to build a new home in Toronto for the National Ballet. Johnson has played the lead role on behalf of the Canadian charitable sector in lobbying the federal government to remove tax barriers for gifts of publicly listed securities to registered charities. His efforts over many years met with success first in 1997 when the government cut the capitals gains tax for such gifts in half, and then further in 2006 when the tax was eliminated entirely. Charities have received over $1 billion CAD in gifts of stock virtually every year since 2006. Awards and honours Johnson has received many awards, including the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (1997), Friends of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (1997), Richard Ivey School of Business Distinguished Service (1998) and the Arbor Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service from the University of Toronto (1999). In 2013, he was named as an Inaugural Inductee to the IIAC Investment Industry Hall of Fame. In 2005, Johnson was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada. He was promoted to Officer in 2009 "for his key role in changing Canada’s tax laws to eliminate the capital gains tax on gifts of publicly traded securities to registered charities, and for his support of health care research and the arts". References 1935 births Living people Canadian philanthropists Officers of the Order of Canada People from Interlake Region, Manitoba