Tributes have been pouring in for mining tycoon Peter Munk, who died in Toronto Wednesday at age 90.

Munk, an immigrant who founded Barrick Gold in the early 1980s, was also a noted philanthropist who donated hundreds of millions of dollars to various causes. He is also known for establishing the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at the Toronto General Hospital and the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs.  

Here’s what leaders across the country are saying about Munk’s legacy:

“He sat me down and he said, ‘Rudyard, I want these debates to be world class.’ And you know, like a lot of people, you hear that a lot, especially in Toronto. We said, ‘Ok Peter, we’ll make it world class.’ He looked me right in the eye and said, ‘No. This is going to be world class.’ Just in the way that Barrick was world class, Clairtone was world class, Trizec.

“It wasn’t an idle boast. It wasn’t rhetoric … He created a global debate series now that really has international prominence and it’s hosted some of the world’s brightest minds, sharpest thinkers on the big topics of the day… None of that would have been possible without not just Peter’s generosity, but his insight that if you’re going to be world class, you have to have the resources, the ambition, the drive, the focus to achieve that.”

- Rudyard Griffiths, chair, Munk Debates

 

“Peter always had this twinkle in his eyes, because he loved life. He loved to live every single minute of it. He loved to contribute to society between Barrick and his philanthropy – he was always involved. When you talked to him, his love for Canada, his love for the country, always came out.”

-Pierre Lassonde, chairman, Franco-Nevada

 

“His contribution to Canada was so enormous. His gratitude to the country was really exceptional as an immigrant. And his accomplishments making Barrick a world champion – one of the few world corporate champions out of Canada. And his insistence at all times on retaining the headquarters of Barrick in Toronto…He was a great Canadian. It’s become pretty trite because of misuse and overuse. But if ever that phrase were designed for someone, it was designed for Peter Munk.”

- Brian Mulroney, former prime minister, Canada 

"Peter Munk was a remarkable Canadian and a global business success story. From his start as an immigrant picking tobacco in southwestern Ontario to creating thousands of jobs for other Canadians, Peter Munk was a business legend.”

-John Tory, mayor, Toronto

“Saddened to learn of the passing of a truly great Canadian and friend, Peter Munk. He did so much for Canada through his business work and extremely generous philanthropy. My thoughts are with Melanie and the family.”

-John Baird, senior advisor at Bennett Jones, and former minister of foreign affairs

“He was an immigrant who came to Canada with big dreams, surpassed them beyond any imagination, and shared his good fortune through historic philanthropy. Thank you, Peter Munk, for your enormous contributions to our country. You will be missed.”

-Justin Trudeau, prime minister, Canada

“Laureen and I are saddened to hear of the passing of Peter Munk. Peter personified the realization of the Canadian dream: arrived in Canada as a refugee and built an impressive business and incredible philanthropic legacy. His life serves as an inspiration for us all.”

-Stephen Harper, former prime minister, Canada