SIDNEY VALO, B.A., J.D., LLM., Q.C.

Sidney Valo graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969.  Sid received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toronto in 1971 and commenced  legal practice in Mississauga, Ontario.  Sid subsequently received his Master of Laws in Business Law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1977, and in 1984, was appointed a Queen's Counsel by the Province of Ontario.

 

In 1992, Sid led an initiative of Greater Toronto Area Boards of Trade and Chambers of Commerce that resulted in the creation of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA).   Sid was one of the original incorporating directors of the GTAA and in January 1995 was elected Chairman of its Board of Directors and served as its interim President and CEO of the GTAA.  As the GTAA’s Chairman, Sid led the negotiation with the Government of Canada that resulted in the transfer of Toronto - Pearson International Airport to the GTAA on December 2, 1996. 

In 1997 Sid joined the GTAA as Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.  Subsequently he served as Vice President, Business & Legal and as Vice President Business Strategy and Development.  Sid resigned his position at the GTAA on March 2, 2001, in order to establish ResAvia, an airport business consultancy.

 

Prior to joining the GTAA, Sid was a founding partner of Pallett Valo, a Mississauga law firm, and served from 1976 to 1997 as its Managing Partner. Pallett Valo remains one of Peel Region’s largest and most prominent law firms.

Sid has previously served as a Director of Junior Achievement of Peel, the Toronto Island Yacht Club, and the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga.  Sid  also served in the Leadership program of the United Way of Peel,  as Chair of the New Leadership Division of Israel Bonds,  and as President of the Mississauga Board of Trade.  In 1994 Sid was chosen as the City of Mississauga's Business Person of the Year.

 

Sid was diagnosed with ALS in April 2005.  He joined the ALS Society of Canada Board of Directors in May 2006.  Sid lost his courageous battle with ALS on December 24, 2008. He will be sorely missed by his wife Felicia and his three children, Ilana, Michael and Shana.