Bruce Firestone facts for kids

Bruce Murray Firestone was born on December 4, 1951, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is a Canadian businessman and writer. Bruce Firestone is best known for starting the modern-day Ottawa Senators NHL hockey team. He was also a part-owner of the Ottawa Rough Riders CFL football team.

Bruce Firestone's Career Journey

Bruce Firestone studied engineering and urban economics at different universities. He earned degrees from McGill University in Canada, the University of New South Wales, and the Australian National University in Australia. After finishing his studies in the early 1980s, he joined his family's business, Terrace Developments.

Building Businesses in Ottawa

Firestone helped develop commercial buildings in Downtown Ottawa and Bells Corners. He also started a newspaper called Ottawa Business News, which is now known as Ottawa Business Journal. These projects helped grow the business community in Ottawa.

Bringing Hockey Back to Ottawa

In the late 1980s, the NHL wanted to add new teams. Bruce Firestone saw a chance to bring a hockey team back to Ottawa. He believed a new team could help develop a new area west of the city. His idea was to build a new arena, which would make the land around it more valuable. He planned to use money from selling this land to help pay for the new team.

Firestone's group successfully won a new NHL team for Ottawa, along with the Tampa Bay Lightning. A key condition was that the team would build a new arena that met NHL standards.

Challenges with the New Arena

The location chosen for the arena was on undeveloped farmland. This caused some debate, as many people did not want to see the farmland paved over. Eventually, the government allowed the arena to be built. However, they did not allow the surrounding lands to be developed as Firestone had planned.

Also, the Government of Ontario required the company to pay for all the necessary roads and infrastructure, including a highway interchange. These extra costs made it hard to find enough money. Because of these challenges, Bruce Firestone handed over ownership of the Ottawa Senators to a new group led by Rod Bryden. This allowed the team and arena project to continue. The arena is now known as the Canadian Tire Centre.

After the Senators: Football and Helping Entrepreneurs

After leaving the Senators, Firestone became the chairman and a part-owner of the Ottawa Rough Riders football team. He stayed with the team for one year before it was sold. He then returned to real estate development.

In 2004, Bruce Firestone started Exploriem.org. This is a Canadian not-for-profit organization that helps new businesses and entrepreneurs. Exploriem.org offers business model competitions, funding, mentoring, and free office space. It works with other organizations like Algonquin College to support the Ottawa business community.

Firestone has also shared his knowledge by writing a guide called the Entrepreneurs Handbook. This book helps people start businesses with limited money. In 2015, he published a memoir titled "Don’t Back Down: The Real Story of the Foundling of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and Why Big Leagues Matter." This book celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Ottawa Senators team's founding.

Personal Life and Family

Bruce Firestone is married to Dawn Macmillan. They have five children together.

Awards and Recognition

• 2012 - Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame

See also

• Ottawa Rough Riders
• Exploriem
• Ottawa Senators
• Cyril Leeder
• Randy Sexton