The son of a Canadian billionaire and his wife who were murdered in a still-unsolved cold case has announced plans to honor his parents.
Honey and Barry Sherman were prominent leaders in the Toronto and broader Canadian Jewish communities, donating significantly to Jewish causes. Barry had worked since 1974 as the founder, chairman and CEO of drugmaker Apotex Inc. The two were found dead in their Toronto mansion on Dec. 15, 2017.
At the time of his death, Forbes estimated his net worth at $3 billion.
Now, more than five years later, Jonathon Sherman has sponsored the Honey and Barry Memorial Arena, a two-pad ice-skating facility that will be attached to the Schwartz/Reisman Centre in Vaughan, Ontario. The rinks will support youth and adult hockey, as well as figure skating and classes for learning how to skate.
“My mother and father were visionaries who believed that our community should be one in which everyone is welcomed and included in shared experiences,” said Jonathon Sherman. The upcoming arena will “make Jewish life and the greater community’s experiences in York Region even more dynamic.”
Jeff Rosenthal, chair of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, described Honey and Barry as “exceptional leaders whose impact continues to be felt throughout the Greater Toronto Jewish community. We are immensely grateful to Jonathon for this generous gift to the community in honor of his parents’ legacy.”
Andrew Levy, executive director of the Schwartz/Reisman Centre, said: “For countless local Jewish families, the Honey and Barry Memorial Arena will be pivotal to their engagement in Jewish community life, all while building bridges to the general community and welcoming neighbors of all backgrounds.”
The couple’s murderer remains at large. Last year, Jonathon added another $25 million (Canadian dollars) to create a $35 million reward for information to find his parents’ killer.
