Martin Connell

Martin Philip Connell, OC, O.Ont is a Canadian business man and philanthropist. He is the 1994 recipient of the Pearson Medal of Peace for his work in fighting poverty.

Martin Connell and his wife Linda Haynes co-founded Calmeadow, an organization that traditionally supported the provision of credit and financial services to micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries who are unable to access traditional sources. Calmeadow is now operating out of San Jose Costa Rica under the direction of Alex Silva and the co-founders are no longer directly involved. In connection with his earlier association with Calmeadow, Martin is past chairChair of ProFund Internacional, S.A., former President of AfriCap MicroVentures Ltd., two regional investment funds with interests in local financial institutions providing credit and financial services to low-income self-employed people in Latin America and Africa. Profund has subsequently been wound up and its assets distributed to its investors. In addition to his involvement with Micro credit and microfinance, he has an extensive involvement in various volunteer community activities. He was the founding chair of TIFF, the Toronto international film festival, past chair of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, past chair of IMAGINE, a national philanthropic organization that promotes giving and volunteering, Chair of the Skydome ( now the Rogers Stadium) during its construction phase