Suzanne A. Rogers

Rogers was born in Elliot Lake in Northeastern Ontario where her parents, Suzanna and Miklos, had immigrated to from Budapest, Hungary.[1] The family later moved to London, Ontario.

Rogers attended grade school in London, but she completed her secondary education at the Salzburg International Preparatory School in Austria. She returned to London to attend the University of Western Ontario, where she graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.[2]

Her fundraiser series, Suzanne Rogers Presents (SRP), partners with notable designers including Oscar de la Renta,[3] Marchesa,[4] Zac Posen,[5] Diane von Fürstenberg[6] and Victoria Beckham.[7] 2014’s Suzanne Rogers Presents Zac Posen gala was the catalyst for the documentary House of Z.[8]

Rogers has provided continued support to Toronto's Ryerson University, Faculty of Communication and Design. In October 2016, Ryerson University announced the launch of the Suzanne Rogers Fashion Institute (SRFI) made possible through a $1 million donation from the Edward and Suzanne Rogers Foundation to Ryerson's Faculty of Communication and Design. The SRFI Fellowship program serves to enrich the next generation of Canadian design talent and bridge the transition between education and practise.[9][10]

Rogers served as Chair of Covenant House's anti-trafficking "Just Like a Girl You Know" campaign[11] and honorary chair of The Butterfly Ball, in support of the Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre.[12] She also served as Honorary Chair of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Gala from 2015–2017, and is a committee member of the annual fundraising event Scrubs in the City, benefitting the Hospital for Sick Children.[13] In June 2020, Rogers joined the Board of the SickKids Foundation.[14]

Beyond her philanthropic ties to the fashion industry, Rogers is a Founding Ambassador and Jury Member of the annual Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards and benefactor of the "Suzanne Rogers Designer Grant for International Development". Past recipients include Greta Constantine and Sid Neigum. Rogers also funded the $25,000 Suzanne Rogers Award for Most Promising New Label at the Toronto Fashion Incubator's annual gala.[15][16]

In May 2021, Rogers posted an Instagram Story posing with former U.S. President Donald Trump at his private club, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Fla., captioned, "A Special Way to End the Night!"[17] The post caused an immediate backlash from members of the Canadian fashion industry.[18][19][20][21][22]

In a piece for Canada's largest daily newspaper, The Toronto Star, society columnist Shinan Govani characterized the incident as a "flaunted photo-op with the proverbial face of white supremacy."[23] In direct response to the photo, fashion designer Michael Zoffranieri, a previous recipient of Rogers’ philanthropy, stated in an Instagram post, “We do not stand for white supremacy,”[24] and called on the entire Canadian fashion industry to speak out. In another piece in The Globe & Mail by Robyn Urback, she characterized the photo as "tone-deaf. But it's hardly a major scandal".[25]

In an opinion piece on the National Post, Conrad Black stated how he read about the astounding campaign of vilification conducted against the completely unexceptionable Suzanne Rogers for having visited the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., at which she attended a dinner party, and which is owned by former U.S. president Donald Trump. [26]

She was featured along with her daughter in the 2013 Flare’s Icons issue, showcasing the 50 most stylish Canadians of all time, as well as Hello! Canada's 2014 list of Canada's Best Dressed.[27]

In 2019, designer Sid Neigum said she was "the Fairy Godmother of Canadian Fashion", citing her support for emerging designers over many years.[28]