor and behind-the-scenes peak at building a communications empire with one of Canada's true legends. It was a finalist for the National Business Book Award in June, 2019. He and Brehl collaborated again to write Tales of an Unsung Sourdough: The Extraordinary Klondike Adventures of Johnny Lind. It was published in May, 2023. Deservedly so, Phil was proud to tell his grandfather's story and add to the legacy of one of the least well-known 'Kings of the Klondike'. Ted Rogers and Phil Lind will always be linked, but Phil transcended his work life. He was the ultimate eclectic man: high-profile executive, generous philanthropist, art collector, prankster, sportsman and sports fan, political operator, inspirational stroke survivor and a lot more. He will be missed by many. A service will be held in St. Paul's Bloor Street, 227 Bloor Street East, Toronto, at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 31st with a Celebration of Phil's Life to follow at the York Club, 135 St. George Street. If desired, donations may be made to the Atlantic Salmon Federation, www.asf.ca/how-to-help/donate; the Hennick Bridgepoint Foundation, secure.supportsinai.ca/site/SPageNavigator/HBP_donate.html; or The Polygon thepolygon.ca/2021/08/in-memory-of-phil-lind. Condolences may be forwarded through www.humphreymiles.com. Humphrey Funeral Home A.W. Miles – Newbigging Chapel 416-487-4523