Gaetano Gagliano


Gaetano Gagliano was an Italian-born Canadian entrepreneur who founded St. Joseph Communications and Salt + Light Television.

Career and family

Gagliano was born in Cattolica Eraclea, Sicily, on August 24, 1917, and immigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1956. He first worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway before launching St. Joseph Communications which eventually became the largest private communications company in Canada. He and his wife, Giuseppina, had 10 children, including Tony. Gagliano died on April 14, 2016 at his home in Woodbridge, Ontario at the age of 98.

Honours

He was named a Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester in 1992, and a Member of the Order of Canada in 1998. He has received honorary doctorates from Canadian Universities. In 2007, he was made a Commander of the Order of the Star of Solidarity from the Government of Italy.