John Robert Evans

John Robert Evans, CC, O.Ont , MD (born 1929) is a Canadian pediatrician, academic, businessperson, and civic leader.

After graduating from the University of Toronto Schools, he received his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1952 and was a Rhodes Scholar. He received his Doctoral degree at Oxford University in 1955.

He was the founding dean of the faculty of medicine (now the McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences) and then vice-president of Health Services at McMaster University from 1965 to 1972. From 1972 to 1978 he was President of the University of Toronto. From 1979 to 1983, he served as a Director of the Population, Health and Nutrition Department of the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

In a 1978 by-election, Evans ran for a seat in the House of Commons as a Liberal in the Toronto riding of Rosedale, but was defeated by former Toronto Mayor David Crombie.

He was the first Canadian to be elected chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation from 1987 to 1995.

He is chairman of Allelix Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Torstar Corporation, Alcan Aluminum Ltd. (1995 – 2002), the Canada Foundation for Innovation and the Walter and Duncan Gordon Charitable Foundation. He is chairman and helped create the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.

Honours

 * 2005 - He was inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.
 * 2000 - He was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.
 * 1991 - He was made a member of the Order of Ontario.
 * 1978 - He was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.