Lives Lived: Pyarali Nanji, C.M., 95
His faith anchored his life, reflected in the Muslim teaching: “Life and all that exists belong to God, and all will ultimately return to Him”
Philanthropist, refugee, entrepreneur, family patriarch. Born in Kampala, Uganda, on July 7, 1929; died in Toronto, August 20, 2025.
When Pyarali Gulamani Nanji fled Uganda in 1972, he carried little more than determination and faith. Like thousands of other Ugandan Asians forced out by Idi Amin’s decree, he and his wife, Gulshan, boarded a plane with their young children, unsure of what the future might hold. They arrived in Canada as refugees, starting over in an unfamiliar land.
Over the next five decades, Pyarali Nanji would build not only a life for his family, but also a legacy of generosity that transformed hospitals, schools, museums, and humanitarian organizations in Canada and beyond. His journey from refugee to philanthropist became a story of gratitude repaid a hundredfold.
Urgency to Make a Difference
Friends and family describe Nanji as a man of urgency. “He was impatient to make the world better,” wrote The Toronto Star in a remembrance (The Star). That impatience translated into action—into building businesses, launching foundations, and funding initiatives that touched countless lives.
After establishing Belle-Pak, a successful packaging company, Nanji and his family turned their focus toward giving back through the Nanji Family Foundation. From healthcare to education, culture to refugee support, their philanthropy was guided by a simple principle: use your good fortune to create opportunity and dignity for others.
Transforming Hospitals
Few Canadians have left such a visible mark on healthcare. At Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Nanji’s philanthropy is etched into the very walls: the Nanji Emergency Response Centre, the Nanji Ambulatory Centre for outpatient care, state-of-the-art MRI suites, and an expanded Women & Babies wing were all made possible through his generosity (MetroSCG).
At Birchmount Hospital, the Nanji Foundation Stroke Centre of Excellence has advanced neurological care and research, while St. Mary’s Hospital, where Gulshan once received treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, benefitted from his family’s support.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when hospitals were stretched to the breaking point, the Nanji Family Foundation donated $1.6 million, divided among 16 Canadian hospitals. It was a direct response to crisis, embodying his lifelong instinct to act swiftly when lives were at stake (Global Heroes).
Education and Opportunity
Education was another pillar of his philanthropy. In 2022, the Nanji Family Foundation made the largest donation in Seneca College’s history, leading to the renaming of its nursing school as the Seneca Nanji Foundation School of Nursing. The gift supported bursaries, financial aid, and advanced simulation technology for nursing students—an investment in the health professionals of tomorrow (Seneca Polytechnic).
He also believed in breaking barriers for people with disabilities. In Toronto, the Nanji Family Foundation CNIB SmartLife Centre was established as an interactive hub where Canadians with vision loss can access and test the latest assistive technologies (CNIB).
Supporting Culture and Dialogue
In 2023, Nanji and his family made one of their most transformative gifts to the Aga Khan Museum. Their multi-million-dollar donation expanded the museum’s reach in performing arts, cultural education, and global engagement. In recognition, the museum renamed its auditorium the Nanji Family Foundation Auditorium—a permanent marker of their role in supporting intercultural dialogue and understanding (Simerg).
Giving Back Globally
Even as he strengthened Canadian institutions, Nanji never forgot his own refugee journey. In 2022, on the 50th anniversary of the Ugandan Asian expulsion, the Nanji Family Foundation donated $1 million to the UNHCR’s Aiming Higher campaign, which funds scholarships for refugees pursuing higher education in health fields. For Nanji, it was a deeply personal gesture: a way of turning his own displacement into a pathway for others seeking stability and hope (Global Heroes).
Family and Faith
Through all his endeavors, Pyarali Nanji remained a family man at heart. He and Gulshan were married for 74 years, raising four children—Azim, Tazmin, Narmin (Nimi), and Hanif (Chiko)—and later welcoming grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His faith anchored his life, reflected in the Muslim teaching: “Life and all that exists belong to God, and all will ultimately return to Him” (Legacy.com).
At his funeral on August 26 at the Ismaili Community Centre in Scarborough, mourners remembered his warmth, humility, and relentless drive to serve. “The community and this city have lost an incredible and generous human being,” one tribute read.
A Lasting Legacy
Appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his outstanding contributions, Nanji’s life was a study in gratitude expressed through action. Where others saw obstacles, he saw opportunities to build institutions that would outlast lifetimes.
He lived 95 years with urgency, conviction, and compassion. And though his impact can be measured in buildings, scholarships, and programs, his truest legacy may be the example he set: that those who have been displaced can still plant roots, give back, and leave the world far better than they found it.