Patrick Dovigi | $1B+
Get in touch with Patrick Dovigi | Patrick Dovigi, founder, president, and CEO of GFL Environmental, has built one of North America’s fastest-growing waste management and environmental services companies. Starting GFL in 2007 with a single truck operation, he executed an aggressive consolidation and acquisition strategy that transformed the business into a multibillion-dollar green-branded powerhouse operating across Canada and the United States. Known for his dealmaking acumen, entrepreneurial intensity, and distinctive “Green For Life” vision, Dovigi has reshaped the competitive landscape of waste collection, recycling, and infrastructure services while maintaining one of the industry’s most recognizable consumer-facing brands.
Patrick Dovigi is a Canadian former hockey goaltender, entrepreneur, and businessman. He is the founder, president, chief executive officer, and chairman of GFL Environmental Inc., a North American environmental services company that went public in 2020. Founded in 2007 as Green For Life Environmental Inc., GFL has grown under Dovigi's leadership to become one of the largest diversified providers of waste management services, with an enterprise value of approximately $22 billion as of June 2025.[1] In 2018, GFL merged with Waste Industries, expanding its U.S. presence. As of 2025, Dovigi's net worth is estimated at approximately $1.5 billion.[2]
Early life and education
Dovigi was born to Italian immigrant parents who were teachers and grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.[3] As a boy, Dovigi demonstrated a talent for hockey goaltending, with his father, a retired teacher, supporting the interest by practicing shots with him and his uncle.[3] Dovigi attended Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) in Toronto starting in 2000 and earned an undergraduate degree in business management.[4][5]
Hockey career
Dovigi played major junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), tending goal for the Erie Otters in parts of three seasons from 1996 to 1999.[6] He also played as a goalie for Toronto's St. Michael's Majors during the 1998-99 season.[7] Following his junior career, Dovigi played professionally in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) for the New Orleans Brass during the 1997-98 season.[8]
In 1997, Dovigi was drafted 41st overall in the second round of the National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers as a goalie, following in the footsteps of his cousins Phil and Tony Esposito, who had successful NHL careers.[3][9] Although passionate about playing hockey, a teammate of Dovigi's recalls that, "We were thinking only about hockey. His [Dovigi's] mind was somewhere else".[7]
Giorgio Dovigi
Early career
While playing minor league hockey, Dovigi began gaining business and entrepreneurial experience. From 1999 to 2002, Dovigi served as vice president of Right Lease, a construction equipment and automotive leasing company.[10] In 2002, Dovigi gained exposure to corporate finance when he joined Brovi Investments. It was while working at Brovi Investments that Dovigi gained his first experience in waste management.[3]
In 2004, a waste transfer station in Maple, Ontario suffered a fire. Brovi Investments had a mortgage on this waste transfer station and Dovigi was assigned to oversee the station's clean-up.[3]
Dovigi was appointed president of Waste Excellence Corp., a Brovi subsidiary, and worked with the municipality of Vaughan and the environment ministry for two years to return the operating license to the waste transfer station.[3]
In 2004, Dovigi took a seat on the board of NGTV, otherwise known as "No Good TV", which was a YouTube music and celebrity channel and an organization chaired by Kiss bassist and vocalist Gene Simmons.[4]
Green For Life Environmental Inc.
In 2007, Dovigi founded Green For Life Environmental Inc. He would go on to acquire several local haulers, including National Waste Services.[3][7] GFL later won a $186-million, nine-year contract to manage and collect the residential waste of 155,000 homes in the west end of Toronto.[7]
In 2016, GFL gained an equity investment from Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, which raised the total value of GFL to roughly $2.4 billion.[11]
In April 2018, GFL negotiated a recapitalization with BC Partners and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan at $5.125 billion.[12] In October 2018, GFL merged with Waste Industries in a deal that valued Waste Industries at US$2.825 billion (approximately C$3.65 billion). The merger doubled GFL's presence in the United States.[13]
Following the merger, GFL continued its expansion through multiple acquisitions, including Rizzo Environmental Services in late 2018. In March 2020, GFL completed its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange, raising approximately $1.4 billion.[14]
In March 2025, GFL completed the sale of its Environmental Services business—encompassing liquid waste management and soil remediation—for an enterprise value of $8.0 billion to funds managed by Apollo Global Management and BC Partners, retaining a 44% equity stake in the divested entity. The proceeds were used to repay debt and support ongoing operations in solid waste management.[15]
Dovigi continues to serve as GFL's president and chief executive officer as of October 2025.
Recognition and community involvement
In 2017, Dovigi was named Entrepreneur of the Year in the Power & Utilities & Environment sector at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Ontario Awards.[16] In 2018, he appeared on the Canadian Business - Canada's Richest People 2018 list at #97 with a listed net worth of $1.08 billion.[17]
In honour of his hometown, in 2018 Dovigi acquired naming rights for GFL for the home of the Soo Greyhounds from the city of Sault Ste. Marie. The arena will be called the GFL Memorial Gardens for the next 10 years.[18] Also in 2018, Dovigi was elected to the Board of Directors of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF).[19]
Dovigi has made financial donations to organizations that include Camp Oochigeas,[20] Habitat for Humanity,[21] Sunnybrook Foundation, Sunnybrook Foundation The National Ballet of Canada.[22]
In June 2019, Dovigi donated $5 million to fund a new sports medicine clinic, called The Dovigi Family Sports Medicine Clinic, which will be built in partnership with Sinai Health in Toronto.[23]
In 2020, Dovigi and his wife Fernanda donated $3 million to Havergal College's Limitless Campaign. Havergal College
In 2022, Dovigi was recognized as one of Canada's Most Admired CEOs by Waterstone Human Capital. Waterstone Human Capital As of 2025, he serves on the board of directors of the UHN Foundation and the Board of Trustees of the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation. Hospital for Sick Children Foundation
Other organizational work
Dovigi served as a director on the board of directors for the Ontario Waste Management Association (OWMA) as of 2016.[24] In 2018, he was elected to the board of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF).[19] As of 2024, Dovigi serves on the board of directors of the UHN Foundation.
[25]
Personal life
Dovigi lives in Toronto with his wife and five children and has a second home in Muskoka, Ontario.[26]
In 2021, an entity tied to Dovigi purchased an apartment for $4.5 million on the 38th floor of 432 Park Avenue, a luxury development in New York City.[27] In December 2022, Dovigi sold his Aspen, Colorado mansion for $55 million, after one year of ownership.[28]
In May 2023, Dovigi purchased the €330 million superyacht Ahpo from fellow Canadian billionaire Michael Lee-Chin. Upon his purchase, it was renamed Lady Jorgia. It made its first high-profile appearance since Dovigi's purchase at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix. In 2025, Dovigi sold the yacht to a new owner, who renamed it Andrea.
Disclaimer: This profile is based on publicly available information. No endorsement or affiliation is implied.
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