One of the leading figures in Canada’s business community, Ronald Cliff Sr. is currently the Chairman of Canfor Corporation and Heathcliff Properties Ltd. Formerly, Ron was Chairman of BC Gas, Trans Mountain Pipe Line, Southam Inc., Pacific Press, Sun Publishing and a Director of Royal Bank of Canada. Ron’s previous commitments to not for profit organizations include Vancouver International Airport Authority (Director), Hockey Canada (Director) and the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (Treasurer & Commodore).

Ron has a long history of participation in charitable organizations and continues to remain active in this area. He was a Founder of the Vancouver Police Foundation and a Trustee for many years. He is currently Chairman Emeritus and continues with the Vancouver Police Foundation as a Trustee. Ron also sat on the Board of Directors of the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation and still participates as a Member of the Investment Task Force. He is Honorary Life Vice-President of the Vancouver Symphony Society and a Founder of the Vancouver Symphony Foundation . He currently sits as that foundation’s Chairman and a Trustee. Ron is also President and a Trustee of the Heathcliff Foundation.

Former charitable activities include Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific (former Vice-Chairman, current Special Patron & Member of the College Foundation); University of British Columbia (Member of Dean’s Advisory Board to the Sauder School of Business); St. George’s School (former Director and current Member Head Master’s Council); and the Vancouver Art Gallery (former Director, current Honorary Life Member). Ron was also a Trustee of the Pacific Parkinson Research Institute; a member of the Board of Director & Chairman of the Budget Section of the United Way of Greater Vancouver; Chairman of Queen Elizabeth Theatre & Playhouse; President of S.I.W.A.S.H. (now Endeavour); Honorary Chairman and Trustee of The Chartered Accountants Education Foundation; Trustee of the Olympic Trust of Canada and Member of the International Advisory Board of Scripps Hospital Foundation.

Ron is a recipient of numerous honours and awards. In 1986, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada in recognition of his philanthropic endeavours. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of B.C. (1994) and in 2002 received that organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2007, Ron received the honour of Outstanding Philanthropist by the Vancouver Chapter of Associates of Fundraising Professionals and is a recipient of the B.C. Aviation Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ron graduated from St. George’s in 1946 and completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at UBC in 1949. In 1954 he completed his articling at Peat Marwick Mitchell and received his Chartered Accountant designation. Ron has been a significant supporter of St. George’s over the years and the senior school library, known as the Cliff Resource Centre, is named in his honour. Many of Ron’s relatives have attended St. George’s, including his son Ron Cliff Jr. ’79, grandsons William Cliff ’11, Andrew Cliff, Arthur Maughan, Michael Maughan and Scott Tindle, and grandnephews Malcom Campbell ‘93, Angus Campbell ‘99, Alex Lecky and Graham Lecky.