uOttawa alumnus to flip a gold coin worth $750K at Panda Game opening
Posted Oct 1, 2022 03:00:00 PM.
A University of Ottawa alumnus will be flipping a rare gold coin to open the Panda Game.
Ian Telfer, who earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at uOttawa, will perform the ceremonial coin toss at midfield to kick off the annual football classic game between the uOttawa Gee-Gees and the Carleton Ravens at TD Place at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1.
According to a release by the university, Telfer will be donating the gold coin, worth $750,000 in value, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of his $25 million donation to the university.
The University of Ottawa renamed its School of Management after him following his $25-million donation in 2007.
Telfer is also known for his business success in the mining and resource sector as the Chairman of Goldcorp, Inc., a Vancouver-based gold mining company.
The 22-pound coin will further highlight his philanthropy toward the university.
“I'm thrilled to do it and flattered to be asked because I know how it's such an important event between the universities,” he said in the release. “And if it brings a little publicity to the game or to the schools or to the fundraising, that's fantastic.”
When he's on the turf at TD Place with 25,000 fans surrounding him, how exactly does he plan to flip the massive coin, which measures seven inches in diameter?
“When you pick it up, you're shocked at how heavy it is,” he said. “Even my wife was asking me how I'm going to do it. We haven't really figured that out yet, to be honest.”
