For Jeremy Freedman, Law’82, the extraordinary – whether in business or on the golf links – is very much par for the course. 

The 2017 winner of the J.A. Alec Corry Distinguished Alumni Award has always been a high achiever. He was during his student days at Queen’s Law, and he has continued to be post-graduation, enjoying hugely successful careers in law and in business. And although he retired in 2016, Freedman continues to excel. None of this comes as any surprise to his friends and Law’82 classmates.

He was, as one of his nominators noted “an extraordinary student” who “during his years at Queen’s distinguished himself not only scholastically, but also through service to the Queen’s community as the Rector, a position he held from 1980 to 1982.” Freedman’s dedication to Queen’s and to Queen’s Law continues unabated. 

In 2013, he and his wife Judith established the Queen’s/Tel Aviv Program Fund, which fosters teaching and research links between Queen’s Law and Tel Aviv University’s Buchmann Faculty of Law.

Following his 1984 call to the Bar, Freedman earned an MBA at Harvard University, graduating in 1986 as a Baker Scholar. He then went on to practise law at Davies Ward & Beck as a partner and senior litigator. In 2000, he changed direction in his career, joining Gluskin Sheff for what Dean Flanagan has described as “a remarkable 16-year tenure.” 

Speaking at the May 4 alumni awards reception in Toronto, the Dean went on to recall that Freedman rose to become President and CEO of Gluskin Sheff, organized the wealth-management company’s 2006 public listing, oversaw the growth of assets-under-management from $675 million to $8.5 billion dollars and expansion of the company’s workforce from 35 employees to more than 150.

In “retirement,” Freedman serves on the boards of four non-profit organizations. When he’s not attending board meetings or otherwise engaged in philanthropic activities, he enjoys spending time on the links. An accomplished and avid golfer, he has represented Canada internationally, competing at the Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2005 and again in 2013. The winner of two gold medals for Canada, he has also served as Canada’s Flag Bearer at the 2015 European Maccabi Games in Berlin and will again represent his country at this summer’s competition in Israel.

“I’ve been blessed beyond measure in my life, both professionally and personally,” Freedman said as he accepted the Corry Award. “I loved my student years at Queen’s Law, and my time there sharpened many of the tools I subsequently drew upon in my careers.”

By Ken Cuthbertson