# Michael G. DeGroote

> Michael George DeGroote (1933-2022) was a Belgian-born Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist. He expanded Laidlaw from a small trucking business into a North American transportation and waste-services company, founded CBIZ in 1996, and supported education in Hamilton, notably McMaster University and Hillfield Strathallan College.

- **Role:** Entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist
- **Organizations:** CBIZ, Laidlaw, Republic Industries, AutoNation, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, McMaster University (benefactor), Hillfield Strathallan College (benefactor)
- **From:** West Flanders, Belgium
- **Nationality:** Canadian
- **Education:** Honorary doctorate, McMaster University
- **Known for:** Built Laidlaw into a major North American school transportation and waste-services company., Founded CBIZ in 1996., Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada on October 25, 1990; invested April 17, 1991.

## Career timeline

- **1948** — Immigrated from Belgium to Canada with his family at age 14.
- **1951** — At age 18, bought a surplus army truck to haul manure for tobacco farmers.
- **1959** — Purchased Laidlaw Transport and moved to the Hamilton area.
- **1969** — Took Laidlaw public.
- **1970s** — Owned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats; sold the club to Harold Ballard in 1978.
- **1987** — Gave $3 million to McMaster’s Faculty of Business.
- **1988** — Sold his Laidlaw interest to Canadian Pacific.
- **1990** — Retired to Bermuda; appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.
- **1992** — Received an honorary doctorate from McMaster; its business faculty became the DeGroote School of Business.
- **1996** — Founded CBIZ; began service as CEO and chairman.
- **2000** — Ended his tenure as CBIZ CEO.
- **2002** — Ended his tenure as CBIZ chairman.
- **2009** — Announced a $10.5 million gift to Hillfield Strathallan College and became an honorary member of its graduating class.
- **2017** — Received the Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award.
- **2022** — Died September 12, aged 89.

## Achievements

- Built Laidlaw into a major North American school transportation and waste-services company.
- Founded CBIZ in 1996.
- Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada on October 25, 1990; invested April 17, 1991.
- Supported McMaster’s business school building and student education.
- Received McMaster’s honorary doctorate in 1992 and DeGroote’s Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017.
- Supported Hillfield Strathallan College’s campus expansion.

## Latest updates

- **2022-09** — Died on September 12, 2022, aged 89; McMaster and its business school published remembrances.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/michael-g-degroote
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-13