User:Artdefehr/sandbox

Arthur A. DeFehr, O.C., O.M. (born November 10, 1942) is a Canadian involved in business, humanitarian and philanthropic issues. His business interests include Palliser Furniture, 220m Elm (High Point N.C. furniture showroom complex), industrial real estate and various enterprises over the years. He has been involved in humanitarian roles and projects over the years including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Somalia, Ethiopia and the Soviet Union. Organizations where he played a major initiating role include the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, LCC International University (Klaipeda, Lithuania), Canadian Mennonite University, International Development Enterprises and immigration policy including the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program.

Beginnings
DeFehr was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada in a Mennonite Community with its origins in Russia and the Netherlands. Both parents had been refugees and this colored his values and experiences. He had a highly educated mother and a father who started a major furniture business.

Education
High School: Mennonite Brethren Collegiate University of Manitoba: 	Initial studies in science but graduated in 1964 with a Business degree. Awarded the Isbister Scholarship for academic performance. Goshen College: 	Liberal Arts College in Goshen Indiana operated by the Mennonite Church. Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. The objective was to obtain a broader foundation in the arts and humanities before moving on to graduate school. Harvard Business School: Graduated in 1967 with a two-year MBA. Awards included first year Baker Scholar.

Influences that shaped his career choices
DeFehr was influenced by his religious values and family background in the direction of international interests and planned to become a career diplomat with the Canadian Government. His involvement in the USA civil rights movement of the mid-sixties plus anti ((VietNam) war activities resulted in attention from the FBI. This affected his acceptability to Canadian authorities and he chose to enter business where others could have less impact on his choices.

Business Career
He returned to Winnipeg and the family business following his 1967 graduation from Harvard. DeFehr has been involved in that business and related companies to this day. He became CEO of the family enterprises in 1984 and purchased the part of the business that became Palliser Furniture in 1996. Palliser is a custom upholstery company focused on leather residential furniture with factories in Mexico and Canada with markets throughout North America. Real estate represents his other major business interests.

Humanitarian and International Development Career
DeFehr pursued his early international interest by accepting the assignment to lead the recovery work of Mennonite Central Committee in Bangladesh in 1972. That led to a series of assignments including the VietNam boat people, Cambodia border, Somalia (Representative for UNHCR in 1982), Ethiopia famine, Soviet Union during the perestroika period and other involvements. He has been involved in a number of initiatives both in Canada and abroad including the start of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, International Development Enterprises(IDE), LCC International University, Canadian Mennonite University, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (immigration initiative). His involvement included board and other activity with a variety of agencies and organizations. Additionally DeFehr has written and lectured on these experiences and subjects. (Note references to his Website “The Written Word” which includes many of these documents)