What is Irving Gerstein?
'''Irving Russell Gerstein''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CM|OOnt}} (born February 10, 1941) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] businessman and politician. He was appointed to the Senate on January 2, 2009 and retired on February 10, 2016 upon getting to the retirement age of 75.<ref>{{cite web|date=|title=Senators - Detailed Information|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/senate/isenator_det.asp?senator_id=2810&sortord=N&Language=E&M=M|access-date=2008-12-23|publisher=Parliament of Canada|archive-date=2009-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205154306/http://parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/senate/isenator_det.asp?senator_id=2810&sortord=N&Language=E&M=M|url-status=dead}}</ref>The son of Bertrand and [[:en:Reva_Gerstein|Reva Gerstein]], Gerstein was made a member of the [[Order of Canada]] in 1999.<ref>{{OCC|5107}}</ref> In 2002, he was given the [[Order of Ontario]] award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Order of Ontario recipients|url=http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/honours/orderofontario/appointees.shtml#2002|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628230027/http://www.citizenship.gov.on.ca/english/honours/orderofontario/appointees.shtml#2002|archive-date=2009-06-28|access-date=2008-12-23}}</ref> == Early life and achievements == Gerstein is best known for his time as president of [https://www.peoplesjewellers.com/ Peoples Jewellers.] and by 1990, he lead the world’s largest jewelry retail empire. He has served as a director of [[:en:Atlantic_Power_Corporation|Atlantic Power Corporation]], Medical Facilities Corporation, Student Transportation of America, Economic Investment Trust, [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] Inc., Traders Group Limited, [[:en:Guaranty_Trust_Company_of_Canada|Guaranty Trust Company of Canada]], [[:en:Confederation_Life|Confederation Life]] Insurance, and Scott’s Hospitality. Gerstein is an honorary director of [[:en:Mount_Sinai_Hospital,_Toronto|Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto]], where he previously served as chairman of the board, chairman emeritus and director