Joseph J. Barnicke

Who is Joseph J. Barnicke?

Joseph John Barnicke, CM OOnt is a Canadian entrepreneur. He is best known for establishing J.J. Barnicke Limited in 1959. Born in Cudworth, Saskatchewan, he attended public and high school in Oakville, Ontario. He was a Flying Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. From 1947 to 1957, he was a sales manager with O'Keefe Brewing Company. From 1957 to 1959, he was Vice President of Gibson Brothers. In 1959, he founded J.J. Barnicke Limited.

Barnicke is known for both his business and philanthropic activities, having served as an Ontario campaign chair and a national campaign chair for the Canadian Cancer Society and donated a wing to St. Joseph's Health Centre in Toronto in his wife's name, Justine M. Barnicke. He also was the prime donor of the Justine M. Barnicke Gallery in Hart House at the University of Toronto. He was a Director of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews and Chairman of St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation. He was also one of the organizers of Pope John Paul II's 1984 visit to Toronto.